Today In Patriots History 2012: Sterling Moore's deflection leads to Cundiff's 'Wide Left' in AFCCG

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Sterling Moore with clutch end zone deflection on Lee Johnson
Harbaugh, Ravens lose composure in final minute of 2011 AFCCG
Billy Cundiff 32-yard shank goes Wide Left; Pats win 23-20​

Add this game to the ever-growing list of games that the Ravens lost and John Harbaugh whined about some phantom alleged injustice.
For a team that attempts to portray themselves as such macho tough guys, they sure do act like a spoiled four year old crybaby.


Sunday January 22, 2012 at 3:00
2011 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Joe Flacco
Odds: Patriots favored by 7
Weather: 29°, 6 mph wind, 23° wind chill
Game MVP: Sterling Moore
Pats improve to 15-3; advance to Super Bowl 46 vs Giants in Indianapolis
Ravens finish 13-5, with a wedge of cheese to go with their whine

Final: A.F.C. Championship, Patriots 23, Ravens 20

Times reporters and editors are providing live coverage and analysis of Sunday’s Ravens-Patriots A.F.C. Championship game. Read on to follow the game as it happens

fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com

In a back-and-forth battle that ended in heartbreak for the Baltimore Ravens and kicker Billy Cundiff, the New England Patriots advanced to Super Bowl XLVI with a 23-20 victory on Sunday.​

Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal in the final seconds that would have sent the game into overtime, hooking it wide left. Two plays prior, Ravens receiver Lee Evans failed to hold onto the ball in the end zone. A catch would have given Baltimore the lead and a likely victory. . . .​

The victory gives Tom Brady his 16th career postseason victory, tying him with Joe Montana for the most in NFL history.​

There is also a good full-game recap from the AP here:

Patriots Beat Ravens 23-20, Head To Super Bowl

Tom Brady waited out the final tense minutes on the sideline and somehow his fourth-quarter leap into the end zone held up, sending the New England Patriots back to the Super Bowl.

www.wbur.org

The Patriots won their tenth game in a row to win their seventh AFC title. The New England defense had been highly criticized by sports media throughout the year, with the phrase '31st ranked defense' becoming the season's most overused statistic. Patriot defenders pointed out that games were won and lost based on points rather than yardage, and in that category the Pats ranked 15th.​

Ray Rice had set the tone on the very first play from scrimmage when these two teams met in the 2009 wild card game, running for an 83 yard touchdown. Much of the pre-game talk leading up to this rematch centered on how the much maligned Patriot defense would fare against Rice, who led the NFL in 2011 with 2,068 yards from scrimmage.​

Baltimore tried running the ball on first down on each of their first three series. The result was zero yards, loss of one and loss of five, with each of those possessions turning into a three and out. Rice averaged just 3.2 yards per carry on the day, rushing for 67 yards.​

After the first drive of the second half the Patriots led 16-10. The Pats seemed to be controlling the game, but the inability to finish was bothersome: the offense scored only one touchdown on four trips to the red zone, settling for three field goals.​

Baltimore scored on a 29 yard pass from Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith on the next drive, and then Danny Woodhead fumbled the ensuing kickoff return. James Ihedigbo sacked Flacco for a loss of 12 on third down at the nine to force a field goal, but the Ravens were up 20-16 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.​

The Patriots regained the lead on an 11 play, 63-yard drive on their next possession, aided by a penalty on Terrell Suggs that negated an interception. Tom Brady dove in from one yard on fourth down. This came after replay overturned a prior run that had originally been called a touchdown.​

On the final drive Flacco completed four passes to Anquan Boldin to move the ball to the 14. On the final catch defensive back Julian Edelman forced a fumble but the ball rolled out of bounds, so Baltimore retained possession.​

On the next play Lee Evans appeared momentarily to catch a go-ahead touchdown, but Sterling Moore knocked the ball out of his hands at the last possible moment. Moore then knocked away another pass on the next play, this one intended for TE Dennis Pitta. Billy Cundiff then infamously shanked the 32-yard field goal attempt, and rather than overtime the game was over.​

The Patriots had won - with a patchwork secondary that included Edelman, Sterling Moore, Antwaun Molden, Nate Jones and James Ihedigbo.​

After the game Harbaugh first whined that the pass play to Evans should have been reviewed. Then there was more conspiracy theories floated when he implied that the Cundiff miss was due to his not knowing it was fourth down, implying that the Patriots had done that to throw the kicker and coaches off. (Note: NFL personnel run the scoreboard, not the home team).​

Here is the question though: since there was that much confusion Mr. Harbaugh, why not call a timeout - rather than send your kicker out late in a frantic, hurried and unprepared manner?​

What Went Wrong on Billy Cundiff’s Missed Kick?

Five minutes after Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff pulled that relatively short, potential game-tying field goal wide left, I texted him: “I’m so...

slate.com

Not to exonerate Cundiff, but the play itself looked threatened, if not doomed, from the outset. With the play clock at 10 seconds and ticking, I was stunned, like others, to see Cundiff racing onto the field. I haven’t talked to him or seen an explanation for the delay. It’s possible that Cundiff normally trots out a bit later than the rest of the field-goal unit. But this looked extreme. Cundiff was running pretty hard to get into position, and the ball was snapped as the play clock expired. You rarely see that on field goals. Then, unsurprisingly and definitely unconsciously, Cundiff rushed. When a kicker rushes, he rotates his hips too quickly, and when he rotates his hips too quickly his leg pushes the ball in the direction of the rotation. In this case, to the left. New England wins, 23-20.​

When Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked why he didn’t signal for a timeout, he answered, “That’s something we’ll have to look at.” (Don’t believe the argument that the Ravens didn’t want to ice their own kicker, because there’s no such thing as icing the kicker.)​

Miss-information on Billy Cundiff kicks around

Does anybody just make a mistake anymore? No conspiracy theories. No JumbotronGate. No mysterious external forces. Just a kick that went awry. Simple as that. The latter is what should have been the story after Sunday’s AFC Championship G…

www.bostonherald.com

Is ‘scoreboard’ excuse legit for Cundiff?

Kicker has just one job Craig Davis Sun Sentinel The scoreboard-made-me-miss explanation points to the fragility of the psyche of the NFL kicker. But Ravens coach John Harbaugh should be kicking himself for not calling a timeout. So…

www.baltimoresun.com

Harbaugh boots response to joke

www.capitalgazette.com

Sound FX - 2nd Half
2011 AFC Championship 2nd Half: Super Bowl Trip Slips Away | Ravens vs. Patriots | NFL Films | SFX
4:57 Highlight Video



Final Play:
Ravens' Cundiff - Missed Field Goal (HD)
1:42 Highlight Video



Ravens/Patriots 2011 AFC Championship Highlights
13:51 Highlight Video



2011 AFC Championship - Ravens @ Patriots
2:16:32 Full Game
​

AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2012 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Baltimore Ravens 20 at New England Patriots 23 on January 22nd, 2012 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Chris Hogan has career day: 9 catches, 180 yards, 2 TD
Tom Brady throws for 384 yards, 2 TD; Edelman with 118 yards, TD
Patriots demolish Steelers, 36-17 in 2016 AFCCG​

Sunday January 22, 2017 at 6:40
2016 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 36, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger
Odds: Patriots favored by 5½; over/under 50
Weather: 41°, 10 mph wind, light scattered showers
Game MVP: Chris Hogan
Pats improve to 16-2; advance to Super Bowl 51 vs Falcons in Houston
Steelers finish the 2016 season with a record of 13-6


The Patriots entered this game without Rob Gronkowski and with a defense that had been derided in the media for playing against what was considered by some to be soft competition and inferior quarterbacks. Chris Hogan had nine catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offense, with the Pats scoring on all three of their third quarter possessions. The second half drives for Pittsburgh consisted of a punt, another punt, fumble on the first play, turnover on downs, and an interception on the first play. The Steelers finally found the end zone late to make the final score more respectable, but only after they were down by 27 points.

No Gronk? No problem: Chris "7-11" Hogan was open all night against the Steelers​

A good recap of the game an be found below:

Tom Brady and Patriots Overwhelm Steelers and Advance to Super Bowl LI (Published 2017)

Brady threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns to vanquish visiting Pittsburgh and lead New England to the Super Bowl for the seventh time.

www.nytimes.com

The blemish on a defensive résumé that included the N.F.L.’s fewest points allowed was that New England had conquered quarterbacks of meager stock — Bryce Petty, Brock Osweiler, Jared Goff. Here late in the second quarter, though, was Roethlisberger, who assumed that he had drawn Pittsburgh tighter — New England led by 17-6 at the time — with a touchdown to Jesse James that would be overruled by video review.​

Still, first-and-goal at the New England 1.​

“That yard is so small,” Harmon said. “You would think the Pittsburgh Steelers would be able to get that yard.”​

Stuffed for a loss on first down, DeAngelo Williams — playing in place of the star running back Le’Veon Bell, who sustained an early groin injury — took the handoff again on second. Before he could even take a step, a 320-pound rookie defensive lineman named Vincent Valentine yanked Williams to the ground for a 3-yard loss.​

The stop, which preceded a Roethlisberger incompletion, asserted the Patriots’ primacy. It pushed Pittsburgh into a passing situation. It forced a field goal — the Steelers’ final points until scoring a touchdown with 3 minutes 36 seconds left. They trailed by 36-17.​

“At some point,” cornerback Logan Ryan said, “we just want to try to earn the respect when it’s not given.”​

To this day Steeler fans will insist they were robbed of a touchdown on this play, but let's get real: would it have really made any difference?


The game is also notable for this amazing run by LeGarrette Blount:
​

Questions raised about Blount orchestrating his return to Patriots

Questions have been raised this week in Phoenix about whether Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount purposely got himself cut by the Steelers with the knowledge that if he left Pittsburgh, he could return to New England.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

36 thoughts on the Patriots' AFC Championship Game victory over the Steelers

COMMENTARY1. Let’s start not just with an appreciation of the accomplishment. Let’s also marvel at the ridiculous familiarity of the accomplishment. With a 36-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers — a worthy and overmatched foe at once — the Patriots advance to their seventh Super Bowl of the...

www.boston.com

#7: The real star of the game, especially in the first half when the outcome was still in doubt, was Chris Hogan (9 catches, 180 yards, 2 TDs). Is it going too far to say he’s shaping up to be one the best unheralded free-agent signings of the Belichick era? I’m not even sure we need unheralded as the qualifier there.​

#8: We can believe in this defense now, right? Yes, the Steelers were handicapped greatly by losing dynamic running back Le’Veon Bell so early. But the Patriots — Malcolm Butler and the soon-to-be-filthy-rich Logan Ryan in particular — took Antonio Brown, the best receiver in the league, out of the game.​

#26: If you’re a Patriots fan and you saw Bell standing on the sideline looking sullen in a giant jacket late in the game, there is no way you avoided a LaDainian Tomlinson flashback.​

#29: We’ll get more into this over the next two weeks, obviously, but everyone respects the Falcons, right? A week after eliminating Seattle — a team that is duly respected around here — they dropped the hammer on the Packers, 44-21, in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as that score suggests. A week earlier, the Packers had taken out the Cowboys, the top seed in the NFC.​

#30: The Falcons feature a top-10 all-time scoring offense and a defense that had Aaron Rodgers muttering under his breath before halftime. They are a force to be reckoned with.​

#33: Vincent Valentine’s backfield stop on D’Angelo Williams late in the second quarter was straight out of a Richard Seymour highlight reel. What a burst.​

#34: That play came during a pivotal sequence, too. A Jesse James touchdown catch (no, not Eric Decker’s wife), which would have cut the Patriots lead to 17-13, was overruled upon replay. But with first and goal at the one, the Patriots stuffed Williams twice, then Roethlisberger failed to connect with one of the receivers who isn’t Antonio Brown, and they had to settle for 3.​

#35: Honestly, not a lot went Pittsburgh’s way. They lost Bell early. Boswell messed up an extra point. A possible fumble by Brady early in the third quarter remained in the Patriots’ possession. The fire alarm went off. There was a call here and there that could have gone against the Patriots defense backs in coverage but didn’t. But in the end, the superior team prevailed. Everything else is just noise.​

#36: Vengeance is near, Patriots fans. Vengeance is near. I cannot wait to see how Roger Goodell justifies going to Atlanta again in two weeks.​

Steelers vs Patriots AFCCG Highlights
9:17 Highlight Video



2016 AFC Championship - Steelers @ Patriots
2:06:45 Full Game
​

AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2017 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Pittsburgh Steelers 17 at New England Patriots 36 on January 22nd, 2017 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Bob Reynolds​

In memory of Bob Reynolds, who would have turned 86 today
Born Jan 22, 1939 in Nashville; grew up in Cleveland
Died Oct 10, 1996 at the age of 57 in Naperville, Illinois
Patriot LT, 1972-1973; uniform #74
Pats 4th round (30th overall) selection of the 1963 draft, from Bowling Green
Claimed off waivers on Sept 15, 1972
Pats résumé: 2 seasons, 19 games (15 starts)


The Patriots drafted Bob Reynolds on December 1, 1962, and two days later he was also selected in the NFL draft, by St. Louis. Two weeks later he signed with the Cardinals; he went on to play for nine seasons with them, appearing in 121 of a possible 126 games, and was named to three Pro Bowls.

The Cardinals waived Reynolds just before the start of the 1972 season, and the 33 year old tackle was claimed by the Patriots. The Pats activated Reynolds two weeks later and he played in 12 games with 11 starts in the final season with John Mazur as head coach, and then in seven games with four starts for Chuck Fairbanks in '73. Reynolds was placed on injured reserve in late October, by that time replaced in the starting lineup by Sam Adams; Reynolds was waived on November 29. He played in 141 games with 120 starts between the Cardinals and Patriots from 1963 to 1973.

Late in his NFL career Bob Reynolds went back to school in the offseason, earning a Master's degree in Urban Affairs. He spent much of his time helping children and the less fortunate. Reynolds would volunteer two days a week to spend time with kids in detention homes. He retired from pro football in 1974 and would work 20 years for Anheuser Busch. Reynolds moved to the Chicago area and served as a deacon for a church and an outreach ministry until his death in 1996, at the too-young age of 57.

Forgotten Big Red Star: Bob Reynolds

Posted by Bob Underwood While the Big Red offensive line of the 1970s gets all the glory, the front five of the 1960s Cardinals was just as good and may have been better. Bob DeMarco, Irv Goode, Ke…

thebigredzone.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Ty Montgomery​

Happy 32nd birthday to Ty Montgomery
Born Jan 22, 1993 in Jackson, Mississippi; grew up in Dallas
Patriot RB/WR/KR, 2022-2023; uniform #14
Signed as a 29-year old veteran free agent on March 19, 2022
Pats résumé: 2 seasons, 14 games, 62 yards from scrimmage plus 9 kickoff returns; one touchdown

I really thought Montgomery would be a productive rotational back, but when he wasn't on injured reserve, his primary role was nothing more than being part of coverage teams on kickoffs and punts. Over two seasons Montgomery was on the field for just 63 offensive snaps, plus 205 special teams snaps. He was placed on IR on September 13, 2022 and only appeared in one game in his first year with New England, then began 2023 on the practice squad. Unable to work his way into a useful role, the Patriots released Montgomery on December 8, 2023. With no NFL teams showing interest in signing him, Montgomery retired from pro football on September 20, 2024.

Report: Patriots sign Saints RB/WR Ty Montgomery to two-year deal

It's reportedly a two-year deal for the veteran back.

www.masslive.com

Bill Belichick has added some depth to his offensive backfield.

The Patriots have agreed to a two-year, $4 million deal with gadget back Ty Montgomery. The 29-year old was most recently with the Saints and has the ability to line up as a running back or to split out wide as a receiver.

Montgomery also played quite a bit of special teams in New Orleans — roughly 50% of the snaps in his two seasons there — so he may be a Brandon Bolden replacement in more ways than one. Bolden inked a deal with Josh McDaniels’ Raiders on Wednesday afternoon.​

Report: Ty Montgomery joining Patriots on two-year deal

The Patriots added some versatility on offense Thursday by reportedly agreeing to a two-year deal with running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

It's no big splash, but the New England Patriots reportedly are bringing on a versatile skill player.

Running back/wide receiver hybrid Ty Montgomery has agreed to a two-year contract with the Patriots worth up to $4 million, NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Thursday.

The 29-year-old Montgomery rushed for 44 yards on 15 carries for the New Orleans Saints last season while adding 95 receiving yards on 16 catches. His most productive seasons came with the Green Bay Packers, highlighted by a 2016 campaign in which he amassed 805 yards from scrimmage (457 rushing yards; 348 receiving yards).

The Patriots just re-signed pass-catching running back James White, but the 6-foot, 215-pound Montgomery is a more physical player who could help offset the loss of Brandon Bolden with veteran running back set to join the Las Vegas Raiders.

Montgomery will join a running back room that includes White, Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson and J.J. Taylor.

New England still could use more offensive weapons -- especially a deep-threat wide receiver -- but Montgomery is a pretty low-risk signing who could bring some flexibility to the group.​

Patriots release hybrid RB/WR to make room for ex-Eagles linebacker

The Patriots made a mildly surprising transaction after their big win Thursday.

www.bostonherald.com

Ty Montgomery - Highlights - New England Patriots - NFL 2023 Season
Grainy 2:20 Highlight Video
​

Ty Montgomery Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Ty Montgomery. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Stuff even more trivial than Ty Montgomery​

January 22, 2025:
New head coach Mike Vrabel hires Lions DL coach Terrell Williams as the Pats new Defensive Coordinator.

Patriots Hire Lions Coach as Their Defensive Coordinator | PatsFans.com

One day after hiring Josh McDaniels to run the offense, the New England Patriots have now found a solid addition to run their defense.

www.patsfans.com

Experience is the Theme With New Patriots Coaches | PatsFans.com

The Patriots went from a team with a lot of inexperience on its coaching staff, to instead putting together a group of coaches who will no longer be learning on the job.

www.patsfans.com

Also:

Peppers Sees Trial Pushed Back After Water Main Break Closes Court House | PatsFans.com

One big story this week was the future of New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, who was set to appear in court on Wednesday, with his jury trial set to happen this week following his arrest last fall.

www.patsfans.com

January 22, 2021:
Patriots hire Matt Patricia as a Senior Football Advisor

Matt Patricia's title officially is senior football adviser

The Patriots hired Matt Patricia in January, two months after the Lions fired Patricia as head coach.

www.nbcsports.com

Roger Goodell still 'miffed' by Matt Patricia's clown T-shirt following Super Bowl (report)

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is still "miffed" by New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's T-shirt that he wore after the Super Bowl, which depicts Goodell as a clown.

www.masslive.com

January 22, 2020:
JoeJuan Williams arrested on a prescription drug charge

JoeJuan Williams arrested (drugs)

:mad::mad::mad: THP: Patriots player caught with drugs in Cumberland County

www.patsfans.com

January 22, 2014:
Dante Scarnecchia retires as assistant head coach and offensive line coach after 30 years with the Patriots.

In stint as Patriots interim coach during 'nightmare' 1992 season, Dante Scarnecchia was the bright spot

It was a dark time for the Pats when Scarnecchia relieved an ill **** MacPherson. But he impressed enough to earn a spot on new coach Bill Parcells’ staff & helped lay the foundation for the dynasty.

www.nytimes.com

New England native Dave DeGuglielmo is hired as the offensive line coach; he lasted two brutal seasons before Scar was lured back out of retirement. Since then DeGuglielmo's career has gone downhill - from working in the NFL as an OL coach for the Chargers, Dolphins, Colts and Giants, to college (one year each as OL coach at Louisiana Tech and Boston College), to working in the United Football League after two years of unemployment.

January 22, 2013:
DT Armond Armstead is signed to a three-year contract.
The 6'5, 305" lineman from USC won a Grey Cup in 2012 with the Toronto Argonauts, where he was named to the CFL All-Star team.

Heart attack preceded Armond Armstead's retirement from Patriots

The Patriots announced last summer that defensive lineman Armond Armstead was retiring at the age of 23, and Armstead has kept a low profile since then, never explaining what led him to walk away.

www.nbcsports.com

January 22, 1991:
**** Coury is named the Offensive Coordinator for new head coach **** MacPherson, a position he would hold for two seasons.

Coury to Leave Rams for Job With Patriots

**** Coury, the Rams' quarterback coach, is scheduled to be named the New England Patriots' new offensive coordinator today, ending five seasons of personal work with Jim Everett.

www.latimes.com

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/****_Coury%2C_1965.jpg/220px-****_Coury%2C_1965.jpg​

Happy 49th birthday to James Dearth
Born Jan 22, 1976 in Fort Ord, CA; grew up in Texas
Patriot LS, 2011 offseason; uniform #??
Signed as a 35-year old veteran free agent on August 29, 2011
Pats résumé: none

James Dearth actually makes this page twice, even though he never played for the Patriots.

On April 17, 1999 the Patriots traded up three spots in the draft to select Damien Woody with the 17th overall pick. In exchange Seattle received the 20th overall pick (traded to Dallas, DE Ebenezer Ekuban), a third round pick and a sixth (Dearth). Ekuban was a decent player, but the Patriots got the better side of that trade. As for Dearth, when his career as a TE went nowhere he went on to become the Jets long snapper from 2001 to 2009.

The Patriots released Dearth six days after he was signed, as Bill Belichick opted instead to replace Matt Katula with 23-year old Danny Aiken as the Pats long snapper.

Patriots tap Jets pipeline with Dearth

The Patriots have agreed to terms with free-agent long snapper James Dearth, who becomes the latest former New York Jet to join the team.Dearth is expected to arrive in town in time to snap in Thursday's preseason finale against the Giants.

www.espn.com

The Patriots have agreed to terms with free-agent long snapper James Dearth, who becomes the latest former New York Jet to join the team.​

Dearth is expected to arrive in town in time to snap in Thursday's preseason finale against the Giants. The Patriots cut long snapper Matt Katula today.​

The 35-year-old Dearth snapped for the Jets from 2001-2009, and had worked out for the Patriots earlier in training camp. Dearth, who originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft choice of the Browns in 1999, was signed by the Chargers last September but landed on season-ending injured reserve a few days later after hurting his foot.​

Other former Jets signed this preseason include safety James Ihedigbo and defensive lineman Shaun Ellis.​

Other football players born on January 22 with a New England connection:

Jackson Carman, 25 (Jan 22, 2000)
Draft Pick Trade
April 30, 2021: Traded by Patriots as 2021 2nd round pick (46th overall, Jackson Carman) with 2021 4th round pick (122nd overall, Tyler Shelvin) and 2021 4th round pick (139th overall, D'Ante Smith) to Bengals for 2021 2nd round pick (38th overall, Christian Barmore)

Carman hasn't really lived up to his status as a 2nd round pick out of Clemson. The guard has played in 30 games with just seven starts for the Bengals and Dolphins over four NFL seasons. Good trade-up for the Pats, assuming Barmore can resolve his blood clot issues.


Richard Rodgers, 33 (Jan 22, 1992)
Grew up in Worcester; St John's (Shrewsbury MA)
TE has played in 98 games over nine seasons with the Packers, Eagles and Chargers, with 148 receptions and 15 touchdowns.
He is the only St John's alum to ever play in the NFL; his father was a DC at Holy Cross.

Football: Former St. John's star turned NFL TE Richard Rodgers returns for offseason workouts at Holy Cross

WORCESTER — Richard Rodgers lived in Worcester for six years while his dad, Richard Sr., was the defensive coordinator at Holy Cross, so as a teenager he spent a lot of time on HC’s fields and in the…

www.telegram.com

Allan Webb (Jan 22, 1933 - July 18, 2011
Grew up in Ansonia CT; Ansonia High School
Safety/Halfback played in 48 games (31 starts) for the Giants from 1961-65, with seven picks and five fumble recoveries.
He later coached in the old Atlantic Coast Football League, and served as director of pro personnel for the Browns and 49ers.
Ansonia's Allan Webb made football his career - New Haven Register (Oct 15, 2012)


Joe Dudek, 61 (Jan 22, 1964)
Born in Boston, grew up in Quincy; North Quincy High School; Plymouth State College
Running back only had a cup of coffee in the NFL, but prior to that he got himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated after he surpassed Walter Payton's NCAA record for career touchdowns. Joe Dudek holds the NCAA record for career 100-yard rushing games (30) and games with two or more touchdowns (24); he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

​

The Bonus: The Longest of Heisman longshots

Twenty five years ago, Sports Illustrated editor Mark Mulvoy and first-year writer Rick Reilly made a pitch for an unknown kid from Division III Plymouth State

www.si.com

What The Heck, Why Not Dudek?

This week's college football stumper is: Does the Downtown Athletic Club have to award a Heisman Trophy every year? Couldn't the DAC just melt this year's

www.si.com

Dudek has broken every touchdown record known to man in his four years at Plymouth State in Plymouth, N.H. His 79 career touchdowns broke the NCAA record of 66 that Payton set at Jackson State, and the NAIA mark of 77 that Wilbert Montgomery established at Abilene Christian from 1973 to '76. Dudek has rushed for a Division III (yes, III) record 5,570 yards at Plymouth, which has gone 37-6 since he arrived. Many NFL teams have sent scouts to see him play. Somebody must think he's good.​

What the heck? Take a breath of fresh air. Plymouth has no training table, no athletic dorm, no redshirts and no slush funds. There, players shake a man's hand without expecting to find a $20 bill for their trouble. Dudek has taken out a $2,500 student loan all four years and admits he's "loaned out." To make ends meet, he often takes odd jobs, including cleaning up the stadium on Sundays after cleaning up on the field on Saturdays. "It doesn't pay much," says Dudek. "Minimum wage."​

Bennie LaPresta (Jan 22, 1909 - Aug 11, 1975)
In the thirties Bennie was a back for the St. Louis Gunners and Boston Redskins.


Basil Wilkerson (Jan 22, 1907 - Sept 2, 1967
End/Tackle also played in the NFL in the thirties, for the Boston Braves, Staten Island Stapletons, and Cincinnati Reds.

 

[Pape]

Today in Patriots History
Bob Reynolds​

In memory of Bob Reynolds, who would have turned 86 today
Born Jan 22, 1939 in Nashville; grew up in Cleveland
Died Oct 10, 1996 at the age of 57 in Naperville, Illinois
Patriot LT, 1972-1973; uniform #74
Pats 4th round (30th overall) selection of the 1963 draft, from Bowling Green
Claimed off waivers on Sept 15, 1972
Pats résumé: 2 seasons, 19 games (15 starts)


The Patriots drafted Bob Reynolds on December 1, 1962, and two days later he was also selected in the NFL draft, by St. Louis. Two weeks later he signed with the Cardinals; he went on to play for nine seasons with them, appearing in 121 of a possible 126 games, and was named to three Pro Bowls.

The Cardinals waived Reynolds just before the start of the 1972 season, and the 33 year old tackle was claimed by the Patriots. The Pats activated Reynolds two weeks later and he played in 12 games with 11 starts in the final season with John Mazur as head coach, and then in seven games with four starts for Chuck Fairbanks in '73. Reynolds was placed on injured reserve in late October, by that time replaced in the starting lineup by Sam Adams; Reynolds was waived on November 29. He played in 141 games with 120 starts between the Cardinals and Patriots from 1963 to 1973.

Late in his NFL career Bob Reynolds went back to school in the offseason, earning a Master's degree in Urban Affairs. He spent much of his time helping children and the less fortunate. Reynolds would volunteer two days a week to spend time with kids in detention homes. He retired from pro football in 1974 and would work 20 years for Anheuser Busch. Reynolds moved to the Chicago area and served as a deacon for a church and an outreach ministry until his death in 1996, at the too-young age of 57.

Forgotten Big Red Star: Bob Reynolds

Posted by Bob Underwood While the Big Red offensive line of the 1970s gets all the glory, the front five of the 1960s Cardinals was just as good and may have been better. Bob DeMarco, Irv Goode, Ke…

thebigredzone.com

Wore #74... Don't have any game pics of him, but he sports 74 in the 1972 team photo... Is listed as 74 in the 1973 Media Guide as well

1973 media guide – New England Patriots

www.sportsarchive.net

 

[jmt57]

Wore #74... Don't have any game pics of him, but he sports 74 in the 1972 team photo... Is listed as 74 in the 1973 Media Guide as well

1973 media guide – New England Patriots

www.sportsarchive.net

Thanks, not sure why I had him listed as #52.
Yeah, I couldn't find any photos of him in a Patriot uniform either.
Most of my google search results for 'Patriot Bob Reynolds' came back with some nutbag nazi-sympathizing US Senator from North Carolina in the '30s - '40s with the same name, so at that point I decided to not delve any further in my quest for our Bob Reynolds.

 

[Pape]

'Bob Reynolds Patriots' 'Bob Reynolds Patriots player'

protip

 

[TheRainMaker]

As soon as that pass got to Lee Evans' hands I thought "oh **** they actually lost". What a play by Moore and I bet this will haunt Evans forever.

The Ravens were just a really bad matchup for the Pats for some reason.