Today In Patriots History July 17: Peabody's Jerry DeLucca

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We're getting close: only eight more days until training camp.
Unsurprisingly, there is not much in the way of Patriots history this time of year.

Today in Patriots History
The Pride of Peabody
Jerry DeLucca​

In memory of Jerry DeLucca, who would have turned 90 today
Born July 17, 1936 in Peabody
Died January 28, 2017 in Danvers at the age of 80
Patriot OT/DT 1960-61, 1963-64; uniform #74 ('60-'63), #70 ('64)
Acquired in a trade with Buffalo on September 23, 1960
Pats résumé: four seasons, 31 games (27 starts)
1961 official All-AFL, second team


Jerry DeLucca was originally a seventh round (84th overall) selection by the Bears in the 1957 draft. He served in the Army in 1957-58, then played in Canada for the Toronto Argonauts. Chicago traded him to Philadelphia, and in 1959 DeLucca appeared in all 12 games for the Eagles, with nine starts. Dallas selected him as part of the 1960 expansion draft, but released him just before the start of the season.

DeLucca joined the Patriots on September 23, 1960 for their inaugural season and started at right tackle for the club's first two years. After Mike Holovak replaced Lou Saban as head coach, he opted to go with Milt Graham over DeLucca at right tackle and Jesse Richardson at defensive tackle, and traded DeLucca to Buffalo just before the start of the 1963 season.

DeLucca rejoined the Patriots in 1963, providing depth for two more seasons.


Jerry DeLucca played in 31 games for the Patriots with 25 starts from 1960 to 1964.

From 1961, the Boston Patriots offensive line: tackle Gerry DeLucca (74), guard Tony Sardisco (64),
center Walt Cudzik (54), guard Charlie Leo (63) and tackle Charley Long (76)​

The link below provides an excellent in-depth seven-page bio on Jerry, and what it was like to be a pro football player back in the day:

Jerry DeLucca Biography - Pro Football Researchers

Under different circumstances, Jerry DeLucca might never have had much reason to leave his hometown of Peabody in suburban Boston. He was born there, grew up there, worked there, and died there. The only thing that kept DeLucca away from his family and friends in the region was football, which allowed him to see the continent. But even though he must have loved the game – no one is good enough to play at that level without a great deal of enthusiasm – he probably loved coming back home more.​

Jerry stayed in Peabody through childhood and attended high school at Peabody Veterans Memorial. There he was part of the Tanners, the nickname of the sports teams, but you’d have to say the school wasn’t a football factory when it comes to outstanding players. Only two other players from there have reached the pros: Jack Donahue of the 1926 Providence Steam Roller, and Tom Alberghini of the 1945 Pittsburgh Steelers. The town’s most well-known athletic alumni might be hockey players: Bobby Carpenter and Reggie Lemelin, On the other hand, Peabody Veterans Memorial has six state football championships to its credit, so some talent must have passed through its front doors over the years.​

DeLucca must have been one of the biggest players on the team when he was there in the early 1950s, and settled in to duty on the line. As a senior he played for coach John Bezemez on the 1952 team which went 7-2. Bezemez was one of the great names in college football history in that region. In 1942, he led Holy Cross to a memorable 55-12 win over Boston College, the top-ranked school in the nation. Bezemez went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. That ’52 Peabody team featured the future mayor of Peabody, Pete Torigian, at quarterback.​

Jerry graduated from Peabody in 1953, and it was time to leave the nest of Massachusetts and head South. He arrived at the University of Tennessee to play football that fall. DeLucca probably thought he was going to be playing for the legendary coach of the Volunteers, Bob Neyland. The General had been around the school since 1926, and had a 173-31-12 record with four national championships. But before the 1953 season, Neyland resigned from the job due to health issues. . .​

But DeLucca wasn’t around to see Majors finish his career. He had transferred to Middle Tennessee State. Charles Murphy was in the middle of a long run as the coach there, and the Blue Raiders enjoyed a successful season by any standard. They went 7-2 to win the Ohio Valley Conference title and qualified for the long-forgotten Refrigerator Bowl in Evansville, Indiana. Evansville called itself the refrigerator capital of the nation, since it was a center for manufacturing that particular product. Sam Houston came away with a 27-13 win in that bowl game, which was the last one ever played with that name.​

The star of that Middle Tennessee team was Terry Sweeney, who was named a Little All-America at halfback. DeLucca was named an all-conference pick at tackle, one of five Blue Raiders to be selected. He was later called one of the best linemen in the school’s history.​

That leads us to the fabled 1957 NFL draft, which was held in November 1956 (first four rounds) and January 1957 (remaining 26 rounds). You might recall that four Hall of Famers went in the first eight picks, including Paul Hornung, Len Dawson, Jim Brown and Jim Parker. Speaking of players inducted in Canton, Gene Hickerson went in the seventh round to Cleveland that year. Six players later, the Bears took DeLucca with the 84th pick overall. Jerry was listed on the MTSU roster as a junior during the 1956 season, but he must have been eligible for the draft because he transferred.​

Jerry never played a game in Chicago. It was reported that DeLucca joined the military in 1957-58, but the dates of service are quite uncertain. The lineman was said to have talked with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in November 1957, but never signed there. About a year later, he turned up on the roster of the Argonauts, and played four games there. It’s not known how he came to play in the CFL; it could be assumed that the Bears waived his rights at some point. One of his teammates on that ’58 Toronto team was, oddly enough, Sam DeLuca, who turned up on the New York Jets in the 1960s.​

In any event, the Eagles got a bargain in the deal. The 6-foot-2, 247-pound DeLucca played 12 games that season and started nine of them – mostly at left tackle, although he switched positions at times when necessary. Jerry had the chance to play with such names as Norm Van Brocklin, Chuck Bednarik and Pete Retzlaff that season. Philadelphia finished 7-5, building toward its 1960 NFL championship.​

But there was no glory waiting for DeLucca after New Year’s Day. On March 13, 1960, the Dallas Cowboys took the tackle in the NFL Expansion Draft. Alas, he didn’t make it through the end of training camp and was cut by the first-year team. In most years, that would be a sign that it was time to move on with life. However, Jerry had a “Plan B” waiting for him in this particular year. The American Football League had started operations in 1960, and Boston had a team. DeLucca signed with the Patriots on September 23 – allowing him to return to his old neighborhood. Jerry slid into the starting lineup for the Patriots’ first year, and started 11 of his 12 games at right tackle. The team went 5-9 under coach Lou Saban, but life must have been pretty good for DeLucca at that point.​

It was even better in 1961. Saban was shown the door in favor of Mike Holovak in midseason, and the Patriots turned a corner by finishing with a 9-4-1 record. DeLucca started all 14 games for Boston, and was a second team all-AFL selection. It looked as if Jerry had found a home. But those good feelings didn’t last. On the eve of the 1962 season, DeLucca was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a future draft choice. At least Jerry was reunited with Saban, who was named as the coach of the Bills early in 1962. DeLucca played in 14 games for Buffalo that season but didn’t start a contest. The Bills went 7-6-1. . .​

Dallas traded him back to the Patriots for a draft choice on April 23 – probably another 12th rounder. DeLucca was home again. (Footnote: the Texans moved to Kansas City in May of that year.)​

Then it gets confusing. DeLucca was cut by the Patriots on September 3, but apparently he was brought back at some point because of an injury to lineman Milt Graham. He played in three games for Boston that season, starting two of them. Pro Sports Transactions does have the Patriots cutting him on November 8 – thus he missed a trip to the AFL Championship game against San Diego. Jerry also turned up on the Buffalo roster for a couple of games somewhere in 1963.​

DeLucca gave pro football one more shot in 1964, but was cut in training camp. Even so, the Patriots used him for a couple of games after signing him on November 27. And that was it. The final totals for the veteran: 59 games played with 37 starts, with three kickoff returns to his credit (on one for the Patriots in 1960, he ran for eight yards).​

What was next for Jerry? Of course he stayed in the Boston area. DeLucca sold insurance for Allstate for a while, and then opened up his own insurance agency. No doubt he enchanted customers with tales of the original Boston Patriots. Jerry also used his size to his advantage in working on the security unit at Suffolk Downs racetrack.​

DeLucca died on January 8, 2017. He had been married for more than 60 years to wife Mary. They had two children, Darrell and Cheryl.​

1960 Boston Patriots: 2nd row, 3rd from left is Jerry DeLucca, #74


1961 Boston Patriots: 2nd row, center is Jerry DeLucca, #74





1963 Boston Patriots Media Guide:

Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home & Cremation Care

(978) 531-0472 Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home & Cremation Care | Peabody, MA. We are available 24/7. Call us anytime.

ccbfuneral.com

Born in Beverly, he was the son of the late Anthony and Stella (Koziski) DeLucca. He was raised and educated in Peabody and graduated from Peabody High School in 1953. He continued his education at Middle Tennessee State where he excelled as a lineman on the football team.​

Following his college football career, Jerry played six seasons of professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots before retiring in 1964. After retiring from football, Jerry embarked on career selling insurance for All State Insurance and later owned his own insurance agency, Jerry DeLucca Insurance Agency in Peabody before he finally retired many years ago.​

Jerry DeLucca Pro Football Record

The trusted source for pro football information about Jerry DeLucca. Get statistics, transactions. biographical data and more at Pro Football Archives.

profootballarchives.com

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeLuJe20.htm

Jerry DeLucca - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

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Today in Patriots History
The Seventies​

July 17, 1971:
Denver trades FB Willis Crenshaw to New England for a 1972 sixth round draft pick.


Crenshaw had started twelve games for the Broncos in 1970, scoring six touchdowns. Prior to that he played for the St Louis Cardinals from 1964 to 1969, never missing a single game. His best season came in 1968 when he led St Louis with 813 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.

In 1971 John Mazur used Carl Garrett at halfback and Jim Nance at fullback almost exclusively, so even if Willis Crenshaw had made the Pats roster, he would have seen very little playing time. Younger players are generally more valuable on special teams, and John Mazur kept Jack Maitland (23 years old, in his second NFL season) as well as third-year RB Bob Gladieux and second-year RB Odell Lawson on the roster over Crenshaw, who had just turned 30 on July 16.

Crenshaw retired after not catching on with any other NFL teams. He finished his NFL career with a total of 18 touchdowns, playing in 96 games over seven seasons.

From the 1971 Patriots Media Guide:

July 17, 1971:
Pete Rozelle ruled that the contract that Joe Kapp signed in 1970 is 'non-regulation', and since Kapp refused to sign a standard player contract the previous day, he is prohibited from attending training camp.


Kapp later sued and started an anti-trust lawsuit vs. the NFL, claiming the standard NFL contract was unconstitutional and a restraint of trade. After four years of legal wrangling he won a summary judgement, the court ruling that Kapp's trade was indeed restrained. However, in a 1976 trial to determine compensation, the jury decided that Kapp was not damaged.

Even though Kapp himself was not awarded any damages, in 1977 the rules at issue in the Kapp case were later revised, a new system was instituted, and a multimillion-dollar settlement was made between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. That led to the bogus "Plan B Free Agency", which was thrown out by a jury in 1992, and the NFL's current version of free agency was introduced on March 1, 1993.





July 17, 1972:
Bill Atessis, who had been asked to drop weight in order to convert from defensive lineman to outside linebacker, 'voluntarily left camp with a bad heel'.

That decision apparently did not sit well with head coach Mazur: two days later Atessis was traded to the St Louis Cardinals for a 1973 fifth round draft pick. Atessis had played in five games for the Patriots in 1971.

Bad Heel Sidelines Bill Atessis





July 17, 1977:
The Patriots re-sign Shelby Jordan.


The big right tackle had been reinstated by Pete Rozelle on July 3, after his release from prison for selling cocaine and missing the entire 1976 season. Jordan had been sentenced to two years in prison on May 3, 1976.

Jordan played in 95 games for the Patriots over seven seasons, plus two postseason games. He then spent four years with the Raiders, earning a ring along with Jim Plunkett from their Super Bowl XVIII 38-9 victory over Washington's Joe Gibbs, Joe Theismann and John Riggins.

Shelby Jordan (2013) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation

footballfoundation.org

Inductee | Shelby Lewis Jordan 2013

Shelby Lewis Jordan was a Linebacker for Washington University in St. Louisand inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2013

www.cfbhall.com

College Football Hall of Famer, Super Bowl XVIII champion OL Shelby Jordan dies at 70

Shelby Jordan, whose spectacular career at Washington University in St. Louis earned him a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame and an 11-year NFL career, has died. He was 70.

www.nfl.com

The Patriots also signed three of their draft picks:
TE Don Hasselbeck, Colorado (2nd round, 52nd overall)
DB Sidney Brown, Oklahoma (3rd round, 82nd overall)
LB Ray Costict, Mississippi State (11th round, 303rd overall)

 

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Today in Patriots History
The Eighties​

July 17, 1980:
11th round draft pick Mike Hubach of Kansas signs his rookie contract.


The previous year the Patriots used a fourth-round draft pick on top rated NCAA punter, Eddie Hare from Tulsa. Problem was that Hare underwhelmed, averaging 36.6 yards per punt with an abysmal net average of 29.8 yards on his 83 punts.

The best that can be said about Hubach is that at least he was not another early draft pick; he was an improvement over Hare, but not by much. His numbers were betters than Hare's, and the number of touchbacks decreased from 11 (13.3%) to two (3.2%). But his 38.0 yards per punt still ranked dead last in the NFL, and the net of 33.6 yards was nothing to write home about.

Hubach had been outperformed by Rich Camarillo in the 1981 training camp, but head coach Ron Erhardt overrode special teams coach Gino Cappelletti, and kept Hubach to start the 1981 season - because Hubach also handled kickoff duties, saving a roster spot.

After five games and a 38.2 yard average the Pats waived Hubach. Rather than sign Camarillo they turned to Ken Hartley of Dean Jr College, who was even worse and lasted only two games. The Pats finally signed Camarillo, who became one of the NFL's best punters in the eighties and nineties.

From October 7, 1981:

The New England Patriots, still trying to find apunter,... - UPI Archives

The New England Patriots, still trying to find apunter, waived Mike Hubach and signed free agent Ken Hartley to take over the team's punting chores....

www.upi.com

July 17, 1984:
Training camp did not get off to a particularly healthy start.


DE Smiley Cresswell, a 1983 5th round draft pick, departed with a torn MCL on his left knee. Cresswell spent all of 1983 and 1984 on injured reserve, was released at the end of camp the following year, and played in three games for the Eagles in '85. He was released by Philadelphia and re-signed by the Patriots - then landed on IR a third and final time on September 3, 1986.


Rookie LB Ed Williams, a 2nd round draft pick from Texas, is also injured - though not as severely. Williams suffered an ankle injury that would hamper him all season long, while only missing two games. Williams did not truly live up to his draft status thanks in large part to recurring nagging injuries. He finally became a starter in 1987, but again, a series of minor injuries to his ankle and groin limited Williams to seven starts while missing two games. In the 1988 offseason Williams suffered a serious knee injury, and he missed all of both '88 and 1989. He returned to play in 15 games in 1990 despite an ankle injury, but that was it for his pro football career.

July 17, 1987:
The Patriots sign their 12th round draft pick, RB Elgin Davis

Davis appeared in nine games with the Patriots over two seasons with the Patriots. The former UCF Knight averaged 4.8 yards on nine carries, and 21.8 yards on 11 kickoff returns.

Elgin Davis was the first player from the University of Central Florida to either be drafted by, or play for the Patriots. UCF began playing football as a Division 3 team in 1979, moved up to Division 2 in 1982, were coached by former Pats HC Lou Saban in 1983-84, moved up to 1-AA (FCS) in 1990, and finally 1-A (FBS) in 1996 - making them the first and perhaps only football program to play in all four divisions.

Patriots players from UCF:
RB Elgin Davis, 1987-88
WR Shawn Jefferson, 1996-99
CB Asante Samuel, 2003-07
WR Doug Gabriel, 2006
WR Kamar Aiken, 2012
DL Trysten Hill, 2023

 

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Today in Patriots History
The Nineties​

July 17, 1990:
The Patriots sign three free agents: WR Glenn Antrum, G Chuck Pellegrini and DT Billy Keys

Antrum originally signed with the Pats as an undrafted rookie from UConn in 1989, and he spent most of the season on the team's developmental squad.

Pellegrini was a 6-4, 270 guard who was a first team All-Mid-American Conference in 1980 for Central Michigan. He too was signed as an undrafted rookie in 1989, and was back for a second training camp.

Keys was the only first-year player, an undrafted rookie from Virginia.

All three were released as part of roster cuts. Antrum was the only one of the group that ever played for the Patriots, in a 33-24 win over Buffalo in '89.

From July 22, 1989:

Receiver Is a Longshot to Make Patriot Squad

National Football League training camps no longer have the look of a movie production with a cast of thousands.

www.latimes.com

Antrum caught a Connecticut single-season record 77 passes last fall to lead all National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-AA receivers. He thought he would be drafted but he wasn’t, and he signed with the Patriots, the only team he contacted.​

Antrum is bidding to become the second Connecticut player in the past two years to make the Patriots’ final roster. Last year free-agent linebacker Eric Naposki made the club. Naposki was left unprotected by the Patriots and signed with the Dallas Cowboys during the offseason.​

But Antrum has almost no shot at making the Patriots, who have veterans Stanley Morgan, Irving Fryar, Cedric Jones and Sammy Martin returning at wide receiver. New England also took Hart Lee Dykes on the first round of the 1989 draft and Michael Timpson on the fourth. The team is expected to keep just five wide receivers.​

From August 26, 1990:

Patriots cut 12 players - UPI Archives

The New England Patriots reduced their roster to 66 players Sunday, cutting 10 free agents and two rookies.

www.upi.com

July 17, 1993:
Bill Parcells makes a statement, releasing offensive linemen Keith Ballard and Reggie Redding.

The cases for and against Bill Parcells making the Patriots Hall of Fame

COMMENTARY He arrived a white knight and left wearing the blackest hat imaginable. And almost 25 years later, Bill Parcells is still that for a lot of New England fans and observers, without any hint of gray. If you’re aware that the former coach is once again up for the Patriots Hall of Fame...

www.boston.com

In his first training camp, Parcells immediately changed the culture, running a self-professed, since-outlawed “murderous” schedule of six consecutive two-a-day practices. When starting left guard Reggie Redding showed up overweight, Parcells cut him. Same with linebacker David Howard, New England’s second-leading tackler, after he sat out a practice with what Parcells thought was a minor toe injury.​

They were two of 31 players from the ’92 team not on 1993’s initial 53-man roster; the three highest-paid players from the prior year, including all-1980s wideout Irving Fryar, were all traded. That was also a function of finances. Despite 1993 being the first year of true free agency in the NFL, Orthwein cut payroll nearly 10 percent, leaving New England outspent by everyone but Cleveland.​

Kicking Butt

To every thing there is a season--and this is the season, courtesy of the federal courts, of free agency in the National Football League. Nineteen ninety-three is the year when everybody in the NFL seems to have changed teams--Super Bowl winners like quarterback Joe Montana (box) and running...

www.newsweek.com

But there has been no more intriguing move than that made by Bill Parcells, who won two Super Bowls as the hard-driving, tough-talking coach of the New York Giants. He climbed down out of the broadcast booth and back onto the field with the feckless New England Patriots, who have won just nine of 48 games over the past three seasons.​

"Feckless" doesn't quite do justice to a sorry franchise that has had its fourth coach (and should soon have its fourth owner) in five years. Other NFL teams have endured drug scandals, but none that broke right after a Super Bowl in which the team had been stoned by five touchdowns. Other teams have had sex scandals, but none in their own locker room involving the harassment of a beat reporter for the local paper. Other teams have had troubled superstars, but none who crashed his car near the stadium during a game. "Just having Parcells gives this team more credibility than it has had in its entire history," says Will McDonough, The Boston Globe columnist who serves as NBC's football guru.​

This is the new New England Patriots. Gone are the old red and white uniforms for blue and silver. Gone from the helmet is the cartoony Revolutionary War patriot for a soldier who looks as if he might fight in "Star Wars." And gone, too, are some of the Pats' biggest-name players; wide-receiver Irving Fryar, quarterback Hugh Millen and running back John Stephens were all dealt for draft choices before training camp even opened. When it did, Parcells quickly established the tenor. Reggie Redding, a starting guard last season, was cut after he showed up overweight and out of shape. Linebacker David Howard, the team's second leading tackler in 1992, was dumped when he couldn't practice with a toe injury that the brass didn't deem serious.​

Those who remained quickly adjusted to a steady torrent of high-volume criticism. "When you screw up," says tight end Marv Cook, "everybody knows it--you, the whole team and any fans at the practice." Parcells's style is not that of the remote field general. His practices are pressure packed and Parcells almost singlehandedly provides the pressure. He shifts his attention from offense to defense to special teams, getting in everybody's face. Defensive line coach Romeo Crennel says Parcells was a little apprehensive the first day of camp--that perhaps the game had changed or that he was rusty. "But after a day he knew it was football and he could still coach," says Crennel, who has been alongside Parcells for 13 years. "He let loose on rookies, veterans, coaches, even the ball boys--anyone who wanted, needed it or deserved it."​

July 17, 1994:
Two days after players reported to training camp and the team began practices, NT Mario Johnson was quickly waived.

Johnson was a 10th round draft pick out of Missouri in 1992, by the Jets. The Patriots claimed him off waivers on Sept 23, 1993, and he appeared in six games for the Pats. The Browns signed him, but he failed to make their roster, ending his NFL career.

 

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Today in Patriots History
More Nineties​

July 17, 1996:
Patriots re-sign DT Troy Barnett, DE Ferric Collons and WR Will Moore.

Patriots also sign four rookie draft picks:
- 7th round guard J.R. Conrad of Oklahoma (12 games played)
- 5th round guard John Elmore of Texas (zero games played)
- 4th round guard Heath Irwin of Colorado (87 games played)
- 3rd round linebacker Tedy Bruschi (13 years, 189 games)

July 17, 1997:
Patriots sign their top draft pick, Kansas State cornerback Chris Canty

Patriots release CB Canty

FOXBORO, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced the release of cornerback Chris Canty, today.

www.patriots.com

CANTY’S RELEASE PROMPTED BY CAP

The Patriots released cornerback and former first- round draft pick Chris Canty in a salary cap move on Tuesday. Canty, 23, who was heading into the third year of a four-year, $7.5 million contract, started nine games last season before…

www.courant.com

July 17, 1998:

Patriots Sign Top Draft Pick

Five-year deal worth $5.7 million

www.cbsnews.com

Running back Robert Edwards, New England's first pick in last April's NFL draft, signed with the Patriots on Friday for a reported $5.7 over five years.​

The team has three unsigned draft picks remaining: the other first-rounder, Tebucky Jones, a cornerback from Syracuse; second-rounder Tony Simmons, a wide receiver from Wisconsin, and fifth-rounder Ron Merkerson, a linebacker from Colorado.​

Training camp begins Sunday.​

Edwards, who played at Georgia, will be expected to help fill the role of Curtis Martin, the former rookie of the year who went to the Jets via free agency. Coach Pete Carroll said he wanted Edwards to share those duties with Sedrick Shaw, who played in just one regular-season game after being selected in the third round last year.​

Edwards is part of a tradition of Georgia running backs that includes Herschel Walker, Garrison Hearst and Super Bowl MVP Terrell Davis. Despite missing nearly three full games last season with a sprained ankle, Edwards finished with 908 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns last season.​

Previously, the Patriots had signed tight end Rod Rutledge of Alabama (a second-round pick), fullback Chris Floyd of Michigan (third round), defensive tackle Leonta Rheams of Houston (fourth round) and offensive lineman Jason Anderson of Brigham Young (seventh round).​

On the same day the Patriots signed RB Harold Shaw, their sixth-round draft pick from Southern Miss. He was used sparingly on offense: in 35 games over three seasons in New England, Shaw had 18 carries for 35 yards and four receptions for 42 yards.

The only photos I could find of Harold Shaw running the ball were in an August 22, 1998 preseason
game against Washington in what was then a brand new venue known as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.​

 

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Today in Patriots History
The Aughts​

July 17, 2000:
The Patriots release a pair of New England natives:
- OT Ed Ellis (born in New Haven, raised in Hamden CT)
- TE Kerry Taylor (born in Boston, raised in Mansfield)

Ellis was a 4th round pick out of Buffalo in 1997; over three season he played in nine games with one start for the Pats. Washington signed him a few days later; Ellis played in 12 games for the Redskins in 2000, and 33 games for the Chargers from 2001-03.

Taylor was an All-American tight end at UMass, and signed as an undrafted rookie by Detroit. After being cut by the Lions, Taylor was signed by the Pats and spent all of the 99 season on the practice squad. After being released by New England he spent the next six years playing in the XFL and Arena Football League.

Kerry Taylor Pro Football Record

The trusted source for pro football information about Kerry Taylor. Get statistics, transactions. biographical data and more at Pro Football Archives.

www.profootballarchives.com

Former UMass Gridiron Star Kerry Taylor Has Role In "The Game Plan" Movie - University of Massachusetts Athletics

Sept. 19, 2007 BOSTON, Mass. - Former UMass All-American tight end Kerry Taylor has a role in the new movie "The Game Plan" which opens nationwide on Sept. 2...

umassathletics.com

The movie was made by noted sports film makers Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, who were previously responsible for such high-quality and inspirational sports films as "Invincible," "The Rookie" and "Miracle."​

"THE GAME PLAN" stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kyra Sedgwick. In the film, Johnson plays arrogant superstar pro quarterback Joe Kingman. At the height of Kingman's attempt to lead his team to the playoffs and a possible league championship, he finds out that he has a seven-year-old daughter that he never knew he had -- the product of a last fling with his then-wife just prior to their divorce. Kingman must then deal with this situation during the most important time of his professional football career. Sedgwick portrays Kingman's tough agent. A large portion of the movie was filmed in and around Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots' practice facility.​

The football scenes in "THE GAME PLAN" were coordinated by Mark Ellis of ReelSports. For the film, all of the players in the movie attended a three-week pre-filming training camp run by Ellis. Similar to a real professional training camp, the players practiced offense, defense and special teams in preparation for filming.​

July 17, 2002:

Patriots sign DL Daniel Benetka

Foxborough, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed defensive lineman Daniel Benetka today.

www.patriots.com

The New England Patriots signed defensive lineman Daniel Benetka today. Benetka, 27, played for the Frankfurt Galaxy during the 2002 NFL Europe season. He recorded seven tackles (6 solos) and five passes defensed with the Galaxy. Frankfurt was the top rated defense in NFL Europe this past season, yielding only 256.1 yards per game.​

The 6-foot-4-inch, 295-pound defensive lineman attended the University of Idaho and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie free agent, but was released prior to the 1999 regular season. He spent the 2001 NFL Europe season with the Galaxy and totaled 12 tackles, including one sack. Benetka then played with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2001 preseason, but was released prior to the regular season.​

Benetka was one of several players waived on August 24 just ahead of the deadline to trim the roster to 65 players. He later signed with the Chiefs and Falcons, but never appeared in any regular season NFL games. He did play in 48 games over five seasons with Frankfurt in NFL Europe.

Daniel Benetka Pro Football Record

The trusted source for pro football information about Daniel Benetka. Get statistics, transactions. biographical data and more at Pro Football Archives.

www.profootballarchives.com

July 17, 2007:
At the time there was a lot of chatter that it would not happen, but the Patriots did re-sign free agent Troy Brown. Bingo was on the PUP list for the first twelve weeks of the season and inactive for the next three. He got on the field for his final NFL game in week 15, a 28-7 victory over Miami where Troy averaged 9.2 yards on six punt returns.

On the same day the Patriots also signed two sixth-round draft picks: LB Justin Rogers of Southern Methodist, and RB Justise Hairston of Central Connecticut State.

Patriots re-sign veteran standout WR Brown

Troy Brown signed with the New England Patriots for a 15th season, giving the wide receiver a chance to increase his team record of 557 catches. Brown, 36, has spent his entire career with the Patriots since being drafted in the eighth round out of Marsha

www.patriots.com

Troy Brown signed with the New England Patriots for a 15th season, giving the wide receiver a chance to increase his team record of 557 catches.​

Brown, 36, has spent his entire career with the Patriots since being drafted in the eighth round out of Marshall in 1993. He did not attend last month's minicamp where another former Marshall receiver, Randy Moss, worked out with his new team after he was acquired from Oakland in a draft day trade in April.​

The Patriots have stocked up on wide receivers, adding Moss, Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington in the offseason and Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney last season. But New England still can use Brown, who had 43 receptions last year and started nine of the 16 regular season games in which he played.​

Brown, an offensive captain the past five seasons, holds team records for punt returns and punt return yardage and has filled in at defensive back. His three interceptions in 2004 ranked second on the club.​

Last season, he passed Stanley Morgan's club record of 534 catches and moved into second place in total receiving yards with 6,366. Morgan is first with 10,352. With 191 games, Brown is tied for fourth with cornerback Raymond Clayborn. The team record of 212 is held by offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong.​

July 17, 2008:

Patriots sign CB Jonathan Wilhite

The New England Patriots today announced the signing of fourth-round draft choice Jonathan Wilhite. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

www.patriots.com

The New England Patriots signed fourth-round draft choice Jonathan Wilhite today. The Patriots selected the cornerback with the 129th overall selection of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Auburn University.​

Wilhite, 24, played in 34 games with 23 starts at cornerback over three seasons at Auburn, recording 101 tackles (77 solo), three interceptions, 14 passes defensed, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. As a senior in 2007, he played in 12 games with six starts while posting a career-high two interceptions in addition to 30 tackles (22 solo). He started all 10 games in which he played as a junior in 2006, finishing the campaign with 24 tackles (20 solo). His first season at Auburn came as a sophomore in 2005, when he started seven of 12 games and tallied a career-high 47 tackles (35 solo) and finished second on the team with seven passes defensed. Wilhite transferred to Auburn after spending his freshman season at Butler County (Kan.) Community College in 2004. During that season, he totaled five interceptions and earned National Junior College All-American honors.​

July 17, 2009:
News breaks that the Patriots signed their second-round draft pick, DT Ron Brace, with the transaction being formally announced a few days later. The four-year contract was for $4,435,000, with $2,820,000 fully guaranteed.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Brandon Gorin​

Happy 47th birthday to Brandon Gorin
Born July 17, 1978 in Muncie, Indiana
Patriots OT, 2003-2005; uniform #76
Signed as a free agent to the practice squad on September 5, 2002
Pats résumé: four seasons, 31 games (18 starts)
seven postseason games (five starts); two super bowl rings


Brandon Gorin played in 32 regular season games for the Patriots, with 18 starts. The Pats went 6-1 in Gorin's seven playoff games, including the Super Bowl 39 victory over Philadelphia. Brandon played in a career-high 14 games with ten starts in that 2004 season, when Corey Dillon set the Patriots' single-season rushing record with 1,635 yards.

From the PatsFans message board on June 3, 2006:

No way that Brandon Gorin makes this team ...

using the most famous title IMHO of any post on this board.

www.patsfans.com

Thread 'No way that Brandon Gorin makes this team ...'

Jun 3, 2006

using the most famous title IMHO of any post on this board.

• PATRIOTS-80
• Replies: 8
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

Brandon Gorin vs. Wesley Britt

Obviously, Light, Kaczur and rookie O'Callagan are 3 roster locks. If we take 4 tackles, who gets the last spot, Gorin (who plays exclusively at RT), or Britt (Height: 6-8 Weight: 314). I seem to remember hearing that Britt played some LT. Can anyone confirm?

www.patsfans.com

Thread 'Brandon Gorin vs. Wesley Britt'

Jun 3, 2006

Obviously, Light, Kaczur and rookie O'Callagan are 3 roster locks. If we take 4 tackles, who gets the last spot, Gorin (who plays exclusively at RT), or Britt (Height: 6-8 Weight: 314). I seem to remember hearing that Britt played some LT. Can anyone confirm?

• PATRIOTS-80
• Replies: 34
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

Aug 21, 2006:

Patriots Trade OT Brandon Gorin to Arizona for Undisclosed Draft Choice

The New England Patriots traded offensive tackle Brandon Gorin to the Arizona Cardinals today in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice.

www.patriots.com

Gorin, 28, is in his fifth NFL season and was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-6-inch, 308-pound offensive lineman was listed as a game-day inactive for all 16 games as a rookie with the Chargers in 2001. He was released by the Chargers following their 2002 training camp and was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 5, 2002.​

The Muncie, Ind. native spent the remainder of the 2002 season on New England’s practice squad and was signed to the Patriots’ active roster on Jan. 6, 2003. He made his NFL debut in 2003 for the Patriots and played in six regular season games and two playoff contests that season. In 2004, the Purdue product broke into the starting lineup at right tackle, starting 10 of 14 games and all three playoff contests as New England allowed just 26 sacks and averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry for the first time in 19 years.​

Last season, he played in 12 games at right tackle and started the final eight contests of the regular season in addition to both of New England’s playoff games. He has played in played in 32 career games with 18 starts.​

Super Bowl Champion Celebrates Failure - Inside INdiana Business

A National Football League player-turned pizza chain developer says broken relationships in his personal and professional lives have taught him to set expectations ahead of time to stay on the same...

www.insideindianabusiness.com

Brandon Gorin, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, is area developer for Marco's Pizza in the Indianapolis market. During a presentation at FailFest today in Fishers, Gorin said the only secret to success he has found as an entrepreneur is "intentional work over time."​

Gorin was born and raised in Muncie. He attended Purdue University before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001. He opened his first Marco's Pizza store in 2011. Since then, he says, while some of his stores have been successful and some have not, "all have taught me lessons." He is area developer for the Indy market, which includes 23 stores, with an additional four in development.​

Football Phenomenon to Pizza Prodigy - NFL Player Engagement

Verifying Device

Brandon Gorin - Owner - MP Indy llc | LinkedIn

Ownwer - Stylemark Properties​

Real Estate Developer and Investor​

Hide the women and daughters: here are your 2005 New England Patriots offensive linemen

Brandon Gorin Pro Football Record

The trusted source for pro football information about Brandon Gorin. Get statistics, transactions. biographical data and more at Pro Football Archives.

www.profootballarchives.com

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GoriBr20.htm

Brandon Gorin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org