Today In Patriots History March 19, 2009: Patriots sign WR Joey Galloway

March 19, 2009:
The Patriots announce the signing of free agent Joey Galloway, confirming rumors that began on March 14.


At the time there was a lot of buzz about this signing. Galloway had an impressive résumé; although he had been released after a down year due to a foot injury, he was healthy again and had 1,000-plus yards receiving in each of the previous three seasons. New England fans were salivating about the idea of a now healthy again Tom Brady, with Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Galloway as a #3/#4 receiver.

It just never worked out for Galloway as a Patriot though. There were times when he and Brady were obviously not on the same page, with Tom throwing the pass this way while Galloway turned and broke the other way. Whether it was lingering effects of the foot injury - or, more likely, just the reality of Father Time finally catching up (Galloway was 37, and would turn 38 in November) - he didn't appear to have the same speed he exhibited just a couple years earlier. He was a healthy scratch in weeks 4, 5 and 6, then released on October 20, 2009 after the Patriots were unable to trade him.

Joey Galloway's final stat line with New England was dismal. In three games played he caught seven passes for 67 yards, with just three first downs. He had twenty passes thrown his way, meaning his completion rate was an abysmal 35%, while averaging only 9.6 yards per catch.




Galloway was originally the eighth overall selection of the 1995 draft, out of Ohio State. In his first four seasons he had 262 receptions for 4,122 yards and 37 touchdowns, then sat out for most of 1999 in a contract dispute. With Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin at the end of their careers, Jerry Jones needed a shiny new toy. He sent two number one draft picks to the Seahawks for Galloway, while also signing him to a new contract that made him the second highest pid WR in the NFL. Problem was that the cap hit combined with the loss of draft picks made it difficult to compete, and the Cowboys not surprisingly went through three consecutive 5-11 seasons. With Quincy Carter, Ryan Leaf, Anthony Wright and Cliff Stoerner taking turns as the starting QB, Galloway's numbers dropped. Early in the 2004 season Tampa Bay sent disgruntled WR Keyshawn Johnson to the Cowboys straight up for Galloway.

His first season in Tampa was a washout due to a groin injury, but Galloway rebounded with career-bests in receptions (83) and yards receiving (1,287) in 2005, then followed that up with two more 1000-plus yards in '06 and '07. Galloway missed most of 2008 with a foot injury, and the Bucs moved on. Over 16 NFL seasons Galloway had 701 receptions (64th all time) for 10,950 yards (45th all time), with 77 receiving touchdowns (38th all time). Since 2012 he has worked for ESPN as a college football analyst.





Talk about drinking the Kool-Aid with rose-colored glasses on:
Patriots Sign Joey Galloway: If I Didn't Love Them, I'd Hate Them










"Nothing short of remarkable"? 2009 turned out to be nothing short of a remarkable letdown, and not much else. . .



July 22, 2009:



After the initial high hopes, the grim reality began setting in.

Sept 5, 2009:

Sept 7, 2009:

Sept 20, 2009:

Sept 20, 2009:

Sept 24, 2009:
I've watched JG at training camp this summer and all preseason......The man just doesn't seem to get IT. He is Stallworth part II, but worse. I hope he comes through but unlikely, I also hope to eat my words. He should be cut soon if he doesn't show improvement and activate Nunn off of the PS. The kid played great during PreSeason, give him a chance.

Sept 24, 2009:

Sept 27, 2009:

Sept 28, 2009:

Oct 4, 2009:

Oct 10, 2009:

Oct 11, 2009:

Oct 12, 2009:

Oct 13, 2009:

Oct 18, 2009:

Oct 19, 2009:


Oct 20, 2009:


Patriots cut ties with WR Joey Galloway - Ian Rapoport, South Coast Today










Dec 22, 2009:


April 29, 2010:
Joey Galloway’s tenure here with the Patriots was so ragged that his name has become with synonymous with “over-the-hill receiver” the same way JaMarcus Russell’s is with “bad quarterbacking”.

Happy 55th birthday to Marty Moore
Born March 19, 1971 in Phoenix
Patriot LB, 1994-1999; uniform #58; uniform #90, 2001
Patriots 7th round (222nd overall) selection of the 1994 NFL Draft, from Kentucky
Pats résumé: 7 seasons, 96 games (10 starts); 83 tackles, 2 interceptions; 7 playoff games (2 starts); SB36 ring


The linebacker from Kentucky was "Mr. Irelevant", selected with the last pick of the 1994 draft. In actuality Marty was not irrelevant at all in New England. He played 96 games over seven years with the Patriots, primarily as a core special teamer, while also holding his own when called up to start at any linebacker position.

Mart ranks somewhere in the top-five of best careers of any 'Mr. Irrelevant', after QB Brock Purdy and K Ryan Succop. He was the first from that group to win a super bowl, and played in more games than any other last draft pick position player other than TE Jacque MacKinnon (1961, 118 games).



Former UK stars' Super Bowl memoirs -- Lexington Herald Leader, Feb 6, 2012

In memory of Joe Kapp, who would have been 88 today
Born March 19, 1938 in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Died May 8, 2023 at the age of 85 in San Jose, California
Patriot QB, 1970; uniform #11
Signed as a free agent on October 2, 1970
Pats résumé: ten games (1-9 record), 3 TD, 17 INT; 44.7% completion rate, 32.6 passer rating


When Joe Kapp signed a four-year contract with the Boston Patriots, he became the the highest paid player in the league. Utterly incapable of throwing a spiral, he finished with what must be the worst touchdown to interception ratio in the modern era of the NFL - though to be fair, his surrounding cast was horrible.

In the following offseason Pete Rozelle told Kapp that he had to sign a 'standard' NFL contract. (Which begs the question: what did Billy Sullivan have Kapp sign? Was this the case for all of the old AFL players? I don't recall this being an issue with any other players.)

After conferring with his lawyer and the NFLPA, Kapp refused to comply. He and his lawyers sued, claiming that a standard NFL contract was unconstitutional and a restraint of trade. It took four years, but Kapp won - and his case got the ball rolling for what is now genuine free agency in the NFL. Meanwhile, Kapp never played another down in the NFL. Thanks to the Patriots finishing with the worst record in the league, they had the first pick in the draft, and selected Jim Plunkett. Things improved with Plunkett, but the surrounding cast was still bad. When Chuck Fairbanks traded Plunkett to the 49ers in 1976, the Patriots received three early draft picks - which immediately turned the Patriots around to one of the best teams in the league.



Kapp transitioned into acting, appearing in movies such as The Longest Yard, Breakheart Pass and Semi-Tough, as well as many single-episode guest star roles on primetime television shows such as Ironside, The Six Million Dollar Man, Adam-12, The Rookies, Emergency!, Police Woman and Medical Center.

In 1982 Kapp was hired to be the head coach at his alma mater, Cal. In his first year he turned the program around, going from 2-9 to 7-4, and being named Pac-10 coach of the year. That was the same season that Cal upset John Elway and Stanford on "The Play", when Cal returned a kickoff as time expired, lateraling multiple times, as Stanford's band and cheerleaders rushed onto the field in a premature victory celebration - while Cal returned the kickoff, weaving between and knocking down band members for the game-winning touchdown.

In memory of Ray Costict, who would have been 71 today
Born March 19, 1955 in Moss Point, Mississippi
Died January 3, 2012, at the age of 56 in Orlando, Florida
Patriot special teamer/outside linebacker, 1977-1979; uniform #55
New England's 11th round (303rd overall) selection in the 1977 draft, from Mississippi State
Pats résumé: three seasons, 47 games (6 starts); three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception


Ray Costict was off to a good start to his career as a special teams standout and backup linebacker, but was never the same after a preseason knee injury that resulted in his spending the entire 1980 season on injured reserve.


Hat tip to Actual Pats Fan for this eulogy, from 2017:
Pats' special teams standout was a native of Moss Point, Mississippi, Costict stayed local and attended Mississippi State (1973-1976) where he excelled on the football field as a fullback and linebacker. After playing his freshman year as a fullback, the Bulldogs' coaching staff elected to switch Costict to the defensive side of the ball, despite averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

Costict thrived in the new position and amassed 467 tackles over three years, a number that ranks first all-time in Mississippi State history. As a senior ('76), Costict received numerous accolades including being selected as Southeastern Conference (SEC) Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-SEC, and AP 2nd Team All-American. He was also named 1st Team All-Sec as a junior ('75).

The 6'0", 217 pound prospect was drafted by the Patriots with the 24th pick in the 11th round (303rd overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft. Despite being drafted late, Costict was able to find a niche on the Patriots special teams unit as a 22-year-old rookie during the 1977 season. The following season, Costict earned four starts and recorded 50½ tackles. In 1979, his final season of his NFL career, Costict tallied 50 tackles - the most on the team for any non-starter - in a reserve role behind Rod Shoate, and also recorded an interception against the Jets (Sept. 9). His play alongside linebacker Sam “Big Backer" Hunt and stature earned him the nickname “Little Backer."




Former Moss Point, Mississippi State football star Ray Charles Costict dead at 56

Happy 36th birthday to Tavon Wilson
Born March 19, 1990 in Washington DC
Patriot S, 2012-2015; uniform #27
Patriots 2nd round (48th overall) selection of the 2012 NFL Draft, from Illinois
Pats résumé: 4 seasons, 54 games (4 starts); 5 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, one touchdown; ring from SB49 vs Seattle


Tavon Wilson was accurately derided by fans and the media as a reach by Bill Belichick, to be drafted that early. He played 54 regular season games and seven playoff games in four years with the Patriots (2012-2015) with four starts (all in his rookie season). Tavon had two fumble recoveries and five interceptions with the Pats. His claim to fame was a 74-yard pick six in 2013 off Tyrod Taylor in garbage time of a 41-7 victory against the Ravens. It should also be noted that Wilson did play for six more years after leaving New England, including three as a starting safety for the Lions.

If he had been a sixth or seventh round pick, we would have lauded his contributions. But being drafted that early doomed what fans and the media would ever think of him. Seattle took Bobby Wagner one pick earlier, and Tampa Bay grabbed LaVonte David a few picks later. And if that drft pick had to be a safety, Pro Bowler Casey Hayward was still available.

Ouch.

In memory of Leon 'X-Ray' McQuay, who would have been 76 today
Born March 19, 1950 in Tampa
Died November 29, 1995 at the age of 45 in Tampa
Patriot RB, 1975; uniform #31
Acquired in a trade with the Giants on August 21, 1975, for a 1976 sixth round pick
Pats résumé: one season, 13 games; 33 carries, four receptions and 15 kickoff returns; three fumbles


The Giants selected McQuay out of the University of Tampa – just two seasons before the Spartans ended their football program – with the 119th overall pick in the fifth round of the 1973 draft. McQuay was the first African-American athlete to receive a football scholarship at the University of Tampa, which was still segregated at that time. ‘X-Ray’ McQay rushed for 3,039 yards and scored 37 touchdowns, and was a two-time small college All-American in three seasons at UT. As a junior he rushed for 1,362 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. McQuay, Freddie Solomon and John Matuszak led the Spartans to a 10-2 record and a victory over Jack Lambert and Nick Saban in the Tangerine Bowl. Enticed by cash and thinking he had nothing left to prove as a college player, McQuay then skipped his senior year to play in the Canadian Football League, where he averaged 7.1 yard per carry and went to the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts.

McQuay spent three years in the CFL before joining the Giants. Thought to be too small at 5’9? to be an every down player, he was their kick returner, averaging 27.6 yards on 25 returns, and added another 299 yards from scrimmage as their third down back. On August 21, 1975, the Patriots traded their sixth round 1976 draft pick to the Giants for McQuay. He played in 13 games for the Pats, returning 15 kicks, with limited time at running back (74 yards from scrimmage). With three fumbles he landed in Chuck Fairbanks’ doghouse though, and the following spring McQuay was traded to Oakland for the Raiders’ 10th round draft choice in 1977.

McQuay played four games for the Saints in ’76, then returned to Toronto and the CFL the next year. He tried making a comeback with his hometown Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in 1982, but was cut during training camp. In 1983 McQuay was inducted into the University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame. He then became a licensed auto mechanic and an ordained minister, but died of a heart attack in 1995 at the age of 45. His grandson, Leon McQuay III, was a safety who played for the Chiefs in 2017-2018 after being selected in the sixth round of the 2017 draft, from Southern Cal.

March 19, 2012:
Patriots sign WR Donté Stallworth, OL Robert Gallery, TE Daniel Fells and CB Marquice Cole


The Patriots were AFC champions in 2011, despite having the 31st ranked defense. The offseason spending focused on key offensive players, and adding more receivers. While the headlines focused on one particular signing (WR Brandon Lloyd), there was also a lot of shopping at the Dollar Store for old veteran names - with expectations exceeding production.

◉ Stallworth was waived as part of final roster cuts. He was re-signed in December when Julian Edelman went on injured reserve; a week later he too was placed on IR.

◉ Gallery tapped out and retired on August 4.

◉ Fells played in 13 games and was on the field for 25% of the offensive snaps, sharing backup duties to Gronk and Hernandez with Michael Hoomanawanui.

◉ Cole was 8th in special team snaps, and on the field for 18% of the Pats plays on defense.










The mini-column below provides a fun retrospective on what the media/Patriot fans were talking about 13 years ago:





With the benefit of hindsight, the Patriots were fortunate that the first two draft picks were able to contribute right away. Their two best pass rushers from 2011 were free agents, and not re-signed. DE Mark Anderson (10 sacks) got a big payday with Buffalo (which the Bills immediately regretted), and Pro Bowl DE Andre Carter (also 10 sacks) signed with the Raiders. Shaun Ellis was a waste of space and not re-signed. Free agent replacement Jonathan Fanene was penciled in as a starter, but he was a disappointment, and cut in mid-August. Jones and Ninkovich made for a good pair of DEs, but the depth behind them (Trevor Scott, Justin Francis, Jake Bequette) was lacking. Kyle Love was okay at DT, but much of that had to do with playing next to Vince Wilfork; Brandon Deaderick and Ron Brace were adequate at best.

Matt Light retired, but the Patriots had already planned ahead by drafting Nate Solder the previous year. Brian Waters refused to report because he wanted to live near his family in Texas; fortunately the Pats had Scar, and Dan Connolly slid over from C to RG, and Ryan Wendell became the new C. The Pats got Ochocinco to agree to a pay cut - and then released him anyways.


Overall it looks like a whole lot of throwing a bowl of spaghetti against the wall and hoping some sticks - and not much of it did. Obviously many are just camp bodies, but there were plenty of 'name' veteran signings that didn't make it (Stallworth, Gallery, Anthony Gonzalez, Will Allen, Joseph Addai, Bo Scaife), or contributed very little (Bobby Carpenter, Visanthe Shiancoe, Greg Salas, Deion Branch). The major moves were signing Lloyd, tagging Welker, and extending Gronk and Hernandez.



Here is a look at how March and April of the 2012 offseason worked out for the Patriots:

Designated WR Wes Welker as the franchise player.

Re-signed WR Mathew Slater (core ST)

Signed DT Marcus Harrison (cut Aug 31)

Re-signed LB Tracy White (backup, ST)

Signed S Steve Gregory (became starter)

Signed DE Jonathan Fanene (cut Aug 21)

Signed WR Anthony Gonzalez (cut May 29)

Signed DE Trevor Scott (14 games, backup depth)

Signed WR Brandon Lloyd (74 catches, 911 yards, 4 TD)

Signed CB Will Allen (IR, Aug 27)

Signed CB Marquice Cole (played 20% of defensive snaps, 47% of ST snaps)

Signed TE Daniel Fells (30% of offensive snaps, 25% of ST snaps)

Signed WR Donte' Stallworth (cut Aug 27)

Signed OL Robert Gallery (quit on Aug 4)

Signed QB Brian Hoyer (cut Aug 31)

Re-signed WR Deion Branch (cut Aug 31; re-signed 9/19 and 12/12)

Signed FB Tony Fiammetta (quit on Aug 4)

Signed FB Spencer Larsen (IR on Aug 27)

Signed LB Bobby Carpenter (cut Sept 1; re-signed Oct 3)


2012 Draft, April 26-28:
• Chandler Jones
• Dont'a Hightower
• Tavon Wilson
• Jake Bequette
• Nate Ebner
• Alfonzo Dennard
• Jeremy Ebert



And the May-June signings:

Re-signed DL Gerard Warren (cut Aug 27)

Re-signed WR Jabar Gaffney (cut Aug 27)

Signed RB Joseph Addai (cut July 25)

Signed UDFA RB Brandon Bolden (core ST)

Signed UDFA DL Marcus Forston (1 game, then PS)

Signed UDFA DL Justin Francis (waived-injured, Aug 31)

Signed UDFA TE Brad Herman (IR, June 12)

Signed UDFA WR Matt Roark (cut July 20)

Signed UDFA OL Jeremiah Warren (cut Aug 31; PS)

Signed UDFA OL Markus Zusevics (NFI, Aug 27)

Signed UDFA OL Jon Opperud (cut June 7)

Signed UDFA TE Nick Melillo (cut June 7)

* WR Wes Welker signs franchise tender contract

Signed OL Jamey Richard (IR Aug 2)



Later additions prior to the start of the season:

Signed TE Bo Scaife (cut June 19)

* Gronk signed to six-year extension

Claimed TE Jake Ballard off waivers from Giants (spent season on IR)

Re-signed S James Ihedigbo (cut Aug 31)

Signed DL Tim Bulman (cut Aug 27)

Signed TE Visanthe Shiancoe (IR Sept 5; cut Dec 12)

Signed OL Darrion Weems (cut Aug 31)

Signed OL Derek Dennis (cut Aug 31)

Claimed OT Dustin Waldron off waivers from Miami (cut Aug 31)

Signed DB Derrick Martin (cut Aug 31; re-signed Oct 31)

Signed FB Kareem Huggins (cut a day later, Aug 5)

Signed OL Kyle Hill (cut 13 days later, Aug 21)

Signed RB Jeff Demps (IR, Aug 31)

* Signed TE Aaron Hernandez to a five-year contract through 2018

Acquired WR Greg Salas from St. Louis for an undisclosed draft pick (cut Sept 18; PS)

Claimed OL Matt Tennant off waivers from New Orleans (cut 3 days later)

Signed RB James Develin to the practice squad (good move)

Signed RB Lex Hilliard (cut 2 weeks later)

Signed TE Michael Hoomanawanui (good depth, ST)




Here are some PatsFans articles and threads from this time period.

Happy 44th birthday to Jonathan Fanene
Born March 19, 1982 in Pago Pago, American Samoa
Patriot defensive end, 2012 offseason; uniform #98
Signed as a 30-year old veteran free agent on March 20, 2012
Pats résumé: one offseason


After the Patriots elected to let Mark Anderson and Andre Carter walk in free agency, Jonathan Fanene was supposed to be the player to fill one of those spots in the starting lineup.

That never happened; Fanene was released in mid-August, well before final cuts - and he never caught on with another NFL team after that.


Fanene claimed there was more to the story though.

March 19, 1972:
Tom Healion is hired as the team's trainer

Tom Healion began his athletic training career with the Toronto Argonauts in 1954. After athletic training stints at the University of Pittsburgh, Northwestern University and the University of Indiana, Healion was appointed head athletic trainer for the New England Patriots in 1972 and remained there until 1986. Tom was also one of the founding fathers of the present day National Athletic Trainer's Association, and is in that organization's Hall of Fame. In 2024 Tom passed away in Brunswick, Maine at the age of 94.


[URL='https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/arvada-co/thomas-healion-11808883]Thomas Healion Obituary[/URL]
Tom was my trainer for most of my years with the Patriots. He had very little equipment to rehabilitate our injuries but he worked miracles with what little he had. Thanks Tom for keeping me on the field. - John Hannah

Nothing but fond memories of Tom. He struck a remarkable balance between keeping players on the field and standing up to the coaches when a player should sit out. Basically had 2 therapies to work with, ice, and ultrasound! Did a good job with what he had! - Tim Fox

Tom was the Trainer when I first arrived with the Patriots. He was an excellent person and treated so many of us with limited resources. We called him “ the healer” because of his ability to get guys back on field as soon as possible. - Rick Sanford

Tom was my trainer for my entire career. As stated by my teammates, he had very little to work with. None of the state of the art equipment they use today. But he was a great person and always positive no matter the situation. - Ray Hamilton






March 19, 1989:
Patriots officially announce the signing of kicker Greg Davis

Davis was a free agent who had previously played for Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The Bucs had originally signed Davis with one of the three draft picks they received from New England in 1987 in exchange for Sean Farrell. He was being brought in after Teddy Garcia was left unprotected, and signed with Arizona. Raymond Berry had completely lost faith in Garcia after he went 6-13 on field goal attempts and 11-16 on extra points in 1988, costing the Patriots multiple games. Davis was better than Garcia, but still left plenty of room for improvement. In 1989 he was 13-16 on extra points and 16-23 on field goal attempts, including 6-9 from 30-39 yards out and 5-9 from 40-49. Berry ended up re-signing Jason Staurovsky mid-season to shore up the position.





March 19, 1992:
Plan B free agent Randy Robbins signs with New England

Robbins had played the previous eight years in Denver as a reserve, appearing in 116 games with 26 starts and 11 interceptions. At the age of 30 he became a full-timer, starting in 15 games with two picks and a fumble recovery. He was released the following spring when Bill Parcells took over and cleaned house, replacing Robbins with former Cleveland Browns safety Harlon Barnett. With that Robbins retired, finishing his career with a total of 142 combined regular season and postseason games played.





March 19, 1998:
Patriots sign WR Brian Stablein:

Stablein was a backup wide receiver for the Colts from 1993 to 1997. The Patriots signed him to a three-year contract, projecting him to replace the departed Dave Meggett on returns. In five exhibition games with the Pats he caught two passes for 19 yards and fair caught his only two punt return attempts. Stablein was waived on August 31, 1998, and then played for three more seasons with Detroit.

March 19, 2001:
Patriots sign free agent FB Marc Edwards and re-sign ERFA CB Kato Serwanga

Edwards played in every game for the Patriots from 2001-02, including the three '01 postseason games, with three touchdowns. Overall he played in the NFL for nine seasons, with 13 TD. Serwanga - who was the first Uganda-born person to play in the NFL - would be released at the end of training camp in '01. He played in 31 games with the Patriots over two seasons, with three interceptions; overall he played in the NFL for five years.

Edwards, 26, has spent the last two years with the Cleveland Browns but was originally a second round pick (55th overall) in the 1997 NFL Draft by the 49ers. San Francisco actually traded picks in the 2nd, 6th, and 7th rounds to the Philadelphia Eagles that year in order to trade up and select him.

The veteran fullback started 8 of 16 games last season and was a viable threat out of the backfield, catching 16 passes for 128 yards including 2 touchdowns. He joins Larry Izzo and Mike Vrabel as yet another free agent addition.

As for Serwanga he was originally slated to take part in NFL Europe, but there was a snag in the process and now he’ll be spending the offseason in Foxboro and taking part in the team workouts. Heading into the offseason last year he was the top candidate for the starting job at the right cornerback position, but free agent Antonio Langham got the call for most of the season. He is expected to compete for a starting role again this season.

Serwanga, 24, originally signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad, but later earned a roster spot and has appeared in 31 of 32 games over the last two years.

In 1999 he started the final three games in place of an injured Ty Law who had been placed on injured reserve. He finished the season tied for 2nd on the team for interceptions with 3, and his 15 passes defensed were second only to Ty Law’s 19. The former University of California standout originally signed a 1-year deal back on April 3rd of last year.


The point is this: free agents generally spurn New England, and they have for some time. Some folks may point to lousy negotiating skills by Patriot barkers, but the reality is that there are larger forces at work which drive huge free agents away from Foxborough.

The biggest issue here will no longer be a problem a year from now. Once CMGi Field opens, free agents will add Foxborough to their short lists quickly. Free agents pretty much look at Foxborough Stadium and scoot away quickly. A lousy clubhouse, a drab stadium and a small town aren’t exactly big drawing cards from big city guys who want warm weather, a huge clubhouse, and a vibrant nightlife.

The new stadium will be a big equalizer when it is built. That alone will provide a hook, so that the player will hopefully then warm up to rabid fans, a beautiful town and proximity to Boston. The Patriots are much better at keeping free agents versus signing new ones, because the current players want to stay more often than they want to leave. They learn to love the area, something that outsiders really can’t understand unless they just up and sign.

Right now, the A#1 reason the Patriots don’t grab big free agents is the salary cap. But one has to wonder why a big marquee guy has yet to come to Foxborough of his own volition. If it happens some day, it’s a good bet that CMGi Field will have had a great deal to do with the signing.

For now, keep the Larry Izzos and Mike Vrabels and Marc Edwardses coming. And keep those cranes, dump trucks and cement trucks running.








March 19, 2002:
Patriots sign veteran free agent safety Rob Kelly

Kelly would be placed on injured reserve on August 27, and never play in the NFL again after that. He had he sustained an injury to a nerve between his neck and shoulder during training camp that ended his career.



April 29, 2002 column on Kelly:

Sobering article on Rob Kelly, written by his wife:






Newark Catholic's Rob Kelly: Game of football is too violent to play

After The Cheers, An NFL Wife Struggles With Husband’s Mental Health




March 19, 2007:
Pats sign free agent CB Eddie Jackson

Jackson began the season on PUP, and ended up playing in three games in his only season in New England.


Mike Reiss' analysis:

March 19, 2012:
Patriots sign WR Donté Stallworth, OL Robert Gallery, TE Daniel Fells and CB Marquice Cole

The moves come during a busy week where the Pats had already re-signed LB Tracy White and ST Matthew Slater, and signed DT Marcus Harrison, Chargers safety Steve Gregory, Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez, Raiders DE Trevor Scott and Rams WR Brandon Lloyd.

See post #7 above for the 2012 offseason.








March 19, 2014:
Patriots sign long snapper Charley Hughlett

He didn't make the roster over Danny Aiken, but Hughlett has gone on to play in 164 NFL games from 2015-2025, for the Browns (2015-2024) and Eagles (2025).

More from this date in 2014:









March 19, 2018:
Patriots release LB Shea McClellin, and extend S Patrick Chung


2018 on PatsFans:












March 19, 2019:
Punter Ryan Allen is re-signed; Pats also officially announce the re-signing of WR Phillip Dorsett

Nice trip down memory lane, great job researching these former Pats...
I had completely forgotten about the "Joe Kapp Experience"....

DarrylS said:

Nice trip down memory lane, great job researching these former Pats...
I had completely forgotten about the "Joe Kapp Experience"....

Click to expand...

Heh. "The Joe Kapp Experience"... Huge elation that the pats snagged a legit SB QB (Wow!!) to replace Babe Parilli only to watch the wheels come completely off the wagon when the season started. For you younguns Bad Cam was a mere patch on Bad Joe. Had to be the most scarring event of my young fandom. "Does he even know how to play football?" frequently went thru my mind.

DarrylS said:

Nice trip down memory lane, great job researching these former Pats...
I had completely forgotten about the "Joe Kapp Experience"....

Click to expand...

Guy went from 12-1 w Vikings to 1-9 w Pats.... It was fugly. Best part of that year was trick or treating at his house in Milton. He gave good candies but he tricked us fans....