Favorite Forgotten Pats Heroes From The Past

[BennyBledsoe]

I loved Bruce vs Bruce, #78 vs #78! (Armstrong vs Smith, obviously.)

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Stanley Morgan. And it's a travesty he's not in Canton.
Raymond Clayborn

Not at the level of talent of those guys, but I always loved Craig James and Andy Johnson.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Vincent Brown... The best linebacker on the team from the late 80's and early 90's... a hard hitting tackling machine was consistently making the play, and if he wasn't, he was right there... was cut loose at the end of 1995 after leading the team in tackles... would have been nice to see him on the team for the super bowl run in 1996... you can't tell me todd collins was a better option...


The aforementioned Russ Hochstein... @mike_usagisan ... Mike is right, he was a plug and play swing for the whole offensive line for years... pretty sure he played every position on the line at one point or another... Hated that he left, but you knew that type of versatility was going to get him a contract sooner or later... He was a bit overmatched in 42, after replacing Stephen Neal, but that's why he wasn't a full time starter... Cest la vie


Mr Irrelevant, Marty Moore... Long shot linebacker, last pick in the draft turned into an 8 year nfl vet... another one of those early special teams players that held on due to his contributions to the third phase of the game... he did leave for a year, spent a season at the mistake by the lake before returning just in time to earn himself a ring as part of the 2001 team...

Loved the Undertaker #59!!!!

 

[Pape]

Hunter Henry... Rob Gronkowski... Martellus Bennet... Ben Watson... Ben Coates... Marv Cook... We've had some good TE's over the years... The first standout on the TE list (apologies to Jim Whalen) is the guy commonly referred to as the all world tight end... I loved the way he ran... he was sneaky fast... his legs just ate up yards in a chunk... It never looked like he was running, it was more like loping... but he kept widening the gap... Russ Francis is one of the Great Ones to play in New England... And him not being in the Pats HoF? Probably the biggest whiff of the Patriots Organization when it comes to the Hall...




If you are around my age (grew up in the 70's/80's), one of the very first Patriots you would have heard of was Sam Bam Cunningham... Dude was a punishing runner, who still holds the franchise rushing record... to put that into perspective, the last time he wore a Patriots uniform in a game was 15,515 days ago... There were a few guys who could have / should have surpassed his totals, but they never stuck around... one got poisoned pilled (martin) the other i am convinced is just nuts (Dillon)... Til we get a guy who sticks, and wants to be here, I am glad Sam Bam still holds the record...




I just mentioned a few good TE's we have had over the years... we have also been fortunate with the quality of Fullbacks we have had as well... One of my favorites was Sam Gash... Cannot believe Pete Carroll let him walk... Pro Bowl caliber seasons after he left here was just another kick in the proverbial nuts... it was like a kevin turner redux... well anyway, Gash was a battler... good guy to have on your roster...



If you haven't see it, cue up Pats from the Past with Sam Gash

Pats from the Past, Episode 16: Sam Gash

 

[scott99]

Stanley Morgan. And it's a travesty he's not in Canton.
Raymond Clayborn

Not at the level of talent of those guys, but I always loved Craig James and Andy Johnson.

I agree on Stanley Morgan, but certainly not a forgotten Pat’s here.

 

[Real fan 02]

So, we are in the dog days of summer, and we have a month plus before training camp starts. So I’ve been watching some old Pat’s games and some NFL films from when I became a fan (1975), up until the 1st dynasty years, and I’ve been thinking about some forgotten heroes of the past.

I’m sure we’ve done something similar in the past, but I personally think it’s a fun subject, so I’m gonna name some of my favorite forgotten Pat’s heroes from the past. Not in any particular order. Of course, if you’re an old geezer like me, you know all these guys.

1) Harold Jackson WR- I loved Daryl Stingley, and was devastated when he got paralyzed. When we got Harold Jackson, I thought, this guy has been around forever, I remember him from the Eagles, and of course then the Rams who we got him from. He’s too old. Boy was I wrong, he became an explosive weapon for Grogan opposite speedster Stanley Morgan. He and Morgan EACH had 1,000+ yards receiving in 1979, despite each having less than 50 catches. Double deep threats.

2) Don Calhoun RB- He was just a really solid back. Despite being a backup he had three 700+ yard seasons. He was a fantastic back in his own right, extremely tough runner with some wiggle. The Pats had 3 backs for defenses to deal with, 4 if you add Grogan.

3) Tim Fox Safety- I loved Tim Fox, he was like an enforcer back there at the safety position. Loved the way he played. He was another excellent 1st round pick along with center Pete Brock and CB Mike Haynes in 1976, what a draft.

4) Mosi Tatupu RB- At USC, he blocked for RBs Ricky Bell and Charles White. When he came to the Pats, he did it all. Special teams, fullback, caught the ball once in a while. Truly a selfless Patriots.

5) Jarvis Green DE- He just made so many key plays for the Pats first part of the dynasty. Especially in the playoffs. Wasn’t a GREAT player, but I remember him getting to Peyton Manning a few times in clutch situations.

Those are just a few on my list, I’m sure I’ll post a few more, what are yours ?

Ty Warren, solid DE and excellent against the run. Injuries shortened his career here. No one could run to his side. Roosevelt Colvin.. a big FA signing when we got him and lost him to the injury.. even though he wasn't the player he was in Chicago he was great here.. that INT on rivers in the 2007 divisional was a big play to help us win that game.

Brandon Lloyd an under the radar season in 2012 amasing over 1200 yards. What nice season he had and was one of the best acrobatic sideline catch wrs in the league.

 

[Real fan 02]

Ty Warren, solid DE and excellent against the run. Injuries shortened his career here. No one could run to his side. Roosevelt Colvin.. a big FA signing when we got him and lost him to the injury.. even though he wasn't the player he was in Chicago he was great here.. that INT on rivers in the 2007 divisional was a big play to help us win that game.

Brandon Lloyd an under the radar season in 2012 amasing over 1200 yards. What nice season he had and was one of the best acrobatic sideline catch wrs in the league.

@Pape

There's others that also factor in.. amendola was good here in his role, Kyle Brady, in 07, Stephen Ridley was a work horse back, and a automatic 5,6 yards each time he ran ok first down. Now that I think of it we've had a lot of unheralded players over the years..

 

[Pape]

@Pape

There's others that also factor in.. amendola was good here in his role, Kyle Brady, in 07, Stephen Ridley was a work horse back, and a automatic 5,6 yards each time he ran ok first down. Now that I think of it we've had a lot of unheralded players over the years..

The lists can go on and on... Just doing a few at a time... Love the Ty Warren post you made for example... Soo many to choose from

 

[Sect140]

Ty Warren, solid DE and excellent against the run. Injuries shortened his career here. No one could run to his side. Roosevelt Colvin.. a big FA signing when we got him and lost him to the injury.. even though he wasn't the player he was in Chicago he was great here.. that INT on rivers in the 2007 divisional was a big play to help us win that game.

Brandon Lloyd an under the radar season in 2012 amasing over 1200 yards. What nice season he had and was one of the best acrobatic sideline catch wrs in the league.

When I hear Ty Warrens name I always think of Jarvis Green.

 

[Guts]

Shane Vereen was crucial for the 4th chip

 

[Real fan 02]

When I hear Ty Warrens name I always think of Jarvis Green.

Yes! We drafted green in 02? And Warren in 03 right?

 

[Real fan 02]

The lists can go on and on... Just doing a few at a time... Love the Ty Warren post you made for example... Soo many to choose from

Yes your right. Ty Warren was such an underrated part of the front.. he made it so much easier so Seymour could get 1 on 1s and Vrabel and rosey could rush the passer. There are so many to choose...

 

[Real fan 02]

Shane Vereen was crucial for the 4th chip

Absolutely without him we don't score in the 4th quarter.. honorable mentions dion Lewis and Danny woodhead

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Russ Francis is one of the Great Ones to play in New England... And him not being in the Pats HoF? Probably the biggest whiff of the Patriots Organization when it comes to the Hall...

To me, he's second to Julius Adams, and just ahead of Mosi Tatupu...but it's all a travesty they weren't inducted when they all were still with us. Bob Kraft has a lot of hits but a lot of whiffs, and this is one of them.

 

[Pape]

To me, he's second to Julius Adams, and just ahead of Mosi Tatupu...but it's all a travesty they weren't inducted when they all were still with us. Bob Kraft has a lot of hits but a lot of whiffs, and this is one of them.

Francis, Adams... both are big time misses... if i had posted about the Pearl, i would have said the same thing...

 

[Real fan 02]

Francis, Adams... both are big time misses... if i had posted about the Pearl, i would have said the same thing...

Pape I have to say.. you've been pretty consistent on Lowe going back to last season.. props to you.. becuase the post I've seen on talking this guy up when some of these very same posters were berating him last season.. now they speak as if he was Ronnie Stanley.. like wow.. it's comedy.. some even called him a automatic 5 yards backwards.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

4) Mosi Tatupu RB- At USC, he blocked for RBs Ricky Bell and Charles White. When he came to the Pats, he did it all. Special teams, fullback, caught the ball once in a while. Truly a selfless Patriots.

New England Patriots Hall of Famer - should be

Marv Cook. The star TE who overlapped with Coates. Coates developed a special chemistry with Bledsoe and bumped Cook off his starting spot. Of course, there were numerous injuries that robbed him of his athletic abilities. But imagine making the Pro Bowl with the late '80s/early '90s mess the Pats had at QB! All-Pro in 1991, Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1992!

He made Hugh Millen the Patriots' first $million quarterback (while Flutie was being paid a third of that in Canada).

Ellis Hobbs was a good returner.

Ben(Watson)Jarvus[is] Green-Ellis Hobbs.

19 Mind-blowing Facts About BenJarvus Green-Ellis

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, commonly known as "The Law Firm," is a former professional football player who left an indelible mark on the game. With a career spanning

facts.net

Loved Shawn Jefferson. His game winning catch against the Dolphins in 1998 on MNF was amazing.

Movin' On Up!

Mack Herron is the reason I’m a Pat’s fan.

1974 is to the Patriots what 1967 is to the Red Sox. Which is known to those of us lucky enough to have experienced it.

3rd? Hard - T3 Boston Patriots Ron Hall (who I have only seen play in clips) and the stawart duo of Roland James & Fred Marion during the 1980s... Completely forgotten here, but they spent a decade roaming the backfield, both scooping up 29 ints each...

All 3 Patriots Unsung Heroes.

Tim Goad. Played nose tackle on crappy teams in the 90's. He was a tough mfer. Loved his motor and desire to compete when others may have just packed it in. Always seemed to make plays against much better competition. Give me a front four with his desire and motivation any day. Unappreciated for sure.

"It ain't the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."

 

[InRodWeRust]

Yes! Did you know that crew? Family? Fans? Never knew the story behind the sign

I'm afraid not. It was just an eye catching sign that burned into my brain from the florescent orange

 

[Tunescribe]

Mahogany Noggin.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Martin was not traded to the jete, no siree jim-bob... that was theft by poison pill... Martin leaving is one of the (myriad) of reasons Bill Parcells is viewed with such enmity in New England...

Martin was a restricted free agent... Parcells, now running the Jete, used his knowledge of the Patriots financial situation and crafted Martin a tender, which included a few poison pill elements... the contract could be voided by the Player after one year, included a "no franchise tag" clause, and included a 3.3 million dollar bonus... The Pats were cap strapped & couldn't match the money, and if they did, they risked losing Martin after just one year because of the voidable after one year/no franchise tag clauses...

I think the NYJFL outlawed that type of contract afterward. Parcells was smart to make that move, but it always bothered me that Parcells knew that Martin would come to the Jete after 1 year if the Pats matched. One of the many reasons I don't think he belongs in the Pats HOF

I heard that Pete warned the Pats' management but they didn't listen to him or do anything.

I can't bring myself to begrudge Parcells from doing whatever he could to make his team better. He was gone. He did what was in the best interests of his team, and they made it all the way to the AFCCG.

I've also heard that Bill treated Kraft like **** from the get go. That does not jibe with the other reports, that Parcells was forthcoming and cooperative until he got stabbed in the back on draft day.

It's clear that Kraft and Parcells couldn't stand each other. Bob has all these flowery, complimentary things to say about Parcells, what a great coach he is and the importance and tangible relevance of his contribution to the Patriots, along with the many countless other players and coaches prior to his ownership. While in reality he considers anyone linked to the Sullivans (aside from the many who contributed - significantly - to the titles won later, and there are a lot of them, most notably Scar & Ernie) lepers.