Today In Patriots History April 20, 1996: The Final Parcells Draft

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The 1996 Draft​

There have been three drafts that took place on April 20: one very good, one very poor, and one that was okay, but could have been better. Here is the best of those three.


**** MacPherson was fired after a two-win season in 1992, which led to the Patriots hiring Bill Parcells as the new head coach. Two years later the Pats were in the playoffs with a 10-6 record, but they slipped to 6-10 in 1995 - and as a result had the 7th overall pick of the 1996 draft. Parcells wanted to go defense with the top pick; the Pats ranked 25th in points allowed and 28th in yardage in '95. Director of player personnel Bobby Grier felt the team should focus on offense. The two could not reach an agreement, leading to owner Robert Kraft having to intervene - and he went along with Grier, which pissed off Parcells. Allegedly he considered quitting right then and there but did not do so, because he didn't want to leave with a losing record in his final season.

The damage in the relationship was done. Parcells was going to exit as soon as the team finished with a winning record. The club made it to the super bowl, but Parcells' focus was on negotiating a new contract with the Jets rather than preparing for the game. Upon his departure Parcells stated "They want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries. Okay?", referencing the impasse with the draft pick decision.

Ironically Parcells was wrong and Grier was right. The two players that Parcells wanted - defensive ends Duane Clemons and Tony Brackens - were nowhere near as productive as wide receiver Terry Glenn. Clemons was taken #16 by Minnesota; he did have 18½ sacks for the Vikings, but departed after four seasons. Brackens went to Jacksonville at #33, and he did have a quality 8-year career. But Terry Glenn was more impactful right off the bat, with 90 catches for 1,132 yards his rookie season. Parcells still held a grudge about the pick, referring to Glenn as 'she' to the press while he was dealing with a hamstring injury in his first training camp. That comment resulted in Parcells being on the receiving end of the wrath of Myra Kraft, calling him out as being "disgraceful".

In retrospect perhaps the compromise should have been to trade down, in a plan to appease both parties. Prior to the draft the Patriots traded offensive tackle Pat Harlow, who had had a falling out with Parcells and was no longer starting. Harlow was traded to the Raiders, for a second round draft pick. The Patriots could have traded down from #7 - and then with the extra picks from the hypothetical trade, plus the one from the Harlow deal, then traded up for another first round draft pick. The 1996 draft class was deep at receiver; Eddie Kennison went at #18, Marvin Harrison #19, Eric Moulds #24, and Amari Toomer #34. Theoretically Parcells could have got a defensive end he wanted, and Grier still could have had a good first round receiver to complement Ben Coates and Curtis Martin in Drew Bledsoe's offense as well.

In the end that did not happen, but it turned out just fine. Parcells has a long history of taking teams over that have hit rock bottom, then quickly leaving before they slide back; he was never going to be a longterm answer. Without his departure, the door doesn't open for Bill Belichick in New England. Despite Tuna's objections, day one of the 1996 draft was excellent.




April 20, 1996:
The NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1996 NFL Draft
The Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-3

New England made the most selections of any team in this draft, with 13.
The final Bill Parcells/Bobby Grier draft was a good one, even if Tuna didn't like the first pick.

1.7 -- WR Terry Glenn, Ohio State
2.36 - SS Lawyer Milloy, Washington
3.86 - LB Tedy Bruschi, Arizona


Three days earlier the Patriots had traded RT Pat Harlow to Oakland for a second round pick, 2.57.

To me this was an excellent trade, since Harlow was no longer in Parcells' plans - and had already been replaced in the starting lineup by Max Lane.


The Patriots traded that #57 pick back to Oakland, who used it on the position Parcells was eyeing: defensive end. Lance Johnstone was the selection; he played for 11 years, with 72 career sacks. Had the Patriots kept that pick, another option besides Johnstone was future Hall of Fame free safety Brian Dawkins, chosen four spots later by the Eagles.

The Raiders sent a third (#76), fourth (#124) and fifth (#149) to New England for that second (#57).


Next the Patriots traded down again, sending the #76 they had just received from Oakland to Detroit, for a third (#86), fourth (#119) and sixth (#195).

(The Patriots entered the draft without a third round pick. In 1995 the Patriots had traded their own third, (3.68), to Kansas City for center Dave Wohlabaugh.)


At #86 the Patriots selected Tedy Bruschi - even though he did not fit the prototype that Parcells had learned from Bucko Kilroy:

Why Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells made an 'exception' to draft a Patriots legend

Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells explained how his teams scouted players in the draft -- and how it led to the Patriots finding Tedy Bruschi.

www.masslive.com

When it came to evaluating players, Bill Parcells had tried and true system that relied on finding prospects that fit the exact prototype it was looking for.​

But it also had room to make exceptions.​

One such player was New England Patriots legend Tedy Bruschi, who Parcells took in the third round in 1996, the coach’s final year with the team.​

How 'Type' Grading System Allows Teams to Reduce Bust Risk in NFL Draft

Former NFL head coach and GM Bill Parcells provides a detailed look at how he graded and labeled NFL Draft prospects...

www.the33rdteam.com

Tedy Bruschi was a real first-hand example of that for me. He was a sack machine at the University of Arizona but was short for a defensive end. He wasn't 6-foot-4; he was 6-1. We liked him, he was a productive player. He played on that "Desert Swarm Defense," as they called it down there in those days. We felt Tedy could play in the NFL, but it would be at linebacker, which was what he played after he became a third-round draft choice for us in New England.​

Day Two was not as productive as Day One, but it didn't matter. Any time you walk away with a Terry Glenn, Lawyer Milloy, Tedy Brushi and Dave Wohlabaugh from your rounds 1-3 draft capital, you already had a great draft.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The 2002 Draft​

April 20, 2002:
The NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2002 NFL Draft
The Theatre at Madison Square Garden, in New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-3


Quarterbacks went #1 and #3 in this draft, and both finished their careers with more interceptions than touchdown passes. Houston selected David Carr with the first pick, and Detroit took Joey Harrington at number three. Chicago had the pick between those two, grabbing Hall of Fame DE Julius Peppers.


The Patriots were coming off their first super bowl victory, with the last pick of each round. One glaring issue with the 2001 team was the lack of production at tight end. Jermaine Wiggins played well after he arrived late in the season and was clutch in the snow against the Raiders, but was he really the answer at tight end? The position had not been properly addressed since Ben Coates was unceremoniously dumped when Belichick first arrived, and the tight end position was mostly a fifth offensive lineman in 2001: Wiggins and Rod Rutledge combined for just 168 yards receiving that year.


Bill Belichick made what was a rare move for him, trading up in round one. The Pats sent their first round pick (#32), third round pick (#96) and seventh round pick (#237) to Washington for the 21st overall pick of the draft. The Redskins had already just traded down, sending their #18 to Oakland for #21 and a third round pick.

New England used that pick on Daniel Graham, a tight end from Colorado. In 2000 he had 33 catches for 433 yards with one TD for the Buffaloes, then caught 51 passes for 753 yards and six touchdowns his senior year.

While Graham was a decent player, he never quite lived up to his draft status in my opinion. In his five seasons with the Patriots he averaged 24 receptions for 279 yards and 3.4 touchdowns per year. Graham left early in free agency in 2007, returning to the state he grew up in. He spent four seasons playing for Denver, and finished his NFL career with 2,490 yards receiving and 25 touchdowns.

Unfortunately the player the Patriots should have selected went three spots later to Baltimore: a guy Belichick always praised, Hall of Famer Ed Reed, free safety for the Miami Hurricanes. Tebucky Jones would depart a year later, so it would have been perfect timing for the transition at that position.



2.65 - WR Deion Branch, Louisville
The Pats won two super bowls with Branch, but it is a shame that they were unable to re-sign the Super Bowl 39 MVP as a free agent. The 2006 team really could have used him, and by the time he reurned in 2010 he was 31 and starting to slow down.

3.96 - traded away in the draft pick deal for Daniel Graham

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The 1997 Draft​

April 20, 1997:
The NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1997 NFL Draft
The Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden, in New York City
Day Two, Rounds 4-7


On the previous day the Bobby Grier and Pete Carroll had selected four players; their lack of production from this draft helped lead to the eventual downfall of those two:

1.29 - CB Chris Canty, Kansas State
Canty lasted just two seasons with the Pats, with one pick, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Five-time Pro Bowl CB Sam Madison was available, as were running backs Corey Dillon and Tiki Barber.

2.59 - DL Brandon Mitchell, Texas A&M
Mitchell played in 62 games over five seasons with the Pats, earning a ring from Super Bowl 36.

3.61 - RB Sedrick Shaw, Iowa
Shaw rushed for 236 yards and no touchdowns over two seasons with the Patriots.
Hall of Famers Jason Taylor and Ronde Barber were taken a few picks later.

3.89 - S Chris Carter, Texas
Carter played in 47 games with 15 starts over three seasons with the Pats, with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Pittsburgh took Mike Vrael two picks later.

The extra third round pick was one of four draft picks that the Patriots received from the Jets as compensation for their signing/tampering with Bill Parcells. Unfortunately Grier and Carroll failed to take advantage of those gifts, selecting Shaw, Damon Denson, Tony Simmons and Andy Katzenmoyer.


As bad as day one was, day two was no better.

The first pick of the fourth round was one of four draft picks that New England received from the Jets for tampering with and hiring Tuna. None worked out well for the Pats; this was the worst of those four.

4.97 - G Damon Denson, Michigan
Denson played in 14 games with three starts over three seasons with the Pats, then never played in the NFL again.
The next player selected was WR Derrick Mason by Tennessee.

4.125 - OT Ed Ellis, Buffalo
The Hamden CT native played in nine games with one start in three seasons for the Pats. He was a bit more successful over the next four years with Washington and San Diego.
Linebacker Al Singleton, who played in 140 games over ten seasons, was selected three picks later.

5.159 - LB Vernon Crawford, Florida State
Crawford was a good backup/special teams player, but an injury derailed his NFL career. He stayed in the area and later coached at Randolph High School, Curry College and Seekonk High School - and won three national titles as coach for Boston's full contact semi-pro women's football teams.

6.192 - WR Tony Gaiter, Miami
Gaiter was a special teamer who played in every game in 1997, before signing with San Diego.
The next player drafted was DT Grady Jackson, a 9-year starter who played in 185 games.

7.230 - OT Scott Rehberg, Central Michigan
Rehberg only appeared in eight games in two seasons with the Patriots, but then became a starter for Cleveland and swing guard/tackle for the Bengals.
Green Bay took FB Jerald Sowell with the next pick; he played in 148 games over ten seasons.



Even with the benefit of two extra draft picks, this draft was flat out atrocious.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Zero Games Played, Two Rings​

Happy 34th birthday to Tyler Gaffney
Born April 20, 1991 in San Diego
Patriot running back, 2014-2017; uniform #31 ('14), #36 ('15), #35 ('16), #34 ('21)
Claimed off waivers from Carolina on July 28, 2014
Pats résumé: two stints on the practice squad; three seasons on injured reserve; four training camps in five seasons; two rings


Tyler Gaffney earned a scholarship to Stanford after scoring 99 touchdowns in high school. He was a very good baseball outfielder as well, and left school for a year to play minor league baseball in the Pirates organization. Despite batting .297 with an on base percentage of .483, Gaffney elected to return to Stanford to focus on football.

Carolina selected Gaffney in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He was penciled in as the Panthers' third running back on their depth chart, but his rookie season ended due to a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee during training camp. Thinking nobody would waste a roster spot on a player out for the season, Carolina cut Gaffney with the expectation of re-signing him after clearing waivers to their injured reserve list. The gamble backfired as the Pats claimed the running back. After spending the entire 2014 season on IR, Gaffney received a ring for the Pats victory over Seattle in Super Bowl 49.

Still not 100% healthy, Gaffney was waived in mid-August of 2015. After going unclaimed he spent his second straight season on IR. Then in September of 2016 it was the same story: waived/injured, cleared waivers and re-signed. He was released with an injury settlement, but later that season re-signed to the Pats practice squad. Gaffney was promoted to the 53-man roster for the week 8 victory at Buffalo, but did not play. After the bye week he ended up back on the practice squad. At the end of the season he received a second ring, for the "28-3" Super Bowl.


August 12, 2016:

A humbled Tyler Gaffney happy to be back on the field

FOXBORO – It seemed like a lifetime ago for Tyler Gaffney. In football speak, it almost was. The running back entered Thursday night going 954 days since he last had a carry in an actual football …

www.providencejournal.com

New England Patriots RB Tyler Gaffney logs first carry since New Years 2014: 'Very surreal moment'

New England Patriots running back Tyler Gaffney made his long awaited NFL debut Thursday against the New Orleans Saints.

www.masslive.com

PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Long touchdown run was long time coming for Gaffney

After spending each of his first two seasons in the NFL on the injured reserve list, running back Tyler Gaffney stepped up in a major way in the Patriots' 34-22 preseason-opening victory over New Orl…

www.enterprisenews.com

NFL debut was a long time coming for Patriots’ Tyler Gaffney - The Boston Globe

Thursday’s preseason game was the first for the injury-riddled running back since the 2014 Rose Bowl.

www.bostonglobe.com

The Patriots released Gaffney prior to the draft in 2017. With James White, Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead, James Develin and DJ Foster already on the roster, it made more sense to just add an undrafted rookie with healthy knees as training camp fodder. Gaffney eventually signed with Jacksonville, but once again he was waived/injured, seemingly ending his NFL career. At that point he returned to baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he had another good minor league season at the single-A level in 2018. However he couldn't bat his weight once promoted to double-AA ball, and retired from pro baseball on February 23, 2019 after no teams expressed interest in signing him.

Early in 2020 he had a couple of tryouts, but no contracts. On December 22, 2020 Gaffney was signed to the 49ers practice squad. After the season ended he was not signed to a futures contract, and as a free agent re-signed with the Patriots after the draft. Tyler was released early in training camp, marking the end of his professional sports career.

 

[signbabybrady]

Today in Patriots History
The 1996 Draft​

There have been three drafts that took place on April 20: one very good, one very poor, and one that was okay, but could have been better. Here is the best of those three.


**** MacPherson was fired after a two-win season in 1992, which led to the Patriots hiring Bill Parcells as the new head coach. Two years later the Pats were in the playoffs with a 10-6 record, but they slipped to 6-10 in 1995 - and as a result had the 7th overall pick of the 1996 draft. Parcells wanted to go defense with the top pick; the Pats ranked 25th in points allowed and 28th in yardage in '95. Director of player personnel Bobby Grier felt the team should focus on offense. The two could not reach an agreement, leading to owner Robert Kraft having to intervene - and he went along with Grier, which pissed off Parcells. Allegedly he considered quitting right then and there but did not do so, because he didn't want to leave with a losing record in his final season.

The damage in the relationship was done. Parcells was going to exit as soon as the team finished with a winning record. The club made it to the super bowl, but Parcells' focus was on negotiating a new contract with the Jets rather than preparing for the game. Upon his departure Parcells stated "They want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries. Okay?", referencing the impasse with the draft pick decision.

Ironically Parcells was wrong and Grier was right. The two players that Parcells wanted - defensive ends Duane Clemons and Tony Brackens - were nowhere near as productive as wide receiver Terry Glenn. Clemons was taken #16 by Minnesota; he did have 18½ sacks for the Vikings, but departed after four seasons. Brackens went to Jacksonville at #33, and he did have a quality 8-year career. But Terry Glenn was more impactful right off the bat, with 90 catches for 1,132 yards his rookie season. Parcells still held a grudge about the pick, referring to Glenn as 'she' to the press while he was dealing with a hamstring injury in his first training camp. That comment resulted in Parcells being on the receiving end of the wrath of Myra Kraft, calling him out as being "disgraceful".

In retrospect perhaps the compromise should have been to trade down, in a plan to appease both parties. Prior to the draft the Patriots traded offensive tackle Pat Harlow, who had had a falling out with Parcells and was no longer starting. Harlow was traded to the Raiders, for a second round draft pick. The Patriots could have traded down from #7 - and then with the extra picks from the hypothetical trade, plus the one from the Harlow deal, then traded up for another first round draft pick. The 1996 draft class was deep at receiver; Eddie Kennison went at #18, Marvin Harrison #19, Eric Moulds #24, and Amari Toomer #34. Theoretically Parcells could have got a defensive end he wanted, and Grier still could have had a good first round receiver to complement Ben Coates and Curtis Martin in Drew Bledsoe's offense as well.

In the end that did not happen, but it turned out just fine. Parcells has a long history of taking teams over that have hit rock bottom, then quickly leaving before they slide back; he was never going to be a longterm answer. Without his departure, the door doesn't open for Bill Belichick in New England. Despite Tuna's objections, day one of the 1996 draft was excellent.




April 20, 1996:
The NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1996 NFL Draft
The Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-3

New England made the most selections of any team in this draft, with 13.
The final Bill Parcells/Bobby Grier draft was a good one, even if Tuna didn't like the first pick.

1.7 -- WR Terry Glenn, Ohio State
2.36 - SS Lawyer Milloy, Washington
3.86 - LB Tedy Bruschi, Arizona


Three days earlier the Patriots had traded RT Pat Harlow to Oakland for a second round pick, 2.57.

To me this was an excellent trade, since Harlow was no longer in Parcells' plans - and had already been replaced in the starting lineup by Max Lane.


The Patriots traded that #57 pick back to Oakland, who used it on the position Parcells was eyeing: defensive end. Lance Johnstone was the selection; he played for 11 years, with 72 career sacks. Had the Patriots kept that pick, another option besides Johnstone was future Hall of Fame free safety Brian Dawkins, chosen four spots later by the Eagles.

The Raiders sent a third (#76), fourth (#124) and fifth (#149) to New England for that second (#57).


Next the Patriots traded down again, sending the #76 they had just received from Oakland to Detroit, for a third (#86), fourth (#119) and sixth (#195).

(The Patriots entered the draft without a third round pick. In 1995 the Patriots had traded their own third, (3.68), to Kansas City for center Dave Wohlabaugh.)


At #86 the Patriots selected Tedy Bruschi - even though he did not fit the prototype that Parcells had learned from Bucko Kilroy:

Why Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells made an 'exception' to draft a Patriots legend

Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells explained how his teams scouted players in the draft -- and how it led to the Patriots finding Tedy Bruschi.

www.masslive.com

When it came to evaluating players, Bill Parcells had tried and true system that relied on finding prospects that fit the exact prototype it was looking for.​

But it also had room to make exceptions.​

One such player was New England Patriots legend Tedy Bruschi, who Parcells took in the third round in 1996, the coach’s final year with the team.​

How 'Type' Grading System Allows Teams to Reduce Bust Risk in NFL Draft

Former NFL head coach and GM Bill Parcells provides a detailed look at how he graded and labeled NFL Draft prospects...

www.the33rdteam.com

Tedy Bruschi was a real first-hand example of that for me. He was a sack machine at the University of Arizona but was short for a defensive end. He wasn't 6-foot-4; he was 6-1. We liked him, he was a productive player. He played on that "Desert Swarm Defense," as they called it down there in those days. We felt Tedy could play in the NFL, but it would be at linebacker, which was what he played after he became a third-round draft choice for us in New England.​

Day Two was not as productive as Day One, but it didn't matter. Any time you walk away with a Terry Glenn, Lawyer Milloy, Tedy Brushi and Dave Wohlabaugh from your rounds 1-3 draft capital, you already had a great draft.

Definitely the story of a team Hall of Famer right there lol

 

[TheRainMaker]

That 1996 draft was awesome! It's really a shame Parcells took it that personnel and wanted to leave despite the team being better for it. Glenn took their passing game to another level. The rumored choice Tony Brackens would've been a really good complement to McGinest.

Then you have the 1997 draft which was just awful! Carroll was dealt a bad hand during his time in NE as he had said he was at the mercy of Grier. Chris Canty over Sam Madison and Brandon Mitchell and Sedrick Shaw over Jason Taylor was brutal.

Ed Reed was the talk of the 2002 draft as a potential star, but his size was the concern. While the Graham pick was a need, it was a meh for me at the time. Reed had that Randy Moss type regret for teams the moment he took the field.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Omare Lowe​

Happy 47th birthday to Omare Lowe
Born April 20, 1978 in Seattle
Patriot safety, 2004; uniform #23
Signed as a free agent to the practice squad on November 16, 2004
Pats résumé: one partial season; three games played; one ring

According to his Washington Huskies bio, in high school Omare Gerald Lowe was an option QB with 15 TD and over 900 yards rushing. His best sport though was track; at the 1997 state championships he won the 110 high hurdles (14.52), the 300 intermediate hurdles (37.94) and was part of championship 1,600-meter relay team (3:23.07).

​

From 2002-08 Lowe was at some point signed with the Dolphins (who drafted him in the fifth round in 2002), Titans, Jets, Vikings, Redskins, Patriots, Seahawks, Falcons, Seahawks again, and Jaguars. Lowe appeared in 43 NFL games, with 32 of those in 2005-06 for Atlanta; most of the rest of his NFL days were on practice squads.

Lowe spent two weeks in November of 2004 on the Pats practice squad and then played in three games for the Patriots late in the 2004 season. He too received a Super Bowl ring from the Patriots, though at least Omare was wearing a Pats uniform during a real game. Lowe was part of the patchwork defensive secondary that was pieced together after Ty Law, Tyrone Poole and Guss Scott all went on injured reserve.

Dec 28, 2004:
Patriots Re-Sign S Je'rod Cherry; S Omare Lowe Re-Joins Practice Squad -- Patriots.com

The New England Patriots re-signed safety Je'Rod Cherry to the 53-man roster today. The team subsequently announced that safety Omare Lowe cleared waivers last night and was re-signed to the Patriots practice squad today.​

Lowe, 26, re-joins the practice squad after having spent three stints on the Patriots' active roster this season. He was recently signed from the practice squad to the active roster (Dec. 25) and participated in the Patriots' 23-7 victory over the Jets last Sunday before being waived the following day.​

The 6-foot-1-inch, 195-pounder has played in a total of six NFL games in his career and recorded one special teams tackle. He has played in three games for New England in 2004, participating against Baltimore on Nov. 28, at Miami on Dec. 20 and at the New York Jets on Dec. 26. The University of Washington product was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round (161st overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.​

Lowe has also spent time on the active rosters of the Miami Dolphins (2002) and the New York Jets (2003), while also seeing time with the practice squads of the Tennessee Titans (2003) and Minnesota Vikings (2004). He played in two games for the Jets last season and saw time in one game with Miami as a rookie in 2002.​

In his post-NFL life Omare Lowe works as a project manager for Armata Construction Services, a disaster-reconstruction company in Seattle, and has coached track and football at local high schools in that area.

Player Spotlight: An Interview with Omare Lowe

Pro Football Archives -- Omare Lowe Transactions

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
John Simerson​

In memory of John Simerson, who would have turned 90 today
Born April 20, 1935 in Honolulu
Died August 2, 1992 at the age of 57 in Los Angeles
Patriot center/guard, 1961; uniform #75
Signed as a free agent on April 6, 1961
Pats résumé: one season, ten games (one start)

John Cooke Simerson Jr. was a relatively big guy for his era, standing 6'3 and weighing 275 pounds. Born and raised in Hawaii, he was a tackle at Purdue but converted to center in the pros. Simerson was a late (254th overall) draft pick by the Eagles in 1957. He played in a total of 43 games for Philly, Pittsburgh, Houston and the Pats, and also spent 1959 in Canada with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Keeping the championship ring theme going, Simerson appeared in all 14 games for the 1960 Oilers when Houston became the first team to win an American Football League title. The following season Simerson played in ten games for the Patriots, backing up former Boilermaker teammate Walt Cudzik.

John Simerson Photo at Purdue

John Simerson Obituary

After a knee injury ended his football career, Simerson went to work for Willig Co., one of the largest freight lines on the West Coast. Simerson worked his way up the company, and had served as president and chief executive officer for the past ten years.​

Pro Football Archives -- John Simerson Transactions

August 19, 1961 vs the New York Titans: #75 John Simerson, top center, kneeling next to the first down official​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Mike Purcell​

Happy 34th birthday to Mike Purcell
Born April 20, 1991 in Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Patriot nose tackle, 2017 practcice squad and 2024 training camp; uniform #58
Signed to the practice squad on October 25, 2017; signed as a free agent on August 1, 2024
Pats résumé: no regular season games played

The Wyoming Cowboy was undrafted and spent three seasons with San Francisco from 2014-2016, appearing in 25 games with eight starts. He was then part of the practice squad for the Bears, Panthers and Patriots, and was also under contract with the Rams and Chiefs. In 2019 Purcell played for the Salt Lake Stallions of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF). He eventually caught on closer to home with the Denver Broncos, playing in 65 games with 37 starts from 2019 to 2023.

Patriots release veteran defensive tackle ahead of roster cuts

The Patriots now have an open roster spot after releasing veteran defensive tackle Mike Purcell on Wednesday.

985thesportshub.com

Purcell, 33, signed with the Patriots a week into camp, giving the team added defensive tackle depth after Christian Barmore's blood clot diagnosis. After signing Purcell was involved early, but had seen his role shrink in recent practices.​

Defensive tackle has been one of the most competitive positions in camp this year for the Patriots. The emergence of players like Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Trysten Hill alongside Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale has the team seemingly in good shape at the position.​

Pro Football Archives -- Mike Purcell Transactions

Mike Purcell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

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

www.pro-football-reference.com

Other April 20 football birthdays with a New England connection:

Jason Huntley, 27 (April 20, 1978)
Draft Pick Trade
Huntley was drafted in the fifth round of the 1972 draft. On April 24, 2020, Bill Belichick made an ill-advised trade, sending a 2020 3rd (#100), a 2020 4th (#139), and 2020 5th (#172, Huntley) to Detroit in order move up nine spots - in order to select TE Devin Asiasi at #91 overall in the third, and kicker Justin Rohrwasser at #159 overall in the fifth round. Huntley never did much, playing in six games for the Eagles in 2020-21.


Luke Keuchly, 34 (April 20, 1991)
Boston College
The linebacker was a two-time All-American at Boston College; his #40 jersey was retired by BC in 2016. He was drafted ninth overall in the 2012 draft by Carolina. Kuechly was named to the Pro Bowls seven times and is a five time All Pro. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. Kuechly was plagued with concussions and retired in 2020, at the age of 29. Luke was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and will likely gain entrance in the near future.


Ernie Stautner (April 20, 1925 - Feb 16, 2006)
Boston College
The German-born Stautner was a guard on offense and defensive tackle and end on defense. He played for the Steelers from 1950 through 1963, remarkably missing just one game in those 14 years. Stautner was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969. He then went on to became the defensive line coach and defensive coordinator under Tom Landry for the Dallas Cowboys from 1966 to 1988.


Richard Jarvis, 30 (April 20, 1995)
Born in Watertown; raised in Belmont; Belmont High School; Brown University
Jarvis' football story is not quite as compelling as the two above. The linebacker was signed as an undrafted free agent by Atlanta in 2018, and appeared in one game for the Falcons after beginning the season on the practice squad. He has also been on the Buffalo and Jacksonville practice squads, but it appears that his 17 special team snaps in that one week three 43-37 loss will be the extent of his pro football career.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Torry Holt and other 420 transactions​

April 20, 2010
The Patriots sign veteran free agent wide receiver Torry Holt to a on-year contract.

Even though Holt was 33, I thought this was a good signing at the time. Holt was a seven-time Pro Bowler that ranked in the top ten all time for career receiving yards. While his production had slipped the previous two years, he was durable and still good for 50+ receptions and 700+ yards.

Before the season began Holt unfortunately suffered a knee injury that would require surgery. On August 15 he was placed on season ending injured reserve; he was released two days later with an injury settlement.

Torry Holt finished his NFL career with 920 receptions for 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns.

PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Veteran Torry Holt placed on injured reserve

The 34-year-old wide receiver becomes the second Patriot in three days to be placed on IR, joining veteran defensive lineman Ty Warren on the list.

www.enterprisenews.com

PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Veteran Torry Holt placed on injured reserve

The 34-year-old wide receiver becomes the second Patriot in three days to be placed on IR, joining veteran defensive lineman Ty Warren on the list.

www.enterprisenews.com

The consensus among the media that cover the New England Patriots on a regular basis was that veteran wide receiver Torry Holt was on the proverbial “bubble.”​

On Sunday, the “bubble” burst.​

Suffering from a knee injury that will require surgery, the NFL’s receiver of the past decade was placed on the injured reserve list Sunday, thus ending his season before it began. With 868 catches for 12,594 yards, Holt led the NFL in receptions and receiving yardage from 2000-2009.​

The second Patriot to be placed on IR in three days, Holt joins veteran defensive lineman Ty Warren (hip) on the list.​

April 20, 1988
The Patriots re-sign OLB Andre Tippett.
The future Hall of Famer would be named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl that year.



April 20, 1995
New England re-signs a pair of exclusive rights free agents: RB Corey Croom and OL Mike Gisler.
Croom played in 43 games with the Patriots from 1993-95; Gisler played in 73 games for the Pats from 1993-97.



April 20, 1999
After the draft is completed the Patriots sign ten undrafted rookies; only one would ever play in the NFL.
NT Garrett Johnson of Illinois played in eight games with two starts for the Pats in 2000.



April 20, 2007
Offensive tackle Sean Bubin retires.

Originally a fifth-round pick out of the University of Illinois in 2004 by Jacksonville, Bubin spent time with the Jaguars, Lions and Vikings. He has also played for the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe. Bubin spent half of 2006 on the Pats practice squad.



With today being 4/20, who goes into the Patriots all-time 420 team?

Nominees include Willie Andrews, Josh Gordon, Steve Kiner, Bob Gladieux, Tony Collins, Mack Herron, Terry Glenn, LeGarrette Blount, Randy Moss, Kevin Faulk, Ty Law's cousin, Brandon Browner, Aaron Hernandez, Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon Spikes, Wes Welker, Brandon Bolden and Brian Tyms.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

i thought the concern with ed reed was his speed.

 

[TheRainMaker]

i thought the concern with ed reed was his speed.

He ran a 4.46 at the combine, but one scout mention he looked stiff athletically. He had many concerns as you'll see in the article.

Draft Review: Ed Reed - Rick Gosselin

Ed Reed was voted one of the six best safeties ever to play in the NFL -- but the league's talent evaluators did not see that greatness when he was coming out of college

rickgosselin.com

 

[State]

4.97 - G Damon Denson, Michigan
Denson played in 14 games with three starts over three seasons with the Pats, then never played in the NFL again.
The next player selected was WR Derrick Mason by Tennessee.

I had high hopes for DD.