Today In Patriots History Feb 20, 1960: Boston's new pro football team is named the Patriots

February 20 marks the 66th anniversary of the then-newly formed Boston professional football team being officially named the Patriots.


Billy Sullivan’s third hire after being awarded the AFL franchise was an old friend of his named Jack Grinold. His first duty was to come up with a name for the club. Sullivan - who had a professional career in marketing and public relations with the Boston Braves, Boston College and Notre Dame - recognized the bonus of an opportunity for free publicity. Grinold spread the word of a fan contest to determine the name.

Nominees included the Puritans, Colonials, Hubs, Pilgrims, Beantowners and Braves. The three finalists were Bulls, Minutemen and Patriots. The 74 people who voted for Patriots won tickets to a home game. Grinold and Sullivan squeezed a bit more PR out of the task. They convinced assistant superintendent of Boston public schools Bill Ohrnberger to become involved. He organized a 100-word essay contest where students wrote what the team name should be and why. According to some books a nineteen-year old coed from Lynn named Penny Smith penned the winning composition. Other sources contradict that theory, with evidence declaring Frederick Crosdale of Stoneham the victor.




On the same day as the name reveal, the Patriots announced the team colors. Fittingly the choice was red, white and blue.

At the time I was in favor of "The Fighting Amish" as the name

But I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong - although it is better than the "Minutemen"

The Patriots


That's a great name for a football team... It fits in with the way some of the old 1920's and 30's teams were named...

While its easy to drag on the Sullivan Family, they at least got this one right...

Thanks to Billy S for saving us from pro football in NE being a NY thing.

February 20, 2024:
Special Teams ace Matthew Slater announces his retirement

Matthew Slater originally joined the team as a fifth-round draft pick (153rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA. At the time all he was known for was being the son of Rams OT and Hall of Famer Jackie Slater. Matthew was a 13-time team captain and earned ten Pro Bowl invitations as a special teamer - the most special teams Pro Bowl honors in NFL history. By comparison, Steve Tasker - the Bills special teamer whose name is often brought up for Hall of Fame consideration - has the second-most with about half as many (seven) Pro Bowl selections.

Slater is a three-time Super Bowl champion who played in 25 postseason games, tied for the eighth-most in team history. He ranks second in team history with 239 total games played and is the team’s all-time leader with 178 total special teams tackles in the regular season and 23 special teams tackles in the postseason. Slater had 11 seasons with 10 or more special teams tackles since 2000, the most in the NFL during that time. He is recognized as a member of the Patriots All-Decade Team of the 2010s as well as the All-Dynasty Team.

In 2011 Slater actually started three games when he was pressed into action on defense, making three starts at safety and finishing with 10 tackles. He also caught his first and only pass, a 46-yard reception from QB Tom Brady at Miami on Sept. 12. (I always cringed when Bill Belichick would put Slater into the game on offense. For his career he had that one reception on eight targets, plus zero receptions on three passes thrown his way in the playoffs.)

In 2024 Slater served as a Special Assistant to head coach Jerod Mayo, frequently dubbed as Mayo's right-hand man. Drake Maye stated in an interview that Slater was a top mentor to him during his rookie season, which included "all aspects of life."








The former fifth-round pick out of UCLA worked hard in his first season in New England, impressing coaches to the point where he was able to establish himself on special teams during his rookie campaign.

Slater appeared in 14 games that season, seeing time both in the return game while notching 12 tackles. He became such a force on special teams that teams began needing to account for where he was on the field, with Slater often drawing double-teams. That remained a strength for him throughout his career, with Slater garnering that type of attention even into his final season in 2023.

Even with that attention, Slater finished 2023 fourth on the club with solo tackles on special teams with five, finishing behind Brenden Schooler (11), Chris Board (7), and Ty Montgomery (6).


One positive is that Slater managed to escape his final season relatively unscathed, with Slater missing just four practices, along with sitting out one game against Denver with a hamstring injury in Week 16.

The veteran was emotional in the release issued by the team, where he reflected back on his terrific career as he walks away from the gridiron.

“For the last 25 years of my life, 16 of them as a New England Patriot, I have been incredibly blessed to be able to emulate the man I saw on those fields in Meridian by playing the game that I love so much,” said Slater in one portion of his statement while referring to his father, Jackie Slater. “I have given all that I possibly can to respect and honor the game. Though it is time for my relationship with the game to evolve, the love I have for it will last a lifetime.”


Slater closed things out praising his father, saying he hoped he lived up to the standards he set.

“…Dad, you blazed the trail,” wrote Slater. “You set the standard. I hope I didn’t miss anything. I hope I followed those footsteps well. It was never a burden. Only a blessing. A gift from the Lord…”

And in his typical captain style, Slater closed things out on a high note.

“How do I feel about being a Patriot for life?”

…”AWW YEAH!!!,” he wrote.









ESPN – Edelman was so worried about saving money early in his career that he and teammate Matthew Slater rented a house in Foxborough together and lived like college kids, sharing expenses and household chores. “He was a terrible roommate,” Slater joked Sunday night. “Didn’t take the trash out, always leaving dishes around.”

But Slater didn’t mind, in the long run, because of the conversations they often ended up having late into the night, sharing their doubts and fears about living on the margins of an NFL roster. In 2011, when the Patriots asked Edelman and Slater to shift to the defensive side of the ball, they figured it was a bad sign for their career prospects.

“That was a pretty low point,” Slater said. “We just kept telling each to keep working hard, keep believing we can do this, and maybe one day it will work out for us. … To see us go from a couple of California kids living together to try and save a buck to him being the Super Bowl MVP is pretty special.”

Edelman liked living with Slater so much that, after four years, when Slater got married and decided to move out, Edelman told him to ask his wife if he could have a room in their new place.

“My wife was like, ‘No way are we living with Julian,'” Slater said. “And Julian was like, ‘No, tell her we can make this work.’ But seriously, I love him like a brother, man. My wife loves him. My kids love him. He’s been there for so many big moments in my life. I’m so appreciative for our friendship.”

February 20, 1980
Patriots sign draftee Tim Petersen

The linebacker from Arizona State was the Pats ninth round (242nd overall) selection of the 1978 draft, one round after Chuck Fairbanks took USC RB Mosi Tatupu. He was released at the end of the Pats training camp in '78, and the end of Washington's training camp in '79. Petersen was competing with 1978 5th round pick Bill Matthews, 1979 2nd round pick Bob Golic, and 1979 5th round pick John Zamberlin for an ILB spot next to veteran Steve Nelson on new coach Ron Erhardt's team, with Zamberlin emerging as the other starter. For Petersen, 1980 was déjà vu: a third full offseason and training camp, and a third and final cut - without ever getting an opportunity to play in a real NFL game.

For the numerologists out there, the 6'2, 235 pound Peterson wore jersey #98.










February 20, 1990
Plan B free agent NT Emanuel McNeil departs, signing with the Jets

A tenth round (267th overall) choice of the 1989 draft from Tennessee-Martin, McNeil was cut at the end of his rookie training camp and immediately signed to the five-player 'Developmental Squad'. McNeil spent nearly the whole season on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster prior to week 16. That turned out to be his one and only game with the Patriots. He played in two games with the Jets in 1990 before landing on IR, then played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL in 1991, and London Monarchs in the WLAF in 1992. Just another example of Jet-stank ruining a player's career.






February 20, 1996:
Patriots release DE Aaron Jones

Jones played in 112 games over nine seasons, but never lived up to his draft status as the 18th overall selection in the 1988 draft. He played for Pittsburgh from 1988 to 1992, for Miami in 1996, and in 37 games with one start for the Patriots from 1993 to 1995. During his time in New England, Jones had 8½ sacks, 44 tackles (36 solo), one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.

February 20, 1997:
Pete Carroll hires three coaches to his staff:
- Ron Lynn is named defensive backs coach
- Steve Walters is named wid receivers coach
- Kirby Wilson is named running backs coach

Ron Lynn had been a defensive coordinator for two seasons at Cal, three years in the USFL, and eleven years in the NFL for San Diego, Washington and Cincinnati before stepping backs as a secondary coach in New England. He was with the Raiders as their defensive backs coach (2000-03) for the Tuck Rule Game, and 49ers as their DB coach in 2004. Lynn later worked at Stanford as a co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, then finished his football career as Stanford's director of player development from 2010-2014.






Steve Walters began his NFL coaching career with the Patriots as their secondary coach from 1982-1984. He then spent eleven seasons in New Orleans as their WR coach before returning to New England. Walters later coached WRs for Tennessee from 1999-2004, and for Jacksonville in 2005-06.








Kirby Wilson played for two seasons in the CFL, then began coaching at age 24 in 1985 for Pasadena City Community College. Prior to joining the Patriots he was the RB coach for the Iowa State Cyclones. Wilson worked as an NFL running backs coach for multiple teams from 1997 to 2020, including seven seasons with the Steelers. During that time he won two super bowl championships: in 2002 when the Bucs beat the Raiders, and 2008 when Pittsburgh defeated Arizona. His last coaching gig was in 2022 for the Pittsburgh Maulers (who played their home games in Canton Ohio, not Pittsburgh) of the second edition of the USFL. Wilson infamously cut a running back from that team for asking for pizza instead of chicken salad in the cafeteria. After a 1-9 season Wilson stepped away for 'personal reasons'; the following season without Wilson the Maulers were division champions and advanced to the USFL championship game.








Feb 20, 1997:
Patriots re-sign free agent RB Derrick Cullors, MLB Chad Reeves and DE Josh Taves, all of whom were on the Pats 1996 practice squad.

Cullors played in 31 games for the Pats in 1997-98. Taves was a guy who grew up locally (Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School, Northeastern) and later played for the Raiders and Panthers; he would be released with an injury settlement in September after being placed on IR. Reeves was undrafted from McNeese State; he was waived on August 13 and never played in the NFL.





In addition the Patriots signed four other free agents: OL Marquin Bivins, OL Tom Claro, WR Larry Ryans and TE Michael Warren. The only one from that group that got on the field for a real NFL game was Ryans, for three games in 1996 with the Bucs.

Feb 20, 2002:
Bob Quinn is promoted to pro scout

After graduating from Norwood High School and UConn, Quinn joined the Patriots as a low level player personnel assistant in 2000. He kept working his way up the ladder, later becoming a regional scout (2004-07), national scout (2008), assistant director of pro personnel (2009-11) and director of pro scouting for the Patriots from 2012 to 2015. Quinn then departed to become the Detroit Lions' general manger for five years; he is now a senior advisor with the Atlanta Falcons.




Feb 20, 2003:
New England releases WR Donald Hayes and G Rich Tylski

There had been high hopes for Hayes when the Patriots signed him, based on his 926 yards receiving for Carolina in 2000. That never materialized though, with Hayes limited to 12 receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns in 2002.

The release of Tylski was just a formality, as he had announced his retirement on July 29, 2002.

Patriots hope for payoff - Tom E. Curran, July 22, 2002




Feb 20, 2006:
Curt Gowdy passes away at the age of 86

More well known for being a national broadcaster on NBC and ABC football and baseball, prior to that Curt was the announcer for Red Sox games on the radio from 1951 to 1966. Gowdy also announced Patriots games in the sixties, and again in 1987.

A side note about Curt Gowdy: he owned WCGY in Lawrence, Mass. I can recall making sure I got home not too late on Sunday nights because the station would play an entire rock album with no commercial interruptions every week - which I would record on my cassette deck, making it an inexpensive way to vastly enlarge my collection of albums.





Feb 20, 2007:
Nick Caserio is reassigned to wide receivers coach

Caserio had been the director of pro personnel from 2004-07, and would return to that role a year later.
Before you think he was misfit for this role, keep in mind that Caserio - a receiver in college - was the WR coach in 2007 for newcomers Randy Moss and Wes Welker, when the Patriots led the NFL in scoring, yardage and passing yards, and Tom Brady set an NFL record with 50 passing touchdowns.




Feb 20, 2009:
Patriots re-sign Billy Yates

The offensive lineman had just been released two days prior.








Feb 20, 2020:
Michael Lombardi is hired as an assistant to the coaching staff






Feb 20, 2024:
Patriots officially release DT Lawrence Guy and S Adrian Phillips, confirming reports from the previous day.





Feb 20, 2025:

Happy 59th birthday to Chris Singleton
Born February 20, 1967 in Omaha, Nebraska; hometown Parsippany, northern New Jersey
Patriot OLB, 1990-1993; uniform #55
Pats first round (8th overall) selection of the 1990 draft, from Arizona
Pats résumé: 3½ seasons, 41 games (26 starts); four sacks, one 82-yard pick six


Chris Singleton was part of an infamous Patriot draft trade, this one happening on April 22, 1990. With the first two draft picks the Colts took QB Jeff George, and then the Jets selected RB Blair Thomas. Next up was the Patriots, with the third overall pick.

The Pats traded away that number three pick, as well as their second round (29th overall) to Seattle. In return New England received the #8 and #10 first round picks, as well as a third round (#64) and fourth (#101).

At first glance it doesn’t look bad at all, getting two top ten picks. In fact, according to a draft value chart, the Pats came out ahead by the score of 3066 to 2840. The problem is that Seattle got Hall of Fame DT Cortez Kennedy at number three, while the Pats used their picks on Singleton, Ray Agnew, traded down the third rounder for Greg McMurtry, and used another pick on a guy who never played a down in the NFL.

To rub salt in the wound, after being unceremoniously waived by Bill Parcells, Singleton played for the Dolphins - where he was far more productive than he ever was in Foxborough.



There is an interesting article on Chris Singleton below, detailing how he donated bone marrow to help save his leukemia-stricken twin brother.








This April 29, 2015 article below is fascinating - not just for the Singleton piece, but for all the other players profiled as well.
















Chris Singleton played in 41 games with 26 starts for the Patriots. He made 126 tackles with four sacks, then spent four seasons with Don Shula in Miami.

Another bit of trivia: Singleton was one of eight NFL players to appear in 17 regular season games - when the NFL still had a 16-game schedule.





Oct 25, 2021:

Happy 25th birthday to Craig Woodson
Born February 20, 2001 in Nashville; hometown Grand Prairie, Texas
Patriot safety, 2025-and beyond; uniform #31
Pats fourth round (106th overall) selection of the 2025 draft, from Cal
Pats résumé: one season, 17 games (15 starts); 79 tackles, four TFL, three passes defensed; four postseason game, one pick

Happy 63rd birthday to John Washington
Born February 20, 1963 in Houston, Texas
Patriot DE, 1993; uniform #76
Signed as a veteran free agent on March 6, 1993
Pats résumé: one season, 16 games (13 starts)

John Washington spent most of his eight-season NFL career with the Giants. When Bill Parcells became the Pats head coach, the 30 year old followed Tuna to Foxboro. Washington played in all 16 games that season, with 13 starts. A two-time Super Bowl champion, the Oklahoma State product played in 123 NFL games.


While researching our John Washington it turns out there was also an NFL player by the name of John David Washington, who is of no relation. The latter was a running back who played briefly for the Rams; his name kept popping up because he is the son of actors Denzel and Pauletta Washington.





Happy 59th birthday to Patrick Egu
Born February 20, 1967 in Owerri, Nigeria
Patriot RB, 1989; uniform #33
Signed to the developmental squad on September 14, 1989
Pats résumé: one season, seven games (zero starts); one touchdown

Patrick Egu was born in Nigeria but went to high school in Richmond, California, and then played college football at the University of Nevada. Egu was a ninth round pick by the Bucs in '89, who released him as part of final cuts on September 5; the Pats signed him to what was then known as their developmental squad a few days later. Egu played in seven games under Raymond Berry, with two kickoff returns and three carries for 20 yards. His lone NFL touchdown came on a 15 yard run versus Buffalo on November 19, 1989, giving the Pats a 13-10 lead. The Patriots went on to upset Marv Levy’s Bills that day by the score of 33-24.






Happy 30th birthday to Lester Cotton
Born February 20, 1996 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Patriot guard, 2024; uniform #61
Claimed off waivers from Miami on Nov 26, 2024
Pats résumé: one season, three games (zero starts)

The Pats claimed Cotton two days after a 34-15 loss to the Dolphins. Did Jerod Mayo see something in his six special team snaps that day that made him say 'wow'? Apparently he didn't get the memo that you sign an opposing player before you play that team, hoping for intel, rather than after. Regardless, Cotton replaced Michael Jordan on the roster as part of the never ending, let's-throw-something-against-the-wall-and-see-if-anything-sticks philosophy to the 2024 offensive line. He was active for three of the final four games, getting on the field for three, five and 11 offensive snaps, plus one special team snap - so if you are like me and don't remember him, there's a good reason for that.

The Patriots did not use a restricted free agent tender on Cotton as the regime changed from Mayo to Mike Vrabel, and he remained unsigned through all of 2025 - so I presume his pro football career is over. Originally signed by the Raiders in 2019 as an undrafted rookie from Alabama, Cotton played in 46 games with nine starts over five seasons, getting most of his action (17 games, eight starts) with Miami in 2023.





Career Earnings: $3,053,019




Happy 61st birthday to Brian Hutson
Born February 20, 1965 in Jackson, Mississippi
Patriot safety, 1990; uniform #36
Signed as a free agent on April 25, 1990
Pats résumé: one season, two games (zero starts)

Brian Hutson played two games for the Pats in 1990. Since 1997 has has operated an office furniture company in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.








In memory of John Meyer
Born February 20, 1942 in Chicago
Died November 4, 2020 at the age of 78 in Chicago from covid-19
Patriot linebackers coach, 1969-1972
Pats résumé: four seasons on Clive Rush and John Mazur's staff

John Meyer was a linebacker at Notre Dame who was drafted in 1965 by the St Louis Cardinals and Buffalo Bills. He played in all 14 games with the Houston Oilers in 1966 before suffering multiple career-ending knee injuries. The Oilers retained Meyer as a linebacker assistant during training camp and then as a full-time college scout duting the football season. When Meyer was hired as part of Clive Rush's six-man staff he was the youngest full-time assistant in pro football, at 27 years old.

When Chuck Fairbanks arrived Meyer and the rest of John Mazur's staff was replaced, and he moved on to Detroit for two seasons as the Lions linebacker coach. After that he worked in Green Bay for nine years, five as the Pack's LB coach and four as defensive coordinator. Meyer then apparently worked in the private sector, other than as a part-time assistant coach at Division III St Norbert College in Wisconsin, and NAIA St Ambrose Fighting Bees in Davenport Iowa. Fellow Packer coach Bill Curry mentioned that Meyer had 'severe physical issues' when he passed, so perhaps that is why Meyer stopped full-time coaching at the young age of 41.







In memory of Forrester A 'Tim' Clark
Born February 20, 1906
Died February 5, 1999, just short of his 93rd birthday
Patriot executive
Pats résumé: vice president, treasurer and part-owner

Tim Clark was one of several Boston Brahmin Blue Bloods who were part-owners of the Patriots in the sixties. In other words, born into wealth, private borading schhols, Ivy League education, working at family owned investment firms when not jetting off to Europe or summering in the Hamptons, all while getting exercise playing polo. Clark was on the Patriots board of directors and served as the team's vice president and treasurer.

















Paid Notice: Deaths CLARK, FORRESTER ANDREW - New York Times, Feb 9, 1999

Happy 37th birthday to Kerry Taylor
Born Feb 20, 1989 in Vorhees NJ; hometown Chandler AZ
Patriot WR, 2011-2012; uniform #10 (2011), #17 (2012 preseason), #19 (2012 practice squad)
Signed to the practice squad Sept 5, 2011
Pats résumé: zero games; 2012 offseason; 2011 and 2012 practice squad

There are actually two obscure Patriots by the name of Kerry Taylor. The first was born in Boston, grew up in Mansfield, and was an All-American TE at UMass. That Kerry Taylor was on the Pats practice squad in 1999, and went through OTAs in 2000 before being released at the start of Bill Belichick's first training camp as head coach. (There is a Kerry Taylor that went to Southern Connecticut State that played in the CFL and spent time with the Chargers, but he never joined the Patriots.)

Today's Kerry Taylor was originally signed by the Packers in 2011 as an undrafted rookie from Arizona State. From 2011-2015 he played in ten NFL games for Arizona and Jacksonville, with four starts for the Jaguars in 2013. Since retiring from the NFL Taylor has been working as a high school football coach in Arizona.









Happy 49th birthday to T.J. Slaughter
Born Feb 20, 1977 in Birmingham, Alabama
Patriot ILB, 2008
Signed as a veteran free agent on Feb 11, 2008
Pats résumé: zero games; 2008 offseason

Foxboro was the final stop for 31-year old TJ Slaughter's NFL career. His stay was not very long, as the Pats released Slaughter well before the start of training camp, on April 29, 2008 - two days after the completion of the 2008 draft, when the Patriots selected three linebackers: Jerod Mayo in the first round, Shawn Crable in the third, and Bo Ruud in the sixth.


Patriots sign linebacker T.J. Slaughter







Happy 74th birthday to Harrison Davis
Born Feb 20, 1952 in Salisbury NC; hometown Hampton VA
Patriot WR, 1975; uniform # unknown
Signed as a veteran free agent on Dec 22, 1975
Pats résumé: zero games; 1976 offseason

Chuck Fairbanks signed Harrison Davis one day after the end of the 1975 season, and released him on July 26, 1976, six days prior to the Pats first preseason game. Davis was a 4th round draft pick out of Virginia in 1974 by San Diego. His only NFL experience was as a rookie with the Chargers, where he played in 12 games with 18 receptions for 432 yards (24.0 ypc) and two touchdowns.







Happy 76th birthday to Phil Beall
Born Feb 20, 1950in Baton Rouge LA
Patriot S, 1973; uniform # unknown
Signed as an undrafted rookie in 1973
Pats résumé: zero games; 1973 offseason

Phil Beall was a linebacker at Ole Miss and then transferred to Baylor, where his father was the head coach. Unfortunately Baylor had the odds stacked against them, and went 1-20 in Southwest Conference play with Bill Beall as head coach, and 3-28 overall. As for son Phil, he could get away with being an undersized linebacker in college with his agressive play, but had to switch to safety in the NFL. It was an uphill battle even to make the roster that didn't pan out, with new head coach Chuck Fairbanks going with Sandy Durko and Honor Jackson as the week one starting safeties, Ralph Anderson later replacing Jackson as the starting free safety, and rookies Don Martin of Yale and Reynaud Moore of UCLA the initial backup safeties.

1970-71 Baylor Bears






Other Feb 20 pro football birthdays with a New England connection:

Hec Garvey (1900-1973)
Holyoke High School
Offensive lineman had a ten-year NFL career in the early days of pro football, including stints in New England with the Hartford Blues and Providence Steam Roller.


Isaac Yiadom, 30 (Feb 20, 1996)
Born and raised in Worcester; Doherty Memorial High School, Worcester; Boston College
The Saints cornerback was a third round pick by Denver in 2018. He played in 14 games for New Orleans in 2025, and has played in 118 games over eight seasons in the NFL.




Tom Waddle, 59 (Feb 20, 1967)
Boston College
The sure handed wide receiver caught 173 passes and nine touchdowns for the Bears from 1989 to 1994. Since then he has been in the sports broadcasting business, for a Chicago sports talk eadio station as well as the NFL Network and ESPN radio.

Tom married Gino Cappelletti’s oldest daughter, Cara, on June 8, 1991; together they have four children.






Roy Zimmerman (Feb 20, 1918-Aug 22, 1997)
Defunct New England pro football franchises
Wingback/Quarterback/Kicker/Punter played from 1940-1948. He was an NFL All-Star in 1942 and finished his career in 1948 as QB for the Boston Yanks, playing home games at Fenway Park.


George Roman (Feb 20, 1926-June 30, 2002)
Defunct New England pro football franchises
Tackle played three seasons in the NFL, starting with the 1948 Boston Yanks - the fifth and final season of that franchise's existence.






Gill Byrd, 65 (Feb 20, 1961)
Two-time Pro Bowl CB had 42 interceptions in 149 games for the Chargers from 1983-92.


Dave Manders, 85 (Feb 20, 1941)
Undrafted, working at General Mills and playing semi-pro football, Manders asked for a tryout and ended up playing 139 games at center for Dallas from 1964-74. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1966, and was part of the Super Bowl VI champion Cowboys.


Fred Jackson, 45 (Feb 20, 1981)
Running back averaged 4.4 yards per carry and rushed for 5,746 yards from 2007-2015, all but the last season with the Buffalo Bills. Jackson was a threat as a receiver too, totaling 8,643 yards from scrimmage and 39 touchdowns, surpassing 1,000 yards from scrimmage five times between 2009 and 2014. Not too bad for a guy who was undrafted out of some place called Coe College.




Tommy Vardell, 57 (Feb 20, 1969)
FB "Touchdown Tommy" Vardell was Bill Belichick's first draft bust. Selected ninth overall in the 1992 draft, Vardell gained only 1,070 yards in four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, though he was effective in short yardage plays and close to the goal line (21 career touchdowns).



Adam Schreiber, 64 (Feb 20, 1962)
The ninth round draft pick evolved from a backup guard constantly on the roster bubble to a long snapper, and ended up playing in 202 games for seven different teams from 1984 to 1999.


Jeff Robinson, 56 (Feb 20, 1970)
Similar to Schreiber, Robinson makes this list for also playing in 202 games - by again going from a fringe player to a long snapper. Robinson was a DE with the Broncos and TE for the Rams when they beat Tennessee to win a super bowl. But he was primarily a LS, playing from 1993 to 2009, at the age of 39. Regardless, 200-plus games is an achievement.