Today In Patriots History April 28, 1981: Pats draft Brian Holloway, Tony Collins, Don Blackmon & Ron Wooten

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 1981 Draft​

April 28, 1981:
The 46th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1981 NFL Draft
New York Sheraton Hotel, New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-6

New Orleans takes Heisman Trophy winning RB George Rogers first overall.
The Giants "consolation" pick is North Carolina LB Lawrence Taylor.

There were eight hall of famers from this rookie class:
2nd overall, LB Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina (Giants)
4th overall, S Kenny Easley, UCLA (Seahawks)
8th overall, CB Ronnie Lott, Southern Cal (49ers)
2nd round, #38 -- LB Mike Singletary, Baylor (Bears)
2nd round, #48 -- DT Howie Long, Villanova (Raiders)
2nd round, #51 -- LB Rickey Jackson, Pitt (Saints)
3rd round, #69 -- G Russ Grimm, Pitt (Redskins)
Undrafted FA -- LB Sam Mills, Montclair St (Browns)


1st round, 19th overall -- LT Brian Holloway, Stanford
six seasons, 88 games (77 starts); 3-time Pro Bowler; Patriots All-1980s Team


2nd round, 47th overall -- RB Tony Collins, East Carolina
seven seasons, 102 games (83 starts); 7,003 yards from scrimmage, 44 touchdowns; 1983 Pro Bowl; Patriots All-1980s Team


3rd round, 74th overall -- in a dumb panic, this pick was traded to Minnesota for RB Chuck Foreman
one season, 16 games; 23 carries for 63 yards; 162 yards from scrimmage, one TD


4th round, 102nd overall -- LB Don Blackmon, Tulsa
seven seasons, 89 games (72 starts); 29½ sacks, 6 fumble recoveries, 5 picks; Patriots All-1980s Team


5th round, 130th overall -- DE Steve Clark, Kansas State
one season, seven games


6th round, 157th overall -- RG Ron Wooten, North Carolina
seven seasons, 98 games (96 starts); Patriots All-1980s Team


Despite the misstep with trading for an over-the-hill Foreman, this was an excellent draft. The Patriots came away from day one with four very solid starters, all of whom would be named to the Pats all-decade team. On day two the team added TE Lin Dawson as well.

​

1981 NFL draft - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

1981 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the 1981 NFL Draft Results including drafted players and trade timelines and their career stats on Pro-Football-Reference.com

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Sports Transactions -- 1981 Draft Trades

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 1982 Draft​

April 28, 1982:
The 47th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1982 NFL Draft
New York Sheraton Hotel, New York City
Day One, Rounds 4-12

​

On Day One the Pats drafted DE Kenneth Sims, NT Lester Williams, RB Robert Weathers, LB Andre Tippett, OT Darryl Haley, WR Cedric Jones and LB Clayton Weishuhn.

At the time it seemed like a great draft, but Sims was a huge draft bust. Tippett and Fred Marion salvaged this draft. Would have been much better had Weishuhn not blown out his knee twice, forcing his retirement.



4th round, 185th overall -- DE George Crump, East Carolina
one season, nine games


4th round pick acquired previous day when Pats traded retired TE Russ Francis to 49ers
4th round, 111th overall -- LB Brian Ingram, Tennessee
four seasons, 39 games (no starts)


5th round, 112th overall -- S Fred Marion, Miami
10 seasons, 144 games (139 starts); 29 picks, 13 fumble recoveries; 1985 Pro Bowl
Pats All-1980s Team, Pats 35th Anniversary Team, Pats 50th Anniversary Team


6th round, 141st overall -- KR/PR/CB Ricky Smith, Alabama State
15 games (no starts); 10.0 yard average on 54 punt returns; 22.5 yard average on 67 kick returns; one TD


7th round, 168th overall -- LB Jeff Roberts, Tulane
released due to failed physical May 15, 1982; three years in CFL


8th round, 197th overall -- LB Ken Collins, Washington State
placed on injured reserve Sept 6; released before start of 1983 season


9th round, 224th overall -- WR Kelvin Murdock, Troy State
did not make roster, never played in the NFL


10th round, 253rd overall -- K Brian Clark, Florida
placed on injured reserve August 31; played one NFL game in 1982 for Bucs


11th round, 281st overall -- not used
(pick used to select WR Chy Davidson in 1981 supplemental draft)


August 31, 1981: Pats trade SS Bill Currier to New York Giants for a 1982 11th round draft pick
11th round, 296th overall -- QB Steve Sandon, Northern Iowa
did not make roster, never played in the NFL


12th round, 308th overall -- WR Greg Taylor, Virginia
one game, with two kick returns for 46 yards

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 1987 Draft​

April 28, 1987:
The 52nd Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1987 NFL Draft
Marriott Marquis, New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-7

Miami Hurricane QB Vinny Testaverde was the first overall pick, with Alabama LB Cornelius Bennett going second.
There were only two Hall of Famers from this class: CB Ron Woodson (tenth to Pittsburgh), and WR Cris Carter, a fourth round supplemental pick by Philadelphia.



1st round, 23rd overall -- OT Bruce Armstrong, Louisville
212 games (212 starts); PFWA All-Rookie Team; 6-time Pro Bowler; 3-time 2nd Team All Pro
Pats All-1980s, All-1990s, 35th & 50th Anniversary Teams; Pats HoF, 2001; jersey #78 retired


2nd round, 51st overall -- previously traded
(2nd round pick sent to Bucs Feb 19, 1987 in trade for LG Sean Farrell)
three seasons, 43 games (43 starts)


3rd round, 79th overall -- RB Bob Perryman, Michigan
four seasons, 49 games (38 starts); 1,724 yards from scrimmage, nine touchdowns


3rd round, 81st overall: previously acquired from Washington on Aug 11, 1986 for rights to
WR Ricky Sanders, whom the Patriots had claimed as part of the USFL supplemental draft

3rd round, 81st overall -- traded down
Pats send 3.81 and 10.274 to the Raiders for 4.98 and 4.102


4th round, 98th overall -- QB Rich Gannon, Delaware
forced trade when he rejected Pats idea of turning him into a defensive back


4th round, 102nd overall -- DB Derrick Beasley, Winston-Salem State
placed on injured reserve Sept 9, 1987; released in 1988


4th round, 107th overall -- LB Tim Jordan, Wisconsin
three seasons, 30 games (10 starts); 3 sacks, 3 picks, 1 fumble recovery


5th round pick acquired from Tampa Bay on April 29, 1986 in exchange for Pats 1986 sixth
5th round, 113th overall -- OL Danny Villa, Arizona State
six seasons, 75 games (62 starts)


5th round pick acquired from San Diego on Sept 29, 1986 for Vencie Glenn
5th round, 116th overall -- DE Tom Gibson, Northern Arizona
spent 1987 & 1988 on IR; later played in 33 games for Browns and Rams


5th round, 135th overall -- traded to Tampa Bay on April 20 for 1988 4th
('88 fourth used on NT Tim Goad)
seven seasons, 109 games, 105 starts; 11½ sacks; PFWA All-Rookie Team, Pats All-1990s Team


6th round, 163rd overall -- WR Gene Taylor, Fresno State
one game with Pats, 13 NFL games


7th round, 190th overall -- previously traded
One of three draft picks sent to Tampa Bay on Feb 19, 1987 for Sean Farrell


Not a bad usage of the draft capital at all, landing a Pats Hall of Famer plus trading picks for Tim Goad and Sean Farrell.

The decision to attempt to convert Gannon was a blunder; they could have used him as their QB a couple years down the road.
Why use that early of a draft pick on a conversion project?
Better off drafting a player that doesn't need to learn a new position when using a top-100 pick.






Pro Football Archives -- 1987 NFL Draft

Pro Sports Transactions -- 1987 NFL Draft

1987 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the 1987 NFL Draft Results including drafted players and trade timelines and their career stats on Pro-Football-Reference.com

www.pro-football-reference.com

1987 NFL draft - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 2007 Draft​

April 28, 2007:
The 72nd Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2007 NFL Draft
Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-3

​

Oakland took draft bust JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick.
The next two selections were Hall of Famers: WR Calvin Johnson and OT Joe Thomas.



On Sept 11, 2006 the Patriots traded Deion Branch to Seattle for a 2007 first.

1st round, 24th overall -- S Brandon Meriweather, Miami


1st round, 28th overall -- trade down
Patriots send their own first to San Francisco for their fourth (#110) and a 2008 first


On March 5, 2007 the Patriots traded their second round pick (60th overall) and a seventh (#238) to Miami
In exchange the Pats received RFA WR Wes Welker


3rd round, 91st overall -- New England trades down again
Pats send the above pick to Oakland for a seventh (#211) and a 2008 third (3.69)



Following the draft trades to their eventual selection, the net result of the Pats own three 2008 draft picks was Welker, Jerod Mayo, Shawn Crable, Matthew Slater and Ron Brace.

Meriweather was obviously a disappointment, both in regards to his draft status, as well as in comparison to what the Pats traded for that draft pick (Branch). But overall this was a great use of the draft capital, netting not only Welker, but also Mayo and Slater. Eric Weddle would have been the better choice at safety (#37 overall); OT Joe Staley went four picks later as well.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More April 28 Draft Results​

April 28, 2011:
76th Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day One of the 2011 NFL Draft, Round One
Radio City Music Hall, New York City

Cam Newton was the first overall pick of the draft.

- (Pats received 1.17 from Oakland in 2009 Richard Seymour trade)
- 1.17 -- OT Nate Solder, Colorado
- Pats trade down, sending 1.28 (Mark Ingram) to New Orleans for 2.56 and a 2012 first (1.27)




April 28, 2012:
77th Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day Three of the 2012 NFL Draft, Rounds 4-7
Radio City Music Hall, New York City

- (4.126: Pats had used their own 4th earlier in trade for Dont'a Hightower)
- Pats trade down, sending 5.163 to Green Bay for 6.197, 7.224 and 7.235
- (5.166: Pats had used their own 5th in 2011 trade with Cincinnati for Chad Ochocinco Johnson)
- 6.197 - S Nate Ebner, Ohio State
- (6.200: Pats had used their own 6th in 2010 trade with Philadelphia for LB Tracy White)
- 7.224 - CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
- 7.235 - WR Jeremy Ebert, Northwestern
- (7.238: Pats had used their own 7th in 2010 trade with KC for SS Jarrad Page)

Post-draft the Patriots signed some undrafted rookie free agents:
- Jeremiah Warren, an offensive lineman from South Florida.
- Markus Zusevics, an offensive lineman from Iowa.
- Brad Herman, a tight end from Iowa.




April 28, 2016:
81st Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day One of the 2016 NFL Draft, Round One
Auditorium Theatre, Chicago

Draft Pick stolen by the Flat Earth Society of Non-Science Believers residing at 345 Park Avenue, aka the NYJFL, that pretend the Ideal Gas Law does not exist.




April 28, 2017:
82nd Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day Two of the 2017 NFL Draft, Rounds 2-3
Philadelphia Museum of Art

- Pats previously traded down 8 spots, sending 2.64 to Carolina in exchange for DE Kony Ealy and 3.72 on March 11.
- Pats trade down 11 spots, sending 3.72 and 6.200 to Tennessee for 3.83 and 4.124
- 3.83 -- DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State
- Pats trade up 11 spots, sending 3.96 (Kenny Golladay) and 4.124 to Detroit for 3.85
- 3.85 -- OT Antonio Garcia, Troy
- (Pats received 3.103 previously in 2016 Jamie Collins trade to Cleveland)
- (3.103 also sent to New Orleans in Brandin Cooks trade; 4.118 that the Pats would have received in that trade stolen by NFL)




April 28, 2018:
83rd Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day Three of the 2018 NFL Draft, Rounds 4-7
Jerry World, Arlington Texas

aka the 2018 DW Toys Trade-A-Rama

- (Pats had traded 2.51 to Chicago on previous day, for 4.105 and a 2019 2nd
- Pats trade down, sending 4.105 to Cleveland for 4.114 and 6.178
- Pats trade out, sending 4.114 to Detroit for a 2019 third (3.73)
- (4.117 previously used with 2.63 to trade up for Duke Dawson, at 2.56)
- (9/17/16: Pats traded 4.131 to Philadelphia for Eric Rowe)
- (4/03/18: Pats traded Brandin Cooks and 4.136 to Rams for 1.23 and 6.198)
- (received 5.143 previous day, along with Trent Brown from SF for 3.95)
- 5.143 -- LB Ja'Whaun Bentley, Purdue
- (3/14/18: Pats received 5.159 and Danny Shelton from Cleveland for a 2019 third)
- (3/19/18: Pats traded 5.159 to Oakland for Cordarrelle Patterson and 6.210)
- (9/02/17: Pats traded 5.168 and 7.250 to Seattle for Cassius Marsh)
- 6.178 -- LB Christian Sam, Arizona State
- Pats trade down, sending 6.198 to Kansas City for 7.233 and 7.243
- (3/15/18: Pats traded 6.205 traded to Cleveland for Jason McCourty)
- 6.210 -- WR Braxton Berrios, Miami
- 7.219 -- QB Danny Etling, LSU
Pats trade down, sending 7.233 to Philadelphia for 7.250 and a 2019 7th (7.239)
- 7.243 -- CB Keion Crossen, Western Carolina
- (8/29/17: Pats traded 7.249 to Cincinnati for Marquis Flowers)
- 7.250 -- TE Ryan Izzo, Florida State
- Top UDFA: CB J.C. Jackson, Maryland

The use of trading draft picks for veterans worked out well, helping the Patriots win their sixth Lombardi Trophy.

Otherwise that was a whole lot of work for a whole lot of nothing.




April 28, 2022:
87th Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day One of the 2022 NFL Draft, Round One
Caesars Forum, Paradise Nevada

First player selected is Georgia DE Travon Walker, by Jacksonville.

- Pats trade down, sending 1.21 to KC for 1.29, 3.94 and 4.121 for 1.29
New England misses out on three Pro Bowlers: OT Tyler Smith, C Tyler Linderbaum and DE Jermaine Johnson.

- 1.29 -- G Cole Strange, Chattanooga




April 28, 2023:
88th Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day Two of the 2023 NFL Draft, Rounds 2-3
Union Station, Kansas City Missouri

On Day One the Pats traded down, then selected CB Christian Gonzalez.

- 2.46 -- DE Keion White, Georgia Tech

- Pats received a third round pick (3.76) from Carolina in a 2002 draft day trade.

- 3.76 -- LB Marte Mapu, Sacramento State

- Pats own third round pick (3.77) had been used in a 2022 trade with Miami for WR DeVante Parker.




April 28, 2024:
Post-draft, the Patriots sign some undrafted rookie free agents:

S Dell Pettus, Troy
CB Mikey Victor, Alabama State
DE/Edge John Morgan III, Pitt
C Charles Turner, LSU
OT Zuri Henry, Texas El-Paso
RB DeShawn Fenwick, Oregon State
CB Kaleb Ford-Dement, Texas State
TE Jacob Warren, Tennessee
LB Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State
LB Jett Bush, Texas

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Bum Knees 1st Rounder,
and the guy the Patriots traded Rocky Bleier for​

Happy 33rd birthday to Dominique Easley
Born April 28, 1992 on Staten Island
Patriot DT, 2014-15; uniform #74, #99
Pats 1st round (29th overall) selection of the 2014 draft, from Florida

The Pats took a gamble drafting Easley, who had torn both ACLs in college. He was an explosive player when healthy - but that was the whole issue. Easley missed five games in each of his two seasons in New England and was limited to 25% of the defensive snaps both years. Twelve days prior to the 2016 draft the Patriots waived Easley, on April 13, 2016.

Easley signed with the Rams and did not miss a game in 2016, but was available for just three games after that, his career ending after two season-ending stints on IR.

Happy 36th birthday to Kenjon Barner
Born April 28, 1989 in Lynwood, CA
Patriot RB, 2018; uniform #38
Signed as a free agent on Sept 11, 2018

Kenjon Barner was originally a sixth round draft pick by Carolina out of Notre Dame, in 2013. Like many late draft picks he moved often; in his case signing with a new team ten times. Unlike other bottom of the roster players Barber was twice the Special Teams Player of The Week, totaling 649 NFL special team snaps, 91 punt returns (7.4 avg) and 55 kickoff returns (23.5 yards per).

Barner was signed and cut three times by the Pats in 2018, appearing in 42 snaps over five games while rushing for 71 yards on 19 carries.

Kenjon Barner's biggest claim to fame is that he may be the only player who owns three Super Bowl rings with three different teams. Number one came with Philadelphia in Super Bowl 52 when he had three kick returns for 73 yards. Next was for being a member of the 2018 Patriots, when they won Super Bowl 53, and he received a third for being with Tampa in 2020.

A tip of the hat to anyone that remembers even just one of these former Patriots that were born on April 28:

Happy 44th birthday to Christian Morton
Born April 28, 1981 in St Louis, Missouri
Patriot CB, 2004; uniform #25
Pats 7th round (233rd overall) selection of the 2004 draft, from Illinois

Starting in 2004 many Bill Belichick detractors shouted that BB was incapable of assessing defensive backs, and Morton was part of their evidence. In the hoodie's defense, Morton was an extremely late pick in the 2004 draft: the very last selection prior to supplemental picks. Regardless, Morton was lumped in with safeties Guss Scott and Dexter Reid as evidence that Belichick was a horrible GM by the naysayers. Morton never played a single down for the Pats other than in the preseason; the Pats cut him after training camp on September 5. From 2004 to 2009 he bounced around the league between Cleveland, Atlanta (twice), Washington (twice), Carolina, Denver and Tennessee. Christian Morton appeared in a total of 14 NFL games with one interception, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery.

8/18/04:
Rookie Spotlight: CB Christian Morton
-- Patriots.com

​

Happy 68th birthday to Ken Hartley
Born April 28, 1957 in Hamilton, Bermuda
Patriot punter, 1981; uniform #7

Though he was born in Bermuda, Hartley was actually a local guy: he went to King Philip High School in Wrentham, and Dean Junior College in Franklin. In Ron Erhardt's final season as head coach for the Patriots the team had plenty of positions that needed an upgrade, and punter was no exception. The season began with Mike Hubach handling the duties, but after five games and a 38.2 yard average he was let go. Things got worse with Hartley, who lasted only two weeks. In his first game a partially blocked punt led to a touchdown in a 28-24 loss to the Jets. The following week against the Oilers Hartley punted for 50 yards - not an average, but a total for his two punts. Altogether Hartley had nine punts for 266 yards and a long of 41, averaging a paltry 29.6 yards per punt. Hartley was replaced by the best punter in pats history, Rich Camarillo, who brought stability and competence to the position over the next seven seasons. Hartley later spent two seasons with San Antonio in the USFL.

The punting-poor New England Patriots have signed freeagent Rich... - UPI Archives

The punting-poor New England Patriots have signed freeagent Rich Camarillo and special teams coach Gino Cappelletti says the search for a reliable punter is...

www.upi.com

The punting-poor New England Patriots have signed freeagent Rich Camarillo and special teams coach Gino Cappelletti says the search for a reliable punter is over.​

The signing was announced Monday, but Camarillo, a rookie who kicked for PAC-10 champion Washington last year, won't officially join the team until Tuesday after clearing 24-hour procedural waivers.​

Camarillo, who averaged 40.7 yards per kick at Washington, was cut earlier this year by New England during training camp.​

'I believe this kid is going to solve our problems. You'll see some rockets from him,' said Cappelletti. 'There's no question there was tough conditions Sunday but how a guy performs under tough conditions tells you something. Consistency is the standard. That's why it's so important to get a guy who can develop his art.'​

Camarillo replaces Ken Hartley, who lasted two games after taking over for incumbent Mike Hubach. Hartley totaled 50 yards in two kicks in New England's 38-10 victory Sunday over the Houston Oilers.​

'This isn't a meal ticket, just breakfast,' cautioned coach Ron Erhardt. 'We have a couple others in mind if he (Camarillo) doesn't do it. If Hartley hadn't punted Sunday, he'd probably stayed on another week.'​

Camarillo may not be the only new face in New England's lineup next week when the Patriots visit the Washington Redskins. Erhardt said he would be looking at some defensive backs to take the place of the ailing Mike Haynes. Haynes suffered a collapsed lung before Sunday's game and will miss the next two or three games.​

​

Happy 80th birthday to Phil Clark
Born April 28, 1945 in Burlington, Kentucky
Patriot safety, 1971; uniform #22

Phil Clark is the answer to a trivia question asking what was the worst trade in the history of the Patriot franchise - which says quite a bit, considering the competition. On October 1, 1971 the Patriots traded RB Rocky Bleier to Pittsburgh for Clark, who had been benched as starter with both Dallas and Chicago in the previous two seasons. From Donald Hubbard's book, 100 Things Patriots Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die: Dynasty Edition, there is this explanation:

A Loyal Soldier​

One of the Patriots' worst trades may be their most obscure one. On October 1, 1971, they traded former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Rocky Bleier back to Pittsburgh for safety Phil Clark. Bleier, a rare modern professional athlete who fought in the Vietnam War, returned badly wounded from that conflict. As a Steeler, he gained thousands of yards and helped lead fellow back Franco Harris to even more. Clark played two games for the Patriots as his career ended that fall. Most likely the trade constituted a favor to Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who wanted to keep Bleier on the roster while he recovered from his war wounds.​

In his post-NFL career Clark became employed in the health field, focusing on non-traditional wellness.

Guided Meditation with Philip Clark




Happy 35th birthday to Jerel Worthy
Born April 28, 1990 in Dayton, Ohio
Patriot DE, 2014 offseason; uniform #97
Acquired for a conditional draft pick (not exercised) on Aug 13, 2014

Jerel Worthy was a 2nd round pick by Green Bay in 2012, but a bit of a draft bust. He started just four games (all as a rookie) while appearing in 40 NFL games over seven seasons, with five other NFL teams. The Pats waived Worthy after 17 days in training camp, prior to the start of the 2014 season.




One other NFL player with New England roots born on April 28:

Mark Bavaro turns 62 (born 4/28/1963)
The two-time All Pro tight end and two-time Super Bowl champ was born in Boston and grew up in Danvers. According to Bill Belichick, Bavaro belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.