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Today In Patriots History Sept 3, 1995: Curtis Martin, Ty Law NFL debut in Bill vs Bill IV

Fun historical team facts.

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Today in Patriots History
Big Bill vs Little Bill
Curtis Martin steals the spotlight



Today marks the 31st anniversary of the fourth game with Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells as head coaches on opposite sidelines, as well as the NFL debut for Curtis Martin, Ty Law and Ted Johnson. Fast forward five years to the day later, and September 3 is also the 26th anniversary of the first regular season game with the Hoodie as the head coach of the New England Patriots.


September 3, 1995:
Week 1, Game 1 at Foxboro Stadium
Sunday, 1:00 at Foxboro Stadium
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick
Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe, Vinny Testaverde
Weather: sunny, 75º; humidity: 64%; wind: NE 11 mph
Television: NBC; **** Enberg, Phil Simms, Paul Maguire
Odds: New England favored by 3[/I]
Attendance: 60,126 (60,292 tickets sold, 166 no-shows)
Time: 2:55
New England Patriots 17, Cleveland Browns 14


Curtis Martin
rushed for 102 yards in his first NFL game, and scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 24 seconds left to play. Drew Bledsoe threw for 302 yards and Ben Coates had nine catches for 106 yards, including a nine-yard reception on the final drive that put the ball on the Cleveland 3-yard line.



On a side note, the 1995 Cleveland Browns began the season 3-1 and were considered to be one of the best teams in the NFL, a serious super bowl contender. They were coming off an 11-5 season where they defeated the Patriots in a wild card game, before losing to Pittsburgh in the divisional round. Then Art Modell inexplicably publicly announced that the team would be departing for Baltimore in 1996, throwing the Browns season, their fans and the city of Cleveland into complete chaos. (Why hold a press conference then? Why not wait until the season was over? What was the purpose, or upside?)



Key Stats:
Total Plays: Patriots 75, Browns 48
Time of Possession: Patriots 33:45. Browns 26:15
Total Yardage: Patriots 427, Browns 301
Rushing Yards: Patriots 125, Browns 60
Return Yardage: Browns 129, Patriots 54



Sept 4, 1995:
It was the Patriots who found the final push and the punch. They trailed for nearly all of this game, but in the final 19 seconds won it, by 17-14, in dramatic fashion, in a way that so many Patriot teams throughout their cumbersome history would have lost. That made this opening-day victory especially fun for the 60,126 fans at Foxboro Stadium.​

New England won it on an 84-yard, 15-play touchdown drive that began with 4 minutes 29 seconds left. The Patriots converted on three third-down plays and on one fourth-and-inches situation. They won it by controlling the clock in the fourth quarter, by 8:59 to 6:01.​


New England saved its best for last and kept using the same formula on offense that it had showed for most of the game. It kept throwing underneath (quarterback Drew Bledsoe's longest completion was for only 32 yards) and running tenaciously with the rookie tailback Curtis Martin. Bledsoe was 30 of 47 for 302 yards with no interceptions. Martin rushed 19 times for 102 yards, including the winning 1-yard dive over the goal line with 19 seconds left. On that score, Martin showed great second and third efforts before finally lunging and placing the point of the ball over the line. David Meggett ran over for the 2-point conversion.​

On the winning drive, fullback Sam Gash took advantage of blown coverage and grabbed a 30-yard pass to the Browns' 25. Tight end Ben Coates added a big reception to help cap his big day (9 catches, 106 yards).​







SportsCenter Highlights (2:25)




1995 Week 1 - Cleveland at New England (2:09:21)
Announcers: **** Enberg, Phil Simms, Paul Maguire





Belichick vs Parcells:
12/19/93: Browns 20, Patriots 17, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium
11/06/94: Patriots 13, Browns 6, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium
01/01/95: Browns 20, Patriots 13, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium (Wild Card Game)
09/03/95: Patriots 17, Browns 14, at Foxboro Stadium
11/16/03: Patriots 12, Cowboys 0, at Gillette Stadium




Pertinent information and box score via jt-sw.com:


Pro Football Reference Stats and Play-by-Play:


Mini-Box Score, Stats and Graphics via ESPN:


Official Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:




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Today in Patriots History
Belichick's 1st Game as Pats HC



This opener was a tough draw for the Patriots, who were in need of a year to rebuild. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin had molded a juggernaut in Tampa, with exceptional players who would become Hall of Famers at each level on his Tampa-2 defense: DT Warren Sapp, OLB Derrick Brooks, S John Lynch and CB Ronde Barber.


September 3, 2000:
Week 1, Game 1 in Foxborough
Sunday, 1:02 at Foxboro Stadium
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe, Shaun King
Weather: cloudy, 71º; humidity: 93%; wind: variable 5 mph
Television: Fox; Ray Bentley, Ron Pitts
Odds: Tampa Bay favored by 3
Paid Attendance: 60,292
Time: 3:03
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, New England Patriots 16


The offense had a tough time going up against one of the NFL's all-time best defenses. Derrick Brooks made 15 tackles (two for a loss) with a forced fumble and pass deflection, while Warren Sapp and other Bucs combined to sack Drew Bledsoe six times. The Patriot touchdowns came on a Troy Brown 66-yard punt return midway through the second quarter, and a 39 yard pass from Bledsoe to Terry Glenn with 3:01 remaining in the game.

A two point attempt to bring the deficit to three failed when a Kevin Faulk run was stopped short of the goal line. But then Willie McGinest sacked Shaun King for a loss of 11, and the Pats regained possession at the Tampa 45 yard line with 1:53 left to play. With 29 seconds left Bledsoe completed his fifth straight pass on a 4th and 1 to Troy Brown at the 22, but the game ended on four consecutive incomplete passes.


The Patriots could not get their running game going against a stout Tampa Bay defense. At first glance the numbers don't look bad (88 yards rushing, 4.2 yards per carry), but more than half of that yardage came on a pair of first quarter plays: a ten-yard scramble by Bledsoe on the second possession, and a 35-yard run by Troy Brown on the next possession. Both of those drives resulted in punts after a Bledsoe sack. The Patriots kept it close thanks to their return game: Troy Brown returned three punts for 118 yards (including the 66 yard TD), and Kevin Faulk had a 40-yard kickoff return.


The Pats had one defensive lapse that was a game-changer. The Patriots took a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter on Troy's punt return. Tampa Bay drove into New England territory on the ensuing drive, stalling after predictable Dungy-Bucs offensive play calling (two Mike Alstott runs up the middle followed by an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-long). On 4th-and-8 from the 37, Tampa did not call on Martin Gramatica for a long field goal and instead punted - pinning the Patriots down at the 8-yard line.


The Patriots went three and out and Tampa took over at the 50-yard line with 1:38 left in the half. On 3rd-and-1 Jacquez Green beat Otis Smith for a 33-yard gain to the eight yard line. With the clock ticking, everybody assumed King would spike the ball to stop the clock and figure out the next play. Instead he pulled a Dan Marino, faking the spike while Kato Serwanga wasn't watching, and connecting with a wide open Reidel Anthony for a touchdown with 35 seconds to go.


Buccaneers Fake Spike Touchdown vs Patriots - 2000 (1:07)



Bledsoe connected with Troy Brown on completions of 26 yards and 12 yards, but that was all they had time for. After spiking the ball, Adam Vinatieri's 55-yard field goal attempt with two seconds remaining in the half was short. The fake spike and missed field goal to end the half, plus the failed two-point conversion later resulted in the Patriots needing a touchdown rather than a field goal at the end of the game.


Troy finished the game with 221 all-purpose yards: 33 yards on two runs, 70 yards on seven receptions (he caught all seven passes thrown his way), and 118 yards on four punt returns. The two teams combined for 19 punts: nine by Lee Johnson (40.6 avg) and ten by Tampa's Mark Royals (40.3 per).


One historical sidenote: this was the last time that Tom Brady did not play in a game between these two teams until November 9, 2025, when the two QBs were Drake Maye and Baker Mayfield. TB12 was one of the seven players inactive for the Pats for this game. Michael Bishop was Drew Bledsoe's backup, and John Friesz suited up, but did not get on the field.



2:39 Sports Center Highlights:



33:03 Extended Highlights:



Full Game Video:





Patriots.com Game preview:


This link from jt-sw.com provides the pertinent information from the box score:


ESPN box score:


Official NFL Media Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:


In standard New York Post style, the tabloid trashes the coach who said no to the Jets:




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Today in Patriots History
Tom Brady's Suspension Overturned



September 3, 2015:

Tom Brady has a history of being a winner, and according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss citing the Associated Press, Judge Richard Berman granted him another victory on Thursday after “nullifying” the four-game suspension that had been imposed by the NFL for his alleged role in the DeflateGate debacle.​

Both Brady and Roger Goodell had spent time recently trying to potentially reach a settlement at the request of Berman, but the two sides were never able to reach an agreement and Brady and the NFLPA seemed just fine with letting the legal process play out.​



For now, it’s over. We’re on to Pittsburgh.​


Tom Brady’s decision to take the Deflategate scandal to federal court has paid off, with US district judge Richard Berman ruling that the New England Patriots quarterback’s suspension should be nullified after the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, had dispensed “his own brand of industrial justice”.​

Brady had been suspended for the first four games of the NFL season after a report, conducted by investigator Ted Wells, found that he was “generally aware” that Patriots officials deliberately deflated footballs during the team’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts in last season’s AFC Championship game.​

However, Berman ruled that the NFL had gone too far in its punishment of Brady and the suspension was “premised upon several significant legal deficiencies”. The judge also said Brady had no notice that he could receive a ban for participating in, or being aware of, ball deflation. “Because there was no notice of a four-game suspension in the circumstances presented here, Commissioner Goodell may be said to have ‘dispensed his own brand of industrial justice,”’ Berman ruled.​

“Brady also had no notice that his discipline would be the equivalent of the discipline imposed upon a player who used performance enhancing drugs,” the judge added.​

When Brady appealed to the league against the suspension Goodell upheld the ban in July and said that Brady had deliberately destroyed his cell phone after it had been requested by Wells and his staff. Following Goodell’s ruling, Brady took the case to federal court.​




Tom Brady has scored another big, resounding win – this time, over the NFL.​

A federal judge on Thursday vacated the four-game suspension the NFL imposed on the New England Patriots quarterback in the “Deflategate” scandal.​

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman issued a 40-page ruling Thursday morning, saying he found “several significant legal deficiencies” in how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell investigated accusations the Patriots used footballs inflated below league-mandated levels.​

The NFL failed to give Brady proper notice he could be suspended, didn’t provide him the opportunity to question one of the league’s investigators and denied him equal access to investigative files, Berman wrote in his ruling.​











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Today in Patriots History
Patriots defeat the British



September 3, 1783:
Representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized U.S. sovereignty.​


“On Wednesday the third day of this Month, the American Ministers met the British Minister at his Lodgings at the Hôtel de York, and signed, sealed and delivered the Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain.”​

It was eight o’clock in the morning when John Adams along with Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, met the British peace negotiator, David Hartley, at his residence in Paris and months of negotiations, first the previous year leading to the preliminary peace treaty, and then in earnest from April until the end of August culminated in this definitive treaty.​


 
Today in Patriots History
The Sixties



September 3, 1960:
Running back Wray Carlton is traded to Buffalo for defensive tackle Al Crow

This was a genuinely awful trade by the Patriots. Crow was originally a 28th round draft pick out of William & Mary by the Giants in 1955. After not making their roster he was drafted and served three years for the Army in the Korean War, returned and failed to make the Giants roster again in1959. At the age of 28 he played in the first three games with two starts for the Patriots, then was released before the month was over, ending his pro football career.

Carlton on the other hand had just turned 23, and would play for the Bills for eight seasons. He rushed for seven touchdowns his rookie season, scoring 11 TD altogether while amassing 1,010 yards from scrimmage, back when the season was only 14 games long. Two years later he led the AFL with 5.6 yards per carry, and was an AFL All-Star in both 1965 and 1966.

I don't know if the idea for this trade came from head coach Lou Saban, general manager Ed McKeever, or owner Billy Sullivan, but regardless, it turned out to be flat-out awful, even if Al Crow was a good guy.






September 3, 1961:
Patriots waive cornerback Clyde Washington

The Pats quickly re-signed Washington, and he played in all 14 games in '61, with 13 starts and four interceptions. Clyde had seven picks in his two seasons in Boston, playing in 27 games.





September 3, 1963:
Boston gets down to the 33-man roster limit, waiving FB Harry Crump, OT Gerry DeLucca, LB Rommie Loudd, OT George McGee, G Tony Sardisco, SE Al Snyder and FB Frank Williams.







September 3, 1967:
Week 1, Game 1 in Denver
Sunday, 4:30 (2:30 MDT) at Bears Stadium
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, Lou Saban
Quarterbacks: Babe Parilli, Steve Tensi
Weather: clear,82º, humidity 23%, wind 10 mph
Television: NBC; Curt Gowdy, Paul Christman
Odds: Broncos favored by 4
Attendance: 35,488
Denver Broncos 26, Boston Patriots 21


This was the first of five straight road games the Patriots had to play to begin the 1967 season. Tom Yawkey and the Boston Red Sox had decided they did not want football games tearing up the field at Fenway Park until the baseball season was over, and the '67 Impossible Dream extended the end of major league baseball in Boston for another week - forcing the Pats to play a week five home game against the Chargers in San Diego.


Denver led 16-7 in the third quarter, with the only Patriot points coming on a 79 yard bomb from Babe Parilli to Art Graham. The Pats came back on two more touchdown passes from Parilli - screen passes to running backs Jim Nance for 10 yards and 20 yards to Larry Garron - to take 21-16 lead.

After a Bronco field goal cut the lead to two, Bronco CB Goldie Sellers intercepted Parilli and returned the football 29 yards for the winning touchdown to upset the Patriots. Despite the three touchdown passes it was a game to forget for Parilli, as he threw a franchise record six interceptions on the day.


Sept 4, 1967:
Remarkable catches by Al Denson, playing despite a personal tragedy, helped the Denver Broncos to a 26-21 victory today over the Boston Patriots in the American Football League opener.​


Another excellent FS64 Preview and Recap:
The Denver Broncos had made several notable changes as they opened their AFL season against the Boston Patriots on September 3, 1967. The perennially losing franchise was coming off a second straight 4-10 record in ’66 and had hired a new head coach/GM, Lou Saban, who had won back-to-back AFL titles in Buffalo. HB Floyd Little was drafted in the first round out of Syracuse and became the first top draft pick in the team’s short history to sign with the club (no doubt helped by 1967 being the first year that the AFL wasn’t competing with the NFL for draft picks). Quarterback had been a major issue for the Broncos in recent seasons, and a trade was swung with San Diego to obtain the strong-armed Steve Tensi to take over the position for ’67.​

The visiting Patriots were coached by Mike Holovak (who had replaced Saban when he was fired from that job during the 1961 season) and were coming off an 8-4-2 year in ’66. FB Jim Nance had blossomed into a star, setting an AFL record with 1458 rushing yards. 37-year-old QB Babe Parilli was coming off of a good season and OE/PK Gino Cappelletti was the league’s top scorer.​


Boston had more total yards (302 to 209) and first downs (14 to 11) than the Broncos, but the Patriots also turned the ball over seven times, to one suffered by Denver.​

Al Denson was the offensive star for the Broncos as he caught four passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Steve Tensi completed 8 of 19 passes for 145 yards and the two TDs with none intercepted. Floyd Little, playing in his first regular season game, rushed for 66 yards on 25 carries, while Cookie Gilchrist, appearing in his last, gained 21 yards on 10 attempts (the talented and mercurial Gilchrist underwent knee surgery the next week and ultimately retired). Gene Sykes, Goldie Sellers, and Nemiah Wilson each intercepted two passes apiece.​

For the Patriots, Babe Parilli was successful on 16 of 30 throws for 234 yards and three TDs but also gave up the six costly interceptions. Gino Cappelletti had 6 catches for 54 yards and, thanks to the long scoring reception, Art Graham gained 84 yards on his two receptions. Jim Nance ran the ball 15 times for 53 yards and Larry Garron contributed 37 yards on 6 carries while also gaining 53 yards on four catches that included a touchdown.​

Tragedy dimmed Al Denson’s fine performance. He left immediately after the game for his home in Jacksonville, Florida due to the untimely death of his three-year-old son.​

The exciting win did not herald a winning season in Denver. The Broncos lost their next nine games and finished at the bottom of the Western Division with a 3-11 record. The Patriots ended up at the bottom of the Eastern Division at 3-10-1.​



Pro Football Reference Stats and Box Score:


Official AFL Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:



Highlight Video (1:43)
9/3/1967 - Boston Patriots at Denver Broncos
American Football League - Week 1 at Bears Stadium










September 3, 1968:
Patriots release QB Don Trull and CB Jay Cunningham



Don Trull's Patriots card in an Oilers uniform, and his Oilers card in a Pats jersey





September 3, 1969:
Jets trade Karl Henke to Boston for a 1970 8th round draft pick








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Today in Patriots History
The Seventies



September 3, 1970:
DE Isaac Lassiter is reportedly considering retirement, as his wife is due to have baby.
Ike had just been traded from Oakland to the Patriots four days earlier.





September 3, 1971:
Veteran free agent WR Eric Crabtree signs, and OT John Kohler is signed to the taxi squad.

Crabtree had averaged 21.4 yards per catch, going for 855 yards and seven touchdowns just two years earlier in 1969 - but his knees were shot, even though he was only 27. He would play in six games with four starts for the Patriots, but was only able to catch nine passes for 120 yards and one touchdown before being released.

Kohler was a Boston native who had been a third round draft pick in 1970 by Denver, out of South Dakota.









September 3, 1973:
Chuck Fairbanks fortifies the secondary, trading a fourth round draft pick to Pittsburgh for safety Ralph Anderson.

Anderson started 11 games for the Pats in '73, but was replaced the following year by Prentice McCray, who would play for the Patriots for 6½ years. The Steelers used that draft pick on an under-the-radar receiver from Alabama A&M who wound up in the Hall of Fame, John Stallworth.





September 3, 1975:
Running back Leon Crosswhite, a defensive back for Chuck Fairbanks at Oklahoma, is placed on injured reserve, and never returns to the field.

In addition the Patriots waive three others: Alan Bloomingdale, Johnny Vann and Ken Pope. Pope was the only one from that group that ever played for the Patriots, appearing in four games at safety in '74.





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Today in Patriots History
1978: Washington at New England



September 3, 1978:
Week 1, Game 1 in Foxborough
Sunday, 1:00 at Schaefer Stadium
Washington Redskins at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, Jack Pardee
Quarterbacks: Steve Grogan, Joe Theismann
Weather: hazy, warm, 76º; relative humidity 70%, wind SW 14 mph
Television: CBS; Don Criqui, Hank Stram
Odds: New England favored by 9½
Paid Attendance: 61,297
Washington Redskins 16, New England Patriots 14



After a 3-0 first half, Steve Grogan threw touchdown passes of 33 yards to Stanley Morgan and 45 yards to Harold Jackson (7 catches, 124 yards) to give the Patriots a 14-9 fourth quarter lead. It was Jackson's first game with the Patriots; the team had just traded for the receiver following the spinal cord injury in the preseason to Darryl Stingley.

The Patriots were attempting to run out the clock in the final three minutes when Horace Ivory (16 carries for 89 yards) was running wide to the right and hit hard, causing a fumble. The ball bounced on one hop right into the hands of former Patriot Brad Dusek, and the linebacker ran 31 yards down the sideline for the game winning touchdown.

1978 was the final year in New England for Chuck Fairbanks, and Jack Pardee's first year as head coach with Washington. At the age of 29 it was also Joe Theismann's first season as a starting NFL quarterback. He had been drafted out of Notre Dame in the fourth round by Miami in 1971, signed instead with Toronto in the CFL, and was traded to Washington in 1974 - where head coach George Allen used him as a punt returner as often as he was used as a backup quarterback.


Excellent recap here from FS64:
Jack Pardee was making his debut as head coach of the Redskins, the successor to George Allen and his seven straight winning records, including 9-5 in ‘77. Allen had dealt away draft picks to stockpile veterans, and there were concerns about retooling at certain positions. Foremost was at quarterback, where Bill Kilmer was almost 39 years old and being pressed by Joe Theismann, who was named the starter just prior to the opener. HB Mike Thomas was capable and it was hoped that FB John Riggins would rebound from an injury-plagued year. The defense was tough but old and there were concerns in particular about the backfield.​

New England, coached by Chuck Fairbanks, had also been 9-5 the previous year but was considered to be a contender in the highly competitive AFC East. Steve Grogan brought grit and mobility to the quarterback position and there was a promising group of runners led by FB Sam Cunningham. WR Darryl Stingley’s career was cut short by a spinal cord injury suffered during the preseason and WR Harold Jackson was obtained from the Rams to take his place. The defense was fifth overall in 1977 and especially strong against the run.​


Sept 3, 1978:
Redskins, Butz, Duzik Stun Patriots
Redskins Rally Last To Upset Patriots Fumbles, Run Win by 16-14 -- Washington Post
Who would have believed that linebacker Brad Dusek would pick up an unlikely fumble and run 31 yards for a touchdown with 2 minutes 40 seconds left in the game to give Washington a stunning 16-14 victory over favored New England yesterday.​

Here were the powerful Patriots, nine-point favorites, ahead, 14-9, and running out the clock, with hard-charging running back Horace Ivory taking a handoff from quarterback Steve Grogan.​

But defensive tackle Dave Butz heaved his 295-pound body into Ivory, forcing the fumble. Dusek, a fullback while at Texas A&M and once a third-round draft pick of the Patriots, picked up the ball on one hop and did not stop until a final, desperate, lunge into the New England end zone.​

The Redskins appeared to be dead Skins after Grogan had completed the second of his two touchdown passes - this one a 45-yarder to Harold Jackson early in the fourth quarter to give the Patriots a 14-9 lead.​

Time and again the New England defense had come up with enough big plays to frustrate the Redskins offense that period. Now the Patriots had the football on second down and 29 at their 39 with a little under three minutes remaining.​

The Patriots called a play that had been gaining lots of yards all afternoon, a basic sweep to the right, with Ivory running the ball.​

"It looked like they were running a sucker play," Butz said. "The guard in front of me pulled real fast. When he did that, I just went with him, stayed right in his hip pocket. I saw the back out of the corner of my eye, and nobody picked me up. It was a direct hit.​

"I hit him with my chest and put my arms around him to try and rake the ball away. I honestly didn't know the ball was on the ground. I just looked up and there was Brad diving over the goal line."​

Ivory, who gained 89 yards in 16 carries and had given Redskins fits all afternoon, said he never saw Butz coming "until after he hit me. He hit me just as I was getting the ball and I didn't have control. It was just a standard play."​

Dusek never hesitated, as he scooped up the ball and headed for the Patriot end zone, surrounded by a convoy of alert teammates. Patriot tackle Shelby Jordan seemed to have the angle to catch Dusek, but Redskin defensive end Karl Lorch managed to sufficiently get in Jordan's way.​

The Patriots still had plenty of time, and a 14 mile-per-hour wind at their backs, to drive for a game-winning touchdown or field goal. But the Redskin defense, with a brief setback from the officials, would not let it happen.​

Mark Moseley, who had missed an extra point (his first since 1976, after 38 straight) purposely put the kickoff high and short to keep it away from dangerous return man Ray Clayborn.​

The Patriots started at their 27 with 2:32 remaining. The Redskins seemingly sealed the victory when Diron Talbert sacked Grogan, forcing a fumble recovered by Karl Lorch.​

But Redskin cornerback Lemar Parrish was called for an illegal bump on a receiver up field. The Redskins argued hard and long to no avail, and the Patriots retained possession, with a first down at the 32.​

On first down, Grogan's pass to Andy Johnson bounced off the running back's hands. On second down, Coy Bacon recorded his second sack, dropping Grogan for a 13-yard loss. On third down, wide receiver Don Westbrook dropped a pass in first down territory, forcing the Patriots to punt.​

The Patriots never got the football again.​

With 1:38 to play and the Redskins facing second and seven at the Patriot 47, John Riggins slipped around left end and blew 31 yards to the Patriot 17 for a first down that allowed the Redskins to kill the clock.​




Highlight Video (1:47)
9/3/1978 Washington Redskins at New England Patriots highlights, National Football League Week 1




This was the second-ever meeting between New England and Washington, with the Patriots previously pulling off a 24-23 upset win in 1972. Including this game, Washington won each of the next six, with the pats finally breaking the losing streak in a very emphatic manner, 52-7 against Joe Gibbs in 2007. That started a four-game winning streak against Washington, with the Commanders winning 20-17 in the last meeting, in 2023.




Box Score, Individual and Team Stats:

Official NFL Media Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:





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Today in Patriots History
1979: Monday Night Football



September 3, 1979:
Week 1, Game 1 in Foxborough
Monday, 9:00 at Schaefer Stadium
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Ron Erhardt, Chuck Noll
Quarterbacks: Steve Grogan, Terry Bradshaw
Weather: warm, humid; 81º; wind: SW 13 mph
Television: ABC; Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
Odds: Pittsburgh favored by 2
Paid Attendance: 61,297
Time: 3:35
Pittsburgh Steelers 16, New England Patriots 13 in OT


The NFL chose an interesting matchup to finish week one of the 1979 season. The Patriots were coming off a tumultuous 1978 season that began with high hopes and ended with a face palm finish. Chuck Fairbanks had had enough of the Sullivans and word of his decision to bolt for the University of Colorado became public before the season was over. Fairbanks was suspended, and Ron Erhardt and Hank Bullough were assigned "co-head coaches" for the final game. Fairbanks returned for a gloomy, overcast New Years Eve playoff game against the Oilers that the distracted Pats were never in. Meanwhile Pittsburgh had the league's best record at 14-2, defeated Dallas 35-31 in a thrilling super bowl, and Terry Bradshaw was the 1978 NFL MVP.


This game was a defensive battle, with a combined nine sacks, four turnovers and 16 punts. The Steelers tied the score with 4:09 left to go on a defensive coverage breakdown, then won the game on rookie Matt Bahr's 41 yard field goal in overtime. The victory was the 100th for Steeler head coach Chuck Noll. The game was also the first for Erhardt in a permanent capacity as head coach, having replaced Fairbanks in the offseason.


Sept 4, 1979:
The first 60 minutes of play ended with the score tied, 13-13, after the Patriots had led at halftime by 13-6. The game amounted to a defensive battle, and the Steelers felt especially fortunate to win with a squad that had so many injuries.​

The contest ended at 12:40 A.M., making it one of the longest of the Monday night National Football League games. This one took 3 hours 35 minutes before a decision was reached.​

The Steelers started Ted Peterson and Steve Courson at tackle and guard on their offensive line and had trouble establishing a running game in the early going. Their problems grew when Terry Bradshaw, their quarterback, sprained a toe in the second period and had to leave the game. Mike Kurczek replaced him.​

When Bradshaw left, the Steelers were behind by 7-6, and two minutes later the Patriots added a field goal by John Smith to lead, 10-6.​

The Patriots opened the game with a 55-yard touchdown drive that featured Russ Francis, their star tight end. The key play was a 22-yard pass from Steve Grogan to Francis, and Francis followed up with an outstanding one-handed touchdown catch from 4 yards out.​

The Steelers countered with a 46-yard drive for a touchdown. The drive was started by Jack Lambert, the all-pro linebacker, who intercepted a Grogan pass, and it featured two Bradshaw completions to his wide receivers, John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, for 13 and 19 yards, respectively. Sidney Thornton, the fullback, playing for the injured Rocky Bleier, dived over from the New England 2 for the score.​

But Bahr, the Steelers’ rookie placekicker, missed the conversion kick, leaving Pittsburgh with a 1-point deficit.​

New England's next drive was highlighted by a 33-yard pass play, with Grogan drilling the ball to Stanley Morgan at the Steeler 32. On the previous series, Bradshaw had been sacked by Tony McGee, and that was when the toe injury occurred.​



Nice game recap here, even if it is Steeler-centric from a Pittsburgh fan:


Highlight Video (6:23)
9/3/1979 Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots highlights, National Football League Week 1


Longer highlight video (17:04)
1979-09-03 Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots





Box Score, Individual and Team Stats:

Official NFL Media Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:




This was the fourth meeting between the Steelers and Patriots. In 1976 the Pats shocked Pittsburgh at Three Rivers with a 30-27 victory, forcing and recovering six Steeler fumbles, in a big statement game to the rest of the NFL that the Patriots were for real. The next time these two met Pittsburgh won - again, in overtime. By the time the Steelers beat the Patriots in the 1997 postseason 7-6, Pittsburgh had a 12-4 series lead over the Patriots. Since that day the Pats went 12-3 against Pittsburgh, and despite last year's self-inflicted loss now lead the series 19-17.






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Today in Patriots History
The Eighties



September 3, 1980:
Running back Allan Clark is placed on injured reserve.
The Pats sign safety Bill Currier.

Clark was a 10th round draft pick the previous season, from Northern Arizona. He averaged 22.1 yards on 37 kickoff returns, while scoring two touchdowns as a backup running back. Clark would return to play in ten games for the Patriots in 1980, but early in the 1981 training camp he tore ligaments in a more severe knee injury, and was never the same player after that. He played briefly with the Bills and Packers, but 1982 would be his final season in the NFL. Allan did make a comeback with Arizona in the USFL in 1984-85, wrapping up his pro football career.

















September 3, 1985:
Nose tackle Lester Williams is placed on injured reserve; he would return on October 18, but this was his second straight trip to IR, and the Patriots would move on the following season. Williams started 13 games over four seasons in New England, but nine of those came as a rookie in 1982.

On the same day Cleveland claimed Clarence Weathers off waivers. The wide receiver had five touchdowns as a reserve in his two season with the Pats, then became a starter in '85 with the Browns, and played in the NFL for seven more seasons. Weathers was originally signed after visiting his brother Robert in training camp.







September 3, 1986:
Defensive end Smiley Creswell is placed on injured reserve.

1986 was the third consecutive season Creswell landed on IR, and he would never play another game in the NFL.


Creswell learned another – harder – lesson in his rookie season: How to cope with injury. He was having a good training camp when he suffered an injury to his left thumb in the Patriots’ third preseason game, sidelining him for the season.​

He came back a year later and was having another solid camp. “I had a shot (at playing a lot),” he said. Then, it happened again. Another injury, this one torn medial collateral ligaments in his left knee requiring surgery. Another season of sitting and watching.​

He had been in the NFL for two years and had yet to play a down in a regular-season game.​

“I think if I hadn’t gotten hurt that second year, I would have stayed in the league five, six, seven years,” he said. “It’s just that when you get a major tear in your ligament in your knee, it’s tough to get your confidence back.​

“The first year back when I went to mini-camp, I had hardly any confidence. I was scared and my injury was not even caused by a game. I did my job, stood the guy up, and someone came through and nailed me in practice. That guy was cut the next day.”​

In his third season, he got another lesson in how harsh life can be in the NFL: The Patriots waived him in late August. Which wasn’t all bad, because he finally got to play in some real games when the Eagles picked him up two weeks later. When the Eagles let him go in November, the Patriots re-signed him, just in time for the headiest ride in team history.​

The Patriots were about to become the first wild-card team in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl by winning three road games in the playoffs. They culminated that run by beating the Miami Dolphins 31-14 in the AFC Championship Game, slicing an 18-game losing streak at the Orange Bowl.​

Timing. Chance. Luck. Fate. Whatever it was, Creswell – after playing just four games in three years – was headed for the biggest show in sports: the Super Bowl in New Orleans.​

An opportunity that most players never get. Creswell admits that luck had a hand in it. But he also knows he wouldn’t have still been in the league if he hadn’t done the right things.​

“I worked hard. I lifted hard. I ran hard. I was always in shape. That’s probably why I made it as far as I did. I might not have been the most skilled athlete in the world, but as far as determination and hard work and that kind of stuff, that was pretty much instilled in me by my parents. That’s just what a person had to do, put in time and hard work. And I was fortunate to have some great coaches.”​

Last month, on the 20th anniversary of that Super Bowl game, the Patriots held a reunion, with owner Bob Kraft picking up the tab, air fare and hotel accommodations for the 42 players who showed up in Boston.​

Creswell has nothing but good memories of his old Patriot teammates. “I played with a lot of great guys,” he said. “I can honestly say it was just really an honor to play with those guys because everybody looked out for everybody.”​




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Today in Patriots History
The Nineties



September 3, 1990:
The Patriots sign the first of their two 1st-round draft picks, LB Chris Singleton of Arizona, selected 8th overall.

This was also the roster cutdown date to 47 players, with the following players being released:
RB Marvin Allen, TE Lin Dawson, OL David Douglas, S Brian Hutson, LB Ilia Jarostchuk, LB Tim Jordan, WR/KR Kitrick Taylor, LB Ed Williams.

Lin Dawson returned to play three final games in 1990, but he was never quite the same after blowing out his knee in Super Bowl XX.

The long holdout did not help Singleton, as he finished his disappointing rookie season with only 28 tackles and three sacks, and four starts. His performance improved the following years, but he never lived up to his top-ten draft status, and was released halfway through his fourth season, in 1993. Miami quickly picked him up and he played better in south Florida, but in his NFL career he was never named to a Pro Bowl, and tallied just seven sacks.







September 3, 1991:
New England signs CB David Pool, and waives guard/tackle Stan Clayton

Pool had two interceptions, including a 41-yard pick-six off Jeff George during the Pats dismal '92 2-14 season. That was the only year he was a starter during his five-year, 48-game in the NFL.






September 3, 1992:
The Patriots sign defensive back Roger Brown, who had been released by the Giants three days earlier, and sign defensive back Darren Andersen.

Andersen only played in one game with the Pats, but went on to play in 74 NFL games over seven seasons from 1992 to 1998, primarily for the Chiefs.





September 3, 1994:
Police were on the lookout for former Patriot running back John Stephens, on charges of raping a woman in Kansas City less than two weeks earlier.

The rape allegedly occurred in a hotel room at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Aug. 23 -- hours before Stephens was released by the Kansas City Chiefs and later flew to Miami, officials said. Stephens played for Green Bay last season after spending the first five years of his career with the New England Patriots. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1988 after being selected by New England with the 17th pick in the first round.​





September 3, 1995:
Patriots 17, Browns 14 -- see original post.

The "other Reggie White" makes his NFL debut, with the defensive tackle finishing with three tackles and ½ sack.





September 3, 1999:
The Patriots exercise an option in the NFL Supplemental Draft to select J'Juan Cherry.

What a screw up, especially when you consider adding a player this late meant he would add zero value until the next year, at earliest. That actually turned out to be never, as the cornerback never played a single down in the NFL, but at the same time making this selection cost the Patriots a fourth round pick in the 2000 draft.




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Today in Patriots History
Buffalo signs Lawyer Milloy,
and more from the Aughts



September 3, 2000:
See post #2 above: Tampa Bay 21, New England 16
Draft picks making their NFL debut: RB J. R. Redmond, OT Greg Robinson-Randall

Starting Offense:
WR - 80 - Troy Brown
LT - 78 - Bruce Armstrong
LG - 64 - Derrick Fletcher
OC - 65 - Damien Woody
RG - 68 - Max Lane
RT - 76 - Grant Williams
TE - 86 - Eric Bjornson
WR - 88 - Terry Glenn
WR - 81 - Tony Simmons
QB - 11 - Drew Bledsoe
RB - 33 - Kevin Faulk

Starting Defense:
LDE - 55 - Willie McGinest
DT - 98 - Brandon Mitchell
NT - 90 - Chad Eaton
RDE - 91 - Bobby Hamilton
SLB - 53 - Chris Slade
MLB - 59 - Andy Katzenmoyer
WLB - 54 - Tedy Bruschi
LCB - 24 - Ty Law
RCB - 38 - Antonio Langham
SS - 36 - Lawyer Milloy
FS - 34 - Tebucky Jones

K - 4 - Adam Vinatieri
P - 10 - Lee Johnson





September 3, 2001:
DE Greg Spires is waived;
Browns claim WR Tony Simmons, who was part of the previous day's final roster cutdown.

Spires was a third round pick in 1998, and while he only started three games in that time, he was coming off a six-sack season in 2000. One year later he signed with Tampa Bay, where he was a full-time starter, playing for the Bucs for six seasons.

Simmons was a complete bust, and inexplicably featured on national television ads for one of the athletic footwear companies.





September 3, 2002:
DE Maurice Anderson, TE Arther Love, NT Jace Sayler and CB Brock Williams are signed to the practice squad;
Buffalo Bills claim LB Maugaula Tuitele off waivers.

- Anderson was signed by the Pats as an undrafted rookie from Virginia in 2000, and was on the Pats practice squad in 2000-01. He later also signed with the Jets and Dolphins, but his only pro football playing time was with Amsterdam in NFLE, and the Arena League.
- Love was a 2001 6th round pick; he spent most of 2001 on PUP, but never got on the field in an NFL game.
- Sayler's NFL stats read two games played, with one start for New England in 2001.
- Williams was 3rd round pick by NE in 2001 from Notre Dame, who spent his rookie season on IR. He never played in any games for the Pats, but did play in 12 games for the Bears and Raiders in 2003-04.
- 'Ula' Tuitele had previously been signed and released eight times by the Patriots. He played in five games in two stints with the Pats, got a ring from Super Bowl 36, and played in a total of 17 NFL games as a special teamer.






September 3, 2003:


ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Lawyer Milloy agreed to sign with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday, a day after being cut by the New England Patriots.​

The move adds to an intriguing season opener -- the Bills host the Patriots on Sunday. In addition to Milloy, Drew Bledsoe, Buffalo's quarterback, is a former star in New England.​

Besides significantly upgrading a young Buffalo defensive backfield, Milloy could provide insight into the Bills plans as they prepare for New England.​

Milloy was released by the Patriots for salary-cap reasons on Tuesday. The move created a stir, in part because Milloy was a team leader and had started 106 consecutive games over his seven NFL seasons. Adding the bonus to his $4.4 million salary for this season, Milloy was to count $5.25 million against New England's cap.​

The Bills, projected to have $4 million of room under the cap, were one of a handful of team that had made offers to sign the player.​

The four-year contract is worth $15 million, nearly two-thirds of that in the first two seasons of the deal. Milloy will receive a $5 million signing bonus and base salaries of $2 million for 2003 and $2.75 million for 2004. The Washington Redskins, who finished as the runner-up team in the Milloy sweepstakes, offered about $6 million in the first two years of their proposal.​

Milloy led the Patriots in tackles in 2001, when New England won the Super Bowl, and recorded 100 or more tackles five times. Last year he had no sacks, no forced fumbles and no interceptions. His 91 tackles were the fewest he'd tallied since becoming a full-time starter.​





September 3, 2004:

Foxborough, Mass. – It turns out that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick didn't need to wait until Sunday's official deadline to begin reducing the roster to the league-mandated 53-player limit. The Patriots today announced the release of quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, defensive lineman Dwight Johnson, cornerback Earthwind Moreland, offensive lineman Jamil Soriano, linebackers Lawrence Flugence and Grant Steen, tight end Joel Jacobs, defensive back Scott Farley and running back Mike Cloud.​

The team also announced it re-signed quarterback Jim Miller and signed free agent running back Kory Chapman, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens.​

The Patriots active roster currently stands at 67 players, including nine NFL Europe roster exemptions. The team will have to make 14 additional transactions before Sunday's official 53-player roster deadline at 4 p.m.​


As expected, the Patriots re-signed veteran quarterback Jim Miller Friday afternoon. New England had released the 33-year-old earlier in the week as they cut their rosters down to 65 players, but the less-than-inspiring performance of Rohan Davey (13-of-25 for 104-yards and 2 interceptions) Thursday night against the Jaguars apparently made the decision an easy one for Head Coach Bill Belichick.​

"I said that I thought he might be ready to practice at the end of the week, and he practiced today," Belichick said via conference call late Friday afternoon. "We knew he wasn't going to play in Thursday's game. That would be my explanation as to why we did it."​

Miller was signed by the Patriots back on July 19 after spending the 2003 campaign out of football. He's entering his 10th NFL season and served as the starter in Chicago in 2001 and 2002. He had his best season in 2001, starting 13 of 16 games, passing for 2,299 yards with 13 touchdowns for the Bears. However, he was unable to do much of anything in training camp, as he appeared to struggle in an attempt to bounce back from offseason shoulder surgery.​

Miller joins a list of players over the last two years who have been released by the Patriots, only to be re-signed at a later date. It's a group that includes offensive lineman Russ Hochstein, fullback Patrick Pass, wide receiver Dedric Ward and punter Ken Walter.​

New England also made a handful of other roster moves Friday, signing running back Kory Chapman. The 24-year-old Jacksonville State product was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent earlier this year. In addition, the Patriots released nine players; running Michael Cloud, safety Scott Farley, linebacker Lawrence Flugence, tight end Joel Jacobs, defensive lineman Dwight Johnson, quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, cornerback Earthwind Moreland, offensive lineman Jamil Soriano and linebacker Grant Steen.​

The most notable name on that list is Cloud. The Boston College product finished with 93 yards on 19 carries in Thursday night's preseason finale, and appeared to make his case to get some time behind Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk. But Belichick wouldn't close the door on a possible return for Cloud.​

"Mike has got a lot of positives. Mike works hard," Belichick said. "I think this gives him an opportunity to look into some other options, if there are any. And he deserves that.​

"He's been a hardworking tough kid who has really given us his best: we just don't have a spot for him," Belichick added. "That could change, but in the meantime, he deserves the opportunity to try to see what the other options are at this point for him."​




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Today in Patriots History
More from the Aughts:
Rodney suspended, Reche cut



September 1-2, 2005:






September 3, 2005,


via Mike Reiss:
The following are the Patriots’ cuts, with a brief note of analysis:

Quarterbacks:
No cuts

Who’s left: Tom Brady, Doug Flutie, Matt Cassel

Analysis: No surprise, although we wonder if the Patriots considered putting Cassel on the practice squad to open up another roster spot. That was probably too risky.

Running backs:
Kory Chapman
Kyle Eckel

Who’s left: Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk and Patrick Pass

Analysis: No surprise. Chapman and Eckel just didn’t contribute enough on special teams to warrant a spot.

Wide receivers:
Bam Childress
PK Sam
David Terrell

Who’s left: Deion Branch, David Givens, Troy Brown, Tim Dwight, Andre Davis and Bethel Johnson.

Analysis: Terrell was a big disappointment after signing a one-year deal with a $200,000 signing bonus and Sam is a tough cut. Sam was the youngest player drafted in 2004 and he signed a five-year deal as a fifth-round pick. But Davis and Johnson beat him out, with Johnson’s speed and value on kickoff returns too valuable to part with.

Offensive Line:
Jeff Roehl
Victor Leyva
Billy Yates
Gene Mruczkowski

Who’s left: Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Tom Ashworth, Nick Kazcur, Russ Hochstein, Brandon Gorin

Analysis: Mruczkowski is a bit of a surprise as the Patriots developed him for two years. But Hochstein deems him expendable with the ability to back up both guards spots, center, and perhaps even right tackle in an emergency. It was probably between Gorin and Mruczkowski for the eighth spot, and Gorin’s experience won out.

Tight End:
Jed Weaver
Joel Jacobs

Who’s left: Daniel Graham, Benjamin Watson, Christian Fauria

Analysis: We thought four might be a possibility but Weaver, who started strong in training camp, tailed off at the end.

Defensive Line:
Tom Sverchek
Rodney Bailey

Who’s left: Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, Marquise Hill, Dan Klecko, Mike Wright

Analysis: Stunner to see Wright, a rookie free agent from Cincinnati, make it over Rodney Bailey, whom the Patriots signed last year as a restricted free agent for $1.3 million. Bailey was coming off a torn Achilles that cost him all of the 2004 season.

Linebackers
Andre Torrey
Eric Alexander
Grant Steen

Who’s left: Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin, Chad Brown, Monty Beisel, Larry Izzo, Don Davis, Matt Chatham, Tully Banta-Cain, Wesly Mallard

Analysis: Alexander could return on the practice squad, but his coach at LSU, Nick Saban, might try to scoop him up now that he’s head coach of the Dolphins. Mallard’s strong effort vs. the Giants might have put him over the top for a spot. A lot of special teams contributors in this group.

Cornerback:
No cuts

Who’s left: Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, Tyrone Poole, Ellis Hobbs, Chad Scott, Duane Starks

Analysis: Team keeps six, which is a bit high. But based on the way the position was ravaged last year, and Chad Scott’s ability to drop back and play safety, this protects the team

Safety:
Ray Ventrone

Who’s left: Eugene Wilson, Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, Guss Scott

Analysis: No surprise. Sanders and Scott add special teams value and figure to be part of the game-day 45-man roster.

Specialists:
No cuts

Who’s left: Adam Vinatieri (kicker), Josh Miller (punter), Lonie Paxton (long snapper)

Analysis: No surprise as the competition for each player was already cut.





September 3, 2006:



The New England Patriots claimed wide receiver Jonathan Smith off of waivers today. Smith, who is entering his third NFL season, was waived by the Buffalo Bills yesterday. Additionally, the Patriots released first-year wide receiver Bam Childress.​

Also, the Patriots announced the signings of six players to their eight-man practice squad. Offensive linemen Billy Yates and Dan Stevenson, wide receiver Kelvin Kight, linebacker Corey Mays, defensive lineman Santonio Thomas and defensive back Antwain Spann all cleared waivers and earned spots on the practice squad.​







September 3, 2007:

If you missed it during this long, Labor Day weekend, Rodney Harrison revealed to reporters late Friday that he has been using a banned substance during his rehab from several injuries. He admitted his actions (a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy) to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and will miss the first four games of the season. Harrison did not indicate what substance he actually used, saying only "I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids."​

Wide receiver Randy Moss was dressed in full pads for Monday afternoon's practice, his first on-field action since August 1st.

Citing an unnamed NFL source, The Boston Globe is reporting that the Patriots have released WR Reche Caldwell. When asked about the alleged move, a team spokesman said Caldwell "is not here."​

Caldwell's release could be an indication that a roster spot will be needed for CB Asante Samuel this Sunday. Samuel, who was suited up for practice Monday, returned to the Patriots last week, but has not been on the practice field until today.​







September 3, 2008:










September 3, 2009:












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Today in Patriots History
The 2010s: Sammy Morris,
Brandon Meriweather released



September 3, 2010:





In anticipation of tomorrow's NFL-mandatory cut to a 53-man roster, the New England Patriots announced that OL Eric Ghiaciuc and DL Damione Lewis have been released.​

The Patriots cut defensive lineman Damione Lewis and tight ends Rob Meyer and Carson Butler. Meyer and Butler were presumably kicked out by Gronk and Hernandez, and Lewis was presumably cut for numbers reasons. The Patriots also waived offensive lineman Eric Ghiaciuc.​








September 3, 2011:
























September 3, 2012:










September 3, 2013:















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Today in Patriots History
More 2010s: Aaron Dobson cut



September 3, 2014:





The New England Patriots made a three-for-three swap on their practice squad Wednesday, signing offensive lineman Chris Barker, tight end Allen Reisner and running back Marcus Thigpen.​

To make room, the club released quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, safety Kanorris Davis and cornerback Daxton Swanson from the practice squad.​

Reisner was among a group of nine players who had a tryout with the club on Tuesday.​

Patriots practice squad now consists of RB Jonas Gray, LS Charley Hughlett, LB Ja'Gared Davis, LB Deontae Skinner, OL Chris Martin, WR Josh Boyce, DE Jake Bequette, OL Chris Barker, TE Allen Reisner and RB Marcus Thigpen.​



There aren't a lot of fiery, vocal, in-your-face leaders on this Patriots team. New England seems to have an inordinate number of guys who consider themselves "leaders by example."​

You can add Dan Connolly to that list now.​

The 9-year veteran interior offensive lineman was elected one of the club's six co-captains Wednesday, joining five other players who have considerable experience in that regard: quarterback Tom Brady, linebacker Jerod Mayo, defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, safety Devin McCourty, and special teams ace Matthew Slater.​

It might be more than a coincidence that Connolly is the only new name among the captainship ranks. He replaces fellow offensive lineman and three-time co-captain Logan Mankins, who was traded to Tampa Bay last week and left a considerable leadership void in his wake.​



Three days after claiming rookie defensive tackles Kelcy Quarles (Giants) and Bruce Gaston (Cardinals) on waivers, the New England Patriots waived both players off their 53-man roster on Wednesday.​

Also, the team waived long snapper Charley Hughlett from their practice squad and is strongly considering re-signing four-year veteran Danny Aiken -- who worked out for the Broncos on Tuesday -- to once again be their long snapper.​

The moves continue a dizzying few days of transactions that reflect the Patriots' overall strategy of building the best 63-man unit (53 active players plus 10 on the practice squad).​

Quarles and Gaston would be strong practice squad candidates if they clear waivers and decide they want to return to New England. It will be interesting to see if the Giants (with Quarles) and Cardinals (with Gaston) make a competitive bid to bring their former players back.​









September 3, 2015:































September 3, 2016:



The Patriots cut 10 veteran players including OL Chris Barker, WR Aaron Dobson, RB Tyler Gaffney, DL Geneo Grissom, LB Rufus Johnson, DL Markus Kuhn, WR Keshawn Martin, DB Darryl Roberts, DB Vinnie Sunseri and DL Joe Vellano.​

The Patriots also cut 5 first-year players including WR DeAndre Carter, OL Jon Halapio, WR Chris Harper, RB Joey Iosefa and LB Kevin Snyder.​

Lastly, New England cut five rookies, including two 2016 Draft picks, DL Woodrow Hamilton, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, CB Cre’von LeBlanc, WR Devin Lucien and TE Bryce Williams.​
Aaron Dobson and DeAndre Carter have both been let go, according to a source. Dobson, a second-rounder in 2013, was plagued by injuries and a less-than urgent playing style during his three seasons with the team.​

The past two preseason games summed up the Dobson experience nicely. Against the Panthers, he had some big-play receptions from both Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo. Dobson followed those up in the final preseason game with a half-hearted blocking effort on a wide-receiver screen on the game’s first play, being easily run through on a target by Brady that turned into a pick and a falling 38-yard reception.​

Inconsistent to the end, Dobson will likely find a job somewhere by the beginning of the week.​

Carter, who went undrafted in 2015 and was with the Ravens, was signed to the New England practice squad last January. The Sacramento State product is a likely practice squad addition once he passes through waivers.​

The Patriots now have Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Hogan at wideout.​
Wide receiver Aaron Dobson's final game with the New England Patriots was a good reflection of his three years with the club -- frustrating moments in which he didn't consistently attack the ball mixed with a few highlights that made him a highly-rated player on the Patriots' draft board in 2013.​

The 59th overall selection in the '13 draft, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Dobson arrived in town with the résumé of an outside receiver who could go up and get the ball in traffic. The Patriots also liked how he was grounded at a position that seems to invite players with more a diva-type personality.​

But three-plus years later, Dobson's time is coming to an end. He was informed by club officials Saturday of their intention to waive him -- and Thursday's preseason finale sums up why.​

In the first quarter, Tom Brady was throwing to a spot where he expected Dobson to be, but Dobson slowed up at the top of the short slant route and the pass was intercepted. Brady's exasperated look said it all and if one could have read Brady's mind at that point, it might have been something like this: "Don't stop! Go get the ball!"

That seemed to be one of the team's main frustrations with Dobson -- a lack of urgency at times. It specifically showed up in 2014 when contrasted to free-agent signing Brandon LaFell, in part because LaFell attacked things relentlessly in his first year with the club and developed a quick rapport with Brady that Dobson never seemed to. Dobson's highlight was a 37-catch rookie season and he departs with 53 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns over three seasons.​

Every now and then he showed flashes, such as his leaping second-quarter grab Thursday against the Giants, but it just wasn't consistent enough. Staying healthy was also an issue at times, as his second season was slowed by an offseason foot surgery, and then ended with a hamstring injury in late November.​

But health wasn't an issue this year. This was simply about performance, and Thursday's preseason finale was reflective of how despite teasing at times with highlight plays, a lack of on-field urgency and consistency were primary reasons why it didn't work out.​


Aaron Dobson Drop Over Middle vs. Jets



From Jan 3, 2014:









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Today in Patriots History
The latter 2010s



September 3, 2017:






The Patriots entered training camp having had at least one undrafted rookie make the initial 53-man roster for each of the last 13 seasons. That streak was extended to 14 on Saturday as defensive lineman Adam Butler, offensive lineman Cole Croston, tight end Jacob Hollister and linebacker Harvey Langi made the cut.​

Hollister beat out veterans Matt Lengel and James O’Shaughnessy and fellow undrafted rookie Sam Cotton for the third tight end spot behind Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen. It was fairly obvious from their play in training camp that Langi and Butler would still be here in September.​

Meanwhile, Croston quietly had himself an impressive summer. He didn’t miss a day due to injury and made steady improvement. Croston has a classic long-shot story. He was a lightly recruited, 225-pound offensive lineman coming out of high school in Western Iowa, only drawing interest from a couple of Division III schools. But the plan all along was to attend Iowa, whether or not football was in the equation.​

Croston ended up walking on at Iowa and over the course of the next five seasons added 70 pounds to this 6-foot-5 frame and developed into a two-year starter, lining up at both left and right tackle. The Patriots have worked Croston extensively at both guard positions and that rare versatility to play both guard and tackle helped him earn a roster spot. Making the jump to the NFL was eased because Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz runs his program much like his friend Belichick does in New England.​

Nine of the 10 practice squad members rejoined the Patriots after they were released in Saturday’s cuts. Those players are: D.J. Foster, Geneo Grissom, David Jones, Damarius Travis, Cody Hollister, Trevor Bates, James Ferentz, Ted Karras, and Darius Kilgo.​

Wide receiver Devin Lucien headlines the list of four Patriots placed on injured reserve. Cornerback D.J. Killings and defensive tackles Josh Augusta and Woodrow Hamilton are also included. Those players will miss the entire season, including all practices, although they can attend team meetings.​

For the Patriots cut Saturday, four were claimed off waivers, the most of any team in the NFL. Receiver Austin Carr (Saints), tight end James O’Shaughnessy (Jaguars), cornerback Kenny Moore (Colts), and offensive tackle Conor McDermott (Bills) all found landing spots.​











September 3, 2018:











September 3, 2019:

















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Today in Patriots History
Mohamed Sanu released
and other 2020s news



September 3, 2020:
The big report from last night was that the team has informed Mohamed Sanu that he will be released. They traded for the veteran receiver last year but after sustaining an ankle injury, Sanu was never able to find his stride in New England. Sanu now gets a jump on the free agency market and could still find his services in demand. As for the Patriots, they continue to get younger at a position where they could really benefit from one of their second-year receivers making a jump.​





After waiving wide receiver Mohamed Sanu last night, the Patriots trimmed two more players off their roster late Thursday afternoon. New England cut defensive back Michael Jackson and defensive lineman Michael Barnett. Both players have been missing at practice and were considered longshots to make the 53-man roster. Jackson’s scrappiness did stand out though, as the cornerback wasn’t afraid to mix it up with N’Keal Harry.​


Cam Newton showed progress with the offense this summer after being signed in early July. His improvement seemed continual over the two-plus weeks of training camp practice, showing strides with his processing speed and delivery, and looking more comfortable in the offense.​

The nine-year veteran is coming off an injury-shortened season in 2019 with the Panthers that held him to just two games. Newton appears to now be fully healthy and ready to go.​


The Patriots have announced eight captains for the 2020 season, featuring their two longest-tenured players and four first-time captains with the team.​

This will be the 10th season as captains for both Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater. The two veterans both re-signed with the team this offseason and will once again ensure the leadership structure atop the defense and special teams remains intact.​

David Andrews and James White return as captains for the offense once again. This will be Andrews fourth season as a captain and White's third. Andrews spent 2019 on Injured Reserve but still maintained a leadership presence with the team, while White finished the season as the Patriots second-leading receiver.​

Lawrence Guy, Jason McCourty, Ja'Whaun Bentley and Cam Newton make up the first-time captains with the team.​



The New England Patriots announced that they have released rookie DL Michael Barnett, CB Michael Jackson and WR Mohamed Sanu Sr.​












September 3, 2021:
(David Patten passed away on Sept 2; we didn't get the news until the next day)







The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of former Patriots wide receiver David Patten. Patten passed away on September 2 at the age of 47.​

"I am heartbroken by the news of David's passing," said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. "He was a devout Christian who followed his passion following his football career and founded his own ministry. David transitioned from an undersized and understated wide receiver to a powerful and passionate preacher. In New England, he will always be remembered as a three-time Super Bowl Champion. His touchdown reception in the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh propelled the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXVI and I'll never forget his remarkable catch in the back of the end zone in that game. It was our only offensive touchdown in the Super Bowl and secured our first championship in franchise history. Our sincerest sympathies are with his wife, Galiena, his family and all who are mourning David's tragic and untimely death."​

Patten played in 54 regular season games with 44 starts for the Patriots from 2001-04 and also played in six postseasons games with three starts during his tenure in New England. He caught 165 passes for 2,513 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season and added 15 receptions for 174 yards with two touchdowns in the postseason for the Patriots. The best statistical year in his 12 NFL seasons was in 2004 with New England when he registered 800 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Patten was on the receiving end of the second longest pass play in Patriots history, a 91-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady at Indianapolis on Oct. 21, 2001. In that game, Patten had a career-best performance, as he became the sixth player since 1960 – and the first since Walter Payton (1979) – to rush for a touchdown, catch a touchdown pass and pass for a touchdown in the same game.​
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who brought Patten to New England as a free agent in 2001, released a heartfelt statement Friday afternoon.​

"It breaks my heart to hear of David's tragic passing at such a young age," said Belichick said. "I am grateful to have coached David. He is an essential person and player in Patriots history, without whom we would not have been Super Bowl champions. I especially appreciate David for his professional journey. As much as anyone, David epitomized the unheralded, self-made player who defied enormous odds to not only earn a job in the NFL but to become a key player on multiple championship teams. I can speak for anyone who had the pleasure to be around David that his work ethic, positive energy and character were elite. My deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones."​


On Friday, the Patriots reached an injury settlement with reserve defensive lineman Nick Thurman. The 26-year-old had previously been waived with the injury designation at the 53-man roster deadline on Tuesday. As a result, he reverted to New England’s injured reserve after going unclaimed.​

Having played his collegiate football with the University of Houston, Thurman joined the Patriots in 2019, spending the entirety of the season on the Pats’ practice squad. In 2020, he appeared in seven games as both a standard elevation and an active roster member, making one start and compiling 10 tackles, including one for loss, over 120 snaps on defense.​











September 3, 2022:




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Today in Patriots History
The 2020s



September 3, 2023:









September 3, 2024:






Caleb Jones stands in at 6-foot-9 and 370 pounds. He's an intimidating presence on the offensive line and also has solid potential. There is a chance that he could develop into a quality piece for the Patriots.​

In order to make room for Jones to join the practice squad, New England chose to release defensive end Brevin Allen. After the move, the Patriots have a full practice squad heading into their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.​








September 3, 2025:













September 3, 2026:













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Today in Patriots History
Brandon Spikes



Happy 39th birthday to Brandon Spikes
Born September 3, 1987 in Shelby, North Carolina; hometown Boiling Springs, NC
Patriots middle linebacker, 2010-2013; uniform #55

Pats 2nd round (62nd overall) selection of the 2010 draft, from Florida
Pats résumé: four seasons, 51 games (39 start), plus five starts in six postseason games



April 23, 2010:

When they went back on the clock at 58, Belichick and his personnel staff decided to move down even further, this time trading with Houston. The Texans packaged their second-round pick (62 overall) and a fifth (150). At 62, the Patriots took their second Gator of the evening, inside linebacker Brandon Spikes (6-3, 250).​

Speaking via conference call with reporters Friday evening, Spikes cited his familiarity with Belichick and the Patriots philosophy as reasons why he will adjust quickly to the NFL.​

"Throughout college, I've seen him a few times around the facility. I know he and Coach [Urban] Meyer have a great relationship. I know pretty that he knows pretty much everything about me. So I know what he's about and I'm pretty sure he knows what I'm about. I have a great deal of respect for Coach Belichick and his staff. I know a lot of the times we did things the way they do in New England; we did things like that in Florida."​


July 14, 2010:

April 9,2014:

June 8, 2015:

















 
Today in Patriots History
Cameron Fleming



Happy 34th birthday to Cameron Fleming
Born September 3, 1992 in Fort Hood, Texas; hometown Houston
Patriots offensive tackle, 2014-2017; uniform #71

Pats 4th round (140th overall) selection of the 2014 draft, from Stanford
Pats résumé: four seasons, 47 games (20 starts), plus two starts in nine postseason games
Two Super Bowl championships (XLIX vs Seattle, LI vs Atlanta)



May 16, 2014:
In the fourth round, New England had three choices and focused on the offensive line with their first and third picks. Center/guard Bryan Stork from national champion Florida State (105th overall) and tackle/guard Cameron Fleming of Stanford (140th) were the selections, sandwiching Wisconsin running back James White (130th) in the middle.​

Fleming, meanwhile, will have an uphill battle fighting for a backup tackle spot behind starters Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer.​

"I'm going to go there and play wherever they put me and learn from these guys," said Fleming in his post-draft remarks to reporters. "You said they have two great tackles. I know they do. Just to get a chance to learn from them and see what the NFL is all about."​












 
Today in Patriots History
Harold Shaw



Happy 52nd birthday to Harold Shaw
Born September 3, 1974 in Magee, Mississippi
Patriots fullback, 1998-2000; uniform #44

Pats 6th round (176th overall) selection of the 1998 draft, from Southern Mississippi
Pats résumé: three seasons, 35 games (no starts), plus one postseason game















 

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