Today in Patriots History

italian pat patriot · Aug 16, 2019

jmt57 said:
Today in Patriots History
Sam Bam Cunningham

Happy 69th birthday to Sam Cunningham
Born Aug 15, 1950 in Santa Barbara, California
Patriot RB, 1973-1982; uniform #39
Pats 1st round (11th overall) selection of the 1973 draft, from Southern Cal

Sam 'Bam' Cunningham played in 107 games for the Pats. He is the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 5,453 yards, and his 43 rushing touchdowns rank second in team history. He also had 210 receptions; overall Cunningham had 7,358 yards from scrimmage and 49 touchdowns. Sam was the club's leading rusher when the Patriots set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season with 3,165 yards in 1978.

Sam Cunningham is a member of the Pats All-Decade Team of the 1970s, the 35th Anniversary Team, and the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team. He was enshrined into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2010.

In 1970 Sam Cunningham was in a USC backfield along with QB Jimmy Jones, and future Oakland Raider RB Clarence Davis. Collectively they were the first collegiate all-black backfield. On September 12, 1970 USC went on the road to play Alabama in Birmingham for an early season east-west showdown between traditional college football powerhouses.

Cunningham ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns on just twelve carries as USC trounced all-white 'Bama 42-21. That color barrier changed immediately. An assistant to head coach Bear Bryant later said that "Sam Cunningham did more to integrate Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King did in 20 years". USC went on to win the national Championship two years later, with Cunningham earning All-American honors.

Separated from the myths, Sam Cunningham’s story remains an inspiration | LA Times

pity and sad he did not win a Super Bowl...

jmt57 · Aug 16, 2019

Today in Patriots History
The first Pats #87 All Pro TE

Happy 50th birthday to Ben Coates
Born August 16, 1969 in Greenwood, South Carolina
Patriot TE, 1991-1999; uniform #87
Pats 5th round (124th overall) selection of the 1991 draft, from Livingstone

Ben Coates did not play football until his senior year at Greenwood (SC) High School. As a result he was not recruited by any college football powerhouses, and went to nearby Division II Livingstone (enrollment: 1,200). Breaking records in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association got him an invite to the NFL combine, but those results were nothing special. It's a surprise Coates was even drafted.

Coates' first two years in Foxborough coincided with the **** MacPherson era. The former Syracuse head coach preferred a '21' offensive formation. That meant Leonard Russell at RB, Ivy Joe Hunter or John Stephens at FB, Irving Fryar and Greg McMurtry at WR, and Marv Cook as the single tight end. Cook was a major factor in that Patriot offense - an All Pro in '91, with 148 receptions over those two seasons - but the Pats rarely used a two-tight end set. Coates rarely saw any action; he had only 30 catches and four touchdown in those first two years.

After a two-win season McPherson was history. In 1993 the Pats hired Bill Parcells, who had a history of success exploiting mismatches for TE Mark Bavaro with the Giants. That same year the Pats also drafted Drew Bledsoe, who was an immense upgrade over Hugh Millen.

Parcells utilized a two-tight offense for much of that '93 season, in part to help Bledsoe with an outlet, and also to assist the offensive line with blocking. Cook played in 16 games with 12 starts, but his production dropped to 22 catches for 154 yards. Coates led the team with 53 receptions for 659 yards and eight touchdowns. He became Bledsoe's security blanket as well as a fan favorite.

In 1994 Ben Coates caught 96 passes, setting a single season NFL record for most receptions by a tight end - a mark that would stand for twenty years. That season would be the first of five that Coates was named to the Pro Bowl, first of two 1st-team All-Pro selections (and first of three overall). From 1993 to 1998 Coates had 428 receptions for 4,835 yards and 44 touchdowns. He led the team in receiving touchdowns each of those six seasons, receptions five times, and receiving yards twice. Coates was arguably the number one factor in Drew Bledsoe's productivity and success.

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6'5 Ben Coates was much more than just a pass catching receiver masquerading as a tight end. Like Russ Francis before him, he was a devastating blocker in both the run game and in pass protection.

"I didn't want to just catch passes. We had guys like Shannon [Sharpe] and other people in the league that were going to be pass-catching tight ends, but [my question was], 'When are we going to start looking at the complete tight end?'"

When he retired Ben Coates ranked second in franchise history with 490 receptions (now sixth), third with 5,471 receiving yards (now sixth) and second with 50 receiving touchdowns (now third). He is a member of the Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1990s, the Pats 35th Anniversary Team, the Patriots Team of the Century in 2000, and the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s. When Coates retired he was the fourth all-time leading receiver among tight ends in NFL history, behind only Ozzie Newsome, Shannon Sharpe and Kellen Winslow - all of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 2000 Ben Coates left Foxboro and signed with Baltimore, where he won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in his final NFL season.

Ben Coates was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008. He has spent some time coaching high school football, but mostly 'is enjoying being a dad to his three kids after missing out on their early years because of his playing career'.

There's a good Q&A from Mike Reiss with Ben Coates from last season, when Gronk was about to eclipse Coate's franchise record for receptions by a tight end:

Ben Coates appreciates what Rob Gronkowski is doing | Mike Reiss, espn

For more on Ben Coates, check these links out:

Ben Coates | The Patriots Hall of Fame

Ben Coates elected to Patriots Hall of Fame | Patriots.com

New England Patriots of the Past: Ben Coates | Last Word on Pro Football

The great Rob Gronkowski - Ben Coates debate | Fansided

jmt57 · Aug 16, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Game Delayed Due To Fire

On August 16, 1970 the Patriots played a preseason game against Washington. It managed to become a memorable part of the early years of the franchise.

The Patriots played this exhibition game at BC's Alumni Stadium because Harvard was utilizing their stadium for tryouts that day. The stands at The Heights had been freshly painted. Some reports claims that the fiasco began after a fan threw a lit cigarette into a trash bin; others state the blaze was ignited when a popcorn machine beneath the bleachers malfunctioned and caught fire.

Fans evacuated to the safety of the field, mingling with players like Sonny Jurgensen while the game was halted. After the fire was doused fans returned to a seat of their choosing that was hopefully neither charred, soaked, or overly warm. Washington won the game 45-21.

Happy birthday to David Givens
Born Aug 16, 1980 in Youngstown, Ohio
Patriot WR, 2002-2005; uniform #87
Pats 7th round (253rd overall) selection of the 2002 draft, from Notre Dame

This 2015 piece by Tom Curran sums up David Givens' contributions to the Patriots:

Best of the Belichick Era: Number 40 -- David Givens | NBC Sports Boston

David Givens was a rock-solid weapon for the Patriots in some of their biggest games. Givens wasn’t tall but he was jacked -- 6-feet, 212 pounds -- and his ability to use that solid frame to make catches in traffic was vital to the success of two Super Bowl champions. How important was he in the playoffs? He caught a touchdown pass in seven of the eight playoffs games he played for the Patriots.

Givens’ emergence began in 2003, when the Pats started their NFL-record 21-game winning streak. He finished the season with 34 catches for 510 yards and caught another 17 passes in three playoff games, including a touchdown in the Super Bowl win over the Panthers. In 2004, he had his best season as a pro with 56 catches for 874 yards. Again, he was a focal point in the playoffs with 12 catches in three games, including an outstanding catch in the back right corner of the end zone on a dart from Tom Brady against the Eagles.

Givens had another 54 catches for the 2005 Patriots, who were dumped from the playoffs by the Broncos. He then went to Tennessee on a lucrative free-agent contract, but caught only nine passes for the Titans before knee problems ended his career. He later would file suit against Tennessee, arguing the Titans gave him poor medical advice and allowed him to play on an injured knee.

June 26, 2010: A smoothie transition: Former Patriot David Givens pours his positive energy into new business venture | Mike Reiss, espn

Happy birthday to Trey Flowers
Born Aug 16, 1993 in Huntsville, Alabama
Patriot DE, 2015-2018; uniform #98
Pats 4th round (101st overall) selection of the 2015 draft, from Arkansas

Mar 11, 2019: Losing Trey Flowers Hurts, But DE's Detroit Departure Is Typical Patriots | Michael Hurley, CBS Boston

As a rookie, Flowers played in all of one game. He was inactive throughout the season and was eventually placed on IR on Dec. 1. Rookie season over. No tackles, no forced fumbles, no sacks, no picks. No nothing.

Not much was made of Flowers’ presence on the roster in the offseason that followed, and he was generally quiet through the first half of the 2016 season. Then, the Patriots and Flowers unleashed that untapped potential, and he broke out for seven sacks and 23 total tackles in the next seven games. In Super Bowl LI against the Falcons, he picked up 2.5 sacks on Matt Ryan, one of which helped push the Falcons out of field-goal range late in the fourth quarter.

A star was born.

Flowers put forth a solid season in 2017, establishing himself as a force on the edge and the interior, as a pass rusher and a run stopper. He did the same thing in 2018, making a critical sack of Patrick Mahomes in the AFC title game to push the Chiefs out of field-goal range before halftime and contributing to the New England defense holding the No. 2-ranked Rams offense to just three points in Super Bowl LIII.

With that, Flowers quite quickly went from unheralded fourth-round pick, to mostly forgotten rookie, to suddenly being the best player available in free agency.

And to be clear, the 25-year-old should remain a consistent, impactful player for the Lions. But as is the case with most every big-money contract in the NFL, it’s nearly impossible for any player to produce at a level that matches the dollar cost that is attached to these free-agent mega deals.

Happy birthday to Isaiah Stanback
Born Aug 16, 1984 in Seattle
Patriot WR, 2009; uniform #9

Stanback was a QB at the University of Washington, drafted in the 4th round by the Cowboys to be converted to WR in 2007 - and also drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2006. Dallas waived him at the end of camp in 2009, and the Pats signed him to their practice squad. Stanback was promoted to the main roster when Brandon Tate went on IR, and he was active for six of the final eight games, with two starts. Stanback finished the 2009 season with three receptions for 22 yards and one kickoff return for 22 yards. He was waived the following May when the Pats re-signed OLB Derrick Burgess.

Others born this date with a New England connection:

Gregg Robinson, 63 (1956)
Born in Palmer MA; Minnechaug Regional HS (Wilbraham); Dartmouth College
The 6'5 DE/NT was a 6th round pick in '78, playing in all 16 games for the Jets in his only season in the NFL. After that he was a Marketing Rep for IBM, spent 10 years as a diplomat in the US State Department, was a VP at Morgan Stanley, a Partner with Sweeney & Co., and is now a Managing Consultant for International Research.

Walt Brewster (1907-1985)
Born in Plymouth
Tackle for the 1929 Buffalo Bisons.

Michael Reed, 47 (1972)
Boston College
DB played briefly with Carolina in 1995-96.

Bob Garner (1923-1972)
Born and died in North Adams
Tackle for the 1945 Giants.

Other 8/16 pro football notables:

Frank Gifford (1930-2015)
Before he became a MNF broadcaster The Giffer was an 8-time Pro Bowl halfback with the Giants, inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Kevin Williams, 39 (1980)
6-time Pro Bowl DT played in 203 games from 2003-2015, mostly with Minnesota.

Bill Glass, 84 (1935)
4-time Pro Bowl DE for the Browns played from 1958-68.

Ryan Kerrigan, 31 (1988)
Washington LB has 84 sacks and has been named to four Pro Bowls.

Woody Peoples (1943-2010)
Pro Bowl RG for the 49ers in the 70s.

Christian Okoye, 58 (1961)
The Nigerian Nightmare did not play football until age 23. He became an All Pro with the Chiefs, leading the NFL in 1989 with 1,480 yards rushing.

italian pat patriot · Aug 17, 2019

After Gronk i will put him at 2nd place of our best Te ever...Ben Coates one of the greatest...

3rd probably Francis

jmt57 · Aug 17, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Eugene Wilson

Happy 39th birthday to Eugene Wilson
Born Aug 17, 1980 in Maywood, Illinois
Patriot FS, 2003-2007; uniform #26
Pats 2nd round (36th overall) selection of the 2003 draft, from Illinois

Eugene Wilson was a starter as a rookie, replacing Tebucky Jones at safety. He had four interceptions that season, and a pair of pass deflections in Super Bowl over Carolina before being suffering a groin injury. The absence of Wilson and Rodney Harrison was a key (but often overlooked) factor in how Carolina was able to come back and rack up points in that game.

11/20/2005: Eugene Wilson holds up the ball after an in interception
in the final seconds of a game against the Saints.

The following season Wilson again had four picks, plus two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He drew the ire of Tony Dungy on a hard hit on Reggie Wayne, with St Tony incorrectly ranting to officials that the play should have drawn a penalty. Dungy, Bill Polian and their friends on the Competition Committee would institute rule changes and 'points of emphasis' that would hurt aggressive defenders like Wilson and Rodney Harrison, and benefit indoor pass-heavy offenses such as their own Colts.

Eugene Wilson lays a massive hit on Colt WR Reggie Wayne,
preventing him from catching a fourth-quarter pass during the AFC Championship.

In the AFCCG Wilson intercepted Ben Roethlisberger twice and broke up another of Ben's passes, as the Patriots defeated Pittsburgh 41-27. Wilson had four tackles and two passes defensed in Super Bowl 39, but had to leave that championship game as well when he injured his right shoulder on a kickoff return with 1:03 left to play in the first half.

12/16/2007: Eugene Wilson (26) celebrates a pick-six off Kellen Clemens with Asante Samuel; the play gave the Pats a 7-0 lead. The Patriots would go on to defeat the Jets 20-10 and improve to 14-0; Eric Mangini's Jets dropped to 3-11.

Wilson played in 62 games for the Patriots over five seasons with the Patriots. He had ten interceptions (one pick-six), 28 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and 251 tackles. He also played in ten playoff games and earned two Super Bowl rings. He apparently keeps a low profile now, possibly due to the way his name was used in headlines when his father got himself in trouble.

Jan 31, 2015: Eugene Wilson's NFL career a fading memory in the region | NWI Times

Sept 1, 2009: Eugene Wilson on low hit from Brett Favre: "What was up with that?"

Happy 53rd birthday to Zefross Moss
Born Aug 17, 1966 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Patriot RT, 1997-1999; uniform #77

Zefross Moss had spent six seasons with the Colts and two with Detroit before joining the Pats in '97 at the age of 31. The Pats had let 35 year old LG William Roberts go, and moved RT Max Lane to fill Roberts' position. Moss came in and spent the next three seasons as the team's starter at right tackle.

Over an 11-season career Moss played in 154 games with 137 starts, plus four playoff games.

Happy 29th birthday to Greg Scruggs
Born Aug 17, 1990 in Cincinnati
Patriot TE, 2016; uniform #83
Signed as a free agent on Oct 1, 2016

Oct 5, 2016: TE Greg Scruggs catches a pass in between practice team members
Devin Lucien, left, and Glenn Gronkowski during practice in Foxboro.

Scruggs was a late (232nd overall) draft pick by Seattle in 2012; he was with the Seahawks until 2014, and then the Bears for two seasons - where he was converted from DE to TE. In late September of 2016 the Pats signed (and quickly waived) defensive tackles Anthony Johnson, and then John Hughes. That opened a roster spot for Scruggs, who was signed on October 1. Scruggs was on the game-day inactive list for two weeks, then placed on season ending IR. He received a ring for Super Bowl LI versus Atlanta, but never played in the NFL again. Scruggs is now the Director of Player Development at the University of Cincinnati, and serves on the board of directors at Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Oct 1, 2016: Getting a feel for new TE Greg Scruggs | Mike Reiss, espn

Oct 7, 2016: The life of a Patriots newcomer: TE Greg Scruggs always has a pen handy | MassLive.com

Happy 27th birthday to Brock Vereen
Born Aug 17,1992 in Valencia, California
Patriot safety, 2015-2016; uniform #25
Signed to the practice squad on Nov 18, 2015

Shane's younger brother was originally a fourth round pick by the Bears in 2014. The Pats signed him to their practice squad on November 18; 2015; he was waived during the 2016 training camp.

Happy 38th birthday to Chas Gessner
Born Aug 17, 1981 in DC
Patriot WR, 2003; uniform #18
Signed as an undrafted rookie on May 2, 2003

A 6'5 receiver was an All-American in both football and lacrosse at Brown University. The Pats allocated him to Berlin in NFL Europe. Four months after Super Bowl 38 (for which he would receive a ring), Gessner was part of the Berlin Thunder winning the World Bowl championship. He later signed with the Jets, Bucs and Seahawks, and played a few years of Arena Football. Gessner is the founder of Vitality RX, a men's health program.

Practice squad WR Chas Gessner (bottom left) celebrates SB 38

August 17, 2002:
The Patriots host their first football game at Gillette Stadium.
In preseason play the Pats defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 16-15.

Other pro football players with New England connections born on this date include:

Hank Soar (1914-2001)
Born in Alton, RI; Pawtucket HS, Providence College; lived and died in Pawtucket
Pro Bowl fullback played for the Giants from 1937-1946. His 23 yard touchdown reception was the winning score in a comeback victory over the Packers in the 1938 NFL championship game.

Kasim Edebali, 30 (1989)
Kimball Union Academy; Boston College
The DE/OLB has played in 62 games; he is now with the Eagles.

Tommy Tomlin (1894-1949)
Born and raised in Waltham; Waltham HS
The Syracuse grad played left guard for several teams in the twenties.

Mack Lee Hill (1940-1964)
Born in Quincy
An All-Star with the Chiefs, he led the AFL in yards per carry in '64 (5.5) and '65 (5.0).

Fred Sweet (1901-1976)
Brown University
Fred was a running back and kicker for the Providence Steam Roller in 1925-26.

Some other pro football players born Aug 17:

Isaiah 'Butch' Robertson (1949-2018)
Six-time Pro Bowl linebacker played for 12 years and helped the Rams win six straight NFC West titles from 1973 to 1978.

Ed McCaffrey, 51 (1968)
In a three-year span after the age of 30 the WR had 236 receptions with 3,388 yards and 26 touchdowns - more than he had had in the previous seven years combined.

Alex Sandusky, 87 (1932)
Missed just one game from 1954-66, blocking for Johnny Unitas as the Colts RG.

Don Muhlbach, 38 (1981)
Pro Bowl LS has played in 231 games for the Lions

Knuckles Boyle (1909-1943) makes this list because I like the name.

jmt57 · Aug 18, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Adalius Thomas

Happy 42nd birthday to Adalius Thomas
Born Aug 18, 1977 in Equality, Alabama
Patriot LB, 2007-2009; uniform #96

While Adalius Thomas is most remembered for how things ended poorly with him in Foxboro, it is worth pointing that it wasn't always that way. He was an incredibly athletic defender with Baltimore, capable of playing nearly every position on the field. That versatility is why Bill Belichick was willing to "back up the Brink's truck" to pay him when he hit free agency. Thomas was initially a beast with the Patriots, until he broke his arm against the Bills late in the 2008 season.

Things went south in 2009 for whatever reason. He was a healthy scratch for a game against Tennessee, then was one of three players who were sent home after arriving late to a morning meeting due to a snowstorm. One day after the 2010 draft the Patriots released Thomas. As far as I know no other teams offered him a workout or contract - or perhaps it was he that was not interested - and his NFL career was over.

Feb 4, 2010: Adalius Thomas details falling out | Mike Reiss, espn

“After the Buffalo game, the first game of the year, something happened and I was like ‘I really don’t understand this,’" Thomas said.

“I really don’t want to go into it, because I still don’t understand it. I had a meeting and I just really didn’t understand some of the stuff I was being told. So I knew at that point it was bigger than what was on the surface. It was something bigger than that. You guys watch the games. I was used totally differently this year than I was last year before I broke my arm. Even before I came back, I was told that I was going to be used differently.”

Adalius+Thomas+New+England+Patriots+v+New+f2cliiMxH5Pl.jpg

Asked more about the meeting after the Bills game, Thomas said it wasn’t about a specific play but more his overall performance and “whether or not it was sufficient.”

“It’s the first game back and the way some stuff went down, I just really didn’t understand it,” he said. “It was a confusing meeting to me. I understood some of it, but a lot of it was just confusing and it even got more confusing as the year went on.”

One theme that came up a few times in the interview -- and seemed to be at the root of Thomas' frustration -- was Thomas pointing out that the coaches critiquing his play weren’t on the field themselves. It sounded like Thomas felt that he was being overcoached.

Adalius+Thomas+Buffalo+Bills+v+New+England+4gF8dL1NmdAl.jpg

“The way they coach things and do things may be totally different than how I see it,” he said. “There is a checks-and-balance system that really is not going to marry up because regardless of what you see as a player on that play, it really doesn’t matter if someone else sees it differently. Unless you’re on the field, there are a million things going on at one time. So when you see something and you go, you don’t have time to sit back and think or whatever.

“Monday through Saturday is for coaches. Sunday has to be for the player. You do adjustments and everything like that, which is great, but at the same time you can’t coach every single thing during the game. It’s just impossible to do because there are so many things going on. A player can’t tell you every single thing that happens in front of him because it happens so fast and there is the next play. You’re trying to go to the sidelines trying to recap everything and it’s kind of hard to do that.”

Apr 26, 2010: Patriots release Adalius Thomas | Patriots.com

Thomas, 6-2, 270 pounds, originally signed with New England as an unrestricted free agent on March 3, 2007. Last season, he played in 14 games with 11 starts and finished with 31 total tackles, three sacks and two passes defensed. Thomas has played in 135 NFL games and has accumulated 584 tackles, seven interceptions, 17 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 79 special teams tackles.

Apr 26, 2010: Adalius Thomas never found a home with Pats | Jeff Howe, nesn

When asked in February about the tension between Thomas and Belichick, a Patriots source told NESN.com, “Yeah, everybody saw that. That was no secret.”

Thomas has thrown some passive-aggressive jabs at Belichick through the media — at least twice last season from the Pats’ locker room, and then again during separate interviews with 98.5 The Sports Hub and the Boston Globe — stoking a fire he obviously didn’t want to simmer.

Adalius+Thomas+St+Louis+Rams+v+New+England+TVCkEqjq63zl.jpg

It wasn’t solely Thomas’ fault, but his constant whining will leave him remembered as the bad guy. Plus, Belichick and the Patriots won three Super Bowls before Thomas arrived — as Thomas’ former Ravens teammate, Ray Lewis, pointed out in 2007 — so the head coach will usually earn the benefit of the doubt in such occasions.

Still, it just wasn’t the right fit. Thomas signed a $35 million, five-year contract prior to the 2007 season — the most money the Patriots have ever dished out to a free agent — and he played well at the start of his career in New England. He had a 17-game stretch from 2007-08 when he recorded 13 sacks, including his masterful two-sack performance in the Super Bowl.

Adalius+Thomas+Super+Bowl+XLII+zm3cUAZmHonl.jpg

But Thomas had only registered three sacks since that point. In that most recent stretch, he played in 17 games, missed seven due to injury and was benched twice. While Thomas has showed he can be a very strong pass rusher, he couldn’t excel with the other responsibilities Belichick levied to his outside linebackers. Credit Belichick with some blame in that regard, too, because he wasn’t always putting Thomas in a position to succeed.

When Thomas stopped playing at a high level on the field, he became testier behind the scenes, and it sounds like he was able to further act out his displeasure after the Patriots lost leaders Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour. This wasn’t Thomas’ first temperamental issue, either.

After leaving the Ravens, he got into a war of words with Lewis, the longtime Baltimore leader who called Thomas a “coward” and noted the Ravens needed to adjust their schemes to coddle Thomas. Sound familiar?

Apr 26, 2010: Patriots release veteran LB Adalius Thomas | espn

In the end, it was a pairing in which both sides didn't get what they felt was advertised.

Thomas had issues with his role, expecting to be used as more of a pure pass-rusher, while the Patriots were disappointed with Thomas' production and presence in the locker room.

Given the timing of the release, it appears the Patriots tried to trade Thomas during the draft and when nothing materialized, they went ahead with the release.

"After the draft, we talked about the personnel and looked at our roster and so forth, and we made that decision to move on with the players that we have," Belichick told Boston sports radio station WEEI. "He was a good football player, he came in and had a heck of a year for us in '07. Again, at this point in time, we felt like this was the direction we had to go on."

Happy birthday to Jess Richardson
Born Aug 18, 1930 in Philadelphia
Died 6/17/75 at the age of 44
Patriot DT 1962-1964; uniform #75

Jess Richardson played for eight seasons with the Eagles before finishing his career with the Pats. He may be most well known for being the last lineman to play pro football without a faceguard.

Happy 63rd birthday to Dave Browning
Born Aug 18, 1956 in Spokane, Washington
Patriot DE, 1983; uniform #74

Dave was a 2nd round draft pick by Oakland in '78, and was part of the Raiders SB 15 winning team. After five seasons with the Raiders he played in twelve games for Ron Meyer's 1983 8-8 club, in his final season of pro football.

Other players born on Aug 18 with a New England connection:

Taylor Moton, 25 (1994)
Pats draft pick trade
The Pats traded the 64th overall pick of the 2017 draft to Carolina on 3/10/17, which the Panthers used to select Moton. In return the Pats received Kony Ealy and another draft pick - which was traded again. Eventually the Patriots used the picks to select Derek Rivers and Antonio Garcia. Moton is now the starting RT for Carolina.

Dan Orlovsky, 36 (1983)
Born in Bridgeport; Shelton (CT) High School; UConn
While he is most well known for inadvertently running out of the back of the end zone, the career backup QB did enough to collect paychecks for 12 full NFL seasons.

Les Olsson (1909-1972)
Boston Redskins, 1934-36
Les started at RG in 57 games over five seasons, plus two championship games - including Washington's 28-21 victory over the Bears in 1937.

Nate Freese, 29 (1990)
Boston College
The kicker was a 7th round draft pick by the Lions in 2014. His NFL career ended abruptly after four missed field goals in his first three games.

Some notable pro football players sharing this birth date:

Greg Pruitt, 68 (1951)
Browns RB had three consecutive seasons with 1,000+ yards rushing, then was named to his fifth Pro Bowl with Oakland at the age of 32 when he led the NFL in punt returns.

Brian Mitchell, 51 (1968)
Washington KR/PR/RB led the NFL in All-Purpose Yardage four times from 1994-1998. His 23,330 career APY is a mere 216 yards fewer than record holder Jerry Rice. At that time his 2,477 all-purpose yards in 1994 was the second most in a single season in NFL history.

Matt Snell, 78 (1941)
The three-time Pro Bowl fullback had far more to do with the outcome the historic Super Bowl III than Joe Namath did. Snell ran for 121 yards and a touchdown that day to propel the Jets to a 16-7 upset over the Colts.

Jeremy Shockey, 39 (1980)
The brash tight end had 547 receptions and 37 TD from 2002-2011.

Dontari Poe, 29 (1990)
Pro Bowl NT for KC is now with Carolina.

Bart Scott, 39 (1980)
Highly opinionated linebacker played in 172 games with the Ravens and Jets from 2002-2012.

jmt57 · Aug 19, 2019

Today in Patriots History
The largest crowd in AFL history

Officially the largest crowd in the history of the AFL was 62,627 at Shea Stadium for the 1968 title game between the Jets and Raiders. There was another game in which the attendance actually surpassed that number; ironically it did not take place in an AFL city.

On August 16, 1961 there were 73,916 spectators for a preseason game between the Patriots and Titans (as the Jets were known then). The game was played at Philadelphia Memorial Stadium - which would later become known as JFK Stadium before it was torn down in 1992.

Acme Supermarkets - which still owns a chain of grocery stores from Maryland to Connecticut - ran a promotion where anybody that spent $10 was given a free ticket to the game. The final score was Titans 17, Patriots 6 with Larry Garron scoring the Pats only TD. The game ended in the final minute when loyal Acme shoppers ran onto the field as part of the promo.

Happy 32nd birthday to Patrick Chung
Born Aug 19, 1987 in Kingston, Jamaica
Patriot safety, 2009-2012; uniform #25
Patriot safety, 2014-present; uniform #23
Pats 2nd round (34th overall) selection of the 2009 draft, from Oregon

Patrick Chung is a three-time Super Bowl champion. He has played in 140 games, plus 22 postseason games. While at Oregon he set the school record with 51 defensive starts.

On a Monday Night Football game in 2010 against Miami, Chung blocked a punt, blocked a field, and returned an interception for a touchdown.

Patrick Chung | Patriots.com

Happy 45th birthday to David Patten
Born Aug 19, 1974 in Columbia, South Carolina
Patriot WR, 2001-2004; uniform #86

David Patten went undrafted out of Western Carolina, and began his pro football career playing in the Arena League in 1996.

Where Are They Now: David Patten | Patriots.com

Then: David's three-score performance in the Patriots' October 21, 2001 win against Indianapolis made him just the sixth player in NFL history to run, catch and throw for a touchdown in a single game. He finished the regular season with 51 receptions for 749 yards and recorded New England's only offensive touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVI victory on an eight-yard pass from Tom Brady in the Patriots' win over the Rams.

*Now:* In 2013, David returned to his alma mater, Western Carolina University (where he played from 1992-1995) to complete his degree in social work. He was also an assistant coach for the Catamounts. He is now reportedly a minister with the True Believers Church of Our Lord ************. David's son, Daquan, is a walk-on freshman wide receiver at Western Carolina.

July 31, 2010: Old Patriots Hero David patten Calls It a Career After 12 NFL Seasons | Jeff Howe, NESN

Patten was in his second stint with the Patriots, and through offseason practices and two days of training camp, he appeared to have a shot to make the roster. His chemistry with quarterback Tom Brady — who tried to talk Patten out of retiring Saturday morning — was extremely obvious, and it would have been a valuable asset for a team with a young receiving corps.

However, Patten will say so long to a game that he treated so well — and in return, treated him well back.

"This is a sad moment," Belichick said. "But it’s also a very happy one and one to celebrate — a truly great career, the rags-to-riches story, coming off unloading coffee bags to the NFL career that he's had is a tremendous story, and very deserving of the type of person and the type of player that David was for the New England Patriots and throughout his career in the league."

Patten went undrafted out of Western Carolina and found his way into the league after working as an electrician, a landscaper and in a coffee bean factory. He earned his stripes through hard work and dedication, and Belichick credited Patten as one of the players who got "the program started" in New England.

"We have a lot of players that work hard," Belichick said. "I think David sets the pace in work ethic."

"You play for the money," Patten said. "You play for the championships, but at the end of the day, you just want your fellow players, your teammates and your coaches to know that you gave everything that you have on a day-in and day-out basis."

Patten played in New England from 2001 to 2004, catching 165 passes for 2,513 yards and 16 touchdowns. Patten caught 13 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns during the Patriots' 2001 postseason run, and two of his touchdown grabs — one against the Steelers in the AFC championship game and another against the Rams in the Super Bowl — have been burned into the memory of Patriots fans.

"There have been a number of times when I've been over in the Hall or flip on the TV," Belichick said. "It seems like there's always a David Patten highlight."

In 12 NFL seasons, he caught 324 passes for 4,715 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also spent time with the Giants, Browns, Redskins and Saints.

Happy 32nd birthday to Brandon Deaderick
Born Aug 19, 1987 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Patriot DE/DT, 2010-2012; uniform #71
Pats 7th round (247th overall) selection of the 2010 draft, from Alabama

Jan 1, 2011: Football journey: Brandon Deaderick | Mike Reiss, espn

The Patriots have produced two big wins in the past two weeks -- over the Ravens and Chargers -- and one surprise has been the presence of rookie defensive end Brandon Deaderick in the starting lineup. A seventh-round draft choice out of Alabama, the 247th overall pick, Deaderick has played significant snaps alongside Vince Wilfork and Gerard Warren.

After he was a healthy inactive for the first three games of the season, Deaderick has been credited with nine tackles and two quarterback sacks while seeing time at left end, right end and even as a sub rusher for a series last week against the Chargers.

May 13, 2013: Patriots Release Brandon Deaderick in Surprise Move | NESN

The Patriots have parted ways with another veteran.

The Patriots announced a few roster moves on Monday, including the surprise release of veteran defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick.

Deaderick, 25, was a seventh-round pick in 2010 and has spent the past three seasons making contributions on the Patriots’ defensive line. He played in 34 games, starting 14, and managed 51 tackles and five sacks during his tenure in New England.

He played sparingly as a rookie but saw increased time in his second year, playing a significant role in the Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl in 2011. He played in 14 games in 2012, but lost playing time to Kyle Love and rookie Justin Francis as the season wore on. The additions of interior linemen Armond Armstead and veteran Tommy Kelly seem to have made Deaderick expendable, leading to his release.

May 14, 2013: Patriots cut DL Brandon Deaderick | Boston Globe

The release of Deaderick is a bit of a surprise. A 2010 seventh-round pick out of Alabama, Deaderick played in 14 games last season with five starts; he was on the field for 374 defensive snaps, or 34.1 percent of the Patriots’ snaps.

The team suspended him at the end of his rookie season for missing or being late for several team meetings.

Brandon Deaderick now works on the football staff at the University of Tennessee as the Quality Control Analyst.

Happy 71st birthday to Doug Dressler
Born Aug 19, 1948 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Patriot RB, 1975; uniform #44

Doug played in the first five games of the 1975 season, almost exclusively on special teams. Prior to that he spent four years with the Bengals, and was with the Chiefs for the last half of the 1975 season.

Chico State Hall of Fame Athletics, 1987

Doug Dressler, Atherton
Football: 1968, 69
Wrestling: 1969, 70
All-Conference Tight End in 1969. Led conference in punting 1968, 69. Signed as free agent by NFL Cincinnati Bengals in 1969 and played for 6 years. Won heavyweight Far Western Conference wrestling championship 1969, 70. All-American status in 1970 NCAA wrestling championship, placing fourth. President's Award for outstanding athlete in 1970. Coached two years as Chico State football offensive coordinator. Coached Chico High wrestling team to league champions for two years. Coached Twin City Cougars football team for one year. Coached ten years (to present) at Menlo College as football offensive coordinator.

There is a good bio on Dressler here:

June 3, 2009: Dressler rides off into retirement | The Mercury News

Who is the second-most famous person born in Beaver Falls, Pa.? If you answered Doug Dressler, you are correct.

While Joe Namath, a Hall of Fame quarterback, is a lock for the most famous person to come out of Beaver Falls, Dressler has had a life so full it threatens to fill an endless novel. Dressler, a former NFL running back, is known for his involvement in youth sports on the Peninsula as a coach, baseball umpire and wrestling official.

Two others born on this date with a New England connection:

John Grigas (1920-2000)
Born and raised in Chelsea; Chelsea High School; Holy Cross
A 2nd round draft pick by the Chicago Cardinals in 1943, the fullback scored 11 touchdowns in 49 games over five NFL seasons. In 1944 he led the NFL in both all-purpose yards and passes intercepted. In 1946 Grigas led the Boston Yanks in rushes, yards rushing and yards from scrimmage.

Bruce Kimball, 60 (1959)
Born in Beverly; Triton Regional HS (Newbury); Bridgton Academy; UMass
The guard was a 7th round pick by the Steelers in 1979. He played in 25 games for the Giants and Redskins, as well as two seasons for Toronto in the CFL.

Other notable pro football players born on this date:

Anthony Muñoz, 61 (1958)
Hall of Fame tackle played in 185 games for the Bengals from 1980-92.

Morten Andersen, 59 (1960)
Hall of Fame kicker scored 2,544 points, second most in NFL history.

Bobby Hebert, 59 (1960)
Cajun QB pulled off the impossible in New Orleans: in his first year as starter the Saints he led the team to their first winning season and first playoff berth in 21 years of existence. During the Hebert era the Saints went from perennial doormats to making the playoffs in four of his five years as the starting QB.

Thomas Jones, 41 (1978)
The 7th overall pick of the 2000 draft was a bust in Arizona, but then in a six season span with the Bears and Jets he had 8,532 yards from scrimmage and 53 touchdowns.

Nate Burleson, 38 (1981)
WR had 457 receptions for 5,630 yards and 39 TD for the Vikings, Seahawks and Lions from 2003-2013; now works as an NFL analyst.

jmt57 · Aug 20, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Super Turf, Danny Shelton
and other August 20 birthdays

August 20, 1977:
Work is completed on the installation of a new surface, called Super Turf at Schaefer Stadium. This replaced the Poly-Turf that had been there since the stadium's inception. Poly-Turf used polypropylene for its artificial grass blades and was made by a company from Wellesley. It was marketed as an upgrade over Astro Turf (which used nylon for its artificial grass blades) because it included a 'shock pad' between the concrete and artificial grass.

The problem with Poly-Turf was that it was rushed to market and not properly tested. The product tended to mat down and become slick. It also deteriorated rather rapidly, with players tripping on seams. It was most notorious in Miami, where it was unable to withstand their unforgiving heat and humidity. The first version had to be replaced after just two years, and the next install lasted only four years. To add insult to injury, the severe Florida sun caused the product to discolor from green to blue.

After the Poly-Turf broke down, Schaefer Stadium reverted to Astro Turf, then installed natural grass in 1991.

Happy 26th birthday to Danny Shelton
Born August 20, 1993 in Auburn, Washington
Patriot DT, 2018-present; uniform #71
Acquired in trade with Cleveland on March 15, 2018 for a 2019 third round draft pick

Danny Shelton was originally the 12th overall pick by the Browns in 2015, out of Washington. The Browns cleaned house just prior to the start of 2018 free agency, making four trades in a span of 48 hours - including one that sent Shelton to Foxboro.

Mar 10, 2018: Patriots trade for DT Danny Shelton from Cleveland | NBC Sports Boston

The trade can't be officially announced until Wednesday. It's the fourth trade the Browns have made since Friday. They've acquired quarterback Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins and cornerback Damarious Randall from the Green Bay Packers.

Shelton, 24, was the 12th overall pick in the 2015 draft out of the University of Washington. The 6-2, 335-pound defensive tackle has 71 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in 46 career games (45 starts).

On the defensive line, the Patriots have Malcom Brown, Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler and Vincent Valentine, who was on injured reserve all of last season. They did not pick up the option on Alan Branch and on Friday Ricky Jean Francois said he wouldn't be back in New England next season.

Shelton was the top DT prospect in the draft in 2015. The Patriots needed a big body to play with Brown and Guy on the interior. Those two saw a lot of work late in the season with Branch out of the rotation.

In his first year with the Patriots Shelton played in 13 games with one starting, on the field for 31% of the defensive snaps and 22% of special team snaps. He had two tackles and one TFL Super Bowl 53 against the Rams. His playing time increased in 2019, playing in every game, starting all but two. Shelton played in 49% of the defensive snaps in 2019, with three sacks, six quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and 61 tackles. In the playoff loss to Tennessee Shelton had seven tackles, five solo.

Happy 41st birthday to Monty Beisel
Born August 20, 1978 in Douglas, Kansas
Patriot ILB, 2005; uniform #52
Signed as a veteran free agent on April 8, 2005

Monty Beisel was a 4th round pick by the Chiefs in 2001, out of Kansas State. He didn't do much on the field, with one sack, one forced fumble, one pass defensed and 48 tackles in 15 games with six starts. Beisel later signed with Arizona. In nine NFL seasons he played in 119 games with 19 starts, making 252 tackles.

Beisel now works for Hilton & Hyland, a luxury real estate brokerage in Beverly Hills.

No regrets from Monty Beisel | boston.com / Mike Reiss

Beisel is a backup with the Cardinals, contributing mostly on special teams.

In New England, the hope was that Beisel could help fill the void left by the surprise retirement of Ted Johnson. When training camp opened in 2005, Beisel and Chad Brown were the top inside linebackers in the team’s 3-4 defense, as the Patriots were also without Tedy Bruschi, who had suffered a stroke earlier in the year.

Before long, Beisel’s playing time “fell off the table” and Bruschi’s in-season return pushed him further down the depth chart. Beisel also couldn’t break through in 2006 and was released before the start of the regular season.

Beisel’s time in New England is still remembered – thanks to a clip on sports radio WEEI that surfaces from time to time – for a shouting match with a local reporter.

Happy 42nd birthday to Olrick Johnson
Born August 20, 1977 in Miami
Patriot LB, 2000; uniform #51
Signed as a free agent on August 22, 2000

Olrick Johnson was originally signed as an undrafted rookie out of Florida A&M in 1999 by the Jets, where he spent most of that year on their practice squad. Johnson was with Minnesota for the 2000 offseason, cut by the Vikings three days before the Pats picked him up. The 6', 244 pound Johnson played in twelve games as a backup and special teamer for the Patriots, making nine tackles (eight solo).

Since playing in the NFL, Olrick Johnson has worked in the entertainment industry. He has eight movie roles on his resume, as well as many live stage performances.

Olrick Johnson | IMDB

Happy 42nd birthday to Shockmain Davis
Born August 20, 1977 in Port Arthur, Texas
Patriot WR, 2000; uniform #84
Signed as an undrafted rookie on April 24, 2000

Shockmain Davis is one of 16 players to make it to the NFL from Angelo State in San Angelo Texas, the same school that produced Clayton Weishuhn. The 6', 205 lb receiver played in 12 games with one start - catching just two of the 11 passes thrown his way - for 12 yards and one first down. He was also credited with five special team tackles, and returned two kickoffs for 45 yards. The Pats re-signed Davis to an ERFA contract, then waived him at the end of training camp in 2001.

Davis spent the 2002 offseason with Seattle, played in the National Indoor Football League in 2003 and 2005, was with Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 2004, and played two games in the CFL in 2006.

Happy birthday to Al Crow (1932-2019)
Born August 20, 1932 in Norfolk, Virginia
Patriot DT, 1960; uniform #72
Acquired in trade with Bills for Wray Carlton on Sept 3, 1960

Buffalo got the better deal on this trade. Carlton would go on to lead the AFL with 5.6 yards per carry in 1962, and led the league in rushing touchdowns in '65. The running back scored 34 touchdowns in eight seasons for the Bills, twice being named to the AFL All Star Team.

Crow on the other hand played in just three games for the Patriots before his pro football career ended.

Albert Crow Obituary

He graduated from Porlock High School in 1950, and then attended Staunton Military Academy for one year. Following that, he received a four-year athletic scholarship to The College of William and Mary in football. His career was interrupted as a result of being drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict.

He returned to William and Mary and completed his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education in Physical Education.

Al was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play Professional Football for the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and the Boston Patriots prior to beginning his lifelong career in education.

Al was a Physical Education teacher, Driver's Ed Instructor, Coach of Football, Baseball, Wrestling, and Track before being named the Athletic Director of Osbourn High School.

When Osbourn Park High School opened, he became their first Activities Director and enjoyed a successful career there until his retirement in 1991. He was honored by the school naming the football stadium Al Crow Stadium.

After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Crow enjoyed eleven years on the Mission field in East Africa. He and Mrs. Crow have been active members of Manassas Baptist Church since 1961 serving as Deacons, Sunday School Teachers, Scout Leaders and many other roles.

Happy 79th birthday to Gary Collins
Born Aug 20, 1940 in Williamson, PA
Pats 1st round (6th overall) selection of the 1962 draft, from Maryland

The wide receiver was also a first round pick by Cleveland, and not surprisingly signed with the Browns rather than the Pats. Collins went to two Pro Bowls and won a championship with Cleveland, scoring 70 touchdowns from 1962-1971.

Happy 40th birthday to Jason Glenn
Born August 20, 1979 in Aldine, Texas

Glenn was never part of the Patriot organization, but his draft slot (6th round, 173rd overall of the 2001 draft) was involved in two transactions by the Pats.

On April 16, 2000 that 2001 draft pick was sent by San Francisco to the Patriots so the 49ers could add a seventh round pick to their 2000 draft class. The Niners used that on QB Tim rattay, one of the six quarterbacks who were drafted before Tom Brady.

(In fairness to San Francisco, the Patriots themselves debated on whether to draft Rattay or TB12 in 2000.)

Back to the pick used on Jason Glenn: on April 21, 2001 the Pats packaged that sixth round pick with a second round pick in a trade with Detroit to move up two spots, to #48 overall. There the Patriots made a selection that turned out very well: Matt Light, who had been the left tackle at Purdue protecting QB Drew Brees.

Other notables born on this date:

John Rauch (1927-2008)
Second overall pick of the 1949 draft later became head coach of the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills.

Tom Day (1935-2000)
DE played in 116 games, winning two AFL championships with the Bills.

Beattie Feathers (1909-1979)
The halfback was the first player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season in 1934, and to this day his 8.4 yards per carry is still a single season NFL record. Feathers is a member of the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1930s, and surprisingly not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

jmt57 · Aug 20, 2019

Today in Patriots History
A Football Doubleheader

Anaheim Stadium opened in 1966 as the home stadium to major league baseball's Los Angeles Angels/California Angels. It was also the site of the American Football League's first and only doubleheader.

patriots-raiders-chargers-chiefs-football-poster-1966-6.gif

The game was organized by Jim Hardy. First, a bit on Hardy from a 1966 Sports Illustrated article:

As a Rose Bowl hero in the '40s, and for three other years the quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, Jim Hardy did what he could to satisfy southern California's hunger for football. Still, says Hardy, now an insurance man, the region remains on the brink of starvation.

By way of relief, he and four associates are backing an American Football League doubleheader (in the new Anaheim Stadium in August) in which Boston will play Oakland at 6 p.m. and Kansas City will play San Diego at 8:30. Hardy's admitted motive is to land an AFL franchise for the Los Angeles area. "It would be a boom," he says. "Look around: it's been years since anyone has been able to get good seats for the Rams' games."

Ironically, Hardy just passed away yesterday at the age of 96:

Hardy had been the oldest living football player from both USC and the Rams, a former quarterback and defensive back who led the Trojans to Rose Bowl victories in 1944 and 1945. Behind Hardy, who earned Rose Bowl MVP honors in 1945, USC turned both games into runaway shutouts.

Hardy’s attendance at the Rose Bowl would extend far beyond his collegiate career at USC. His streak of 85 consecutive Rose Bowls, including all but the first two of the Trojans’ 34 appearances, was believed to be the longest attendance record in the history of the nation’s most storied bowl game.

Even after his retirement, Hardy remained inextricably linked to football in Southern California — and especially at USC. Hardy attended nearly every home game at the university since he was 8 years old, when he first saw a game at the Coliseum.

His father, who worked the telegraphs for Western Union, brought him to the press box in 1931. From then on, a young Hardy dreamed of playing at USC.

After starring at Fairfax High, Hardy got his wish. His love for USC never faded. Until two years ago, Hardy would make the two-hour drive once every week from his home in La Quinta to USC’s football practice.

From 1973 to 1986, after a successful business career, Hardy served as general manager of the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Jim Hardy's big claim to football fame has nothing to do with the doubleheader or college football though.

Former NFL Quarterback Jim Hardy dies at 96 | Pro Football Talk

Hardy, a quarterback, was the eighth overall pick of the 1945 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He did not ever play for the team that drafted him, instead logging seven seasons with the Rams, Chicago Cardinals and Lions. He passed for 5,690 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career.

Hardy remains the only quarterback in league history to have eight passes intercepted in a single game as the Philadelphia Eagles picked him off eight times with the Cardinals on Sept. 24, 1950. Eight others have been picked seven times in a game, most recently done by Ty Detmer with the Lions in a game against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 23, 2001.

Hardy would throw six touchdowns the following week against the Baltimore Colts.

Back to the doubleheader...

There is at least one account that claims that Hardy was so driven to hold a pro football game in Anaheim that he pitched the concept to multiple teams and oversold the idea, resulting in two commitments. That doesn't sound right though, considering that programs were printed in advance with four teams and the two games.

36,000-plus attended the doubleheader, which resulted in the Pats beating Oakland 21-10, and KC defeating San Diego 31-21. The night was promoted by the fact four Heisman Trophy winners would be playing: Joe Bellino, John Huarte, Mike Garrett and Billy Cannon.

From the newspaper clipping above:

The Patriots, who had not won an exhibition since they beat New York four years ago, were out-gained by Oakland 360 yards to 147. But a couple of throws to Jim Whalen, a second year end from Boston College, got the Patriots all the points they needed.

John Huarte, the Heisman Trophy winner who played high school ball at nearby Santa Ana, started at quarterback for Boston. For most of the first half, he was more of a canvasback. He completed 6 of 10 passes but was thrown seven times for losses totaling 54 yards.

With two minutes to go in the first half, however, Huarte got the Bostons off on an 80-yard scoring drive. On the fourth play of the series, he hit Whalen on a 54-yard pass play that put Boston on the Oakland 8. The Patriots were driven back to the 15, but from there Huarte passed to Whalen for the first score of the game.

Oakland, directed by rookie quarterback Charlie Green of Wittenberg, took a 10-7 lead in the third period.

But veteran Babe Parilli, who quarterbacked Boston most of the second half, threw a nine-yard scoring pass to Whalen in the first minute of the fourth quarter and Boston took command, 14-10.

Jim Nance, the 240-pound fullback from Syracuse pulled off the biggest play in the drive gaining 48 yards on a draw play and delivering the ball to the 32.

Oakland's Mike Mercer attempted two field goals in the first half - and both times the ball hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the field. The first try was from 46 yards in the opening period and his second from 47 in the second.

8452c9417770e3b205435b0e22f23b6a--ticket-stubs-new-england-patriots.jpg

jmt57 · Aug 21, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Special Teams Standout

Happy birthday to Kelley Washington
Born Aug 21, 1979 in Stephens City, Virginia
Patriot ST/WR, 2007-2008; uniform #15

Two months before his 18th birthday, Kelley Washington was selected in the 10th round of the major league baseball draft. He signed with the Florida Marlins and spent the next four years in their minor league system. On a road trip in 2000 he looked out the bus window in South Bend. Notre Dame was about to play their first game of the year.

“I looked at a beautiful stadium, looked at the lights and the RVs parked outside, and there must have been 100,000 people in that parking lot tailgating at the time. It was like slow-motion, and I can remember it like it was yesterday.”

Washington said he hadn’t thought about football once after graduating from Sherando, but he was all-in on the sport after witnessing the scene at Notre Dame Stadium. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee for the spring semester of 2001 as a walk-on.

“At that time, my mind, body, heart and soul were devoted to being the best football player I can be. I was focused and committed.”

Entering high school his favorite sport was neither football nor baseball; it was basketball. As a sophomore the football coach had to talk him into coming out for the team. Washington became a two-way starter at quarterback and defensive back, setting the school record for interceptions. He was All-State in Virginia, twice leading his team to the state final.

With a new position and a new sport, Washington caught 70 passes for 1,080 yards and seven TD as a freshman at Tennessee. He set a school record with 256 yards receiving against LSU. After that performance Washington was considered to be a first round prospect in the upcoming NFL draft, but mistakenly returned for another year with the Vols. Between a sprained knee, concussion and surgery to fuse two vertebrae in his neck, Washington played in just four games.

Cincinnati drafted Washington in the third round of the 2003 draft. In his first two years he played in every game, totaling 53 catches for 677 yards and seven touchdowns as the #3 wide receiver. In 2005 Chris Henry eclipsed Washington for that number three spot on the depth chart. With most of Carson Palmer's passes going to either Chad Johnson or TJ Houshmandzadeh, Washington became a forgotten afterthought.

June 26, 2007: Washington receiving a second chance with Pats | Patriots.com

During the 2007 offseason the Patriots had already traded for Wes Welker and Randy Moss, and signed free agent Donte' Stallworth. Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Troy Brown and Chad Jackson were all returning from the 2006 team.

Even though Washington was buried on the Bengals depth chart, he found another way to contribute and help his team. According to a source in Cincinnati who has followed the Bengals for years, Washington spent the summer after the 2005 season working on special teams once it was evident he wasn’t going to see a lot of playing time at receiver.

“This is a hard working kid and he took his demotion like a man,” the source said. “He never complained or sulked about it. Instead, he devoted the entire offseason learning how to play special teams. He had never played on special teams before but Kelley wanted to get on the field and help his team any way he could. When he approached Coach Lewis, Kelley was told to work on being a gunner and before he was injured last year, he was the best gunner on the team. That’s the kind of work ethic he has.”

Washington wasn’t told specifically if he’ll continue to contribute on special teams for the Patriots but he was quick to point out that most of the players in New England have more than one role on the team.

“You look at the personnel there at the Patriots, there are guys there who do anything to win and that's something that if that is what they want me to do, that's what I'm going to do,” Washington said about playing special teams. “I'm going to go in there and bust my tail, work special teams, work on the offensive side of the ball, just do whatever to help the team win. That's my whole mentality and I believe I started that mentality at a young age. There are a lot of guys up there who have different roles and they fulfill that role and it's all about team up there. That's what's so special about the Patriots.”

Dec 22, 2007: Patriots' Washington a new kid on block | Boston Globe

"It was one of those things where our rush worked out and I was able to get really close to their punter and block it."

Washington's feat is rare around these parts. The last time the Patriots turned the trick was Dec. 19, 1999, when Larry Whigham blocked Philadelphia's Sean Landeta in a 24-9 victory over the Eagles at Veterans Stadium. But Washington's play wasn't a simple matter of happenstance.

"We work really hard in practice and [special teams coach] Brad [Seely] has really gotten on us about improving, and I think each week we've kind of improved," Washington said. "We've done what we needed to do to help the offense and defense win games. Last week was just an opportunity where we had a chance, as a corps, to make a couple of plays and we did."

More important, though, was the impact Washington's block had in the game. It led to Laurence Maroney's 1-yard TD run that enabled the Patriots to take a 17-7 halftime lead after David Bowens had blocked a Chris Hanson punt and returned it 26 yards to pull the Jets within 10-7.

"He's been a real consistent player for us," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of Washington, an athletic wideout who signed as an unrestricted free agent after spending the first four years of his career with the Bengals.

"[He] plays to his size. He's a big kid [6 feet 3 inches, 215 pounds] who plays physical and runs well and is very athletic," Belichick added. "Just even on the [blocked] punt last week, a lot of guys wouldn't have made that play. Even if they had been there, they would have missed the ball. Kelley has good hand-eye coordination, good athletic ability and balance, and it was a pretty good athletic play just to get his hand on it."

Kelley+Washington+Miami+Dolphins+v+New+England+ENzywaNyA60l.jpg

Dec 23, 2007: Kelly Washington and Heath Evans celebrate after a play against
Miami at Gillette Stadium. The Pats defeated the Dolphins 28-7.

Oct 24, 2017: Drive, determination still fuel Washington's success | Winchester Star

Washington was a member of the 2007 New England Patriots team that became the first in NFL history to open the year with 18 straight victories.

The 2007 season was the only one in which Washington didn’t have a catch, but he played 17 games while standing out on special teams. He tied for second among Patriots special teamers in solo tackles (11) and total tackles (16) in the regular season and became the first New England player to block a punt in eight years.

“We did lose in the Super Bowl, but you can say we’re arguably the best team that ever played,” Washington said. “It was great to a part of that team.”

After the Hall of Fame ceremony, Washington said the success he had in football might not have occurred if not for the struggles he had in baseball.

“What I experienced in baseball, that showed me what it was going to take,” Washington said. “If I really wanted to get to the top, I was going to start at the bottom. I fought and clawed my way to the top, and I try to share my story with as many people as I can.

“It’s funny. [Patriots quarterback] Tom Brady would always talk to me about baseball, because he loved baseball. He was kind of in awe about how I could play professional baseball, then make it in professional football. I’m just truly thankful that I did utilize my talent physically and mentally.”

Kelley+Washington+Arizona+Cardinals+v+New+u4ff1Wl_HU1l.jpg

Dec 21, 2008: Patriots defeat Arizona 47-7 at Gillette Stadium

After two seasons in Foxborough, Washington signed with the Ravens in 2009. At the age of 30 he set career-highs in receptions (34) and yards (431) at the with Baltimore. Washington played in 91 games over eight NFL seasons, with 120 receptions for 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns. He now owns an investment real estate company in Fort Lauderdale and works as an offensive coach for a company that preps college football players for the NFL.

Since Washington started working with BPS in 2011 upon his retirement, some of the players he has trained include Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker.

For more on Kelly Washington's very interesting journey and his post-NFL life, please check out the full article from the Drive, Determination... link.

Kelley+Washington+Jacksonville+Jaguars+v+New+EMrJRFGNpsSl.jpg

Jan 12, 2008 at Gillette Stadium: New England Patriots 31,
Jacksonville Jaguars 20 in the 2007 AFC Divisional Round Game.

Kelley+Washington+AFC+Championship+San+Diego+XcywZqpbSttl.jpg

Jan 20, 2008 at Gillette Stadium: Kelley Washington celebrates after downing a punt on the 4-yard line. The Patriots defeated the San Diego Chargers in the 2007 AFCCG, 21-12.

Happy birthday to Sammy Martin
Born Aug 21, 1965 in Gretna, Louisiana
Patriot KR/WR/PR, 1988-1991; uniform #82
Pats 4th round (97th overall) selection of the 1988 draft, from LSU

Sammy Martin played in 40 games with the Patriots over 3½ seasons. The thin (5' 11, 175) speedster averaged 22.9 yards on 88 kickoff returns (with one touchdown), and 8.3 yards on 20 punt returns. Martin also had 21 receptions for 345 yards (16.4 ypc) and one touchdown catch.

One semi-related Patriot draft trade birthday:
DE Jared Crick, 30 (1989)

On April 26, 2012 the Patriots traded up rather than down, a relatively unusual strategy for them. The Pats owned the 31st overall pick of the 2012 draft, and packaged that selection with their 4th round (126th overall) pick in a trade with Denver. In return the Pats moved up six slots to the 25th overall pick, and selected Dont'a Hightower.

That 4.126 pick was used in two subsequent trades; first from the Broncos to the Bucs, and then from Tampa to Houston. Eventually it was used by the Texans to select Jared Crick.

As for that 1.31 pick, Tampa Bay used it on RB Doug Martin.

Crick spent four seasons with Houston and then signed a 2-year contract with Denver in 2016. He spent all of 2017 on injured reserve due to back surgery, and had a workout with the Bills in 2018, but it looks like his pro football career is now over.

Other notable pro football players born on this date:

Willie Lanier, 74 (1945)
Hall of Fame MLB for the Chiefs was named to eight straight Pro Bowls.

Bud McFadin (1928-2006)
Five-time Pro Bowler played DT and LB on defense, G and OT on offense from 1952-65 with the Rams and Broncos.

Pete Retzlaff, 88 (1931)
The 22nd round draft pick worked his way to becoming one of the NFL's top receivers in the late fifties to mid sixties. He began as a halfback, switched to split end and then tight end. At the age of 34 Retzlaff had 66 receptions as a tight end, averaging 18.0 ypc for 1,190 yards.

Joe Morrison (1937-1989)
RB scored 65 touchdowns with 7,467 yards from scrimmage for the Giants from 1959-72.

Archie Griffin, 65 (1954)
The running back was a three-time First-Team All-American, and the only player to ever win the Heisman Trophy twice. His pro football career wasn't quite as good, with only three 100-yard rushing games in seven seasons with the Bengals.

Jim McMahon, 60 (1959)
His career peaked with the Bears in '85, and was never the same after being body slammed well after a pass was thrown in '86. Officially the NFL recognizes Peyton Manning as the QB with the longest winning streak (23), but The Forehead lost a playoff game in the midst of that 'streak'. McMahon should own that record with 25 from '84-'87 (22 regular season and 3 postseason games).

jmt57 · Aug 22, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Dog Days of Summer = A Slow News Day

Aug 22, 1959: eight days after announcing the formation of a new football league, the six original owners signed Articles of Organization at a meeting in Dallas. The group announced the name of the new venture would be the American Football league.

Happy 33rd birthday to Tony Fiammetta
Born Aug 22, 1986 in Kaneohe, Hawaii
Patriot FB, 2012; uniform #42

April 5, 2012: Former Syracuse University fullback Tony Fiammetta signs with Patriots

Tony Fiammetta was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by the Panthers out of Syracuse. He battled concussions in Carolina, which led to his release in September.

Fiammetta played well for the Cowboys last season before a mysterious ailment — later revealed as an inner-ear infection that causes balance issues — caused him to miss three games. Fiammetta wasn’t quite the same player when he returned, but the Cowboys’ running backs enjoyed much more success when he was on the field compared to when he was off it.

July 7, 2012: Bubble Watch: Tony Fiammetta | Mike Rodak, espn Boston

CHANCE OF MAKING 53-MAN ROSTER: 25%

WHY HE SHOULD MAKE IT:Known as a strong blocking fullback, Fiammetta will have to earn a role in New England by doing more than just that. An equally important battle in training camp for the former Cowboys lead blocker will be to earn a role on special teams units. The Patriots could use a fullback more than they have in the past in 2012, but most likely not enough to justify a roster spot for a player who is only an adept blocker.

WHY HE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT: Fiammetta is a role player trying to earn a spot where they may be only a marginal role in the offense, lowering his odds of making the roster from the start. Complicating his path will be fullback Spencer Larsen, who in organized team activities was part of the top kickoff return unit. A larger role on special teams will give Larsen the inside track over Fiammetta if the two players can offer similar production as runners, blockers, and pass-catchers on offense.

CLOSEST COMPETITION: FB Spencer Larsen, FB Eric Kettani

Aug 5, 2012: Patriots announce Tony Fiammetta left the team | Pro Football Talk

Guard Robert Gallery wasn’t the only player to check out of Patriots camp on Saturday.

The team also announced that fullback Tony Fiammetta has been placed on the exempt/left squad list. The Patriots didn’t explain why Fiammetta, who was absent from several practices leading up to the roster move, left the squad.

Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that Fiammetta left to take care of a family issue and that he will not return to the team this year. He hopes to return to the Patriots in 2013. He was far from a lock to make the Patriots, who don’t feature a fullback all that often and also have Spencer Larsen bidding for playing time at the position, this season, so it is difficult to imagine that a year off will help his chances of making the team.

The Patriots signed Fiammetta as a free agent in March after he spent time with the Cowboys and Panthers over the last two seasons. The Patriots also announced that they have signed veteran defensive back Derrick Martin and running back Kareem Huggins to take the roster spots vacated by Fiammetta and Gallery.

March 18, 2013: Pats reinstate Fiammetta | Mike Rodak, espn Boston

The Patriots signed both Fiammetta and Spencer Larsen last offseason, but Larsen missed the entire year due to an injury. He was released earlier this offseason.

The team used Michael Hoomanawanui in an H-back role last season to account for many of its two-back sets on offense, and also has James Develin on the roster. Fiammetta is considered a physical blocker out of the backfield who can also play on special teams. He has 19 total offensive touches in his career.

July 22, 2019: Names you may know, names you should know | XFL Board

FB Tony Fiammetta: Fiammetta is attempting a football comeback after last having played in the NFL in 2014. Best known for his time in Carolina, Fiammetta played for four teams in six seasons, seeing action in 51 games. He only touched the ball 23 total times, so he was a block-first guy. With the expectation of wide-open offenses permeating the XFL, one wonders how many teams will even carry a fullback.

Happy 28th birthday to Bruce Ellington
Born Aug 22, 1991 in Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Patriot WR, 2019 (offseason); uniform #12

Mar 14, 2019: Pats sign WR Bruce Ellington | Patriots.com

The Patriots entrance into free agency hasn’t been dramatic but the team continued adding to the roster on Thursday by reportedly signing wide receiver Bruce Ellington.

Ellington is another option in the slot at 5-9, 200 pounds but he’s battled hamstring injuries throughout his career. His best season came in Houston in 2017 when he caught 29 passes for 330 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Ellington joins Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett (reportedly), Matthew Slater, Braxton Berrios and Damoun Patterson on the wide receiver depth chart. One player who won’t be added to that list is Golden Tate, who reportedly signed with the Giants on Thursday.

May 8, 2019: Pats release WR Bruce Ellington | Patriots.com

Ellington, 27, originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick (106th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2014 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder is a veteran of five NFL seasons with San Francisco (2014-16), Houston (2017-18) and Detroit (2018). After three seasons in San Francisco, Ellington was released in August of 2017 and acquired off waivers by the New York Jets. He was released by the Jets three days later and was signed by Houston on August 11, 2017.

Ellington has appeared in 44 games with nine starts and totaled 79 receptions for 769 yards and five touchdowns and compiled 11 rushing attempts for 54 yards and one touchdown. He has also returned 48 punts for 372 yards and 50 kickoffs for 1,279 yards.

Last season, Ellington began the year with the Texans and played three games with one start and posted eight receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown before being released in October. He signed with the Lions in November and appeared in four games with two starts and caught 23 passes for 132 yards, had one rushing attempt for two yards and one punt return for zero yards.

Other pro football players born on this date with a New England connection:

Tom Mitchell (1944-2017)
Born in Newport, Rhode Island
TE from Bucknell may be most well known for pouring a pitcher of beer over George Plimpton's head. He scored 24 touchdowns over twelve seasons.

Stephen Boyd, 47 (1972)
Boston College
Two-time Pro Bowl MLB played with the Lions from 1995-2001.

Al Russas (1923-1955)
Born in Providence; Hope (RI) High School
OT/DE for the 1949 Lions.

Ralph Nichols (1899-1929)
Hartford Blues lineman, 1926

Phil Sarboe (1911-1985)
Boston Redskins
Blocking back threw four touchdowns - and 26 interceptions - from 1934-1936.

Other notable pro football players born on August 22 include:

Mel Hein (1909-1922)
Hall of Fame 60 minute C/LB was a 5-time All-Pro and two-time NFL champion with the Giants from 1931 to 1945, never missing a game.

Jahri Evans, 36 (1983)
RG went to the Pro Bowl six straight years with the Saints from 2009-2014.

Wes Chandler, 63 (1956)
8,966 yards receiving and 56 touchdowns prior to today's Polian-era rules, from 1978-1988.

Paul Maguire, 81 (1938)
Before he became known as a broadcaster, Maguire averaged 41.7 yards on 795 punts for the Bills and Chargers from 1960-1970.

Randall Cobb, 29 (1990)
In 2014 Cobb had 91 receptions for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns with the Packers.

Andra Franklin (1959-2006)
From 1981-83 the fullback scored 23 touchdowns with the Dolphins.

jmt57 · Aug 23, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Joe Andruzzi, American Hero

Happy 44th birthday to Joe Andruzzi
Born Aug 23, 1975 in Brooklyn
Patriot guard, 2000-2004; uniform #63

Joe Andruzzi was originally signed as an undrafted rookie by Green Bay in 1997. He had played his college football at D-2 Southern Connecticut State in New Haven. Andruzzi spent three years in the Packer organization (including one season allocated to NFL Europe) before being released near the end of training camp in 2000.

The Patriots signed Joe a week later. He spent the next five years as a starter in Foxborough, earning three super bowl rings. In 2002 Andruzzi received the Ed Block Courage Award, voted annually by teammates to players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage, for a recipient who symbolizes professionalism, great strength and dedication. In 2003 Joe and his wife began the C.J. Buckley Brain Cancer Research Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital, in memory of a young man the couple had became friends with who died from a brain tumor.

Joe Andruzzi Foundation

In 2003, months after his passing and still reeling from the hole left in our hearts, we wanted to do something to take action. To show our continued love and support for C.J.’s family, Joe and I started the C.J. Buckley Brain Cancer Research Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Years later, when Joe was diagnosed in 2007 with non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s lymphoma, he immediately started aggressive chemotherapy treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital – fighting the disease with the strength and courage he learned from CJ. Throughout several months of treatment, it was Carter and Lucy Buckley – CJ’s parents (and current honorary JAF Board Members) – who were right there by our side.

Later that year, Joe was told that there was no sign of cancer in his body and remains cured today. Our family was given a second lease on life, and Joe and I decided to dedicate our time towards helping less fortunate families battling cancer. In 2008, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation was born.

Must-read: -> The Brother of an NFL player barely escaped on 9/11 | Sports Illustrated

Joe Andruzzi | Patriots Alumni

Joe Andruzzi handles Boston Marathon attack the way Joe Andruzzi would | PFT

Ex-Patriots' guard Joe Andruzzi: 'I am definitely not a hero' for Boston Marathon actions | Boston.com

Happy 47th birthday to Tony Carter
Born Aug 23, 1972 in Columbus, Ohio
Patriot FB, 1998-2000; uniform #30

Not to be confused with Tony Carter the 5'9 CB who was a Patriot in 2010, this Tony Carter was a 6', 230 pound fullback from Minnesota. He joined the Pats in 1998 after four seasons in Chicago. Carter played in 43 games with 27 starts, and scoring two touchdowns. In his three seasons with the Pats Carter was used as a blocker and short yardage rusher to move the chains, while also catching 47 passes as a safety valve when receivers were covered downfield.

In six consecutive seasons with Carter as the lead blocker, a backfield teammate totaled 1000+ yards from scrimmage. Three of those years that back rushed for over 1,000 yards, including Robert Edwards in 1998.

After one season each in Denver and Green Bay, Tony Carter finished his NFL career with 133 games played (plus three playoff games).

Happy 51st birthday to Blake Miller
Born Aug 23, 1968 in Alexandria, Louisiana
Patriot C, 1991 (offseason/practice squad)
Pats 7th round (168th overall) selection of the 1991 draft, from LSU

Blake Miller | Louisiana State Athletics

Blake Miller | The Football Autograph Encyclopedia

It’s a small world. My family had been harassing me about getting a new insurance agent for a while, so I decided to take my father-in-law’s advice and check out his insurance agent at State Farm. It turned out that it was none other than Blake Miller, former offensive lineman. He came up to work to pitch me on life insurance and other amenities that State Farm offered and we ended up talking about football and the upcoming Super Bowl. He was cheering on the Patriots because he was a former member of the team. We then talked about the good old days of football.

Blake Miller was a two year starter and letterman for the LSU Tigers at center. A 7th round pick of the Patriots in 1991, he started a career high 5 games for the Detroit Lions in 1992 (played in 12), before finishing his career with the New York Giants in 1993. Post NFL, and pre-insurance, Blake climbed the coaching ranks. A seasoned positional coach, he saw fruitful stints at Rice, Texas State, and Northwestern State.

Blake Miller | LinkedIn

Blake Miller | State Farm Insurance Agent in Austin, TX

Happy 24th birthday to Kenny Moore
Born Aug 23, 1995 in Valdosta, Georgia
Patriot CB, 2017 offseason; uniform #42

For much of the 2017 training camp and preseason, it looked as though Kenny Moore might be able to overcome huge odds and make the 53-man roster. He was very impressive throughout camp, but with Malcolm Butler, Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, and Jonathan Jones ahead of him as near-locks on the depth chart there simply wasn't much room. Moore was cut on the final day for NFL teams to reach the 53-man roster limit.

Any hopes of re-signing Moore to the practice squad were squashed when the Colts claimed Moore off waivers the next day. After two solid seasons Indy made Moore the highest paid slot corner in the NFL, signing Moore to a four-year, $36 million extension that includes $18 million guaranteed.

July 27, 2017: Kenny Moore breaks up a pass intended for Malcolm Mitchell

Jul 29, 2017: Undrafted CB Kenny Moore Opening Eyes at Training Camp

Undrafted free agents typically don’t warrant stories in the first week of New England Patriots training camp. Cornerback Kenny Moore is the exception to the rule and has pushed the issue by tormenting Patriots quarterbacks dating back to the spring, when he had writers glancing down at their 90-man rosters asking, “Who’s No. 42?”

We know now. Moore already has two interceptions and four pass breakups in competitive drills during the Patriots’ first three training camp practices. He had two pass breakups in the spring, as well, and impressed enough that he received some reps with the veterans rather than his fellow rookies.

Aug 31, 2017: CB Kenny Moore among those who could benefit from big preseason finale

Five years ago, Kenny Moore completed his first season of organized football. He was a senior at Lowndes high school in Valdosta, Ga., and he weighed less than 150 pounds.

"Obviously," Moore said, "you're not going to go D1."

Ronnie Lippett and Roland James celebrate a missed field goal
from a 10/23/85 preseason game at Sullivan Stadium.

Others born on Aug 23 with a New England connection:

Joe Dufek, 58 (1961)
Yale
Backup QB to Joe Ferguson for the Buffalo Bills in the eighties.

Ed Korisky (1918-1992)
Born and raised in Hartford; Bulkeley High School; lived and died in Manchester CT
Played center for the Boston Yanks in 1944.

Royce Goodbread (1907-191)
Providence Steam Roller
At St Petersburg High School Goodbread scored 189 points, and at Florida he was part of a backfield that led the NCAA in scoring in 1928 with 336 points and an 8-1 record.

Other notable NFL player born August 23 include three Hall of Famers:

Cortez Kennedy (1968-2017)

Sonny Jurgensen, 85 (1934)

Rayfield Wright, 74 (1945)

Kyle Clifton, 57 (1962)

Hugh Douglas, 48 (1971)

Rex Grossman, 39 (1980)

Stanley Wilson, 58 (1961)

jmt57 · Aug 24, 2019

Today in Patriots History
The 1971 Draft

Happy birthday to Josh Ashton
Born Aug 24, 1949 in Eagle Lake, Texas
Died 10/4/1993 at the age of 43
Patriot RB, 1972-1974; uniform #31
Pats 9th round (209th overall) selection of the 1971 draft, from Tulsa

1971 was a year of transition for the Patriots. The short-lived Joe Kapp era was over after a terrible season that resulted in the Pats having the first overall pick of the draft. This was following the first season of a fully merged National Football League. Although the common draft had been in place since 1967, 1970 was the first year when Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland moved from the NFL to the AFC.

The Pats drafted Jim Plunkett first overall, and Julius Adams at the top of the second round; both were great picks. With the exception of Josh Ashton being chosen 209th overall, the rest of that draft yielded virtually nothing from that rookie class.

At the end of training camp in 1970 the Pats had traded away their 1971 3rd and 7th round draft picks for aging DE Ike Lassiter. Their 4th round pick had also been traded away the previous year, for Charlie Gogolak. The kicker spent almost as much time sidelined with injuries as he did on the field in two years with the Patriots, while connecting on only 20 of 36 field goal attempts. Denver used that pick on Lyle Alzado, who went on to play in 207 games as one of the era's premier defensive ends.

Nine of the 13 players the Pats drafted in 1971 never played in the NFL, and one played in only four games. Ashton is the only not named Jim Plunkett or Julius Adams that is worth mentioning. Josh Ashton played in 38 games with 20 starts for the Pats, scoring four touchdowns.

Happy 31st birthday to Jermaine Cunningham
Born Aug 24, 1988 in the Bronx
Patriot OLB/DE, 2010-2012; uniform #96
Pats 2nd round (53rd overall) selection of the 2010 draft, from Florida

The former Gator had a decent rookie season, taking over for Tully Banta-Cain and starting eleven games. Things went dramatically south the following year when he was a healthy scratch seven times, never working his way into the defensive rotation - on a unit that finished the season ranked 31st in team defense. Then towards the end of 2012 Cunningham was suspended for four games for performance enhancing drugs.

Jermaine Cunningham was cut at the end of the 2013 training camp, ending an inglorious three year stint with the Patriots. During that time he played in 36 games with 14 starts, totaling 59 tackles (43 solo), ten quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss and just 3½ sacks.

In a typical Rex Ryan stunt, the Jets signed Cunningham. Predictably he did even less there - appearing in two games over two seasons, with zero stats.

Jan 6, 2015: Former Patriots Bust Jermaine Cunningham Arrested on Sex and Gun Charges | Boston.com

Former Patriots draft bust and current New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Cunningham was arrested December 29th on “charges of spreading sexual images and illegally transporting a gun in his Audi.’’

NJ.com reports police found a handgun in Cunningham’s glove compartment, and he’s also accused of violating a state law prohibiting the disclosure of sexual images of a person without the person’s consent.

Cunningham was the Patriots “other’’ second round draft pick in 2010, selected 53rd overall and just 11 picks after Rob Gronkowski. Cunningham registered just 3.5 sacks in three seasons in New England before moving on to the Jets in 2013.

Happy 23rd birthday to Ja'Whaun Bentley
Born Aug 24, 1996 in Glenarden, Maryland
Patriot LB, 2018-present; uniform #51
Pats 5th round (143rd overall) selection of the 2018 draft, from Purdue

Ja'Whaun Bentley | Patriots.com

Ja'Whaun Bentley | Last Word on Pro Football

Ja’Whaun Bentley was a steal in the fifth round and should be one of New England’s best defenders in the 2019 season. Bentley displayed great athleticism, ball skills, and tackling ability throughout his rookie year and those skills should carry over into 2019.

Bentley is coming off of a season-ending injury but should easily be ready for the start of the season. The biggest concern with Bentley is his long-term health. The Purdue product will need to prove that he can stay healthy for the duration of a season. Back in college, Bentley only played double-digit games in two of a possible four seasons.

Additionally, opposing offensive coordinators will have a better idea of how to attack Bentley. Bentley will need to prove that he’s able to handle these adjustments and remain a productive player. Ultimately, he should be able to do this. Bentley displayed an ability to be effective in multiple areas of the game and should be able to handle anything opposing offensive coordinators throw his way.

If Bentley can build on his rookie season and stay healthy, then New England could have one of the best linebacker trios in the league. Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy are both great players, but adding Bentley to the mix could send New England’s defense over the top.

Why Patriots Fans Should Be Excited About LB Ja'Whaun Bentley | NESN

One other Aug 23 birthday with a New England connection:

Gill Fenerty, 56 (1963)
Holy Cross
A 7th round pick by New Orleans in '86, the KR/RB had his best season in 1991 when he started 12 games for the Saints, scoring five touchdowns.

Other NFL notables born on this date include:

Arian Foster, 33 (1986)
Houston Texan RB scored 47 touchdowns in a 3-year span from 2010-12.

John Banaszak, 69 (1950)
Starting Defensive End on Steeler Super Bowl championship teams from the seventies.

jmt57 · Aug 25, 2019

Today in Patriots History
The other Mike Jones

Happy 50th birthday to Mike Jones
Born Aug 25, 1969 in Columbia, South Carolina
Patriot DE, 1994-1997; uniform #96

Mike Jones was the 32nd overall pick by Phoenix in 1991, out of North Carolina State. He missed only three games with the Pats over four seasons, compiling 15 sacks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Jones also played in six playoff games for the Patriots, including Super Bowl 31 versus the Packers.

On August 30, 1998 the Patriots traded Jones to the St Louis Rams. In exchange the Pats received a fifth round draft pick in the 2000 draft. That was used on Missouri guard Steve Marriott, who was cut at the end of his rookie training camp - and never played in the NFL.

After one year with the Rams, Jones signed with Tennessee for his final year in the NFL. Those two teams would meet in the Super Bowl, with Jones' Titans on the losing end of 23-16 thriller. That game came down to the final play when Tennessee WR Kevin Dyson was tackled on the one yard line. Ironically, the player who tackled Dyson was another Mike Jones - this one a linebacker for the Rams.

Our Mike Jones finished his NFL career with 27.5 sacks over nine seasons. He played in 135 regular season games, plus ten playoff games.

Happy 52nd birthday to Charlie Baumann
Born Aug 25, 1967 in Erie, Pennsylvania
Patriot kicker, 1991-1992; uniform #8

The Patriots signed Baumann after Jason Staurovsky went on injured reserve with a pulled quad muscle in the middle of the 1991 season. Baumann had spent the 1989 offseason in Buffalo, a couple weeks on the Minnesota taxi squad, the entire 1990 season on IR in Seattle, and had filled in for two games for Miami earlier in '91.

Baumann connected on 7 of 10 field goals in 1991, and returned in '92, going 11-17. A year later he was cut near the end of training camp, which was not a surprise. The Pats had used a fifth round draft pick on Scott Sisson - who would last only 13 games in New England.

charlie-baumann-7b8315f2-b2d2-41b8-8776-15f6ed29ed3-resize-750.jpeg

Charlie Baumann later spent two seasons with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He went back to school at the University of Central Florida for his MBA, and is now the CFO of US Medical Group in Orlando.

Happy 31st birthday to Greg Salas
Born Aug 25, 1988 in Chino, California
Patriot WR, 2012; uniform #17

While at the University of Hawaii, Salas had 285 receptions for 4,345 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was a 4th round pick by the Rams in 2011, and had 27 receptions in six games. before being placed on IR with a broken leg.

At the end of the 2012 training camp the Rams traded Salas to the Pats for a conditional draft pick, which turned out to be a 7th rounder. Salas was released and re-signed to the practice squad two weeks later. On November 17 he was promoted to the active roster and appeared in a 59-24 victory over the Colts, then released again a few days later to make room for Markus Zusevics. Philadelphia claimed Salas off waivers, ending his career with the Patriots.

In six NFL seasons Greg Salas played in 29 games, with 50 receptions and one touchdown.

And a few other pro football players with a New England connection:

**** Young (1930-2012)
Born and raised in Trumbull CT; Trumbull HS
Fullback for the Cardinals, Colts and Steelers in the late fifties

Jim Stifler (1901-1954)
Brown University
End and wingback for the Providence Steam Roller

Russ Peterson (1905-1971)
Tailback for the 1932 Boston Braves

Other notable NFL players born on Aug 25 include:

Marvin Harrison,

Cornelius Bennett,

Charlie Sanders,

Doug English,

Ron Heller,

Ralph Baker,

jmt57 · Aug 26, 2019

Today in Patriots History
The Original Patriot Cowboy

Happy birthday to Jim 'Cowboy' Crawford
Born Aug 26, 1935 in Greybull, Wyoming
Died June 10, 2018 at the age of 82
Patriot RB, 1960-1964; uniform #30

Jim Crawford was an original Boston Patriot. He played in all 14 games in the inaugural 1960 season, and in 55 games total with the Pats. His best season came in 1962 when he had 683 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. For his career Crawford had 1,579 yards from scrimmage with seven touchdowns, plus a pair of two-point conversions.

Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame | Jim Crawford

Jim Crawford is one of the greatest homegrown Wyoming athletes in history. The Greybull, Wyo. native emerged as one of the nation’s best running backs in his senior season. Crawford earned All-American honors in 1956 and was the NCAA rushing yardage leader with 1,104 yards and was selected the Skyline Conference Back of the Year.

Crawford rushed for 103 yards on 18 carries and was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1956 Sun Bowl, in which Wyoming beat Texas Tech, 21-14. For his career, Crawford rushed for 1,775 yards. He later spent several seasons in the National Football League with the Boston Patriots.

Inducted September 15, 1995

Honors and Awards

1956 All-American
NCAA Rushing Leader
1956 Sun Bowl Most Valuable Player

James Lee Crawford obituary | Cody Enterprise

He graduated from Greybull High School and went on to the University of Wyoming where he was a standout football player. He is in the Wyoming Hall of Fame twice – once as an individual and once with the undefeated 1956 team. He was an All-American in 1957 and was honored as the Outstanding Player for the Sun Bowl in 1956. He was first in the nation in rushing with 1,104 yards.

Jim was drafted into the Army where he played on the Fort Carson football team, after teaching a year in Lovell. He was a running back on the original AFL Boston Patriots team from 1960-64.

Jim retired as an engineer from the Burlington Northern Railroad after 30 years. He also loved to ranch, rodeo and hunt. He spent many years as a hunting guide in the Thoroughfare and the mountains near Dubois.

Jim Crawford: Cowboy Tough | Niobrara County Library

There are various theories on the origin of the term "Cowboy Tough."

Regardless of the source, one guy fits the mold: the University of Wyoming's former All-American tailback, Jim Crawford.

He was a rodeo cowboy, a UW Cowboy and was nicknamed "cowboy."

And the Greybull native was as tough as they come.

Just ask former teammate John Watts, who was wingback in the same backfield as Crawford in the mid-1950s.

"Jim was the toughest SOB who ever walked," said Watts, a Ruleville, Miss. native, said with a Southern drawl. "He played injured his whole senior year and never complained. He would just duck his head and run hard. He was a horse."

Watts remembers one instance in UW's 21-14 victory over Texas Tech in the 1956 Sun Bowl.

The Cowboys were on the Red Raiders' 5-yard line and needed two yards for a first down. Crawford carried two players, who weighed some 245 pounds apiece, for three yards and that first down.

"That's the only time I ever heard Jim say anything," Watts said. "He came back to the huddle and said, 'Boy, you think that wasn't hard?'"

Watts said Crawford was not only a football player and competitor, but he was also a great all-around athlete.

Early in Crawford's time at UW, a promoter brought in a police boxing team from Denver for exhibition matches with the locals. They set up a ring in the armory with the dirt floor in the back of the Half Acre.

"The Denver team didn't have a heavyweight to box Teddy Shaffer, Two-Bar Teddy from out at Tie Siding. He was a guard out there," Watts said. "So they coerced (Crawford) to get in the ring with him. Teddy was dancing around trying to hit Jim, and Jim threw one punch - whop! You could hear that all over the place, and that was the end of the fight."

When it came to football, Crawford was something special, especially at UW.

He rushed for 1,775 yards during his three-year career while helping the Cowboys to a record of 24-7, including a 10-0 mark in 1956.

During his senior year in 1956, Crawford emerged as one of the nation's best running backs. That season he was the NCAA rushing yardage leader with 1,104 yards.

Among the running backs he beat out were Jim Brown of Syracuse and Tommy McDonald of Oklahoma.

Happy 52nd birthday to Myron Guyton
Born Aug 26, 1967 in Metcalf, Georgia
Patriot safety, 1994-1995; uniform #29

Myron Guyton was an 8th round draft pick by Bill Parcells for the Giants in 1989, and reunited with the Big Tuna for the last two seasons of his career. Guyton started 30 games with the Pats, plus the 20-13 playoff loss to Bill Belichick's Cleveland Browns on New Years Day in 1995. Guyton played in 98 NFL games, with 10 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.

Myron Guyton | Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame

One of only two rookies to start for Bill Parcells (Lawrence Taylor being the other), Guyton led the NFL’s second-ranked defense in tackles during his rookie campaign. In his second year with the organization, Guyton was an instrumental part of the Super Bowl championship. After five years with the Giants, Myron completed his career by playing two seasons with the New England Patriots.

Happy 50th birthday to Mike Gisler
Born Aug 26, 1969 in Runge, Texas
Patriot C/G, 1993-1997; uniform #67

The backup offensive lineman played in 73 games with the Patriots, and 105 NFL games over seven seasons.

Feb 4, 2017: Family now captivates former Super Bowl player | Victoria Advocate

"I had a lot of fun, and it was a great deal, but once it was over, it was over," said Gisler, now a husband, father of two and co-owner of a family-run Karnes County energy company.

Midway through an NFL career that also included time with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, Gisler and the Patriots lost to the Green Bay Packers in 1997 at the Louisiana Superdome. But, the University of Houston graduate and Runge native said he is content to put his days in the NFL behind him.

Despite his new, humbler lifestyle, the retired player still possesses remnants of his past. His 6-foot-four-inch and 310-pound frame still gets the occasional comment from fans, he said, despite the years.

Other, more permanent mementos still remain. His wife, Lynn Gisler, 48, sometimes wears her commemorative Super Bowl pendant to their 13-year-old son, Sam's, Nazareth Academy football games.

A golden football celebrating the game's 50th anniversary that was given to every Super Bowl player is an object of pride in the household.

Ball in air was fumbled by Washington Redskins A.D. Whitfield, (25), right, on the Boston Patriots 30 yard line where it was recovered by Patriots Tom Addition (53), far right, in the first period of their exhibition game at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass., on August 26, 1967. Identifiable players are, Patriots Ron Hall, (23), left foreground, Ed Toner, (75), center, Doug Satcher, (58), on ground at left, and Redskins Steve Thurlow, (44), left rear. The Redskins downed the Patriots 13-7. (The player who appeared to force the fumble, #80, apparently did not make the final roster and is unknown; no record of him on the team for the 1967 season.)

Three others with a New England connection from way back when:

Molly McGee (1952-1994)
University of Rhode Island
Running back was a late round pick by Atlanta in '74.

Ted Kucharski (1907-1992)
Born and raised in Exeter NH; Exeter HS; Holy Cross
Played end for the 1930 Providence Steam Roller

Ray Reckmack (1914-1982)
Born in Cheshire CT; Roxbury High School; Cheshire Academy
End and halfback from the late thirties.

jmt57 · Aug 27, 2019

Today in Patriots History
Stanley Morgan

On August 27, 2007 Stanley Morgan was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Despite playing on run-heavy teams in the pre-Bill Polian 'let's change the rules to favor Peyton' Competition Committee, Morgan had nearly 2,500 more career receiving yards than any other player in franchise history.

Stanley Morgan | Patriots Hall of Fame

Nov 9, 2007: Dr. Z: Hall of fame incomplete without Pats' Morgan | Sports Illustrated

"Why is Stanley Morgan constantly ignored when the Hall of Fame discussion rolls around?"

Why indeed? I certainly thought he was a great player, one of the most feared long ball threats in history. I got out my book and did a little research on Stanley. For the first six years of his career in New England he averaged 22.6 yards per reception. In every one of those six, the number was at 20.9 or better. No receiver since then has come close.

To put it in perspective, Jerry Rice's first six seasons produced a 17.6 average. James Lofton, king of the recent long ballers, averaged ... well, I didn't take his first six. I took his best six, which contained a few 20-plussers ... 18.9. The best single year that Randy Moss, today's top deep threat, had was his rookie season ... 19.0. Marvin Harrison's best was 14.5.

Are you starting to get the picture on Stanley Morgan? So with all those 120-something names we had to wade through, all those jamokes, why wasn't Morgan there? The answer is something that always sets my teeth on edge when I hear it so many times during the enshrinement meetings.

"Slipped through the cracks."

Stanley Morgan | Last Word on Pro Football

Stanley Morgan | Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Stanley Morgan | South Carolina Football Hall of Fame

Good article and Q&A with Stanley Morgan here (though some of those records have been broken since it was written):

Dec 23, 2005: Where are they now? - Stanley Morgan | Patriots.com

And an old full game, from 1985. Patriots only threw the ball 15 times. How Morgan ended up with 557 receptions for 10,716 yards and 72 touchdowns with that kind of game plan and offensive strategy is amazing.

Happy 39th birthday to Doug Gabriel
Born Aug 27, 1980 in Miami
Patriot WR, 2006; uniform #85

In 2006 the cupboard was bare in regards to what Tom Brady had to work with (which led to the opposite situation in 2007). Deion Branch and David Givens were sudden departures, and David Patten had signed with Washington in 2005. Troy Brown was still reliable, but was now 35 years old. Rookie Chad Jackson missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury.

From 2004-05 Doug Gabriel caught 70 passes for 1,105 yards and five touchdowns for the Raiders. He was signed to fill the void, along with Reche Caldwell, but his yardage per game regressed a bit from his time in Oakland. In twelve games the 6'3, 215 wide receiver from Central Florida had 25 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns with the Patriots.

Doug Gabriel finished his pro football career by playing in the United Football League and Arena Football League from 2009 to 2011.

Aug 27, 2003:
Robert Kraft presents Joe Andruzzi with the first annual New England Patriots Ron Burton Community Service Award. Joe received the Burton Award after being recognized as the Patriots player who best embodies the qualities of Burton, the first player drafted by the Patriots in 1959, and his commitment to the community and to helping others.

Ray and Ray were pro football players with a New England connection that were born way back when on an August 27:

Ray Smith (1908-1984)
Providence Steam Roller
The center from Missouri played from 1930-1933.

Ray Trowbridge (1896-1962)
Born in Hingham; Everett High School; Boston College
Ray was a member of the historic 1914 13-0 Everett High School team that outscored their opponents 600-0! Ray goes way back to the days of the American Professional Football Association (AFPA), which was renamed the National Football League in 1922. He served in the Coast Guard in WWI and WWII.

jmt57 · Aug 27, 2019

Today in Patriots History
TBC, Shaq and a Long Snapper

Happy 39th birthday to Tully Banta-Cain
Born Aug 28, 1980 in Mountain View, California
Patriot OLB, 2003-06 and 2009-10; uniform #48 and #95
Pats 7th round (239th overall) selection of the 2003 draft, from Cal

Tully Banta-Cain played in 85 regular season games and 12 playoff games for the Patriots. He earned two rings with the Pats, for Super Bowls 38 and 39. When he retired he ranked 12th in franchise history with 23.5 sacks (now 15th).

In the 2006-07 wild card game TBC came through with a clutch performance. He had two sacks, three solo tackles, two tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits and a pass deflection as the Patriots defeated the Jets 37-16.

After four seasons in Foxboro TBC signed a 3-year, $12 million deal with San Francisco. The Niners released him in 2009 and he returned to the Patriots, becoming a starter and one of the few bright spots on that '09 club. Early in the 2010 he was replaced by Jermaine Cunningham in the starting lineup. In late July of 2011 TBC underwent surgery for an abdominal strain, a procedure that would require a 4-5 week recovery period. The Patriots waived Banta-Cain on July 29, 2011.

Happy 26th birthday to Shaq Mason
Born Aug 28, 1993 in Columbia, Tennessee
Patriot guard, 2015-present; uniform #69
Pats 4th round (131st overall) selection of the 2015 draft, from Georgia Tech

Shaquille Olajuwon Mason (yes, he was named after basketball players) was the starter in three straight Super Bowls, earning rings from Super Bowl 51 against Atlanta and SB 53 versus the Rams. In each of his first four seasons the Pats ranked in the top-ten in total offense.

The Pats had a choice to make when Mason and Trey Flowers were approaching the end of their rookie contracts. The team gave Mason a five year contract with $23.5 million in bonuses and guarantees, letting Flowers depart in free agency for Detroit.

Through five seasons Mason has played in 75 regular season games with 70 starts, and another twelve starts in the postseason. The Patriots are 9-3 in the playoffs with Shaq Mason.

Best guard in NFL? Patriots' Shaq Mason earns impressive Pro Football Focus grade

The New England Patriots offensive line played very well during the 2018 regular season and throughout their run to Super Bowl LIII, and guard Shaq Mason was a huge reason for that success.

Mason was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded guard of the 2018 campaign, besting all of his peers across the NFL with an 82.7 overall grade.

The Patriots offensive line was PFF's fourth-highest graded unit for the regular season, and the group improved its performance in the playoffs by allowing only one sack of quarterback Tom Brady through three postseason games. New England's offensive line also played a leading role in the team crushing opponents on the ground with 485 rushing yards in the playoffs.

The whole league passed on Mason in the 2015 NFL Draft before the Patriots finally selected the Georgia Tech product in the fourth round (131st overall). The Patriots also picked defensive end Trey Flowers in the fourth round of that draft, helping make the 2015 class one of the team's best in recent years.

Happy 31st birthday to Danny Aiken
Born Aug 28, 1988 in Roanoke, Virginia
Patriot LS, 2011-2014; uniform #48
Waiver claim from Buffalo on Sept 4, 2011

The Bills originally signed the 6'4, 250 pound University of Virginia grad as an undrafted rookie in 2011. The Patriots claimed Aiken a few days after releasing Matt Katula, ending speculation that the team might use Rob Ninkovich as their long snapper.

Danny Aiken spent four seasons as the Patriot long snapper, and also played in ten playoff games with the team. He appeared in two Super Bowls, earning a ring in SB 49 against Seattle. Aiken had back surgery in that offseason and was not re-signed, as the Pats drafted Joe Cardona in 2016.

Since 2018 Aiken has served as the head football coach at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia.

jmt57 · Aug 28, 2019

Today in Patriots History
A stalking victim, and a Wall Street exec

Of the 65 pro football players born on August 28, a disproportionate amount either played for the Patriots or have a New England connection. In addition to the three on the previous post, here are the others.

Happy 55th birthday to Greg Baty
Born Aug 28, 1964 in Hastings, Michigan
Patriot TE, 1986-1987; uniform #48, #85
Pats 8th round (220th overall) selection of the 1986 draft, from Stanford

Greg Baty played in 21 games with seven starts for the Pats, with 52 receptions and four touchdowns. He was waived by the Pats on Nov 12, 1987 after the club had picked up former first round pick Willie Scott to back up Lin Dawson at tight end.

Allegedly he was signed and released by five different teams as retribution for being the team representative during the players strike in 1987. Eventually Baty caught on with Miami, spending five seasons with the Dolphins.

In the 1990 offseason a former high school classmate attempted to kidnap Baty's wife. The incident was one of several that led to anti-stalking laws.

Happy birthday to Don McKinnon (1941-2015)
Born Aug 28, 1941 in Arlington, Mass.
Patriot LB/C, 1963-1964; uniform #51
Pats 10th round (79th overall) selection of the 1963 draft, from Dartmouth

Like many Boston Patriots, Don McKinnon was a local guy. He grew up in Arlington, went to Matignon High School in Cambridge, then went up to Hanover, New Hampshire for college at Dartmouth. Don played in all 14 regular season and two playoff games in his rookie 1963 season, then three more games in '64.

Don McKinnon, 73 | Block Island Times

At Dartmouth, the soft spoken, likable recruit studied sociology and helped lead the ’62 football squad to the Ivy League championship as team captain and an All-American center on the Big Green’s offensive line. It wasn’t easy; McKinnon came off a severe injury - two ruptured tendons and a broken bone in his ankle - to lead Dartmouth to its first undefeated season in almost 40 years.

“Tackled by McKinnon” sounded like a tape recording at most Dartmouth games. On big plays, he routinely shed blockers and made tackles for losses. Besides selection to the All-America national collegiate football team, he was named to the All-East, All-Ivy and All-New England teams. What’s more, he won the George H. “Bulger” Lowe Award as the best Division I college football player in New England.

The pros were calling, and the “Big D” as he was known, was drafted by the New York Giants and the Boston Patriots. He signed with his hometown Patriots. As a 22-year old rookie, McKinnon beat out veteran linebackers and played in 17 games over the 1963-1964 seasons before being hobbled by injuries. He fractured his hip during training camp but continued to play. “He’ll be a great one,” predicted Patriots Coach Mike Holovak. But it wasn’t to be. Leg injuries cut short what many expected to be a Hall of Fame career.

After leaving the Patriots, Don acquired a stockbroker’s license. He started his new career with Wainwright & Co in Boston. He wed Nancy Hailer, a Lesley College graduate and budding professional model. They soon found themselves in Manhattan, where Don took an executive position with Becker Paribas heading its trading, convertible and over-the-counter desks. He then moved to Moseley Hallgarten & Estabrook where he served as vice president and sat on the board of directors. From there, he rose to Executive Director of Nomura Securities International’s equities division in New York. He headed American stock trading for the Japanese giant, traveling often to Tokyo before retiring in the mid-1990s.

In retirement, McKinnon dabbled in films, playing minor roles in acclaimed Hollywood director Wes Anderson’s movies, “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “The Life Aquatic.” He appeared with stars such as Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Owen and Luke Wilson. The famous Wilson brothers’ father, Bobby Wilson, was Don’s longtime friend from Dartmouth.

Happy 56th birthday to Reyna Thompson
Born Aug 28, 1963 in Dallas
Patriot CB, 1993; uniform #21
Signed as a veteran free agent on April 24, 1993

Thompson was a ninth round draft pick out of Baylor by the Dolphins in 1986. After three years with Miami he played with the Giants for four seasons. While there he won one super bowl and was named to the 1990 Pro Bowl as a special teamer. Reyna Thompson played in 15 games with six starts for the Pats in his final NFL season, with one interception and one sack.

Happy 29th birthday to Rufus Johnson
Born Aug 28, 1990 in Mesquite, Texas
Patriot DE, 2015; uniform #70, #59
Signed to a future contract on Dec 31, 2014

Rufus Johnson was a 6th round pick by New Orleans in 2013, where he spent most of the season on the practice squad. He made the 2015 Pats 53-man roster out of training camp and got on the field in week two against Buffalo for 13 snaps on defense and 11 on special teams. After two weeks being inactive with an undisclosed illness, Johnson was placed on the Non-Football Illness List on October 28, ending his 2015 season. He was waived as part of final roster cuts on September 3, 2016. Initially he was signed to the practice squad, but was cut three days later for LB Quentin Gase.

Happy 54th birthday to Ricky Atkinson
Born Aug 28, 1965 in Middletown, Connecticut
Patriot CB, 1987; uniform #22

A New England native, Ricky Atkinson went to Valley Regional High School, which is about 30 miles east of New Haven and 40 miles south of Hartford. He played his college football at Southern Connecticut State, and made it to the NFL for one game on Raymond Berry's 1987 Patriots.

Happy 26th birthday to Trevor Bates
Born Aug 28, 1993 in Westbrook, Maine
Patriot LB, 2016-2017 (offseason and practice squad); uniform #44
Signed as street free agent on Nov 17, 2016

Trevor Bates is a New England native, an alum of Westbrook High School and the University of Maine. He was a seventh round draft pick by the Colts in 2016, making it to the Indy roster for one game after spending the first four weeks on their practice squad.

Bates spent the last half of 2016 on the Pats practice squad; he was released on Sept 5, 2017, then spent time on the Giants practice squad. Bates then played in nine games for Detroit in 2018, logging two snaps on defense and 156 on special teams. Early in 2019 Bates refused to pay a cab fare, punched a NYC sergeant in the face, and was arrested. The Lions released him six weeks later.

Happy 25th birthday to Scooby Wright
Born Aug 28, 1994 in Windsor, California
Patriot ILB, 2019 offseason & practice squad; uniform #96
Signed as a free agent Aug 25, 2019

Philip Anthony 'Scooby' Wright III has two connections with the Patriots. He was selected by the Browns with a 7th round (250th overall) pick in the 2016 draft. The Pats had packaged that draft pick and two others in a trade to Miami on Day 3 of the 2016 draft, moving up to acquire a fifth round pick. The Pats then packaged that with a 7th in a trade with Seattle, moving up 16 spots to the fourth round. There the Pats drafted DE Deatrich Wise, and with a 7th they also received in return chose WR Devin Lucien.

Arizona signed Wright off the Cleveland practice squad, where he had spent most of the 2016 season. He bounced back and forth between the 53 man roster and practice squad, for two seasons, appearing mostly on special teams in 13 games. Wright started the final preseason game just days after signing with the Pats (and six days before final roster cuts), recording two sacks against the Giants. In retrospect he was a warm body to put on the field to eliminate risk of injury to others that were going to make the team.

Wright was added to the practice squad on September 20 when edge rusher Gerri Green was released, and FB Jakob Johnson was promoted to take the spot vacated when James Develin went on IR. Wright's time in Foxboro was an extended second tryout. He was released 11 days later, and has been out of the NFL since. On October 15 he was selected by the DC Defenders on the first day of the XFL draft.

Scooby Wright made two sacks in his only start with the Patriots

Happy 36th birthday to Nate Washington
Born Aug 28, 1983 in Toledo, Ohio
Patriot WR, 2016 offseason; uniform #84
Signed as a veteran free agent on March 24, 2016

Nate Washington is part of a very long list of NFL starting veteran wide receivers that were signed by the Patriots at the end of their career, that did not make the Pats roster. Nate played in 159 games with 45 touchdowns, averaging 15.2 yards per catch with Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Houston. He was four days shy of turning 33 when the Pats released him, opting to start the season with Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola and Malcolm Mitchell at receiver for the week one roster.

June 8, 2016: Patriots need Nate Washington's speed at WR | NBC Sports Boston

Three others born on this date with a New England connection:

Andre Williams, 27 (1992)
Boston College
RB was a 4th round pick by the Giants in 2014, scoring 7 touchdowns his rookie season.

Ken Clarke, 63 (1956)
Boston English High School
DT played in 203 games from 1978-91, mostly with the Eagles.

Lou DeFilippo (1916-2000)
Born in East Haven, CT; Hillhouse HS, New Haven
Tackle for the 1941-1947 Giants

Aug 28, 1964: On a Friday evening the Bills hosted the Patriots before a crowd of 12,566 in their next-to-last preseason game prior to the roster cut down to the 34-man squad. Buffalo scored a touchdown in each quarter and won 28-14.

Aug 28, 1982: Dallas 36, New England 21. Cowboys improve to 2-1 in the preseason while the Patriots drop to 0-3.

Aug 28, 2007: The Joe Andruzzi Foundation was formed by former Patriot Joe Andruzzi and his wife Jen. For more information, check out the August 23 entry a few posts up.

jmt57 · Aug 30, 2019

2019 off season jersey numbers and transactions

1 - WR Cameron Meredith
2 - QB Brian Hoyer
3 - K Stephen Gostkowski
4 - QB Jarrett Stidham
5 - QB Danny Etling (4/28 - 8/13)
6 - P Ryan Allen (3/22 - 8/19)
7 - P Jake Bailey
8 - LB Jamie Collins
8 - WR N'Keal Harry (began w/ #10)
9 - WR Gunner Olszewski

10 - WR Josh Gordon
11 - WR Julian Edelman
12 - QB Tom Brady
13 - WR Phillip Dorsett
14 - WR Braxton Berrios
15 - WR Dontrelle Inman (5/13 - 8/18)
15 (?) - WR Bruce Ellington (3/14 - 5/8)
16 - WR Jakobi Meyers
16 - WR Darren Andrews (- 3/4)
17 - WR Damoun Patterson
18 - WR Matthew Slater
19 - WR Ryan Davis (4/29 - 8/30)
?? - WR Xavier Ubosi (5/6 - 5/13)

21 - S Duron Harmon
22 - S Obi Melifonwu
23 - S Patrick Chung
24 - CB Stephon Gilmore
25 - S Terrence Brooks
26 - RB Sony Michel
27 - S J.C. Jackson
28 - RB James White
29 - DB Duke Dawson (traded 8/30)

30 - CB Jason McCourty
31 - S Jonathan Jones
32 - S Devin McCourty
33 - CB Joejuan Williams
34 - RB Rex Burkhead
35 - S Keion Crossen
36 - LB Brandon King
37 - RB Damien Harris
38 - RB Brandon Bolden
39 - S A.J. Howard

41 - TE Eric Saubert
41 - CB D'Angelo Ross (4/29 - IR on 8/12)
42 - RB Nick Brossette
42 - S Malik Gant
43 - S Nate Ebner
44 - LB Christian Sam
45 - DL Trent Harris
46 - FB James Develin
47 - FB Jakob Johnson
47 - TE Jacob Hollister (- 4/29)
48 - LB Calvin Munson
49 - LS Joe Cardona
49 (?) - RB Robert Martin (8/25 - 8/26)
none - TE Michael Roberts (6/13 trade rescinded, failed physical)

50 - DL Chase Winovich
51 - LB Ja'Whaun Bentley
52 - LB Elandon Roberts
53 - LB Kyle Van Noy
54 - LB Dont'a Hightower
55 - DE John Simon
58 - DL Keionta Davis
59 - LB Terez Hall

60 - C David Andrews
60 - OL Jake Eldrenkamp (1/8 - 5/20)
61 - OL Marcus Cannon
62 - OL Joe Thuney
63 - OL Martez Ivey
63 - OL Brian Schwenke (- 7/24)
63 - C JJ Dielman (7/26 - 7/29)
64 - OL Hjalte Froholdt
65 - OL Yodny Cajuste
65 - OT Korey Cunningham
66 - OL James Ferentz
66 (?) - OT Calvin Anderson (4/29 - 5/13)
66 (?) - OT Jared Veldheer (5/13 - 5/21)
67 - OL Tyler Gauthier
68 - OL Tyree St. Louis (4/29 - 8/30)
69 - OL Shaq Mason
TBA - C Russell Bodine

70 - DL Adam Butler
71 - OL Jermaine Eluemunor
71 - OL Danny Shelton
72 - OL Dan Skipper
72 - OL Ryker Mathews (1/14 - 5/2)
74 - OL Cole Croston
75 - OL Ted Karras
75 - DL David Parry (1/9 - 8/30)
76 - Isaiah Wynn
77 - DL Michael Bennett
77 - OL Cedrick Lang (4/1 - 8/30)

80 - TE Stephen Anderson
81 - TE Lance Kendricks
81 - TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (4/10 - 6/4)
82 - WR Maurice Harris (3/14 - 8/27)
83 - TE Matt LaCosse
83 - TE Dwayne Allen (- 3/3)
84 - TE Ben Watson
85 - TE Ryan Izzo
86 - TE Andrew Beck (4/29 - 8/30)
87 - TE Rob Gronkowski (- 3/24)
88 - WR Demaryius Thomas

90 - LB Shilique Calhoun
91 - DL Deatrich Wise
92 - DL Nick Thurman
92 - DL Frank Herron (- 5/16)
93 - DL Lawrence Guy
94 - DL Ufomba Kamalu
94 - DL Adrian Clayborn (- 3/15)
95 - DE Derek Rivers
96 - LB Scooby Wright
98 - DL Mike Pennel (3/14 - 8/26)
99 - DT Byron Cowart

Free Agents Departed:
Trey Flowers - DL - signed with Lions 3/13
Trent Brown - OT - signed with Raiders 3/13
LaAdrian Waddle - OT - signed with Bills
Cordarrelle Patterson - WR - signed with Bears 3/13
Jeremy Hill - RB - unsigned
Chris Hogan - WR - signed with Panthers - 4/12
Malcolm Brown - DT - signed with Saints - 3/14
Eric Rowe - CB - signed with Dolphins 3/13
Ramon Humber - LB/ST - unsigned
Albert McClellan - LB/ST - signed with Jets 8/17
John Ulrick - OT - signed with Saints 5/13
Cody Hollister - WR had been on NFI
Riley McCarron - WR - had been on practice squad

A WR wearing No. 50? Here's why Patriots rookies are wearing 'wrong' jersey numbers in camp

jmt57 · Aug 30, 2019

Today in Patriots History
August 30 Birthdays and Events

Happy 42nd birthday to Hank Poteat
Born Aug 30, 1977 in Philadelphia
Patriot CB, 2004-2006; uniform #32, #31
One Super Bowl Ring (2004)

Happy 35th birthday to Trevor Scott
Born Aug 30, 1984 in Potsdam, New York
Patriot DE, 2012; uniform #99

Happy 61st birthday to Tom Flick
Born Aug 30, 1958 in Patuxent River, Maryland
Patriot QB, 1982; uniform #10

Happy 64th birthday to Terry Falcon
Born Aug 30, 1955 in Culbertson, Montana
Patriot G/T, 1978-1979; uniform #68

Happy 30th birthday to Harland Gunn
Born Aug 30, 1989 in Omaha
Patriot G, 2015, from 8/2 to 8/6

Happy 35th birthday to Joe Staley
Born Aug 30, 1984
Player in a two-act trade that resulted in the Patriots drafting Jerod Mayo.

Happy 73rd birthday to Terry Erwin
Born Aug 30, 1946 in Weymouth
Bronco RB went to Beverley High School and Boston College

Happy 39th birthday to Jacques Cesaire
Born Aug 30, 1980 in Worcester
Charger DE (2003-2011) went to Gardner HS and Southern CT State

Happy birthday to George Cafego (1915-1988)
Born Aug 30, 1915 in Whipple, West Virginia
Boston Yanks QB and FB, 1944-1945
#1 overall pick of the 1940 draft, from Tennessee

Today in Patriots History

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

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