Today In Patriots History 2018: Amendola scores two 4th quarter TDs in comeback over Jaguars

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Danny Amendola saves the day with two 4th quarter TDs
Jacksonville fumble recovery fortunately blown dead
Patriots rally late from 10 down to beat Jaguars in AFCCG​

Sunday January 21, 2018 at 3:00
2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Doug Marrone
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Blake Bortles
Odds: Patriots favored by 7½
Weather: 48°, 3 mph wind
Game MVP: Danny Amendola
Pats improve to 15-3; advance to Super Bowl 52 vs Eagles
Jaguars finish season with a record of 12-7


The 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars had a great defense, ranked second in scoring, yardage as well as turnovers. They limited Buffalo to just three points in their wild card game, then won a 45-42 shootout at Pittsburgh to advance to the AFC championship game.

What the Jags did not have was Danny Amendola and Tom Brady.

While Amendola was the hero of the game for Patriot fans, there was another play that created far more attention. Jacksonville's defense had been relentless with constant pressure on Brady, sacking him three times. The Jaguar offense had controlled the clock, keeping the Pats offense on the bench. Two plays into the fourth quarter the Jags kicked a field goal to increase their lead to 20-10.

Three plays later Amendola completed a 20-yard double pass on the left sideline to Dion Lewis, who was hit and fumbled at the Jacksonville 33. Jaguar linebacker Myles Jack recovered, with a path to what likely would have been a 67-yard scoop-and-score. However, the play was whistled dead and ruled that while Jack did recover, he was down by contact.

It was a very close call, but I can understand Jacksonville being upset. I can see if it was called either that Lewis was tackled and the play was over, or that it was a fumble and Jack recovered - much more than the ruling on the field, because I don't really see Jack ever being tackled after he recovered the ball.


The Patriots forced a three-and-out and got the ball back. Then on a third-and-18 from their own 25 with 10:49 left to play, Brady connected with Danny Amendola on a 21 yard pass for a first down. The next play was a 31 yard completion to Phillip Dorsett, then the Pats found the end zone on two more passes to Amendola.

Both teams punted on their next possessions, but Jacksonville began the next drive deep in their own territory. The Jaguars had to punt once again, this time from their nine yard line. Amendola returned the kick 20 yards to the Jacksonville 30, with 4:58 left to play. Five plays later Brady connected with 'Dola again to give the Patriots a four point lead.


Amendola finished with 84 yards receiving on seven receptions and two touchdowns, and Brandin Cooks had 100 yards on six receptions. The Jacksonville defense sacked Brady three times, limited the Pats to 2.4 yards per carry (46 yards on 19 carries). The Jaguars held a 35:08 to 24:52 advantage in time of possession, never turned the ball over (the Pats had the one fumble), and were better on third down (6-15, compared to 3-12 for the Patriots. One aspect that New England did hold a distinct advantage was penalties, with Jacksonville flagged six times for 98 yards, while the Pats had just one penalty, for ten yards.

Danny Amendola's 2 TD Day Sends Pats to Super Bowl | Jags vs. Patriots | AFC Championship Player HLs
2:42 Amendola Highlight Video



Jaguars vs. Patriots | NFL AFC Championship Game Highlights
19:06 NFL Highlight Video



Tom Brady's Epic 4th Quarter Comeback vs. Dominant Jaguars Defense (AFC Champ) | NFL Turning Point
23:49 NFL Films Video



On This Day in 2018 - AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots
42:52 Condensed Game Video
​

'It still haunts you a little bit': Here's the play from the AFC Championship the Jaguars can't forget

With AFC title game rematch on tap, Jaguars relive The Play vs Patriots

www.boston.com

He was ruled down by contact, and the Jags followed with a three-and-out series. Everything started to unravel a few minutes later.​

With 10:49 remaining and the Pats facing third-and-18 at their own 25-yard line, the Jaguars liked their chances — and for good reason. Jacksonville’s vaunted defense ranked fifth in the league in preventing third-down conversions of 16 yards or longer.​

The unit featured six Pro Bowl selections, two speedy linebackers, the league’s top-rated secondary and arguably the best pass rush in franchise history. The Jags had few, if any, holes on that side of the ball. In third-down situations of 16 yards or longer, they had stopped opponents short of first downs 17 times in 18 tries during the regular season.​

None of those came against Brady.​

The New England quarterback handled a low snap in a shotgun formation, took a five-step drop to buy extra time, shuffled left to avoid Dareus’ rush and then threw a low pass to Danny Amendola in the middle of the field that he hauled in for a 21-yard gain.​

“I remember how big the play was,” Patriots running back James White recalled. “I don’t remember the exact play call or what-not, but it was a big play. I mean, Danny always comes up with plays like that, finds the right spot in zone. We had good protection; the offensive line did a great job. Tom did a good job finding him. We needed that play in order to get to where we wanted to be, so it was huge play.”​

New England scored four plays later, seizing the momentum from the unlikely conversion and leaving the Jags reeling.​

Players, coaches, and fans point to other reasons for the Patriots’ comeback: Brady being Brady; officials ruling Jack down; Pro Bowl defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue getting injured; two busted coverages near the goal line that resulted in touchdowns; and the offense’s inability to run the ball late.​

But the one that sticks out for everyone is the third-and-long play.​

On the third-down catch, Amendola ran a seam route that started between the left-side numbers and the hash marks. He curled behind Jack, who had taken a few steps right to cover White out of the backfield, and in front of safety Tashaun Gipson.​

​

More headlines:

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Five Takeaways From Patriots vs Jaguars | PatsFans.com

The Jaguars took New England down to the wire, with some big plays in key moments from quite a few Patriots players being the difference as they'll now advance to Minnesota to take on the Eagles in two weeks.

www.patsfans.com

Brady, Amendola Lead Patriots to the Super Bowl in 24-20 Win Over Jax | PatsFans.com

Brady was 26-38 for 290 yards with two touchdowns. Amendola had seven catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

www.patsfans.com

Boston Celtics News, Scores, Schedule & Rumors | NESN

Boston Celtics news, scores, schedule, standings, injuries and trade rumors. Follow game recaps, highlights and NBA analysis.

nesn.com

Danny Amendola comes up big for Patriots again

FOXBORO – According to Bill Belichick, Danny Amendola is a good football player. And you can look it up. “When you look up ‘good football player’ in the dictionary, his picture’s right there beside i…

www.enterprisenews.com

Danny Amendola 'a (expletive) animal' in AFC title win over Jaguars

FOXBOROUGH — In New England, it’s death, taxes, corruption on Beacon Hill, and Danny Amendola lighting it up in the playoffs.Amendola, who has been one of the most dependable receivers in the leagu

www.bostonsportsjournal.com

Patriots rally past Jaguars to return to Super Bowl

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Give 'em a hand: Tom Brady and the Patriots are heading back to the Super Bowl.

www.tampabay.com

The Two Danny Amendola Catches That Doomed the Jacksonville Jaguars

Danny Amendola came up big because the New England Patriots are inevitable.

slate.com

Danny Amendola delivers another superb playoff performance for Patriots

New England Patriots receiver Danny Amendola continued his penchant for clutch playoff performances on Sunday, catching two touchdown passes and making an outstanding play on a punt return in a 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.

www.latimes.com

AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 21st, 2018 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Jacksonville Jaguars 20 at New England Patriots 24 on January 21st, 2018 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[TheRainMaker]

I was not feeling good about this game. The Jags defense was really getting into the heads of the Pats offense.

On the Lewis fumble I was shaking my head as to why the hell he ran back into Jack when he a lane near the sideline.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Jacksonville probably should have won that game. They played that lead very softly. Foles vs Bortles would have been must see tv.

The Eagles were way more aggressive two weeks later.

Point being, you couldn't mess up and beat the Patriots.

 

[PaulThePat]

Danny Clutchendola.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Colts turn up Thermostat in RCA Dome
Flu-ridden Pats run out of gas in second half
Manning, Dungy finally beat NE to win 2006 AFCCG​

Sunday January 21, 2007 at 6:44
2006 AFC Championship Game at RCA Dome
Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Odds: Colts favored by 3
Weather: 82° in the dome
Game MVP: the HVAC guy
Pats finish the season with a 14-5 record
Colts improve to 15-4; advance to Super Bowl 41 vs Rex Grossman, Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears in Miami


Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning finally beat the Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl. The Patriots jumped out to a 21-3 lead after an Asante Samuel 39-yard pick-six, but the Colts battled back to tie the game three times - and then scored the winning touchdown with 60 seconds left to play.

About half of the Patriot defense was sick with the flu, and television announcer Jim Nantz commented that the stadium felt like a sauna. Bill Polian had allegedly ordered stadium workers to turn off the air conditioning and turn on the heat, though that report was quickly buried and never pursued.

In a bit of trivia three linemen scored touchdowns in this game: Logan Mankins and Jeff Saturday on fumble recoveries in the end zone, and former Patriot Dan Klecko on a one yard reception.

Earlier that season the Colts had pumped in fake crowd noise against the Patriots






2006 AFC Championship: Colts vs Patriots
11:15 Highlight Video



Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning: 2006 AFC Championship | Patriots vs Colts | NFL Full Game
2:15:55 Full Game








Takes that did not age well​

An unnamed staff writer on the NFL's website had this to say following the game.

Manning, Colts break through to Super Bowl

The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more.

www.nfl.com

The Colts piled on 455 yards and scored on six of their final eight drives, not counting the one where Manning kneeled down. The mystique that seemed so prevalent last week in an upset win over San Diego seemed missing, and this looked like a tired, desperate, defeated team in the end. Maybe it was due in part to a flu bug that worked its way through its locker room during the week.

So while that dynasty is dead, it is now Manning's turn to take a shot at starting a new one.


In the 2014 article below, the Globe's Eric Wibur also prematurely declared Brady, Belichick and the Patriots dead and buried, proclaiming the dynasty to have died when this game versus Colts was over.

The Game That Changed the Brady-Manning Rivalry Forever

As the two best quarterbacks of their generation prepare for another meeting in Foxborough this Sunday, it is the 2006 AFC title game that remains as the defining moment of this great rivalry.

www.boston.com

But the Colts’ 38-34 victory on Jan. 21, 2007, did more than end the Patriots’ dynasty. It accomplished what most thought impossible at the time, what many still refuse to acknowledge almost eight years after Manning and the Colts came back and changed the legends of Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots forever.

It has never been the same since.




Patriots lose grip in second half, fall 38-34 - Patriots.com

Colts Overcome Brady and Patriots to Reach Super Bowl (Published 2007)

The Colts rallied from an 18-point deficit, then traded scores in a thrilling second half to stun the Patriots and send Peyton Manning and Coach Tony Dungy to the Super Bowl for the first time.

www.nytimes.com

FINAL: Patriots 34 at Colts 38

archive.nytimes.com

The Game That Changed the Brady-Manning Rivalry Forever

As the two best quarterbacks of their generation prepare for another meeting in Foxborough this Sunday, it is the 2006 AFC title game that remains as the defining moment of this great rivalry.

www.boston.com

For a good number of Patriots fans, halftime was spent clearing schedules, requesting vacation, booking flights to Miami, and securing hotel rooms.​

It was a done deal.​

The New England Patriots were heading back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in six seasons. Tom Brady sat back and watched as center Logan Mankins recover a fumble for a touchdown. He watched from the sidelines as cornerback Asante Samuel picked off Peyton Manning as New England roared out to a 21-3 lead. It was 21-6 by halftime, once again beating Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the 2006 AFC Championship game, a script seen before with the ending of warm familiarity all but inevitable.​

Brady would have his shot at a fourth Super Bowl title against the Chicago Bears, earning revenge for the then-21-year-old embarrassment laid out for his New England ancestors in New Orleans, and cementing the present-day Patriots as one of the NFL’s most dominant dynasties. Manning would, once again, be a Big Game bridesmaid, a guy with all the numbers looking on from the outside, while Brady was in search of even more jewelry, a ring that, it seemed, the more time passed, the more it might be unattainable for the Colts quarterback.​

In the next 30 minutes, everything would change.​

“We had the dagger in them, and we didn’t twist it in enough,” said cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who, along with Samuel, Roosevelt Colvin, and Ty Warren, gave the Colts fits in the Patriots’ dominant first half on the defensive side of the ball. “We let them survive, and with an explosive offense like that, that’s a mistake.”​

Manning finally won the “big one,” and a Super Bowl to boot. The Patriots defense, so stalwart in building a seemingly-relentless lead on the Colts in the first half on that memorable evening in the old RCA Dome, choked at the most inopportune moments in the fourth quarter. And Brady, who went into the game with Ben Watson, Troy Brown, Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell, and Daniel Graham as his primary throwing targets, couldn’t muster any of the magic that had helped define him in previous Super Bowl runs in ’01, ’03, and ’04.​

Super Bowl XLI - Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears - February 4th, 2007 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Indianapolis Colts 29 vs. Chicago Bears 17 on February 4th, 2007 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[Pape]

Today in Patriots History
Colts turn up Thermostat in RCA Dome
Flu-ridden Pats run out of gas in second half
Manning, Dungy finally beat NE to win 2006 AFCCG​

Sunday January 21, 2007 at 6:44
2006 AFC Championship Game at RCA Dome
Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Odds: Colts favored by 3
Weather: 82° in the dome
Game MVP: the HVAC guy
Pats finish the season with a 14-5 record
Colts improve to 15-4; advance to Super Bowl 41 vs Rex Grossman, Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears in Miami


Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning finally beat the Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl. The Patriots jumped out to a 21-3 lead after an Asante Samuel 39-yard pick-six, but the Colts battled back to tie the game three times - and then scored the winning touchdown with 60 seconds left to play.

About half of the Patriot defense was sick with the flu, and television announcer Jim Nantz commented that the stadium felt like a sauna. Bill Polian had allegedly ordered stadium workers to turn off the air conditioning and turn on the heat, though that report was quickly buried and never pursued.

In a bit of trivia three linemen scored touchdowns in this game: Logan Mankins and Jeff Saturday on fumble recoveries in the end zone, and former Patriot Dan Klecko on a one yard reception.

Earlier that season the Colts had pumped in fake crowd noise against the Patriots






2006 AFC Championship: Colts vs Patriots
11:15 Highlight Video



Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning: 2006 AFC Championship | Patriots vs Colts | NFL Full Game
2:15:55 Full Game








Takes that did not age well​

An unnamed staff writer on the NFL's website had this to say following the game.

Manning, Colts break through to Super Bowl

The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more.

www.nfl.com

The Colts piled on 455 yards and scored on six of their final eight drives, not counting the one where Manning kneeled down. The mystique that seemed so prevalent last week in an upset win over San Diego seemed missing, and this looked like a tired, desperate, defeated team in the end. Maybe it was due in part to a flu bug that worked its way through its locker room during the week.

So while that dynasty is dead, it is now Manning's turn to take a shot at starting a new one.


In the 2014 article below, the Globe's Eric Wibur also prematurely declared Brady, Belichick and the Patriots dead and buried, proclaiming the dynasty to have died when this game versus Colts was over.

The Game That Changed the Brady-Manning Rivalry Forever

As the two best quarterbacks of their generation prepare for another meeting in Foxborough this Sunday, it is the 2006 AFC title game that remains as the defining moment of this great rivalry.

www.boston.com

But the Colts’ 38-34 victory on Jan. 21, 2007, did more than end the Patriots’ dynasty. It accomplished what most thought impossible at the time, what many still refuse to acknowledge almost eight years after Manning and the Colts came back and changed the legends of Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots forever.

It has never been the same since.




Patriots lose grip in second half, fall 38-34 - Patriots.com

Colts Overcome Brady and Patriots to Reach Super Bowl (Published 2007)

The Colts rallied from an 18-point deficit, then traded scores in a thrilling second half to stun the Patriots and send Peyton Manning and Coach Tony Dungy to the Super Bowl for the first time.

www.nytimes.com

FINAL: Patriots 34 at Colts 38

archive.nytimes.com

The Game That Changed the Brady-Manning Rivalry Forever

As the two best quarterbacks of their generation prepare for another meeting in Foxborough this Sunday, it is the 2006 AFC title game that remains as the defining moment of this great rivalry.

www.boston.com

For a good number of Patriots fans, halftime was spent clearing schedules, requesting vacation, booking flights to Miami, and securing hotel rooms.​

It was a done deal.​

The New England Patriots were heading back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in six seasons. Tom Brady sat back and watched as center Logan Mankins recover a fumble for a touchdown. He watched from the sidelines as cornerback Asante Samuel picked off Peyton Manning as New England roared out to a 21-3 lead. It was 21-6 by halftime, once again beating Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the 2006 AFC Championship game, a script seen before with the ending of warm familiarity all but inevitable.​

Brady would have his shot at a fourth Super Bowl title against the Chicago Bears, earning revenge for the then-21-year-old embarrassment laid out for his New England ancestors in New Orleans, and cementing the present-day Patriots as one of the NFL’s most dominant dynasties. Manning would, once again, be a Big Game bridesmaid, a guy with all the numbers looking on from the outside, while Brady was in search of even more jewelry, a ring that, it seemed, the more time passed, the more it might be unattainable for the Colts quarterback.​

In the next 30 minutes, everything would change.​

“We had the dagger in them, and we didn’t twist it in enough,” said cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who, along with Samuel, Roosevelt Colvin, and Ty Warren, gave the Colts fits in the Patriots’ dominant first half on the defensive side of the ball. “We let them survive, and with an explosive offense like that, that’s a mistake.”​

Manning finally won the “big one,” and a Super Bowl to boot. The Patriots defense, so stalwart in building a seemingly-relentless lead on the Colts in the first half on that memorable evening in the old RCA Dome, choked at the most inopportune moments in the fourth quarter. And Brady, who went into the game with Ben Watson, Troy Brown, Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell, and Daniel Graham as his primary throwing targets, couldn’t muster any of the magic that had helped define him in previous Super Bowl runs in ’01, ’03, and ’04.​

Super Bowl XLI - Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears - February 4th, 2007 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Indianapolis Colts 29 vs. Chicago Bears 17 on February 4th, 2007 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

absolutely one of the worst losses in the Dynasty Era

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Robert Kraft becomes fourth owner in franchise history
Paper & Packaging executive buys team from James Orthwein​

Friday, January 21, 1994
Robert Kraft purchases the New England Patriots from James Orthwein.

Kraft Anniversary Historic Event For Patriots | PatsFans.com

To fully appreciate the Patriots, you have to know the entire history. All 58 years.

www.patsfans.com

Monday, January 21st marks the 25th anniversary of Robert Kraft, who at the time owned Schaefer/Sullivan/Foxborough Stadium, purchasing the Patriots from James Busch Orthwein. Fearful that Orthwein would move the Patriots to his hometown of St. Louis, Kraft used his ownership of the stadium and the lease he made the Patriots sign as leverage to buy the team. He paid $172 million for the team, stupid money at the time which sent his late wife Myra into a fit of anger.​

As a point of reference, as of 2024 Forbes place the franchise value at $7.4 billion.

What pro tennis taught Robert Kraft about owning the Patriots

Friday marked the 25th anniversary of one of the most pivotal days in Patriots history. On Jan. 21, 1994, Robert Kraft formally transitioned from Patriots season-ticket holder to Patriots owner, though he was far from just another yahoo sitting on Foxboro Stadium’s classic metal bleachers by...

www.boston.com

“I’d rather finish first with no superstars than finish last [with them],” Kraft told the Globe after the 1976 season. “Big names are necessary to the gate, but a winning team is more important than a superstar. … We have a tremendous product to sell. It’s just a matter of having people taste it.”​

And it was likely with that in mind when Kraft made his next big moves. Kraft hired 12-time Grand Slam singles winner Roy Emerson as the Lobsters’ player-coach for 1977, giving the Australian full control to choose his team, then paid $50,000 to acquire the rights to Martina Navratilova, then just 20 but already the No. 2 women’s player in the world.​

“She made a big difference. When we switched to Roy Emerson as a coach, he knew how to bring out the best in her. She won a Wimbledon championship while she was part of the Boston Lobsters,” Kraft told Howe. “To enhance our gate in the summertime, we used to play a few matches down in Cape Cod because our family was there. It was pretty cool. I remember her coming from Wimbledon on global TV to the Cape Cod Coliseum. I had a chance to get close to her, and I realized how important it is to have a marquee star. The combination of the business aspect, the coaching and the star, I learned from World Team Tennis.”​

Robert Kraft and the Patriots: From Fan to Owner, From Losers to Dynasty, in 25 Years

Monday will mark a quarter-century since Robert Kraft bought the Patriots, turning around a franchise’s fortunes and changing NFL history.

www.si.com

Robert and Jonathan completed the sale in a conference room in St. Louis in 1994, before hustling to the airport. They had to fly home to tell Myra that they’d spent $172 million, or more than anyone had paid for a team in NFL history, before the news broke. Kraft, his son says, had to bribe airline officials to get them on the next flight back to Boston, and they had to slide some extra cash to their fellow passengers to obtain two seats next to each other. When they got home, the phone rang. It was a lawyer offering Kraft three times the money that he had paid six years earlier for the stadium lease; they wanted to move the team out of Massachusetts. Kraft thought back to the heartbreak he felt as a kid when the Boston Braves were uprooted to Milwaukee, and he refused. Myra was livid.​

Robert Kraft's Gutsy Investment In The New England Patriots Has Paid Off Big Time

Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots for $175 million.

www.businessinsider.com

In 2000, the Patriots were considered just a slightly above average team with a value of $464 million compared to the average NFL team ($423 million). Since then, the value of the Patriots has increased 460% while the average NFL team has increased 237%.​

Startin’ Somethin’: Robert Kraft, Purchasing the Patriots and The Jacksons?

One of pop music’s most famous families played an unwitting, yet pivotal role in Robert Kraft’s purchase of the Patriots.

www.si.com

As both a successful and savvy businessman, Kraft had purchased a 10-year option on Foxboro Raceway, a horse-racing track adjacent to the stadium. Knowing the Sullivans owned the stadium but not the surrounding land, his purchase became the catalyst for Kraft to purchase not only the stadium, but also the team and the Patriots.​

Conversely, Sullivan's family was in need of financial relief, reeling from a series of bad investments — one of their most high-profile fiscal misfires being The Jacksons 1984 Victory Tour, for which they had to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral. Those problems ultimately forced Sullivan to sell controlling interest in the team in 1988, while the stadium lapsed into bankruptcy.​

Kraft outbid several competitors to buy the stadium out of bankruptcy court for $22 million later that same year. The purchase also included the stadium's lease to the Patriots, which ran through 2001. Though he also placed a bid on controlling interest in the franchise, Kraft lost the bidding to entrepreneur Victor Kiam.​

Kiam, in conjuction with Sullivan, almost immediately explored a potential move of the team to Jacksonville, Florida. However, Kraft refused to let the team owners break the lease. Kiam, who also was wrought with financial difficulty from previously unsuccessful investments, was unable to sustain a prolonged legal battle. As a result, he and Sullivan sold the Patriots to businessman James Orthwein in 1992.​

Orthwein, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, had designs on re-locating the Patriots after the 1993 season. In fact, exploratory measures were already in motion to re-name the team the St. Louis Stallions.​

As with the Kiam-Sullivan accord, Kraft’s control of the stadium’s lease was Orthwein’s primary roadblock. Despite the then-owner’s offer of $75 million to buy out the remainder of the team's lease at Foxboro Stadium. Kraft turned it down. Unable to relocate, and uninterested in operating the team in New England, Orthwein ultimately decided to sell his relatively newly-purchased franchise.​

 

[jmt57]

The inside story of how, 25 years ago, Robert Kraft improbably bought the Patriots

Kraft was a longtime fan with a dream to own what was then the NFL's worst franchise. But he carefully executed a plan that ended with him saving pro football in New England.

www.nytimes.com

Robert Kraft:
I took over a paper mill up in Newfoundland at a time when it was a negative market. The paper industry is dominated by big companies in Canada, Europe and the U.S. We had converting plants that made boxes, but 50 to 60 percent of our sales price was raw materials. So we’d buy this paper and then convert it and add value, but the biggest beneficiary was the mill owners who we’d buy the paper from. So I said at some point I’ve got to own the raw material.​

Kraft made a creative play to successfully purchase the mill, and he eventually turned it into one of the largest privately owned paper companies in the world. He learned a valuable lesson — that when he believed in his plan and trusted his instinct, he could take a big risk and make it pay off.​

A Patriots season-ticket holder since 1971, Kraft also cut his teeth as the owner of a sports franchise when he was part of a group that bought the Boston Lobsters of World Team Tennis in 1974. He learned a couple of valuable lessons that he carried over to the Patriots decades later.​

​

Kraft: At the same time, I always loved sports. The sport that was my favorite to participate in was tennis. We became part of World Team Tennis and bought the Boston Lobsters out of bankruptcy. I eventually bought out all my partners but one. I learned a lot about how to run a sports team doing that. . . . The university would get the parking, the concessions and sponsorship revenue, and all I got was the ticket revenue. I realized if I ever had the privilege of owning a team that I would make sure I controlled the venue and all the different parts of it.​

The other thing I learned is our attendance and performance went up when we had a star. We had great coaches, and I learned the importance of a great coach. We had a very good coach in Ion Tiriac, but you need a coach who can relate to both men and women. When I got Roy Emerson, I learned the importance of coaching. I wanted a star, and I brought in Martina Navratilova. She defected to America, and I paid a $50,000 fee in 1976. That was a lot of money in World Team Tennis to get her rights. She made a big difference. When we switched to Roy Emerson as a coach, he knew how to bring out the best in her. She won a Wimbledon championship while she was part of the Boston Lobsters. To enhance our gate in the summertime, we used to play a few matches down in Cape Cod because our family was there. It was pretty cool. I remember her coming from Wimbledon on global TV to the Cape Cod Coliseum. I had a chance to get close to her, and I realized how important it is to have a marquee star. The combination of the business aspect, the coaching and the star, I learned from World Team Tennis.​

 

[jmt57]

The inside story of how, 25 years ago, Robert Kraft improbably bought the Patriots

Kraft was a longtime fan with a dream to own what was then the NFL's worst franchise. But he carefully executed a plan that ended with him saving pro football in New England.

www.nytimes.com

Kraft: Football was always the sport I was passionate about. I loved it, my favorite sport. I used to look at the Sullivan family, and I liked Billy. I used to chat with him and say one day if he ever decided to sell the team, I hoped he would call me and give me a shot at it. Their finances got pretty complicated. I became a season-ticket holder in 1971 when they moved to Foxboro and Schaefer Stadium. E.M. Lowe gave them the land, and they built the stadium for $6 million. As I used to sit in the stands and look at how they ran the team and how things went, I learned that the 300 acres around the stadium were owned by a group of 12 people. The stadium was owned by a trust by the Sullivan family, and the team was owned by the Sullivan family. There was a racetrack, a trailer park and stables. There were a lot of ****oo things going on there. I used to sit in the stands in the 1970s and early 1980s and think, “What could I do, how could I own the team?” I tried to cultivate a relationship with Billy.​

So there I am sitting in the stands watching them. They were founded in 1960. Their first home playoff game was in 1978, the 19th season, against the Houston Oilers, which they lost. I was there in the stands for that. I used to sit in the stands, and the season would be over at Christmastime. It was a weird feeling. I started to put together a plan in the early 1980s.​

Jonathan Kraft (Robert Kraft’s son, current president of the Kraft Group): My senior year of college, I’d come home in the fall of 1985 because the Sullivans had put up all three pieces of the team (for sale). You had the land, which they had a lease on. It was owned by a group of guys. The stadium was owned by Chuck Sullivan. The team was owned by Billy and family members. But the Sullivans as a family controlled all three pieces, and they marketed the whole thing as a team. My dad had put a group of people together that worked with us — lawyers, accountants and stuff to start to put (the purchase plan) together . . .​

 

[jmt57]

The inside story of how, 25 years ago, Robert Kraft improbably bought the Patriots

Kraft was a longtime fan with a dream to own what was then the NFL's worst franchise. But he carefully executed a plan that ended with him saving pro football in New England.

www.nytimes.com

The Sullivans ran into financial issues and their debt worsened, notably with the spectacular failure of the Jackson Family Victory Tour in 1984. Chuck Sullivan bankrolled the tour for $40 million and used Sullivan Stadium — one of three names, along with Schaefer and Foxboro, that the old stadium used — as collateral. The tour was a disaster from a financial perspective and sparked a chain of events that ultimately caused the Sullivans to sell the team in the coming years.​

Jonathan Kraft: As the team started doing well that fall (of 1985), the Sullivans, who were selling all three pieces — and you really needed to sell all three pieces together because, as money had gotten tight for the Sullivans, they had rewritten the lease between the team and the stadium, basically because the team had a debt limit. The NFL, in those days, had a $45 million debt limit. It was $35 million on the team, and the general partner could have another $10 million, so it was $45 million. There was a debt ceiling, and they needed cash to pay off the obligations that had come from the limited partner lawsuits and the screwed-up Victory Tour of the Jacksons. I have two tickets from the Jackson Victory Tour sitting there (in a frame on the office wall). They were always short money, so they got around the league’s debt-ceiling rules by basically rewriting the lease from the team to the stadium where they gave virtually all of the revenues — like all of the signage, all of the concessions, a big percentage of ticket sales as rent to put a lot of leverage on the stadium and to get leverage debt on the stadium. So they had a lease that ran through 2001 that was a very strict lease because the banks who loaned the money on the stadium wanted to be sure the Sullivans didn’t pull the team out of the stadium to let the stadium go bankrupt.​

Carmen Policy: All of a sudden, Michael Jackson and his Victory Tour enters the scene. The Sullivans become the premier and primary investors. As a matter of fact, they tried talking (49ers owner) Eddie DeBartolo into joining with them, and I strongly, strongly fought that. I’ll never forget, Eddie’s kids were really upset that he did not go forward with it because of the glamour and the glory of the Victory Tour, and Michael Jackson as big as he was, and probably the fun that would have connected to being part of it for teenage girls. I don’t blame them. Eddie, very non-ceremoniously, said, “OK, I’m going to take your advice, but if this tour is a big success, I think you’re going to be fired.” I’m laughing, but I’m not sure if he was serious or not. The long and short of it is it was a disaster for the Sullivan family, just a disaster.​

Robert Kraft: In 1984, under Chuck Sullivan, Billy Sullivan’s son, they sponsored the Michael Jackson national tour. They guaranteed $40 million to Don King. They put $48 million in debt, which they gave to him for the tour, and they wound up losing money. They couldn’t get licenses in Foxboro to even do it there. They lost a lot of money.​

 

[jmt57]

The inside story of how, 25 years ago, Robert Kraft improbably bought the Patriots

Kraft was a longtime fan with a dream to own what was then the NFL's worst franchise. But he carefully executed a plan that ended with him saving pro football in New England.

www.nytimes.com

Jonathan Kraft: So you had the team, and you had the stadium, then you had the parking lots, which they didn’t own but they had a lease on. . . . if you didn’t control the parking — because in those days, they didn’t have all of the satellite (parking lots), it wouldn’t have been enough. You needed the parking lots that existed on site to open the stadium, and you had to have the stadium because all the revenues from the team basically went to the stadium. So basically, you’d be crazy to ever buy the team without owning the stadium because all of the revenue went from the team operations to the stadium to pay the debt. And you’d be crazy to buy the stadium if you didn’t control the land because you’d have no guarantee that you could actually open the stadium if the parking lots weren’t available. So you had those three pieces, and the Sullivans controlled all three in the fall of 1985. They put them up for sale as a unit.​

The Krafts nearly bought all three pieces in 1985, as the Patriots began a run to Super Bowl XX, for approximately $100 million.​

Jonathan Kraft: It was early at the start of this process. We came close that fall to buy all three pieces at once, but then the team started doing well, and I can’t speak for (the Sullivans). We weren’t here, but my sense was Billy Sullivan was like, “Hey, this is pretty good. We’re making the run I always hoped we would make.” So as the team started doing better, they pulled back from selling all three pieces. So later — end of 1985, beginning of 1986 — the first thing they did was default on the lease of the land. So Robert was like, “That would have been the last thing I would have ever done. I want to control the parking lots.” Because without the parking lots, you can’t open the stadium, and it’s a domino effect.​

Robert Kraft: In 1985, I approached the owners of the land and gave them a 10-year option at $17 million. I paid them $1 million a year for 10 years to have that option.​

The 10-year lease to buy the land ultimately cost Robert Kraft a total of $27 million with the $1 million annual lease and $17 million purchase price. The unconventional strategy was paramount to the purchase of the team in the next decade.​

Robert Kraft: What revenue was I getting from the land? I was getting parking revenue from concerts and games. That was between $600,000 and $700,000, so I made a strategic decision to try to control the land in 1985 as a way to one day, going back to my Boston Lobster days, I would now control the parking revenue.​

 

[jmt57]

The inside story of how, 25 years ago, Robert Kraft improbably bought the Patriots

Kraft was a longtime fan with a dream to own what was then the NFL's worst franchise. But he carefully executed a plan that ended with him saving pro football in New England.

www.nytimes.com

Billy Sullivan managed to stay afloat through various means until 1988, when he sold the Patriots to Victor Kiam for $83 million, and Sullivan Stadium went into bankruptcy auction. Surprisingly, after purchasing the team, Kiam went low on his bid for the stadium.​

Jonathan Kraft: Right after the stadium goes bankrupt and we start doing work, I had just started Harvard Business School. I was in business school but had worked a little bit with the team of guys that my dad had put together. We’re like, OK, no one else is going to bid for this thing in bankruptcy. The Sullivans don’t have the money. They’re barely staying afloat. So we’ll get it. While it was in bankruptcy and we thought the team was on the cusp of going bankrupt, too, out of the blue, Victor Kiam buys the team. And it turns out, he did literally 48 hours of due diligence. He was riding high. He did no diligence and bought the team. So we owned the land. He buys the team. The stadium is in bankruptcy. You can sort of think of it as a tug of war, almost.​

Robert Kraft: (Kiam) wanted to move the team and get a new stadium. So he bid $17 million. I bid $25 million. The bankruptcy judge awarded it to me because we were paying 50 cents on the dollar. My banking friend wouldn’t loan me the money because he thought it would be a white elephant, that the team would move. So we had to go to a private bank to get the money to do this deal. Once again, it was a big amount to put out, but it was all part of the strategic plan. By 1988, we controlled all of the revenues. It was sort of the Boston Lobsters in reverse.​

Carmen Policy: Robert Kraft successfully captured the stadium. Now he basically controlled the whole situation with the lease signed by the Patriots.​

Jonathan Kraft: Then (Kiam) was angry when he lost (in bankruptcy court). I remember my dad telling me the story. Kiam met with him and said, “The lease is a piece of blank. You’ve got to renegotiate.” It’s like, well, did you look at it when you bought the team? Did you understand when you bought the team? That didn’t happen. He’s running the team, and he’s complaining. We knew he was looking at how to move it to Jacksonville. I think his lawyers told him he couldn’t do it.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Bill Parcells is hired as Head Coach
Super Bowl winner viewed as major upgrade over McPherson, Rust​

Thursday, January 21, 1993
Bill Parcells is hired as Head Coach of the New England Patriots.


After missing the playoffs for six consecutive seasons and the team regressing to the bottom of the barrel following the Lisa Olson/Rod Rust/Victor Kiam era. The Patriots made a decisive move by signing a two-time Super Bowl winning head coach. At least carpet bagger James Orthwein made one positive move for the franchise.


Over the previous three years the Patriots had gone 9-39- twice finishing with the league's worst record - and had just completed their fourth consecutive season with double-digit losses.



Jan 22, 1993:

ProJo Patriots Moments: Bill Parcells hired as head coach

Over the course of the week leading up to Super Bowl LII between the Patriots and Eagles, providencejournal.com will each day highlight the defining moments of the Patriots franchise over the last 25…

www.providencejournal.com

“I started my coaching career here in New England (linebacker coach in 1980) and I am going to end it here. This will be my last coaching job,” Parcells said.​

Although he doesn’t have the title of general manager, Parcells figures to have strong input on personnel matters, while others handle financial and administrative duties.​

“But this isn’t about control. This is a team. We’re a team, from top to bottom. Anyone that has their own agenda won’t be around long,” Parcells said.​

“The Patriots have convinced me they are willing and able to bring a championship-caliber team to New England. That was my only concern during our discussions. I have no reservations on that now. If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here today.”​

Jan 22, 1993:

Patriots brass is super excited to land Parcells

BOSTON — Until yesterday, the New England Patriots never had hired a proven NFL head coach. That changed with the hiring of Bill Parcells, the man friends and players affectionately call “Tuna.” In the market glut of…

www.baltimoresun.com

In the market glut of big-name NFL coaches, none comes with the credentials Parcells has -- two Super Bowl championships.​

The announcement Parcells will be coming to New England was made at a news conference at the upscale Westin Hotel-Copley Place by team owner James B. Orthwein, the St. Louis multimillionaire who purchased the Patriots in May.​

Parcells agreed to become the Patriots' new leader -- he has sweeping powers in all personnel areas, including the draft and the broadening spectrum of the free-agent marketplace -- for a contract, according to a source, worth $1.5 million a season for four years. He made about $1 million his final year with the New York Giants.​

According to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula will make $1.4 million in 1993, $1.6 million in '94.​

Parcells is the first coach the Patriots (2-14 last season) have ever had who had previous success as an NFL head coach. The 11 previous coaches were either former college coaches or NFL assistants.​

The Patriots also interviewed former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Philadelphia Eagles coach Buddy Ryan.​

Didn't realize that last factoid.
Truly dodged a bullet there.
Same holds true with Jeff Carlson blowing the final game of the 1992 season, pushing the Patriots ahead of Seattle in the draft order - and allowing the Pats to draft Drew Bledsoe rather than Rick Mirer.

Kraft Anniversary Historic Event For Patriots | PatsFans.com

To fully appreciate the Patriots, you have to know the entire history. All 58 years.

www.patsfans.com

At the time, the Patriots were the worst they have ever been in their history. The only other time period that compares is 1967 to 1973, where the Patriots won a total of 28 games, an average of four wins a season. It began with the disastrous switch of head coaches from Mike Holovak to the erratic Clive Rush, and ended with the advent of the Chuck Fairbanks era. But the early 1990s was a Patriot black hole, make no mistake.​

From 1990 to 1992, the Patriots won a grand total of 9 games, an average of three per season. And unlike the previous seven-year dark age era which was based on a 14-game season, this dark ages era was played with 16-game schedules. The Patriot win percentage in these three years was .188. One year of former defensive coordinator Rod Rust, then two years of former UMass head coach **** MacPherson. Patriot football was simply putrid. Awful. Ugly. Make that dawg-ugly.​

Then, as if out of the blue, comes this two-time Super Bowl champion head coach, back from a three-year hiatus for health reasons. Orthwein hired Parcells and gave him the keys to the car. All football decisions were his and his alone. He wouldn’t have coached here if he didn’t have that power. We’ll get back to that power in a bit.​

Parcells lasted four seasons, took his team to the playoffs twice, and wound up taking them to Super Bowl XXXI. But most of all, he put the Patriots on the NFL map. The Patriots became a somebody after three decades of being a nobody (save for perhaps the 1976 and 1985 seasons). Even after Pete Carroll succeeded him, the Patriots have been a somebody. The riches would wait just a few more years. But it all started with The Tuna. From that moment on, being a Patriot fan was permanently different.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More January 21 Trivia​

January 21, 1961:
Patriots sign free agent QB/P Tom Yewcic

Trivia #1: Yewcic is the only player to win a Rose Bowl and also be named the College World Series Most Valuable Player - all in 1954 with Michigan State.

Tom Yewcic was a late (319th) draft pick by the Steelers in 1954, but chose instead to play baseball. He was the MVP of the 1954 college world series and signed with the Detroit Tigers. Yewcic was in Detroit's minor league system through 1959, only making it to the big leagues for three innings of one game in 1957 before switching to football.

Trivia #2: Tom Yewcic is the only person to appear in two professional sports at Fenway Park: his one MLB game against the Red Sox in '57, and later with the Boston Patriots from '63-'66.

For six seasons Yewcic was a punter and backup QB for the Pats. He was also occasionally used at halfback, and at flanker in 1961. Over his career he ran (72 times for 424 yards, 4 TD, 5.9 ypc) almost as often as he passed (87 completions, 12 TD). His 377 punts ranks second in franchise history.

Trivia #3: Tom Yewcic is the only Patriot besides Tom Brady to have punted, caught a pass, thrown a touchdown pass and rushed for a touchdown. Yewcic had a 46-yard reception in a 46-17 1961 victory over Denver, and his 90 yards rushing helped down the New York Titans at BU Field in '62.

Trivia #4: Yewcic holds the franchise record for longest run by a punter, a 20-yard gain against the Raiders at Nickerson Field in '62.

Tom Yewcic is also a member of the Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1960s as their punter. After retiring he worked with the Patriots until 1981 as a coach and a scout. Yewcic then transitioned to commercial business, selling medical supplies to doctors and hospitals.

Catching Up with Tom Yewcic

He played six seasons for the Boston Patriots and is considered one of the greatest punters in the team's history. A versatile athlete, Tom Yewcic sits behind only Rich Camarillo on the New England Patriots all-time list in punts (378)...

www.masslive.com

He played six seasons for the Boston Patriots and is considered one of the greatest punters in the team's history.​

A versatile athlete, Tom Yewcic sits behind only Rich Camarillo on the New England Patriots all-time list in punts (378) and punt yardage (14,553). He held the league record for most yards kicked in one game. Yewcic played for the Patriots from 1961-1966, and he did much more than punting. He also played quarterback and threw for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns over his six-year career.​

"It was a little different then than it is today," said Yewcic. "Today you are talking about a 53-man roster and talking specialization as far as centers, punters and kickers. When I was playing it was only a 32-man roster.​

"With a 32-man roster, you had to play more than one position in order to make the team. I was really a halfback coming out of high school, but when I went to Michigan State they converted me over to quarterback. It wasn't a big adjustment."​

Obituary for Thomas Yewcic - Keene Funeral Home

Obituary: Tom Yewcic (1932-2020)

RIP to Tom Yewcic, a quarterback and punter who played six seasons in the NFL for the Boston (now New England) Patriots. Before he did that, he played one game for the Detroit Tigers in 1957. Yewci…

ripbaseball.com

January 21, 1968:
Patriots lose five players in the 1968 Expansion Draft to the newly formed Cincinnati Bengals:
DB Ron Hall, a '63 AFL All-Star whoplayed in 88 games for the Pats from 1961-67, and member of the Pats All-1960s Team
HB J.D. Garrett, who played in 50 games for Boston from 1964-67
HB Joe Bellino, a Winchester MA native who won the 1960 Heisman trophy with Navy
S White Graves, backup/special teamer who played in 40 games from 1965-67
OT/DE Jim Boudreaux, a 1966 2nd round (10th overall) draft draft bust from LSU




January 21, 1991:
The Patriots announce the initial coaching staff for new head coach **** MacPherson.

Joe Collier is the defensive coordinator.
**** Coury is the offensive coordinator.
Bobby Grier (RB) and Rod Humenick (OL) are re-signed as assistant coaches.
Dante Scarnecchia returns to New England after two seasons with the Colts to coach special teams and tight ends.
Other new position coaches are Ivan Fears (WR), Stan Jones (DL), Norm Gerber (ILB), Myrel Moore (OLB), Dave Uyrus (assistant ST/DL) and Joe Collier Jr. (assistant RB/WR).




January 21, 2013:
DT Marcus Forston is elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.
He took the open roster spot vacated when Rob Gronkowski was placed on Injured Reserve with a fractured forearm.




January 21, 2014:
Practice squad member Marcus Forston is re-signed to a futures contract.
The University of Miami product played in four games for the Patriots in 2012-2013.




January 21, 2016:
James Vaughters is signed to a futures contract.
The LB from Stanford never saw any playing time with the Pats, but did eventually get on the field in 27 games for the Bears and Falcons from 2019 to 2021.




January 21, 2025:
New head coach Mike Vrabel re-hires Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator.
McDaniels gets the nod over Vikings assistant OC Grant Udinski.

REPORT: McDaniels Back as Patriots Offensive Coordinator | PatsFans.com

After interviewing with the Patriots on Tuesday, it appears it didn’t take long for new head coach Mike Vrabel to make up his mind when it came to Josh McDaniels.

www.patsfans.com

Vikings Coach Interviewed By Patriots For OC Opening - "He's a Genius" | PatsFans.com

Mike Vrabel has been busy over the last week trying to put his coaching staff together, with many wondering who the team will settle on when it comes to their offensive coordinator opening.

www.patsfans.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
January 21 Birthdays​

Happy 32nd birthday to Jordan Richards
Born January 21, 1993 in Sacramento
Patriot safety, 2015-2017, uniform #37; 2019, uniform #39
Pats 2nd round (64th overall) selection of the 2015 draft, from Stanford

Jordan Richards played in 44 regular season games and 5 playoff games with New England, with seven starts. He was used primarily on special teams, never quite living up to his draft status. The Pats traded Jordan on August 31, 2018 to Atlanta for nothing more than a conditional 2020 seventh round draft pick.

After spending time with the Falcons and Raiders, the Pats re-signed Richards on October 2, 2019. He played in three games, strictly on special teams, and was released. Richards spent three season with the Ravens, finishing his NFL career in 2021 with Baltimore.

2015: 238 defensive snaps (25%), 253 special team snaps (60%) in 14 games
2016: 18 defensive snaps (2.5%), 151 ST snaps (50%) in 11 games
2017: 272 defensive snaps (26%), 309 ST snaps (69%) in 16 games
2019: zero defensive snaps, 57 special team snaps (13%) in three games

Career stats with Patriots: 50 tackles (41 solo), 3 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. 528 snaps on defense and 770 on special teams. Jordan received a ring for Super Bowl 51 versus Atlanta, though he did not play in that game.




Happy 41st birthday to David Harris
Born January 21, 1984 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Patriot ILB, 2017; uniform #45
Signed as a free agent on June 22, 2017 to a 2-year $5M contract

Harris was a 2nd round pick out of Michigan in 2017, playing ten years with the Jets, and signing with the Patriots shortly after they released him. He appeared in then games for New England with six starts, with 22 tackles and 1½ sacks. He retired on February 23, 2018.

In 11 NFL seasons Harris played in 164 games, racking up 36½ sacks, 1,110 tackles and six interceptions. Unfortunately he was just a bit over the hill at age 33 when the Patriots signed him.




Happy 40th birthday to Dan Gronkowski
Born January 21, 1985 in Amherst NY
Patriot TE in 2011; uniform #82
Signed as a free agent on September 6, 2011

The elder Gronk played in five games with one start while with the Patriots. He was originally a seventh round draft pick by Detroit in 2009, from Maryland. Dan also played for Denver prior to coming to Foxborough, and for Cleveland after the Pats waived him on November 8, 2011. Between those four teams he played in 21 NFL games, with five starts and nine receptions.




Happy 35th birthday to Kanorris Davis
Born January 21, 1990 in Perry, Georgia
Patriot ST/SS/LB 2013-14; uniform #36
Signed as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2013 from Troy

Kanorris Davis played in three regular season and two playoff games for the Patriots in 2013, bouncing between the active roster and practice squad three times. During that time he was on the field for 53 special team snaps (64%), and zero on defense. He was a binky of mine based on what I saw in his rookie preseason, but my expectations that he would develop into a solid NFL player never quite materialized.

Davis was signed to the practice squad again after being cut at the end of 2014 training camp. Less than a week later he was released, as the Pats signed WR Marcus Thigpen, OL Chris Barker and TE Allen Reisner to the practice squad. Davis went on to play for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL, but his pro football career ended in 2016 due to a knee injury.

​

Happy 44th birthday to Johnathan Sullivan
Born January 21, 1981 in Griffin, Georgia
Patriot DT, 2006 offseason
Acquired from New Orleans on June 5, 2006 in a trade for WR Bethel Johnson

Johnathan Sullivan was originally the sixth overall pick of the 2003 draft. The Saints had traded up to snag Sullivan in a lopsided deal with Arizona that netted the Cardinals DE/LB Calvin Pace, WR Bryant Johnson and WR Anquan Boldin. Sullivan played in 36 games with 16 starts in three seasons with the Saints - with only four of those starts coming in years two and three.

Sullivan was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana near Atlanta three weeks after being traded to New England, with those charges later being dropped. He began training camp on the physically unable to perform list due to being unable to pass his conditioning test, then was activated off PUP on August 7. The Patriots released Sullivan on October 9, 2006; he never did get on the field of play in a regular season game while with the Pats. Sullivan never played in the NFL again either, going down in league history as one of the biggest draft busts ever.




Happy 26th birthday to Braylon Sanders
Born January 21, 1999 in Hogansville, Georgia
Patriot WR, 2024 practice squad
Signed as a free agent to the practice squad on Oct 29, 2024

Sanders was originally signed as an undrafted rookie from Ole Miss by the Dolphins in 2022. He played in three games while bouncing back and forth ffrom the practice squad to active roster, with two receptions. Miami placed Sanders on injured reserve on August 28, 2024, then released him with an injury settlement a week later. Jerod Mayo never elevated Sanders to the active roster - unlike several other practice squad player in week 18 - and he is now a free agent.




Other pro football players born on this date with a New England connection:

Damane Duckett, 44 (Jan 21, 1981)
Born in Waterbury, CT
DT played in 20 games for the Panthers, Giants and 49ers from 2004-06.



George Connor (Jan 21, 1925 - March 31, 2003)
Holy Cross
Connor played for the Crusaders for two years before enlisting in the Navy in World War II. When he returned the Chicago native enrolled at Notre Dame, to help his mother care for his ill father. He was twice a consensus All-American as a tackle for the Fighting Irish, in 1946 and 1947, and won the first Outland Trophy as the nation's best college interior lineman in 1946. Connor was a key component of Notre Dame's 1946 and 1947 national championship teams, and was the captain of their unbeaten 1947 team.

Connor stayed close to home, playing for the Chicago Bears. In eight NFL seasons he was named a first-team All-Pro five times. At first exclusively a tackle when playing defense, in a game in 1949 Bears head coach George Halas ordered Connor to stand upright outside the end in an attempt to thwart the running of Philadelphia Eagles halfback Steve Van Buren. The plan worked, as Connor held Van Buren in check and the Bears handed the Eagles their only loss of the season. "We always set high standards for George Connor and he exceeded them," said Halas. He became one of the first big, mobile linebackers in the NFL, and famed sportswriter Grantland Rice once wrote that Connor was "the closest thing to a Greek God since Apollo".

Connor was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

George Connor | Pro Football Hall of Fame

*George Leo Connor* ... All-American at both Holy Cross, Notre Dame ... New York Giants' No. 1 draft pick, 1946 ... Rights traded to Boston Yanks and then to Bears ... All-NFL at three positions - offensive tackle, defensive tackle, linebacker ... All-NFL five years ... Two-way performer...

www.profootballhof.com

Nick Klutka (Jan 21, 1921 - April 2, 2003)
Boston Yanks 1946 draft pick
End/Defensive End played in 11 games in the forties.




Besides George Connor, other Pro Football Players born on January 21 include:

Haloti Ngata, 41 (Jan 21, 1984)
A 3x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro, and longtime Pats nemesis with the Ravens, the DT is probably bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame sometime soon.


Peyton Hillis, 39 (Jan 21, 1986)
Ask any Patriot fan the question 'what was the most unexpected Patriots loss?', and near the top of that list there will be a response 'the Peyton Hillis Game' against Cleveland. The running back scored 26 touchdowns with multiple teams from 2008-2014.