Today In Patriots History August 12: Jack Tatum Paralyzes Darryl Stingley

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Jack Tatum Parlyzes Darryl Stingley​

August 12, 1978:
On this date in 1978 Darryl Stingley was paralyzed from a hit in a preseason game by Jack Tatum of the Oakland Raiders. Stingley would spend the rest of his life as a quadriplegic and died in 2007 due to heart disease and pneumonia, complicated by the paralysis.


A retrospective from August 30, 2018:
'Horribly vicious': Revisiting the hit that forever stamped football as a violent game - The Athletic

Imagine the sideline.​

That’s what I’m thinking about right now, at this very moment.​

Imagine being inside the Oakland Coliseum, standing along the New England Patriots sideline on the night of Aug. 12, 1978. Maybe you’re Bill Lenkaitis, a 10-year veteran center, itching for another NFL season to begin. Maybe you’re Carlos Pennywell, a rookie wide receiver from Grambling, a third-round pick overwhelmed by the sudden upgrades in size and speed. Maybe you’re a free agent nobody from Nobody State, receiving but a thimble-sized taste of the bright lights and loud crowds before being asked to turn in your playbook and a career as a lawyer/plumber/mechanic/teacher commences. Maybe you’re Chuck Fairbanks, the head coach, hoping for a nice, easy ride before leaving for the University of Colorado at season’s end.​

Imagine standing along the sideline.​

Forty years have passed, and I still can’t fully grasp what that must have been like. As is the case now, in 1978 the NFL preseason was viewed by most players and coaches as a largely unimportant collection of movements and mannerisms, primarily used to get the beer drinkers and cigarette smokers into what was laughably referred to as “football shape.” Sure, once Week One commenced, rivals were allowed to hate rivals, and the ritualistic 1970s staples of in-the-scrum eyeball gouging and testicle-sack ripping would be fair game. But preseason? Preseason? No. Preseason was a jog around the track.​

Preseason was nothing.​

So, once again, imagine being on the sideline, 13 minutes and 34 seconds into the second quarter, when you think nothing of note is happening and, in truth, everything of note is happening. For those who were there, watching up close, the vision is unlikely to ever vanish the mind’s eye. Ever.​

Steve Grogan, the Patriots’ quarterback, takes the snap from Lenkaitis and drops back three steps. He glances quickly toward the right, where Don Calhoun is curling out of the backfield. He pumps once, then turns his head and fires a dart across the middle, three steps in front of his intended target, wide receiver Darryl Stingley. Grogan will one day be a very solid NFL signal caller, but here—at the start of his fourth season—he remains a work in progress. Balls tend to leave his hand a hair too early. They also, at times, seem to sail.​

This ball sails.​

Stingley, a speedster out of Purdue, was approaching his 27th birthday and coming off a season during which he caught 39 balls for 657 yards and five touchdowns. He was known for his kind, peppy demeanor, but also for his toughness. Many an NFL wide receiver feared to venture toward the middle of the field. This was well before look-don’t-touch rules were adopted by the league; before corners and safeties would be penalized for sneezing on a wideout. Nope, back in 1978 to enter an opposing secondary was to stroll through the streets of Rio at midnight as a tourist. You were, with near certainty, going to get mugged.​

So Stingley, being Stingley, crossed into the Raider secondary, and as he extended his arms to grab an un-grabbable ball, head up, legs kicked out, free safety Jack Tatum charged forward. Known as “The Assassin” for a propensity toward violence, Tatum lowered his right shoulder and bulldozed directly into Stingley’s neck and head. The wide receiver fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes, as Tatum walked off.​

“It was horribly vicious,” says Lesley Visser, who covered the game for the Boston Globe. “Brutal.”​

What followed is … what? Donald Fink, the Raiders team physician, rushed onto the field, where he squatted alongside Stingley and looked for hope. Stingley could not feel his toes. Or his fingers. For 10 minutes he was motionless, and for 10 minutes the Patriots sideline was silent. Many of the players took knees. Others stood in disbelief, staring into the sky, anxious for a twitch, for an elbow flex, for a head raise. “All I can think about is Darryl,” Pete Brock, a backup center, said afterward. “God, I hope he will be alright.”​

“Guys get hurt—we all know that,” says Nick Lowery, who kicked for New England that season. “But that was different because it was so raw and ruthless. You don’t see that and walk away unscathed.”​

As angry as the tragic event makes Patriot fans feel to this day, it was also an embarrassing moment in the history of the franchise.

Toomay: A Madden in Full, Part 2

In Part 10 of his series on the 1977 Raiders, Pat Toomay completes his examination of John Madden.

www.espn.com

Only a play or two before Stingley went down, John Madden, who was growing more and more upset because all night long the Patriots had been probing the Raiders middle with passes, turned to the guy beside him and said, "They'd better stop doing that or somebody's going to get hurt!"​

It happened in the second quarter -- a hurried pass launched over the middle for Stingley, who was slanting into the secondary. It was high and too far in front of him. Leaving his feet, Stingley was prone in the air, arms outstretched, as the ball sailed past him. In my memory, there he hangs.​

For his part, Jack Tatum seemed fooled. Having started back to his right, he pulled up as the ball was released. The receiver, he realized, was coming from the opposite direction. Jack turned, but managed only three or four strides before the action was upon him. He crouched over, sort of leaning into Stingley as the Patriots receiver drifted toward him. They collided. Stingley, in an awkward position, fell to the turf. There was no explosive hit. No flying helmet. Yet Stingley was down. He wasn't moving. He wasn't getting up.​

Trainers from both teams rushed out on the field. They tended to Darryl for a long time. Then an ambulance was summoned. Darryl was carefully loaded up and carted off. The game resumed, but under a sickening pall.​

After the game, Madden went directly to the hospital. It was Madden's first instinct to go to Stingley. At the hospital, Stingley had been found to have fractured vertebrae in his neck and was being fitted with a halo brace to stabilize the injury. Our physicians, thankfully, had risen to the occasion. Having overseen a safe transport, they had summoned the appropriate specialists. Experts were now at hand.​

But even at the hospital something was dissonant, out of sync. Expecting to find himself among concerned New England officials, Madden found himself alone. No one from the Patriots was there. Not the owner. Not the coach. No one.​

Grabbing a phone, Madden called the Oakland airport. Immediately, he was patched through to the New England charter, taxiing out to take off. A more than animated discussion followed. The plane returned to the gate. The business manager was put off.​

In the hospital, Stingley was conscious, as doctors worked to fit the halo. Having donned surgeon's garb, Madden appeared beside him, leaning close. "Everything's going to be all right," he whispered. If only it had been true.​

Meanwhile, a second disaster was averted. On the New England charter, now airborne and headed east, players were struggling to understand Stingley's injury when an engine started gushing fuel. Immediately, the flight was diverted to San Francisco. A dozen fire trucks lined the runway as the plane touched down.​

​

 

[captain stone]

I hope Jack Tatum died a slow, long, and extremely painful death. **** him and the slimy owner who fostered this culture of wanton, outside-the-rulebook violence to Hell.

Madden doesn’t get away scot-free either, regardless of what he did afterwards.

 

[TomPatriot]

I hope Jack Tatum died a slow, long, and extremely painful death. **** him and the slimy owner who fostered this culture of wanton, outside-the-rulebook violence to Hell.

Madden doesn’t get away scot-free either, regardless of what he did afterwards.

I think your wish was granted. Pretty gruesome.

“Tatum eventually faced his own disability challenges, as all five toes on his left foot were amputated in 2003 due to a staph infection caused by diabetes.[9] He soon lost the entire leg below the knee because of the illness.[4] He also suffered from an arterial blockage that cost him his right leg; he used a prosthetic limb thereafter. Tatum worked on increasing awareness of diabetes. To facilitate this goal, he created the Ohio-based Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes, which finances diabetes research.[3] His kidneys started to fail in his final years, and he was awaiting a kidney transplant at the time of his death.[4]”

Jack Tatum - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[XLIX]

Stingley's paralysis was listed as a complicating factor when he died so while that hit did not kill him right away, he might very well still be with us if it hadn't happened.

His grandson comes to Foxboro this year with the Texans. It would be nice if the fans show him some appreciation as a representative of his family.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

i was a raider hater before that preseason game and that just solidified it for me that i will always be a raider hater. wasn't at the game but was watching the game and when that happened i wanted only bad things to happen to the mfer. he put the ass in assassin.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Tom Neville​

Happy 81st birthday to Tom Neville
Born August 12, 1943 in Montgomery, Alabama
Patriot RT, 1965-1977; uniform #77
Pats 7th round (55th overall) selection of the 1965 AFL draft, from Mississippi State

Tom Neville was a fixture at right tackle in the early days of the Pats. He is the right tackle on the Boston Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1960s, New England Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1970s, as well as the Pats 35th Anniversary Team.

April 3, 2008:

Alumni Spotlight: Tom Neville

Tom Neville played in 160 games over 13 seasons with the Patriots. During that time he mentored some of the best linemen in Patriots history and watched as the team earned an identity in New England.

www.patriots.com

Tom Neville played offensive tackle for the Patriots over 13 seasons (1965-77), outlasting four different head coaches and playing in seven “home” stadiums, Neville had a huge impact on generations of Patriots offensive linemen, but he almost missed becoming a Patriot altogether.​

When Neville arrived at Patriots Training Camp in 1965, wear-and-tear was beginning to catch up with him. He’d already had the kind of college production that would later earn him induction into both the Mississippi State and Mississippi Sports Halls of Fame. A knee injury incurred while playing both ways for the Bulldogs left him unable to pass the Patriots’ physical.​

“They had said it was cartilage and it ended up being ligament. It was a complete tear,” remembered the now-64 year-old diamond dealer, speaking in a thick Southern drawl. “They were going to run us on the 40, and my leg wouldn’t bend enough. It kept catching in the grass. I couldn’t get down in a defensive stance and couldn’t get into the left tackle stance because it was the wrong leg that was extended.​

“They wanted to send me home and come back next year. I said, ‘No, I’ve just driven thirteen-hundred miles, I’m not going home.’ They said, ‘Play right tackle.’ I was able to get down in a stance and I made the team. After the third game I was able to get the starting position.”​

Quickly carving out a niche for himself as an outstanding pass-blocker in Head Coach Mike Holovak’s offense, which featured Vito “Babe” Parilli at quarterback, Neville attended the Pro Bowl in 1966 and again two years later.​

. . .​

In 1973, Chuck Fairbanks took over as head coach. He began rebuilding the team by drafting offensive guard John Hannah fourth overall. Both being from Alabama, Neville and Hannah quickly formed a lasting bond.​

“Tommy was kind of my mentor when I first got there,” said Hannah. “He was in his eighth year. He kind of took me under his wing and helped me adjust to the world of pro football.​

Neville was a staple of the Patriots offense for over a decade, but in 1975, he broke a leg. It healed, but the doctors realized a ligament had been trapped during the healing process. They re-broke Neville’s leg just six months after the original injury, and he was hard-pressed to return before the 1976 season.​

“I came to training camp and didn’t pass the physical, so I didn’t practice with the team,” said Neville.​

“He was running figure eights, and there was a spot on the ground where you could see that he actually wore an eight into the ground trying to get that ankle strong,” remembered Hannah, noting that Neville was activated right before the first game of the season. “To see him rehabilitate himself like that and the kind of effort he put into it was a great example for a lot of us.”​

One player Neville set an example for was rookie center Peter Brock, another first-round offensive lineman. He came aboard the year of Neville’s injury.​

“I was two weeks late getting to Training Camp,” said Brock, who was participating in the Chicago Tribune All-Star game at the time. “Red Miller, who was our offensive line coach, said that I had no free time unless it was spent with Tommy Neville going over the playbook and game plans. I spent all my free time outside of practice and meetings with him. He was in his 12th year. He helped me immensely.”​

April 26, 2018:

Montgomery to NFL: The AFL Patriot — Tom Neville

This installment of the Montgomery-to-NFL series features Tom Neville, who turned down more money from Pittsburgh to play for the then Boston Patriots.

www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Tom Neville’s rookie contract with the then-AFL’s Boston Patriots was only $13,500.​

The Pittsburgh Steelers offered him $1,500 more, but Neville turned it down.​

“The guy who recruited me was a total jerk,” he said.​

The decision worked out in his favor. Neville played 12 of his 14 seasons with the now New England Patriots after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.​

“The Patriots were my family,” said Neville.​

Neville describes his life as being “accidental.”​

Example one — The callus leading to him buying pocket watches and eventually owning a jewelry store.​

Example two — A conversation at a gas station in Montgomery turning into an opportunity.​

“A guy says, ‘Aren’t you so and so?’ I said, ‘Yeah,’” Neville said. “He said, ‘Where you playing football?’ I said, ‘I’m not.’ He said, ‘How’d you like to play for Mississippi State?’ I said, ‘That’d be great.’”​

Two weeks later, Neville was in Starkville practicing. He became a second-team All-American and two-time All-SEC selection for the Bulldogs.​

. . .​

Neville stayed and earned a starting spot at right tackle to begin a 14-year pro career. An AFL all-star in 1966, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Neville was a team co-captain for four years. He won the George L. Sargent Award for leadership in 1974 and the Jim Lee Hunt Award as the team’s top lineman in 1977.​

Picture Day allegedly from July 15, 1971(or maybe 1969-70?): offensive line RT Tom Neville, RG Len St. Jean, C Jon Morris, LT Tom Funchess and LG Mike Montler.​

Mar 15, 2010:

The accidental jeweler: Former NFL tackle for Patriots shares his love of bling

At a recent luncheon at the Capital City Club, former Patriots offensive lineman Tom Neville wowed the Ladies Luncheon group with a display of some of his treasured pocket watches -- ranging from the 1820s to the 1920s -- and jewelry pieces from the Victorian and Art Deco ages.

www.al.com

Tom Neville's wristwatch was giving him a callus.​

It was the 1970s, and Neville was an offensive tackle for the New England Patriots. Jewelry wasn't exactly his thing.​

But that callus was bugging the heck out of him.​

That's when Neville invested in a dapper antique pocket watch. He liked it so much, he bought another, then another -- and that pretty much changed the course of his life.​

. . .​

When Neville lived in Boston, a friend owned a jewelry store, and Neville found himself spending more and more time there -- on days he wasn't roughing it out on the football field. That friend suggested he study to become a gemologist, but Neville said his response at the time was, "Ehh..."​

Though his feeling about studying jewelry was ambivalent at first, he finally ended up earning a degree from the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica, Calif.​

After opening Tom Neville The Source in 1983, this hometown native has become one of the top go-to guys in the region. Not only for football reminiscences -- but for jewelry. Working in his store in the old Union Bank building, he has a customer base of more than 150,000 people -- some who come from all over the U.S.​

Thomas Neville - Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

Thomas Neville

msfame.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Benched in the Super Bowl
Was the right move; not bitter; got his ring​

Happy 38th birthday to Kyle Arrington
Born August 12, 1986; from Brandywine, Maryland
Patriot CB/ST, 2009-2014; uniform #27, 24, 25
Signed to the practice squad on September 21, 2009


Kyle Arrington was an undrafted cast-off by the Eagles and Bucs when the Pats signed him to their practice squad early in 2009. Five weeks later Eric Mangini attempted to sign Kyle to the Browns roster. Bill Belichick thwarted that attempt by elevating Arrington to the 53-man roster, on November 8, 2009. Arrington played on special teams in the next three games, then was inactive for the November 30 Monday Night Football blowout loss at New Orleans. Arrington was not inactive again until he missed a week 15 game in 2014 against the Jets due to a hamstring injury, posting a streak of 92 consecutive games played (including playoffs).

Arrington was a special teams standout who worked his way up to four-year starter at cornerback. After a 2010 week two loss to Rex Ryan's Jets, Kyle replaced Darius Butler in the starting lineup at corner, remaining there for the rest of the season. In week four he returned a blocked field goal 35 yards for a touchdown in a win at Miami; it was the Pats first such score since Raymond Clayborn did so in 1987. Late in the season he cored again on a 36 yard pick-six on Sunday Night Football win against Green Bay, giving the Patriots a 21-17 lead (and an 8-2 record). It was his first NFL interception, making him the tenth player in franchise history to return his first interception for a touchdown.

The following year Arrington - who had just two interceptions during his college career at Hofstra - tied (with Eric Weddle and Charles Woodson) for the NFL 2011 lead with a career-high seven interceptions. Kyle had two games with a pair of picks: week 3 at Buffalo, and week 11 on MNF at Kansas City. The latter game was particularly impressive; besides the two picks he also had two pass deflections and five tackles (four solo). In the divisional round 45-10 blowout over Tim Tebow and Denver, Kyle had a forced fumble on a kickoff, and a team-high 11 tackles (7 solo).

Some of Arrington's limitations were beginning to become apparent though. In 2012 the Patriots made a major mid-season upgrade at corner by trading for Aqib Talib. That resulted in Arrington becoming a slot and nickel corner - something he was much better suited for, with Alfonzo Dennard the other outside corner. He finished the season with 67 tackles, 11 pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and nine special teams tackles. In 2013 Arrington had a couple more career firsts: his first two sacks, and his first recovery of an onside kick.

That turnover came on a critical, clutch play. The Patriots looked bad at home against Cleveland and were losing 19-3 in the second half. The Patriots just scored to pull within five, 26-21, but were out of timeouts with 1:04 left to play. Arrington recovered Stephen Gostkowski's onside kick, giving New England possession on the Cleveland 40. Two plays later the Browns were called for defensive pass interference on a pass intended for Josh Boyce, and the Pats scored on the next play to escape with a 27-26 win.

In 2014 Arrington was a nickel corner, with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner the starters at cornerback. He scored two touchdowns that season: one on a fumble return versus Cincinnati (10/5/14) and the other on a blocked field goal return against Miami (12/14/14). In Super Bowl 49 Seattle found a mismatch and exploited it. Relatively unknown 6'5 Chris Mathews was being covered by 5'10 Kyle Arrington, and he caught four of the five passes thrown his way - for 109 yards and a touchdown. (Why did Pete Carroll not throw more? Russell Wilson only threw seven passes in the first half. And why not have Browner cover Mathews when Mathews was in, with Logan Ryan at the other corner?) Arrington was benched, and an undrafted rookie that was a surprise to make the roster took his place.

Some guy by the name of Malcolm Butler.


New England had re-signed Kyle Arrington to a four-year, $16 million contract on March 16, 2013. That was way too much for a person who finished the season on the bench behind four other corners. But Revis and Browner would both soon depart in free agency, and Dennard was waived on May 5, three days after the 2015 draft. It appeared that Arrington's job would be safe as the slot corner alongside Ryan and Butler; the Pats had not signed any other corners in free agency, nor had they drafted any either. But in a semi-surprise move the Patriots waived Arrington on May 11, 2015. (The Patriots eventually would use safety Duron Harmon as their nickel back, rather than a third corner.) He signed with Baltimore, then spent all of 2016 on injured reserve due to a concussion. Arrington was released the following June, ending his NFL career.

Kyle Arrington played in 86 regular season games for the Patriots, with 56 starts. He made nine interceptions and three fumble recoveries, with 48 passes defensed and scoring four touchdowns. Arrington also played in twelve postseason games for the Pats, receiving a ring for Super Bowl 49.

Other than being the answer to the question of "who did Malcolm Butler replace", Kyle Arrington has one other tidbit of Patriots trivia. He is the only person to wear three different uniform numbers as a member of the Patriots. Kyle was #27 when he joined the team in 2009, then switched to #24 in 2010. He gave Adrian Wilson that jersey when he joined the team in the 2013 offseason, and took #25.

August 7, 2011:

Pats’ Arrington appeared to turn the corner in 2010

Entering his third season with the New England Patriots, Kyle Arrington says he’s ready to take the plunge.

www.tauntongazette.com

August 20, 2013:

Patriots Beat: Arrington's success a lesson in perseverance

Of the 12 players still with the team from 2009, only one defensive back remains. Only four players in the NFL suited up for the now-defunct Hofstra University program. This man is one of them. Undra…

www.metrowestdailynews.com

November 21, 2014:

Kyle Arrington has been a weapon against explosive slot receivers

FOXBORO — To say Kyle Arrington has had his ups and downs with the Patriots is putting it lightly. Like fellow veteran Devin McCourty, Arrington sometimes has needed time to find the right fit on the…

www.providencejournal.com

January 31, 2017:

Where Are They Now: Seahawks WR Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews went from complete obscurity to the cusp of an improbable Super Bowl MVP award, then right back to obscurity. How might his NFL path had changed if the Seahawks had won it all?

www.si.com

July 25, 2019:

Life After Football: The Story of Kyle Arrington | Prime Time Sports Talk

Former New England Patriot and Baltimore Raven cornerback Kyle Arrington is not just the last Hofstra player to win a Super Bowl, but one of its last football players in

primetimesportstalk.com

“It’s kind of ironic because it’s bittersweet, because you wanna win - that’s the most important thing - but at the same time I myself did not play very well,” Arrington laughed. “As a competitor, it’s one of the things that haunts me more so a bitter taste in my mouth I just wish I could have played better but at the end of the day we won and I can’t say enough how proud that we were part of one of the most epic games in Super Bowl history.”​

Arrington broke down what unfolded when he was pulled from the 2014 Super Bowl and how he used it as fuel to the fire with next team.​

“I gave up a few big plays and that was pretty much the writing on the wall and I was accepting it myself,” Arrington said. “To take Bill [Belichick’s] motto, I didn’t do my job so I don’t have any excuses whether it’s good or bad and it definitely motivated me, I don’t care what it is I take everything personally.”​

Arrington took the fuel and had a solid 2015 with the Ravens recording 28 tackles and a forced fumble.​

Today, Arrington works with his wife Vashonda on EVOLVE. An organization that, ‘Aims to empower and help growth in the youth in unprivileged communities.’​

“I asked the question to myself ‘What kind of lasting impact do I want to leave in this world,'” Arrington said. “If I can make a positive impact in this world whether be for man, woman, or child particularly children, that’s what gives me fulfillment and purpose.”​

The organization offers programs in subjects ranging from career readiness, entrepreneurship, nutrition, meditation and even yoga.​

“We are just trying to give them all the tools and opportunities necessary to be anything that they want to be,” Arrington said. “We just want to raise the bar and we realize that foundations are very specific in what they do and that’s fine but we don’t want to be specific when it comes to educational aspects, empowerment, and really don’t want to leave any stone unturned as far as the impact that we can have on our youth.”​

Arrington continues to use football to try and help motivate the youth through a football camp that he hosts with former defensive tackle Phil Taylor whom he also went to the same high school with.​

November 18, 2018:

Kyle Arrington’s never afraid to man-up vs. the game’s best

FOXBORO — Kyle Arrington is used to challenging himself as a cornerback against the best receiver on the other team. Sometimes, as the case may be, he’ll do so against the one on his own team.As a defensive back at Hofstra…

www.bostonherald.com

November 6, 2021:

Super Bowl champion Kyle Arrington focused on helping youth

Kyle Arrington’s journey from undrafted rookie to NFL leader in interceptions to Super Bowl champion ended following a series of concussions.

www.seattletimes.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Tom Brady's first NFL completion​

Happy 49th birthday to Rod Rutledge
Born August 12, 1975 in Birmingham, Alabama
Patriot TE, 1998-2001; uniform #83
Pats 2nd round (54th overall) selection of the 1998 draft, from Alabama

​

Rod Rutledge played in 63 games with 31 starts over four seasons with the Pats. He had 27 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown.

One of those 27 catches carries special significance in the history of the franchise: it was the first pass completed by TB12.

Jan 30, 2019:

Eighteen years later, Rod Rutledge still basks in being first to catch pass from Tom Brady

Rutledge enjoys his special place in NFL history, even if the pass he caught was just a 6-yard here-you-go in the last minutes of a Thanksgiving Day blowout loss.

theathletic.com

It happens two or three times a year, and especially this time of year: Rod Rutledge’s phone will begin jiggling and vibrating, with hurried text messages bringing news that the former New England Patriot has been mentioned on some television or radio program.​

Rutledge, now 43 years old and the owner of rental properties in his native Birmingham, Ala., never has to send back a return text asking how it was that his name happened to be brought up.​

He knows.​

He always knows.​

“That’s when somebody’s doing trivia time,” Rutledge said by telephone from Birmingham, about a two-hour drive from Atlanta, where his former team will play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night in Super Bowl LIII.​

The Power of Keeping Giving Local | Athens Area Community Foundation

“I think giving is kind of in our DNA. My parents, Ethel’s parents — we come from a family of givers,” explained Rod. “I think it was rooted in our parents and passed on to us and we passed it on to our children.”

athensareacf.org

For Rod and Ethel Rutledge, it’s not just about making a donation.​

It’s about sharing their love of giving.​

“I think giving is kind of in our DNA. My parents, Ethel’s parents — we come from a family of givers,” explained Rod. “I think it was rooted in our parents and passed on to us and we passed it on to our children.”​

The Rutledges are honoring that legacy of giving with the Rutledge Lathen Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Greg Spires​

Happy 50th birthday to Greg Spires
Born August 12, 1974; from Cape Coral, Florida
Patriot DE, 1998-2000; uniform #94
Pats 3rd round (83rd overall) selection of the 1998 draft, from Florida State


Despite leading the team in sacks (six, tied with Willie McGinest), Spires was a surprise cut and did not make the 2001 roster. He was a pass rushing specialist, with one third of his tackles (17) resulting in a sack in 2000; he also had three forced fumbles that year. Perhaps Bill Belichick wanted more versatility at defensive end. On the other hand Spires had previously shown just that, moving from linebacker to nose guard to defensive end while in college at Tallahassee.

Spires did have a few notable games while in New England. he recorded two sacks in his first playoff game, a 25-10 loss at Jacksonville on January 3, 1999. He also had two sacks on Peyton Manning in a 24-16 victory over the Colts on October 8, 2000. Altogether he played in 42 regular season games for the Patriots, with 50 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection.

He then spent one season with Cleveland and six with Tampa Bay. Spires was a dependable player for the Bucs, starting at left defensive end for six seasons for Jon Gruden. He earned a ring for Tampa's 48-21 victory over Oakland in Super Bowl 37, following the 2002 season.


Sep 3, 2001:

Patriots release Greg Spires

Spires, 26, started two of 16 games for the Patriots last season and recorded 17 tackles, including six sacks. The 6-1, 265-pound defensive end was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. The Florida State product played in 42 games over three seasons and made three starts for the Patriots. He accumulated 47 career tackles, including 9.5 sacks for 74.0 yards, and had four passes defensed.​

Dec 4, 2004:

Game Day Spotlight: Greg Spires

Aug 10, 2016:

NFL Player’s Ex-Wife Blames Bank for Stalking

DEDHAM, Mass. (CN) – The ex-wife of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Greg Spires claims in court that her bank released her private financial records, allowing Spires to stalk and harass her. Dara Spires says in a Norfolk Superior Court lawsuit that the Tremont Credit Union carelessly...

www.courthousenews.com

May 14, 2019:

Former Patriots player Greg Spires accused of violating a protective order in New Hampshire

A judge set bail at $50,000 for a former New England Patriots player accused of violating a protective order

www.boston.com

March 9, 2021:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top 10 free agency signings in team history

With the start of free agency looming, let's take a walk down memory lane. We already covered the worst Buccaneers signings, now let's look at the best.

thepewterplank.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Charley Frazier​

In memory of Charley Frazier, who would have turned 85 today
Born August 12, 1939 in Houston, Texas
Died August 16, 2022 at the age of 83
Patriot WR, 1969-1970; uniform #81
Acquired in a trade with Houston on March 24, 1969

Charley "The Razor" Frazier came to Boston as part of the trade that sent Leroy Mitchell to the Oilers, and Larry Carwell to the Pats. Frazier was an AFL All-Star in 1966 when he averaged 19.8 yards per catching with 12 touchdowns and 1,129 yards receiving (in a 14-game season. But by 1969 the Pats were rebuilding, had Mike Taliaferro at quarterback, and Frazier was thirty years old. Even so he led the team with seven touchdown receptions (tied with RB Carl Garrett for the most TDs overall that year). The following season the Pats added Bake Turner, who became the starting wide receiver opposite Ron Sellers, and Frazier's playing time dwindled. He was waived early in the 1971 training camp, finishing his two seasons in New England with 28 receptions for 392 yards and seven touchdowns. Over his nine seasons as a pro Frazier averaged 16.7 yards per catch, with 207 receptions for 3,452 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Sept 14, 1969: Charley Frazier makes the tackle on Bill Thompson in week one.
This was one of four interceptions thrown by Mike Taliaferro, as former
Pats head coach Lou Saban got a bit of revenge in Denver's 35-7 victory​

Texans Ambassador Profile: Charlie Frazier

Former teachers often have a knack for seeing their old students after they've graduated. Former Houston Oilers wide receiver Charlie Frazier is no exception.​

Frazier, who followed up his nine-year professional football career with stints as a college coach and an educator at Houston's John Reagan High School, often runs into old pupils when signing autographs and meeting with fans as a Texans Ambassador.​

As a college product of his hometown Texas Southern University, Frazier played with the Oilers during their AFL years, starring for the team from 1962 until 1968. Nicknamed "The Razor," Frazier made the Pro Bowl in 1966 after catching 12 touchdown passes and recording 1,129 receiving yards, two totals that ranked among the top three in the league.​

After leaving the Oilers in 1968, Frazier played two seasons with the Boston Patriots before retiring from football and moving home to Houston. He spent the next eight years working for various college football programs, spending a year at Rice and one at Tulsa before heading to TCU for six seasons. He then settled back in Houston, assuming his teaching job at Reagan before retiring for good in 2006.​

Former Texas Southern athlete Charley Frazier passes away at 83

Former Texas Southern track & field athlete and NFL wide receiver Charley Frazier passed away on Tuesday at the age of 83. His passing came just four days

hbcusports.com

Texas Southern Great, NFL Player Charlie Frazier Dies at 83

Texan Southern's track and field great passed at 83.

www.si.com

Texas Southern University's track & field and professional football great Charlie Frazier passed at 83. Frazier was a native of Angleton, Texas, and starred in track star with fellow TSU great Homer Jones.

Frazier ran a 9.4 sec. 100-yard dash and 20.8 sec. 220-yard sprint at Texas Southern. The speedster teamed with Homer Jones, Barney Allen, and Lester Milburn to win the sprint medley (3:22.4), quarter-mile (41.2), and half-mile (124.4) relays at the Drake Relays in 1961.

He was incredibly fast. Frazier went undrafted in 1962 but earned a roster spot with his hometown Houston Oilers, where he played until 1968. In 1966, he caught 12 touchdowns and over 1,200 receiving yards and was voted to the 1966 AFL All-Star team. Frazier left Houston to compete with the American Football League's Boston Patriots (now New England) from 1969-70.

Charlie Frazier coached at Houston's John Reagan High School and college sports at Rice, Tulsa, and Texas Christian universities.

​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Derrick Burgess, and more August 12 Birthdays​

Happy 46th birthday to Derrick Burgess
Born August 12, 1978 in Lake City, South Carolina
Patriot OLB/DE, 2009; uniform #53
Acquired in a trade with Oakland on August 6, 2009, in exchange for a 2010 3rd and 5th round draft pick

The Patriots traded for Burgess after the start of training camp in 2009, a move born out of desperation due to a gap that was never adequately filled when Mike Vrabel was shipped off to KC in the Matt Cassel trade. Burgess was nothing special on the field; was late reporting to camp the next year; seemed to have either a bad attitude, or was a misfit in the Pats defensive scheme; and was cut before the start of the 2010 season.

Burgess had been a Pro Bowler with the Raiders in 2005 (16 sacks) and 2006 (11 sacks), but never showed that type of productivity with the Pats. Philadelphia signed him to a contract in 2010, but he lasted only one game with the Eagles. Derrick Burgess played in a total of 102 NFL games, with 52 sacks.

August 6, 2009:

Patriots trade for Derrick Burgess

The Patriots have traded for Oakland defensive end/outside linebacker Derrick Burgess.

www.boston.com

May 28, 2010:

Where does Derrick Burgess fit?

One offseason project was to re-watch the final four games of the 2009 season and attempt to answer the question: Was Derrick Burgess a different player for the Patriots following the time he was sent home with three others for being late to a meeting on a snowy, icy morning?

www.espn.com

August 13, 2010:

Derrick Burgess reinstated; Ty Warren placed on IR

September 5, 2010:

Reaction to cutdown day: Why was Derrick Burgess released?

The release of Derrick Burgess was puzzling, but losing Brandon McGowan to injured reserve will have the most impact.

www.masslive.com

Happy 74th birthday to Melvin Baker
Born August 12, 1950 in Beaumont, Texas
Patriot WR, 1975; uniform #83
Signed as a free agent on Octoner 8, 1975

Melvin Baker was an eighth round draft pick out of Texas Southern by the Dolphins in 1974. His nomadic NFL journey included stops in Miami, New Orleans, New England, San Diego, Houston, St. Louis (Cardinals) and Buffalo. He was with the Patriots for just one game, released twelve days after he was signed. Baker played in a total of 21 NFL games, with nine receptions and two touchdowns.




Happy 80th birthday to Teddy Bailey
Born August 12, 1944 in Hamilton, Ohio
Patriot RB, 1969; uniform #37
Signed as a free agent on July 28, 1969

Teddy Bailey began the 1969 season on the taxi squad, then was promoted to the active roster on October 22. He appeared in a couple of games with the Patriots but accumulated no stats.




Other notable pro football players born on August 12 include:

- Alex Wojciechowicz (1915-1992)
Hall of Fame center and linebacker was the sixth overall pick of the 1938 draft by the Detroit, out of Fordham. He played for 13 seasons and was an integral part of two NFL championship teams with the Eagles.

- R.C. Thielemann, 69 (1955)
Three-time All-Pro guard for Atlanta and Washington, who played from 1977-88.

- Greg Manusky, 58 (1966)
After a 12-year career as a linebacker for Washington, Minnesota and KC, he spent seven more seasons in the NFL as a position coach, and twelve as defensive coordinator with SF, SD, Indy and Washington. Manusky is now a defensive assistant at the University of Kentucky.

 

[captain stone]

Today in Patriots History
Greg Spires​

Happy 50th birthday to Greg Spires
Born August 12, 1974; from Cape Coral, Florida
Patriot DE, 1998-2000; uniform #94
Pats 3rd round (83rd overall) selection of the 1998 draft, from Florida State


Despite leading the team in sacks (six, tied with Willie McGinest), Spires was a surprise cut and did not make the 2001 roster. He was a pass rushing specialist, with one third of his tackles (17) resulting in a sack in 2000; he also had three forced fumbles that year. Perhaps Bill Belichick wanted more versatility at defensive end. On the other hand Spires had previously shown just that, moving from linebacker to nose guard to defensive end while in college at Tallahassee.

Spires did have a few notable games while in New England. he recorded two sacks in his first playoff game, a 25-10 loss at Jacksonville on January 3, 1999. He also had two sacks on Peyton Manning in a 24-16 victory over the Colts on October 8, 2000. Altogether he played in 42 regular season games for the Patriots, with 50 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection.

He then spent one season with Cleveland and six with Tampa Bay. Spires was a dependable player for the Bucs, starting at left defensive end for six seasons for Jon Gruden. He earned a ring for Tampa's 48-21 victory over Oakland in Super Bowl 37, following the 2002 season.


Sep 3, 2001:

Patriots release Greg Spires

Spires, 26, started two of 16 games for the Patriots last season and recorded 17 tackles, including six sacks. The 6-1, 265-pound defensive end was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. The Florida State product played in 42 games over three seasons and made three starts for the Patriots. He accumulated 47 career tackles, including 9.5 sacks for 74.0 yards, and had four passes defensed.​

Dec 4, 2004:

Game Day Spotlight: Greg Spires

Aug 10, 2016:

NFL Player’s Ex-Wife Blames Bank for Stalking

DEDHAM, Mass. (CN) – The ex-wife of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Greg Spires claims in court that her bank released her private financial records, allowing Spires to stalk and harass her. Dara Spires says in a Norfolk Superior Court lawsuit that the Tremont Credit Union carelessly...

www.courthousenews.com

May 14, 2019:

Former Patriots player Greg Spires accused of violating a protective order in New Hampshire

A judge set bail at $50,000 for a former New England Patriots player accused of violating a protective order

www.boston.com

March 9, 2021:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top 10 free agency signings in team history

With the start of free agency looming, let's take a walk down memory lane. We already covered the worst Buccaneers signings, now let's look at the best.

thepewterplank.com

Bill’s first - of Many - personnel ****ups.

 

[jmt57]

Bill’s first - of Many - personnel ****ups.

Yeah, that was odd - a genuine head-scratcher.

The fact that Spires played well all season, on another team that proceeded to win the super bowl - and continued to start with them for six years - begs an answer to the question of 'why exactly did we cut this guy again'?