Today In Patriots History August 25, 2015: Pats sign WR Reggie Wayne

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Today in Patriots History
Reggie Wayne​

August 25, 2015:
The New England Patriots sign veteran receiver Reggie Wayne





The announcement confirmed reports that had been circulating the previous day. At the time Wayne was seventh in NFL history with 1,070 receptions and eighth with 14,345 receiving yards. At that point he was one of six players in NFL history to post four 100-plus reception seasons, and one of eleven with back-to-back 100-plus receptions seasons. In addition he held the NFL record of 82 consecutive games with three or more receptions. Wayne said that he chose the Patriots because "I just want to win, point-blank."


Between injuries and ineffectiveness, the Pats were not looking good at WR. Brandon LaFell was dealing with a foot injury, and ended up missing the first several weeks on PUP. Julian Edelman had been slowed down by a leg injury. Brandon Gibson limped off the field in the previous preseason game, and Brian Tyms was about to be placed on IR. Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce were healthy, but both had been underwhelming during training camp.


While Reggie Wayne was a welcome addition, there were also question marks. He was 36 years old, and in the offseason had surgery to repair his torn triceps this offseason as well as knee surgery. But even if his speed wasn't quite the same as it used to be, Wayne was an excellent route runner, and still productive. In 2014 he started in 15 games and finished with 64 receptions for 779 yards and two touchdowns, after returning from an ACL injury in 2013. And Pats fans also remembered Wayne for being the guy who caught Indy's winning touchdown pass in the 2009 “4th and 2’’ game when the Colts came from behind to win 35-34.

The Reggie Wayne situation was completely different than that of another former Colt, Joseph Addai. The running back literally quit on his first day, after being unable to finish his physical conditioning test. Wayne had no problem with that, and unlike other veteran receivers such as Chad Johnson and Joey Galloway, he had no problem grasping the playbook. Within three days he was working with the first team in training camp, and was getting quality playing time in the first half of a Week Three preseason game on August 28.


Wayne did not perform well in the fourth preseason game (two receptions on ten targets), but that was with soon-to-be-cut Ryan Lindley at QB, and the entire starting offensive line watching from the sideline. Wayne and Bill Belichick 'mutually agreed' on his release as part of final roster cuts. Wayne later stated that the decision was his, because his children were reaching an age that he wanted to be home, and he did not want to uproot the family into a new school system and curriculum. On the other hand he also allegedly said at the time that 'would be willing to sign with another team but only in the right situation'. Either way, that was the end of Reggie Wayne's career.

WR Wayne Would Give Patriots Depth, But He's Not the Answer Patriots Need | PatsFans.com

Injuries at the receiver position have put the Patriots in a tough position and it looks like they're now reportedly willing to take a chance on free agent WR Reggie Wayne.

www.patsfans.com

Bringing in a player like Reggie Wayne would have made sense five years ago, but now that all the other suitors have passed on him, injuries at the receiver position have put the Patriots in a tough position and it looks like they’re now reportedly willing to take a chance on him.​

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Wayne was brought in for a physical, leaving the team to try and see how much the 36-year old still has left. Right now the Patriots are pretty banged up at the receiver spot, with Julian Edelman still sidelined from a leg injury earlier this month, while Brandon LaFell remains on PUP, Brian Tyms season seems in peril with a foot injury, Aaron Dobson is sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Brandon Gibson went down late Saturday night with a knee injury.​

With their depth now taking multiple hits and still two preseason games to go, it appears Wayne might get an opportunity to prove he can contribute. The only problem is they’re getting the wrong version of him. He was a solid receiver during his days with Indianapolis, but past experience has proven what happens with older veterans. They’re terrific players from September through December, but by the time the postseason arrives they have little left to give and can’t always beat one-on-one coverage. That was what had plagued the Patriots until a much younger Danny Amendola broke that trend during their Super Bowl run last season and was able to accomplish that thanks to his speed and quickness.​

We know how good Wayne was and the type of player he could be if his body was up for it. Unfortunately that’s going to be the biggest concern if he’s able to make the roster, and another reason to hope that some of these younger guys can get healthy as we head into the 2015 regular season.​

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4800734/wr-reggie-wayne-patriots-told-me-to-keep-450k-signing-bonus

When the New England Patriots signed veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne to a one-year, $2.8 million contract in August of 2015, the deal included a $450,000 signing bonus.​

When Wayne and the Patriots parted ways 11 days later, one lingering question was what happened to the signing bonus.​

"They told me to keep it," Wayne revealed Thursday at Super Bowl LI, where he is working as an analyst for NFL Network. "If they would have said 'We want it back,' I would have given it back. You find $1,000, and they say you can keep it, put it in your damn wallet."​

Patriots sign veteran WR Reggie Wayne

The Patriots announced today that they have signed veteran WR Reggie Wayne.

www.patriots.com

Patriots Announce Signing Of Receiver Reggie Wayne

With health questions surrounding a few of their top receivers, the New England Patriots have added one of the best pass-catchers over the last 14 years.

www.cbsnews.com

Patriots sign former Colts receiver Reggie Wayne to 1-year deal

The Patriots have signed a longtime nemesis to add depth to the wide receiver corps.

www.boston.com

Wayne's stay with Pats short-lived as WR let go

Veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots on Aug. 25, was released by the team Saturday in what Bill Belichick called a mutual decision.

www.espn.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Sony Michel traded​

August 25, 2021:
The New England Patriots trade Sony Michel to the Rams


The running back was coming of his third season in the NFL. As a rookie he rushed for 931 yards and six touchdowns, then ran for 336 yards and six more touchdowns in three postseason games, culminating with the tie-breaking TD in the 13-3 victory over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Michel followed that up with 1,006 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns in 2019.


During the offseason he had foot surgery, and began 2020 training camp on PUP. In week three Sony rushed for 117 yards with 23 more receiving, but was placed on IR for the next two months with a quadriceps injury. At that point Damien Harris was playing well, and Sony did not see much action until the last three games, after Harris got hurt. His final game for New England came in a January 3, 2021 28-14 victory over the Jets, where he ran out the clock in the fourth quarter after scoring on a short pass from Cam Newton, and running it in 31 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.


In the spring of 2021 the Patriots drafted Rhamondre Stevenson, and two days later the Patriots declined the fifth year option on Michel. The Patriots also re-signed James White, so even though Rex Burkhead departed in free agency, it appeared as though Sony might only be RB#4 in 2021. He was traded to the Rams for a 2022 5th and a 2022 6th. Michel was LA's leading rusher with 845 yards and five touchdowns, and won his second Super Bowl ring that post season. He finally got the opportunity for a free agency payday, but his body was wearing down. The best offer he got was one-year contract from Miami with only $850k guaranteed, and the Dolphins cut Michel before the season began. He signed with the Chargers, but there was no tread left on the tires. he called it quits in the summer of 2023, saying that his body told him it was time to retire.


In his three seasons in New England, Sony Michel rushed for 2,292 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He also caught 26 passes for 258 yards, for a total of 2,550 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns. While he only played for three seasons (2½ factoring in the time spent on IR), he ranks 18th all time in franchise history in rushing yardage, and 20th in rushing touchdowns.

MORSE: Sony Michel Trade and Mac Jones as the Starter | PatsFans.com

With the trade that sent Sony Michel to the LA Rams, I thought I would highlight some of the things I wrote about Michel, comments made by posters, and my thoughts on the trade itself.

www.patsfans.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Malcolm Butler released​

August 25, 2021:
The New England Patriots released Malcolm Butler from Injured Reserve with an injury settlement.

This marked the end of Butler's NFL career, as no other team would sign the cornerback.

Malcolm Butler: Let go by Patriots

Malcolm Butler: Let go by Patriots

www.cbssports.com

The Patriots released Butler (undisclosed) from injured reserve with an injury settlement Thursday, Doug Kyed reports.​

The veteran cornerback landed on IR earlier this month after suffering an undisclosed injury. It remains to be seen if the 32-year-old resurfaces with another team, but following Thursday's transaction, that's a possibility for Butler if he can prove he's healthy.​

Malcolm Butler released by Patriots with injury settlement

Veteran cornerback Malcolm Butler was released by the New England Patriots with an injury settlememt.

www.usatoday.com

Malcolm Butler, the hero of Super Bowl 49, has been released from injured reserve by the New England Patriots.​

The veteran cornerback was placed on IR ahead of the first roster cut deadline down to 85 players. That move essentially ended any chances of him suiting up in a Patriots uniform for the 2022 season. By rule, players placed on IR ahead of the 53-man roster cut can’t play until the following season.​

However, now that the Patriots have released Butler, he’s free to sign wherever he wants. And assuming that he’s healthy, he’d be eligible to return at some point for the new team.​

Patriots Release CB Malcolm Butler from Injured Reserve

The Patriots have released CB Malcolm Butler from injured reserve.

www.patriots.com

Butler, 32, re-signed with New England on March 24, 2022. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with New England out of West Alabama and spent his first four NFL seasons (2014-17) with the Patriots. He signed with Tennessee as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2018 and played with the Titans for three seasons (2018-20). Butler signed with Arizona in 2021 but retired on Aug. 31, 2021. Overall, Butler has played in 100 games with 84 starts and has registered 405 total tackles, three sacks, 17 interceptions with two returned for touchdowns, 82 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In addition, he has played in 12 postseason games with eight starts and has added 42 total tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Sixties​

August 25, 1960:
The Boston Patriots trade DT Gordy Holz to Denver for Larry Cundiff

Holz was originally a late selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1955 NFL draft, from Minnesota. He was one of the earliest players to sign with the Pats, on March 15, and spent five seasons as a starter in the AFL, four with the Broncos and one with the Jets.

Cundiff was a Hawaiian-born offensive tackle who went to Michigan State, who was also drafted by the Rams but signed with Denver. He didn't last long, being released on September 5, 1960, four days before the first AFL game, and never signing with another pro team.

This move had been cited as the first-ever trade by the Boston Patriots, though I will respectfully disagree. Soon after the initial AFL draft, the Patriots traded the rights to Pro Football Hall of Fame OT Ron Mix to the LA Chargers, for QB Tom Greene. Mix had gone to Southern Cal and the Chargers felt they had a good chance of signing him, whereas the Patriots had almost no shot. I suppose technically Holz-Cundiff was the first player-for-player trade, while in the other case the Pats were trading the rights to a player.

Either way, the Patriots got the short end of the stick in both deals.





August 25, 1961:

Exhibition Week 3
Buffalo at Boston
Friday, 8:00 at Mount Pleasant High School, Providence
Patriots 28, Bills 10







August 25, 1962:
Exhibition Week 5
Boston vs New York
Saturday, 8:00 in Atlanta
Patriots 17, Titans 10

This game is notable for being the last preseason game that the Patriots would win until August 20, 1966. Beginning with a September 1 7-6 loss at Buffalo, the Boston Patriots would begin a 17-game preseason losing streak.





The American Football league made it a point to place franchises in the south, where the NFL had no teams when the AFL was formed. based on the four games above I'm guessing they were thinking about putting a team in Atlanta, but the NFL beat them to the punch, with the Falcons being formed on June 30, 1965, soon after Atlanta-County Fulton Stadium was built.

The Patriots and Titans had also played three days earlier in Lowell, winning 17-10.

TITANS DEFEATED BY PATRIOTS, 17-10; Parilli Tosses Scoring Pass and Tallies on Plunge (Published 1962)

www.nytimes.com

Remember when: Rocky and the Boston Patriots

Today we’re going to take a stroll down memory lane on a couple of diverse topics. Number one, Rocky Marciano. The only undefeated heavyweight champion in history, Marciano had a statue erected in his honor recently in his…

www.lowellsun.com

August 25, 1964:
1965 second round draft pick traded to Oilers for OL Bob Schmidt.

Patriots waive SE Al Snyder, C Bob Dentel, Bob Suel (who?), OE Dave Cloutier, FB Harry Crump, Nick Spinelli (who?), HB Pete Pedro, DE Riley Morris, HB Tom Neumann, and TE Tom Stephens.

Schmidt had been named to the three previous AFL All Star teams as a center with Houston, but he only started four games for the Pats in '64, and was released after spending all of '65 on injured reserve.





August 25, 1969:
Exhibition Week 3
Boston vs Detroit
Monday, 7:00 at Jarry Park, Montreal
Weather: clear, 70º
Attendance: 8, 212
Time: 2:28
Lions 22, Patriots 9

This was the second-ever NFL game played in Canada, and first-ever game between the Patriots and Lions. The game was actually closer than the final score would imply, 12-6 early in the fourth quarter. The Patriot points came on field goals of 37, 41 and 36 yards by Gino Cappelletti.

Patriots Abroad | The Patriots Hall of Fame

www.patriotshalloffame.com

MONTREAL IS COOL TO U.S. FOOTBALL; Only 8,212 Fans Appear as Lions Beat Patriots, 22-9 (Published 1969)

www.nytimes.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Seventies​

August 25, 1971:
The Patriots claim Glenn Alexander off waivers from Buffalo.

Jim Livesay and Steve Stames are waived.





August 25, 1972:
Miami trades OT Wayne Mass to New England for a 1973 seventh round pick (#160, future Patriot OLB Kevin Reilly).

Mass played in six games before being cut, was signed to the taxi squad, and finished up his pro football career late in the season with Philadelphia.

Jon Morris once commented about Mass, who was critical about Patriots coaching staff after being released by saying "Do you know what we said about Wayne Mass? We said if you were looking for the most direct route to the Patriots' quarterback, why not pay a dime and take the Mass Turnpike?"





August 25, 1973:
Preseason Week 4, Game 5
New England at New Orleans
Saturday, 8:00 at Tulane Stadium
Weather: partly cloudy, 87º, 8 mph wind
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, John North
Starting Quarterbacks: Jim Plunkett, Bobby Scott

Chuck Fairbanks got his first win as head coach of the Patriots as the defense forced six turnovers and limited the Saints to 229 total yards. The Patriots jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead on two John Tarver touchdowns: a 12-yard pass from Plunkett, and a minute later a five-yard run following an interception by Honor Jackson.

This was the Pats first preseason win since 1969, helped by Saints QB Bobby (Booby?) Scott throwing five interceptions.

The generic front cover had no Patriots or Saints, but it did include WR Raymond Berry​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Eighties​

August 25, 1980:
QB Tom Owen is traded to Washington for Tom Flick.
The Cleveland Browns claim Mark Buben off waivers.


When I saw the name Flick, my mind quickly wandered to this store I occasionally drove past when I first moved to Florida, before Blockbuster put all the mom-and-pop video stores out of business.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Early Nineties​

August 25, 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

The team must drop another six players by Tuesday, when NFL rosters must be reduced to a maximum of 60 players.​

Running backs James Gray and Anthony Landry were the two rookies dropped from the team. Gray, from Stephen F. Austin in Texas, was a fifth-round selection and Landry, from Texas Tech, was chosen in the 10th round.​

The free agents waived were Glenn Antrum, wide receiver; Pat Crowley, guard; Tim Hauck, safety; Charles Jackson, defensive end; Mike Murphy, wide receiver; Michael Proctor, quarterback; Chuck Pellegrini, guard; Blaine Rose, guard; Mac Stephens, linebacker; and Kirk Warner, tight end.​

August 25, 1991:
Nose tackle Tim Goad, cornerback Maurice Hurst and linebacker Johnny Rembert are re-signed.





August 25, 1992:
San Francisco signs recently linebacker Ilia Jarostchuk, who had just been released by the Patriots a few days earlier.

Wide receiver Hart Lee Dykes is placed on PUP.

As it turned out, Dykes would never play in the NFL again, his career over after 26 games in two seasons. 'Heartless' Dykes suffered a severe eye injury when he and Irving Fryar were involved in a vicious Providence bar room brawl.

Two Patriots wide receivers in bar fight, Dykes suffers eye injury - UPI Archives

New England Patriots wide receiver Irving Fryar was arraigned Wednesday on a felony weapons charge stemming a nightclub brawl that left him with a head wound...

www.upi.com

2 Patriots Injured in Fight : NFL: Fryar comes to rescue of Dykes outside a nightclub. Later, Fryar is charged with felony possession of a handgun.

A scuffle outside a nightclub in the early hours here Wednesday left Hart Lee Dykes, New England Patriot wide receiver, hospitalized with an eye injury and teammate Irving Fryar facing a weapons charge.

www.latimes.com

Hart Lee Dykes...Disabled due to football injury????

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/25/AR2007062501972.html I read this and I was left scratching my head a bit. Wasn't Dykes the guy who was SHOT in his backyard in Texas (or wherever) while he was "rehabbing" from an injury? Also, he was in a bar-room brawl with...

www.patsfans.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Late Nineties​

August 25, 1995:
Preseason Week 4
New England at Oakland
Friday, 9:00 (6:00 PDT) at Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto CA
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Mike White
Starting Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe, Jeff Hostetler
Weather: sunny, 70º, 3 mph wind
Paid attendance: 54,002; actual attendance 51,709
Raiders 32, Patriots 24

The Patriots played well, up 24-7 before the Raiders scored 25 fourth quarter points. This marked the first time that the Patriots played the Raiders since they moved from Los Angeles back to Oakland. Drew Bledsoe threw three first half touchdowns: 10 yards to Curtis Martin, two yards to Ben Coates and three yards to John Burke.

Game Summary with complete stats & full play-by-play:

Viewer - Patriots

Media Archive Suite

patriots.1rmg.com

​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Early Aughts​

August 25, 2000:
Guard Todd Rucci is placed on the Non-Football Injury list.

Rucci had been the Pats starter at right guard since 1994, and had undergone knee surgery in the offseason. The Pats offensive line in the previous night's game against Carolina was a patchwork of subs, with Rucci (knee), Max Lane (thumb) and Adrian Klemm (knee) all out in the final preseason game. Rucci's absence created a major void that was never adequately filled for the entire 2000 season, with Sale Isaia not up to the task. Rucci would be released on October 31, ending his pro football career.

Rucci released by Patriots

Guard Todd Rucci was released by the New England Patriots Tuesday.

www.patriots.com

Belichick: Releasing Rucci Was A Tough Decision | PatsFans.com

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said on Wednesday that releasing veteran guard Todd Rucci was a difficult decision for him to have to make. He also went on to say that he wouldn't rule out bringing Rucci back in the event New England needs another guard this season.

www.patsfans.com

Rucci, who signed a five-year, $10 million deal with a $2.8 million bonus following the 1997 season, underwent surgery last spring and missed the entire training camp with the injury and was placed with rookie Adrian Klemm on the physically unable to perform list before the start of the season. Rucci had reportedly recovered from the surgery, but nevertheless Belichick made the decision to release him.​

“Todd’s really done a good job for this organization,” said Belichick. “He was here in ’96 when I was here, I know him pretty well. It was a very difficult decision to make and basically the clock had run out. We had to make a decision as to whether we would either activate him or not activate him, and putting him back on injured reserve really wasn’t a legitimate option. So that was a decision that we made and it was a tough one.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More of the Aughts​

August 25, 2005:
Antuan Edwards is released.

Patriots Release S Antuan Edwards

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots released veteran safety Antuan Edwards today.

www.patriots.com

https://www.fosters.com/story/sports/2005/08/26/new-england-releases-safety/53174519007/

The New England Patriots released safety Antuan Edwards on Thursday after signing him as a veteran free agent in early June.​

Edwards, who spent the first five of his six previous NFL seasons with Green Bay, played in both of the Patriots first two exhibition games and made three tackles. The Patriots play at the Packers on Friday night.​

Edwards 28, split last season between Miami and St. Louis. He started 31 of his 68 games after being taken with the 25th pick of the first round out of Clemson in 1999. He had seven interceptions but only one in the last four years. Last season he started a career-high 13 games.​

Packers Always Go Favre With Brett

For all that he is and for all he has done for the league, he is a treasure, plain and simple.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2007:

A Solid Dress Rehearsal For Patriots

As third preseason games go, the Patriots scored big with this one.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2008:

New Exposure, Still Old Concerns: Beijing Games End

Let’s hope Sanya’s fifteen minutes are over and that Ross fares a little more poorly next time he faces the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2009:

Russ Hochstein Traded to Denver

www.patsfans.com

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this afternoon via Twitter that the Patriots are sending offensive lineman Russ Hochstein to Denver for a late-round pick in the 2010 draft. Another report has that pick being a 7th round selection.​

Hochstein was drafted as a fifth round pick in 2001 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He joined the Patriots back in 2002, and appeared in 91 games for New England over seven seasons.​

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Early 2010's​

August 25, 2010:

Wednesday Patriots Headlines - August 25th

Here are today's New England Patriots Headlines for Wednesday August 25th, 2010.

www.patsfans.com

Another rainy day here in New England, and here are this morning's Patriots headlines.

The Worcester Telegram reports this morning that recently acquired offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka will start this season with a one game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. According to the report the suspension stems from a domestic dispute in which Ojinnaka threw his wife down the stairs in an altercation where he claims she started the fight by trying to stab him with a pen.

Mike Reiss takes another look at the trade for Ojinnaka, as well as breaking down some of the other young offensive linemen.

Mark Farinella of the Attleboro Sun Chronicle reports that Ojinnaka is ready to turn the page and move on from the incident and focus on football.

Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com echoes Farinella's article, and writes that Ojinnaka is prepared to "bust his butt" in order to protect Tom Brady.

The Telegram also has an article on linebacker Thomas Williams, who spent the offseason getting into shape by going through Mixed Martial Arts training.

"You go and do something like that, it's so tenacious, it's so ferocious," Williams said. "It really makes you dig deep and have to look within. Those 'dog days' and those double days are tough in themselves, so to do something like that it really helps you out as far as you've been there before."

Everyone in New York heard the comments by Tom Brady on Monday regarding his dislike for the Jets, including quarterback Mark Sanchez who The New York Post reports responded with comments of his own yesterday.
The New York Times also has more quotes from other Jets players who reacted to Brady's comments from Monday.

Jerry Thornton of WEEI.com writes why he feels that Jets coach Rex Ryan is 'the perfect villain' for this rivalry.

Farinella writes that the Jets lead the league in talking, but not much else and isn't getting caught up in all the buzz and hype surrounding them this season.

Patriots runningback Laurence Maroney told the Attleboro Sun Chronicle that "the best is yet to come" from him, as he says the great years he's had in college haven't had a chance to show on the field just yet, but they will this season.

The Boston Herald also has more on Maroney, who isn't discouraged at all by the fact that he's gotten a lot of work so far during the preseason by running with the second offensive unit.

"I don't really trip off of it. It is what it is," Maroney said. "I was always told you don't cry over spilled milk. So if that's what I'm going to be, that's what I'm going to be, and I'm going to shine right there. When they want to put me back with the (starters), just keep doing it."

Christopher Price of WEEI.com has a great piece this morning as he takes a look at how some of the positional battles appear to be shaping up.
Price also looks at offensive lineman Dan Connolly, who seems to have established himself enough where he appears comfortable with his new role as a starter with the first unit.

Price also reports that Patriots defensive lineman Kade Weston cleared waivers and will be placed on injured reserve, which ends his season.

The Standard-Examiner has an article this morning on wide receiver Wes Welker, who they feel is still the NFL's toughest player.

Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald has a great story on offensive lineman Brian Simmons, who underwent 16 medical procedures to correct a deformaty in his foot that he was born with, and has overcome it all and made it into the NFL.

Rapoport also has an article on Sam Bradford getting the start tomorrow night in Foxboro, with Belichick telling the media yesterday the Patriots didn't scout him because they "didn't feel he'd be there" by the tim New England made thier first draft selection in the first round.

SouthCoastToday.com has an article by Jonathan Comey, whowrites that the Patriots 'still lack that finishing touch', and apparently isn't enamored with this year's draft picks.

Albert Breer of the Boston Globe has notes from yesterday's indoor practice, which also included the absence of wide receiver Julian Edelman who missed his second straight session.

And finally Mike Reiss takes a look at the film to try and figure out exactly when Edelman was injured during the Falcons game last Thursday.

That's it for this morning. Hope everyone makes the best of today's rainy day here in New England and we'll have more throughout the day.





August 25, 2010:

Patriots Extend K Gostkowski

Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald reported Wednesday night that the Patriots have extended Stephen Gostkowski, after the kicker agreed to a four year contract extension.

www.patsfans.com

Five Reasons To Watch The Patriots Pre-Season Game Against The Rams

www.patsfans.com

So Far So Good For Brady

Coming off of reconstructive knee surgery Patriots quarterback Tom Brady got off to a slow start last year. Fans may remember that New England's signal caller was a bit shaky early on, struggling with his accuracy and seemingly having a tough time getting on the same page with his receivers.

www.patsfans.com

Vote Expected on 18 Game Season Today

League owners are reportedly meeting today in Atlanta, with expanding the schedule to 18 games being among the major topics of discussion. According to ESPN a formal vote will happen sometime this afternoon, and would affect the 2012 season.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2011:

Thursday's New England Patriots Links 8/25

Here are this morning's New England Patriots Links for Thursday August 25th, 2011.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Roster Prediction 2.0

My second prediction of the 2011 Patriots roster.

www.patsfans.com

RB Stevan Ridley Gets Quite a Haircut

For any fans who can't help it, here are a couple shots of Stevan Ridley, who according to his Twitter and Facebook accounts got quite the haircut tonight:

www.patsfans.com

Belichick on Matt Light: 'He's Coming Along'

This week it sounds like fans may see Matt Light, who has yet to play in either of the first two exhibition games.

www.patsfans.com

REISS: LB Eric Moore Living Out of a Hotel

An interesting note on this Thursday afternoon. ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss held his weekly chat a couple of hours ago, and revealed an interesting fact.

www.patsfans.com

OPPOSING VIEWS - Brady one of Cunningham's 'Heroes'

Digging through this morning's links, there was quite a bit from the Detroit media I came across, so I thought I'd include them in this entry.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Mike Wright Seems to Be Progressing

According to Bill Belichick, whatever is keeping Mike Wright off the field sounds like it's no longer related to the concussion he suffered last season.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2012:

Slow Start For Patriots' Jeff Demps in his Debut, But Rookie Impresses

The Patriots have had their fair share of speed guys in the past who ultimately didn't work out, but if the first impressions of Jeff Demps are any indication, they may have finally gotten it right.

www.patsfans.com

Frustrating Night For Brady and the Patriots Offense

It's pretty obvious that the Patriots offense still has a few growing pains to get through.

www.patsfans.com

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Brady and Mallett Final Numbers From Friday Night

For those who are interested, here are some final numbers for Patriots quarterbacks Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett from Friday night's game against Tampa Bay.

www.patsfans.com

THE OTHER SIDE: Breaking Down The Buccaneers Rushing Attempts Friday Night

Friday night the Buccaneers accumulated 132 yards on 29 carries (4.6 avg) against New England's defense. For anyone wondering where they had the most success, here's a breakdown of where their yards came from.

www.patsfans.com

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Spotlight on the Patriots Runningbacks

Here is a breakdown of how New England's runningbacks performed Friday night.

www.patsfans.com

Tom Brady's PostGame Press Conference Transcript

Here's what Tom Brady had to say after New England's preseason game against the Buccaneers Friday night.

www.patsfans.com

First roster cutdown: who's in, who's out?

Before you assume the initial cuts to bring the roster down to 75 players won't be noteworthy look no further than last year, when James Sanders and Jonathan Wilhite were among those released by the team. Will there be any similar surprise moves this week?

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Red Sox Steal Thunder From Patriots With Mega-Trade

The Patriots continue to do what they do and seemingly not care about what anyone thinks about them.

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More of the 2010's​

August 25, 2013:

2013 New England Patriots Transaction Tracker

With the first round of cuts less than 48 hours away, here is an update to all of this year's transactions by the New England Patriots

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August 25, 2014:

Patriots 53 Man Roster Projection 4.0, Only 2 QBs Remain

the team saves a roster spot and releases or finally trades Mallett to make room elsewhere on the roster for depth.

patspub.patsfans.com

August 25, 2015:

Can Reggie Wayne Still Be A Productive WR? Recent History Says No | PatsFans.com

Reggie Wayne has been a prolific WR for 14 years for the Indianapolis Colts. Now he's shooting for one more NFL season with the Patriots and Tom Brady

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Roger Goodell and the NFL's Arrogance of Power

They’re in a box, and they’re the (expletive) league. They’re not going to back down. That kind of arrogance — where they’ll say, ‘We lost, but we didn’t lose’ — that’s the arrogance of power. They lose in court over and over and over, but to them, no, they never lose, and they’re not going to...

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When the initial news of under inflated footballs broke last January, I will admit that as a fan of the Patriots I was very concerned. Based on the only information available at that time, it certainly looked as if there was foul play involved. In the seven months since then it has become very apparent that it is not only 'more probable than not' that the Patriots were not guilty of any nefarious actions, but it was the NFL itself that is culpable for conspiring to deceive the public.


That leads to the question: why?


Since it became obvious that the only scheme in this whole sordid affair originated from the offices at 345 Park Avenue, I kept thinking that this was all about deflecting attention away from other issues. The NFL was being hit hard from multiple sides, and constant battering was taking its toll. Concussion lawsuits, Ray Rice and domestic violence, Adrian Peterson beating his four-year old with a switch - and another domestic abuse case (Greg Hardy) was still looming. Avert the bright lights of those cases with a fall guy. History showed that the public ate up everything - regardless of how untrue many of the reports were proven to be - for ten months when the Patriots filmed from an unauthorized area. Since they were still portrayed as the evil villain, why not go to the well once more?


Although that rationale is quite plausible, I am now inclined to fully consider that there is much more to this sham. Michael C. Horowitz of the Washington Post postulates that the negative press towards Goodell due to the Rice, Peterson and Hardy incidents - as well as the ongoing concussion revelations - placed the commissioner in a precarious position. Many openly wondered if he could continue in his position, and if he should be replaced. Horowitz astutely compares Goodell to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Robert Kraft was becoming a powerful figure in the NFL while Goodell was losing his influence; this set-up put Kraft on the defensive and took away some of his credibility. Rather than forming an alliance to oust Goodell, now owners were picking sides against one another.


One other extremely relevant topic that Horowitz points out is the unholy alliance between the NFL and ESPN. The world wide leader has been a mouthpiece of the NFL's from day one - from leaking the initial lie about football being more than two PSI below the minimum level, to never retracting that story, to their legal analyst giving outlandishly one-sided reports, and more. For the vast majority of NFL fans, they get almost all their information about the league from BSPN, with most of the remainder coming from the league-owned NFL Network. By controlling the information, Goodell controlled what most of the public thought about the incident. The boys at Park Avenue make the cold-war era Pravda appear to be moderately balanced in comparison.


Former NFL linebacker Dave Meggyesy sums it up well when he states that "Roger is a bumbler".

"They're in a box, and they're the (expletive) league," Meggyesy said with a chuckle. "They're not going to back down. That kind of arrogance — where they'll say, 'We lost, but we didn't lose' — that's the arrogance of power. They lose in court over and over and over, but to them, no, they never lose, and they're not going to lose now."

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The late 2010's​

August 25, 2016:

Thursday Daily Rundown 8/25: New England Patriots News and Notes | PatsFans.com

Here's a look at this morning's top Patriots stories for Thursday August 25, 2016.

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With Competition Heating Up, Keshawn Martin a Player to Watch | PatsFans.com

Martin appeared in 11 games in 2015 and caught 26 passes for 326 yards and two scores as the Patriots third wide receiver.

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Patriots Get Barkevious Mingo In a Trade with the Browns | PatsFans.com

Bill Belichick and the Pats, however, swung a deal for the Cleveland Browns former #6 overall pick Barkevious Mingo. He upgrades the depth on the edge.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2017:

Five Things to Watch For in the Patriots - Lions Preseason Game | PatsFans.com

There are still decisions that have to be made by the Patriots coaching staff, the roster will have to go from 90 to 53 and many of those will be tough

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Edelman Carted Off After Injury vs Lions | PatsFans.com

The Patriots have a logjam at the receiver position, and it looks like someone else may be forced to step after a rough night in Detroit for Julian Edelman.

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The Patriots have a logjam at the receiver position, and it looks like someone else may be forced to step after a rough night in Detroit for Julian Edelman.

The veteran receiver got the team going early, opening the game with three catches for 52-yards, helping set up the team’s first touchdown to Chris Hogan.

Unfortunately on Edelman’s third reception, the receiver’s knee buckled as he was cutting after the catch and he fell to the turf untouched in obvious pain.

​

He was later carted to the locker room, leaving everyone wondering about his status moving forward.

The team officially listed him as “Questionable” to return. Hopefully the injury isn’t serious as many of the reports seem to indicate but it’s certainly made things interesting heading into the final weeks of training camp.

REPORT: Edelman Injury Believed to be Torn ACL | PatsFans.com

Friday night may have been one in the win column for the preseason for the Patriots, but it appears they may have suffered a significant loss for the regular season.

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August 25, 2018:

11 Things We Learned From the Patriots Loss at Carolina | PatsFans.com

The good news about the preseason is that it's only the experience and not the final score that matters, which is good news for the Patriots after losing 25-14 down in Carolina Friday night.

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Best Of Social Media: Preseason Week 3 Patriots vs Panthers | PatsFans.com

Best social media postings from the Patriots Week 3 preseason loss against the Carolina Panthers.

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PHOTO: Tom Brady "One Step Closer" | PatsFans.com

Tom Brady is onto the regular season opener following disappointing offensive performance against the Carolina Panthers

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August 25, 2019:

New England Patriots News 8-25, AFC East Notes | PatsFans.com

This is another example of how the Patriots approach things, They don’t concern themselves with what he can’t do, they focus on the things that he does well

www.patsfans.com

Quick Hitters:​

Andrew Luck – Announced his retirement yesterday. Luck has been hobbled by injuries for much of his career and it was cut short after just seven seasons. He was once thought to be the “next great one” but it never materialized for him. For a Colts team that had made major strides in building up a legit contender, this is a huge setback. Jacoby Brissette is the man for the time being again in Indy.

Tom Brady – on the learning process with Jakobi Meyers said, “I think for all of us, you play with guys that are maybe new to the offense and so forth. Sometimes they think they’re not part of the route, and then a team plays a certain coverage and they’re part of the route. Early in the season, that’s part of this time of year. We don’t have the full week to prepare. We’re kind of putting things together on the fly.”

And BTW Tom, ditch that hat…not a good look

Bill Belichick [on the play of the defense] – You know, I thought we played competitively. We still have a lot of things to work on. There’s a lot of things we can improve on, so we’ll just go back to work this week and just keep grinding away. We’ve got a long way to go. We’re making progress.

Devin McCourty – was asked about the changes to the new pass interference rules and if the referees have done a good job of explaining it to the players. He is not a fan. “I’m never a fan of those meetings. I feel like they go however we ask the question, and then once we get in the season you might as well throw that whole meeting away. So Bill always says it the best; week-by-week. We have to go how the game is being called, and we have to adjust to it.”

Jakobi Meyers – wasn’t pleased with the way his early snaps with Brady went, but was happy to be able to persevere. He had this to say about sitting down with Brady. “Tom has played for a long time so when he wants to sit down and talk, you sit down and talk with an open ear. I am just trying to listen to everything he says, soak it up and get better.”

Jarrett Stidham Is Ahead of His Projections And Learning His Craft:​

The NFL Draft isn’t an exact science, we all know that. Some players have superstar potential and never make it. Others, aren’t very highly sought after but thru hard work, belief in themselves, and a burning desire to succeed will rise far above their projected ceiling when the draft rolls around.

Take Tom Brady, drafted in the 6th round,199th overall in 2000. No one thought he’d amount to much. Now 20 years later, he stands alone at the absolute pinnacle of the sport. Which brings us to this year’s 4th round draft choice Jarrett Stidham, the rookie QB from Auburn.

Stidham played in an offense at Auburn that really stunted his growth as an NFL QB. He too wasn’t highly thought of and his selection barely registered across NFL circles. He struggled in minicamp and even threw an interception in a walkthru. When training camp started, he frequently held the ball too long and struggled to make a decision. Although he throws a really nice ball, he was struggling with his reads, things that not uncommon with rookie QBs.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The 2020's​

August 25, 2020:

VIDEO: Fitzy Vs. Joe Andruzzi In Epic Staring Contest | PatsFans.com

New England Patriots superfan Fitzy ends up in staring contest with Joe Andruzzi after agreeing to help with his charity event.

www.patsfans.com

PHOTO: N'Keal Harry Building Momentum After Tough Start To Training Camp | PatsFans.com

N'Keal Harry bounces back with big strides during training camp this week, stays positive in post to social media.

www.patsfans.com

PHOTO: Julian Edelman Posts Social Media Image Of Himself and Cam Newton As Superheroes | PatsFans.com

Julian Edelman shares social media photograph of himself and Cam Newton as Batman and Superman providing hints as to who could be the next starting quarterback.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Pump In Artificial Crowd Noise On Gillette Stadium Practice Fields As Team Prepares For No Fans | PatsFans.com

Patriots try out artificial crowd noise for the first time during training camp session as they prepare for a season of no fans.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Fourth And Two: Cam Newton Takes Over | PatsFans.com

In this episode, Steve, Derek, and Clare talked about how it looks like Cam Newton will be the Patriots starting quarterback. They also discussed several players who have reportedly stood out at Training Camp so far.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2021:

Best Of Social Media: Day 1 Of Patriots Joint Practices With The New York Giants | PatsFans.com

The best social media postings shared from the Patriots first joint practice with the New York Giants in Foxboro.

www.patsfans.com

Julian Edelman Wishes Sony Michel Good Luck Following Trade To Rams | PatsFans.com

Julian Edelman wishes Sony Michel good luck over Instagram following the running back's trade to the Los Angeles Rams.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2022:

Patriots at Raiders Game Preview, Highlights from Joint Practices | PatsFans.com

The Patriots have had two productive days of practice against the Raiders, an obviously superior team at this time. I want to see how the Patriots respond after they were knocked around by Las Vegas.

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2023:

Five Final Thoughts Ahead of Patriots at Titans | PatsFans.com

Some final thoughts on tonight's Titans vs Patriots match-up down in Tennessee.

www.patsfans.com

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More 2020's​

August 25, 2024:

MORSE: What to Watch for in Final Patriots Pre-Season Game | PatsFans.com

What am I going to look at in Sunday’s Pre-Season finale versus the Washington Commanders?

www.patsfans.com

August 25, 2025:

Monday Patriots Notebook 8/25: Another Name Gone, Key Player Back at Practice | PatsFans.com

This will be a big week for the Patriots, with the club currently 24 hours away from paring its roster down to 53, having already parted with 14 players following their 42-10 blowout loss in New York Thursday night.

www.patsfans.com

1) This will be a big week for the Patriots, with the club currently just over 24 hours away from paring its roster down to 53, having already parted with 14 players following their 42-10 blowout loss in New York Thursday night.

They added one more yesterday after Layden Robinson, who was part of the 2024 Patriots Draft class, was waived with an injury designation.

That currently brings the number down to 74, with the Patriots sitting with 75 on their roster thanks to the international exemption they have for David Olajiga. They’ll certainly have some interesting decisions to make, but the fact that Robinson’s now gone adds some frustration to a draft class that hasn’t quite panned out too well.

Here’s where last year’s draft class currently stands:

• Drake Maye, QB – Round 1 (#3 overall)
• Ja’Lynn Polk, WR – Round 2 (#37 overall)
  *Injured Reserve
• Caedan Wallace, OL – Round 3 (#68 overall)
  *On the bubble
• Layden Robinson, OL – Round 4 (#103 overall)
  *Waived Sunday and No Longer with the team
• Javon Baker, WR – Round 4 (#110 overall)
  *On the bubble
• Marcellus Dial, CB – Round 6 (#180 overall)
  *Injured Reserve
• Joe Milton, QB – Round 6 (#193 overall)
  *No Longer with the team (traded to Dallas)
• Jaheim Bell, TE – Round 7 (#231 overall)
  *Waived on Friday and No Longer with the team

As it stands, heading into the 2025 season, it’s possible it could be just Drake Maye among that group as the last one standing, albeit Javon Baker – if he’s waived and clears waivers – could end up on the practice squad if they decide to bring him back.

After that, Marcellus Dial had been having a solid preseason before getting injured, and if he comes back healthy, he could factor into things in 2026. But the verdict remains out on Ja’Lynn Polk, and Caedan Wallace looks like he’ll also be among some difficult decisions that could be coming.

Wallace was someone head coach Mike Vrabel talked about following last week’s game, with Wallace continuing to be in the competition at left guard after seeing time again there against the Giants.

“Well, we’d always hoped that he would be in that competition,” said Vrabel. “Got injured, missed a few days, and came back. So gave him a large opportunity there at left guard today. That’s kind of where he was starting to make strides, I think, in the offseason. And we’ll just continue to coach him. And he’s gotten reps at other places in practice, and maybe that hasn’t shown up as much in the games.”

Still, the fact that they’ve gotten such a small return from that class is disappointing. In the Joe Milton trade, the Patriots ended up with a fifth-round pick (171st overall in 2025), which they parlayed into three draft picks. Those turned out to be kicker Andres Borregales, long snapper Julian Ashby, and Kobee Minor.

So far, Ashby has been the only player who has panned out, while both Borregales and Minor are still question marks ahead of tomorrow’s cutdowns. Minor has had a busy preseason and is currently tied for the team lead in tackles with Kyle Dugger with 11, while the rookie also has two passes defended. Borregales has had an inconsistent preseason and he’s locked up in a battle with John Parker-Romo for the kicking job heading into 2025.

As a result, it should be interesting to see who will be left standing. But for a team that’s struggling to build depth at key spots, the fact that they’re parting ways with guys they no longer believe are fits so quickly after drafting them is certainly not making things any easier.





August 25, 2026:

MORSE: Patriots Practice Report from Practice #21, Kayshon Boutte Trade Reaction | PatsFans.com

Analyzing the Patriots' controversial Kayshon Boutte trade, alongside Drake Maye's practice, player injuries, & PFF grades from the Eagles game.

www.patsfans.com

Weighing the Boutte Trade: What the Patriots Gain and Lose | PatsFans.com

Analyzing the Patriots' trade of Kayshon Boutte to Houston for safety Jaylen Reed, examining the gains and losses for New England's roster.

www.patsfans.com

TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf's Press Conference 8/25 | PatsFans.com

Here's the full transcript of what Eliot Wolf had to say during his press conference on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

www.patsfans.com

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