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Today In Patriots History August 25, 2015: Pats sign WR Reggie Wayne

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Today in Patriots History
Reggie Wayne


August 25, 2015:
The New England Patriots sign veteran receiver Reggie Wayne






The announcement confirmed reports that had been circulating the previous day. At the time Wayne was seventh in NFL history with 1,070 receptions and eighth with 14,345 receiving yards. At that point he was one of six players in NFL history to post four 100-plus reception seasons, and one of eleven with back-to-back 100-plus receptions seasons. In addition he held the NFL record of 82 consecutive games with three or more receptions. Wayne said that he chose the Patriots because "I just want to win, point-blank."


Between injuries and ineffectiveness, the Pats were not looking good at WR. Brandon LaFell was dealing with a foot injury, and ended up missing the first several weeks on PUP. Julian Edelman had been slowed down by a leg injury. Brandon Gibson limped off the field in the previous preseason game, and Brian Tyms was about to be placed on IR. Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce were healthy, but both had been underwhelming during training camp.


While Reggie Wayne was a welcome addition, there were also question marks. He was 36 years old, and in the offseason had surgery to repair his torn triceps this offseason as well as knee surgery. But even if his speed wasn't quite the same as it used to be, Wayne was an excellent route runner, and still productive. In 2014 he started in 15 games and finished with 64 receptions for 779 yards and two touchdowns, after returning from an ACL injury in 2013. And Pats fans also remembered Wayne for being the guy who caught Indy's winning touchdown pass in the 2009 “4th and 2’’ game when the Colts came from behind to win 35-34.




The Reggie Wayne situation was completely different than that of another former Colt, Joseph Addai. The running back literally quit on his first day, after being unable to finish his physical conditioning test. Wayne had no problem with that, and unlike other veteran receivers such as Chad Johnson and Joey Galloway, he had no problem grasping the playbook. Within three days he was working with the first team in training camp, and was getting quality playing time in the first half of a Week Three preseason game on August 28.


Wayne did not perform well in the fourth preseason game (two receptions on ten targets), but that was with soon-to-be-cut Ryan Lindley at QB, and the entire starting offensive line watching from the sideline. Wayne and Bill Belichick 'mutually agreed' on his release as part of final roster cuts. Wayne later stated that the decision was his, because his children were reaching an age that he wanted to be home, and he did not want to uproot the family into a new school system and curriculum. On the other hand he also allegedly said at the time that 'would be willing to sign with another team but only in the right situation'. Either way, that was the end of Reggie Wayne's career.


Bringing in a player like Reggie Wayne would have made sense five years ago, but now that all the other suitors have passed on him, injuries at the receiver position have put the Patriots in a tough position and it looks like they’re now reportedly willing to take a chance on him.​

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Wayne was brought in for a physical, leaving the team to try and see how much the 36-year old still has left. Right now the Patriots are pretty banged up at the receiver spot, with Julian Edelman still sidelined from a leg injury earlier this month, while Brandon LaFell remains on PUP, Brian Tyms season seems in peril with a foot injury, Aaron Dobson is sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Brandon Gibson went down late Saturday night with a knee injury.​

With their depth now taking multiple hits and still two preseason games to go, it appears Wayne might get an opportunity to prove he can contribute. The only problem is they’re getting the wrong version of him. He was a solid receiver during his days with Indianapolis, but past experience has proven what happens with older veterans. They’re terrific players from September through December, but by the time the postseason arrives they have little left to give and can’t always beat one-on-one coverage. That was what had plagued the Patriots until a much younger Danny Amendola broke that trend during their Super Bowl run last season and was able to accomplish that thanks to his speed and quickness.​

We know how good Wayne was and the type of player he could be if his body was up for it. Unfortunately that’s going to be the biggest concern if he’s able to make the roster, and another reason to hope that some of these younger guys can get healthy as we head into the 2015 regular season.​



When the New England Patriots signed veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne to a one-year, $2.8 million contract in August of 2015, the deal included a $450,000 signing bonus.​

When Wayne and the Patriots parted ways 11 days later, one lingering question was what happened to the signing bonus.​

"They told me to keep it," Wayne revealed Thursday at Super Bowl LI, where he is working as an analyst for NFL Network. "If they would have said 'We want it back,' I would have given it back. You find $1,000, and they say you can keep it, put it in your damn wallet."​





 
Today in Patriots History
Sony Michel traded


August 25, 2021:
The New England Patriots trade Sony Michel to the Rams



The running back was coming of his third season in the NFL. As a rookie he rushed for 931 yards and six touchdowns, then ran for 336 yards and six more touchdowns in three postseason games, culminating with the tie-breaking TD in the 13-3 victory over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Michel followed that up with 1,006 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns in 2019.


During the offseason he had foot surgery, and began 2020 training camp on PUP. In week three Sony rushed for 117 yards with 23 more receiving, but was placed on IR for the next two months with a quadriceps injury. At that point Damien Harris was playing well, and Sony did not see much action until the last three games, after Harris got hurt. His final game for New England came in a January 3, 2021 28-14 victory over the Jets, where he ran out the clock in the fourth quarter after scoring on a short pass from Cam Newton, and running it in 31 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.


In the spring of 2021 the Patriots drafted Rhamondre Stevenson, and two days later the Patriots declined the fifth year option on Michel. The Patriots also re-signed James White, so even though Rex Burkhead departed in free agency, it appeared as though Sony might only be RB#4 in 2021. He was traded to the Rams for a 2022 5th and a 2022 6th. Michel was LA's leading rusher with 845 yards and five touchdowns, and won his second Super Bowl ring that post season. He finally got the opportunity for a free agency payday, but his body was wearing down. The best offer he got was one-year contract from Miami with only $850k guaranteed, and the Dolphins cut Michel before the season began. He signed with the Chargers, but there was no tread left on the tires. he called it quits in the summer of 2023, saying that his body told him it was time to retire.


In his three seasons in New England, Sony Michel rushed for 2,292 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He also caught 26 passes for 258 yards, for a total of 2,550 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns. While he only played for three seasons (2½ factoring in the time spent on IR), he ranks 18th all time in franchise history in rushing yardage, and 20th in rushing touchdowns.




 
Today in Patriots History
Malcolm Butler released


August 25, 2021:
The New England Patriots released Malcolm Butler from Injured Reserve with an injury settlement.

This marked the end of Butler's NFL career, as no other team would sign the cornerback.






The Patriots released Butler (undisclosed) from injured reserve with an injury settlement Thursday, Doug Kyed reports.​

The veteran cornerback landed on IR earlier this month after suffering an undisclosed injury. It remains to be seen if the 32-year-old resurfaces with another team, but following Thursday's transaction, that's a possibility for Butler if he can prove he's healthy.​


Malcolm Butler, the hero of Super Bowl 49, has been released from injured reserve by the New England Patriots.​

The veteran cornerback was placed on IR ahead of the first roster cut deadline down to 85 players. That move essentially ended any chances of him suiting up in a Patriots uniform for the 2022 season. By rule, players placed on IR ahead of the 53-man roster cut can’t play until the following season.​

However, now that the Patriots have released Butler, he’s free to sign wherever he wants. And assuming that he’s healthy, he’d be eligible to return at some point for the new team.​


Butler, 32, re-signed with New England on March 24, 2022. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with New England out of West Alabama and spent his first four NFL seasons (2014-17) with the Patriots. He signed with Tennessee as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2018 and played with the Titans for three seasons (2018-20). Butler signed with Arizona in 2021 but retired on Aug. 31, 2021. Overall, Butler has played in 100 games with 84 starts and has registered 405 total tackles, three sacks, 17 interceptions with two returned for touchdowns, 82 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In addition, he has played in 12 postseason games with eight starts and has added 42 total tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed.​


 
Today in Patriots History
The Sixties


August 25, 1960:
The Boston Patriots trade DT Gordy Holz to Denver for Larry Cundiff

Holz was originally a late selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1955 NFL draft, from Minnesota. He was one of the earliest players to sign with the Pats, on March 15, and spent five seasons as a starter in the AFL, four with the Broncos and one with the Jets.

Cundiff was a Hawaiian-born offensive tackle who went to Michigan State, who was also drafted by the Rams but signed with Denver. He didn't last long, being released on September 5, 1960, four days before the first AFL game, and never signing with another pro team.

This move had been cited as the first-ever trade by the Boston Patriots, though I will respectfully disagree. Soon after the initial AFL draft, the Patriots traded the rights to Pro Football Hall of Fame OT Ron Mix to the LA Chargers, for QB Tom Greene. Mix had gone to Southern Cal and the Chargers felt they had a good chance of signing him, whereas the Patriots had almost no shot. I suppose technically Holz-Cundiff was the first player-for-player trade, while in the other case the Pats were trading the rights to a player.

Either way, the Patriots got the short end of the stick in both deals.





August 25, 1961:

Exhibition Week 3
Buffalo at Boston
Friday, 8:00 at Mount Pleasant High School, Providence
Patriots 28, Bills 10







August 25, 1962:
Exhibition Week 5
Boston vs New York
Saturday, 8:00 in Atlanta
Patriots 17, Titans 10

This game is notable for being the last preseason game that the Patriots would win until August 20, 1966. Beginning with a September 1 7-6 loss at Buffalo, the Boston Patriots would begin a 17-game preseason losing streak.





The American Football league made it a point to place franchises in the south, where the NFL had no teams when the AFL was formed. based on the four games above I'm guessing they were thinking about putting a team in Atlanta, but the NFL beat them to the punch, with the Falcons being formed on June 30, 1965, soon after Atlanta-County Fulton Stadium was built.

The Patriots and Titans had also played three days earlier in Lowell, winning 17-10.









August 25, 1964:
1965 second round draft pick traded to Oilers for OL Bob Schmidt.

Patriots waive SE Al Snyder, C Bob Dentel, Bob Suel (who?), OE Dave Cloutier, FB Harry Crump, Nick Spinelli (who?), HB Pete Pedro, DE Riley Morris, HB Tom Neumann, and TE Tom Stephens.

Schmidt had been named to the three previous AFL All Star teams as a center with Houston, but he only started four games for the Pats in '64, and was released after spending all of '65 on injured reserve.





August 25, 1969:
Exhibition Week 3
Boston vs Detroit
Monday, 7:00 at Jarry Park, Montreal
Weather: clear, 70º
Attendance: 8, 212
Time: 2:28
Lions 22, Patriots 9

This was the second-ever NFL game played in Canada, and first-ever game between the Patriots and Lions. The game was actually closer than the final score would imply, 12-6 early in the fourth quarter. The Patriot points came on field goals of 37, 41 and 36 yards by Gino Cappelletti.




 
Today in Patriots History
The Seventies



August 25, 1971:
The Patriots claim Glenn Alexander off waivers from Buffalo.

Jim Livesay and Steve Stames are waived.





August 25, 1972:
Miami trades OT Wayne Mass to New England for a 1973 seventh round pick (#160, future Patriot OLB Kevin Reilly).

Mass played in six games before being cut, was signed to the taxi squad, and finished up his pro football career late in the season with Philadelphia.

Jon Morris once commented about Mass, who was critical about Patriots coaching staff after being released by saying "Do you know what we said about Wayne Mass? We said if you were looking for the most direct route to the Patriots' quarterback, why not pay a dime and take the Mass Turnpike?"





August 25, 1973:
Preseason Week 4, Game 5
New England at New Orleans
Saturday, 8:00 at Tulane Stadium
Weather: partly cloudy, 87º, 8 mph wind
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, John North
Starting Quarterbacks: Jim Plunkett, Bobby Scott

Chuck Fairbanks got his first win as head coach of the Patriots as the defense forced six turnovers and limited the Saints to 229 total yards. The Patriots jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead on two John Tarver touchdowns: a 12-yard pass from Plunkett, and a minute later a five-yard run following an interception by Honor Jackson.

This was the Pats first preseason win since 1969, helped by Saints QB Bobby (Booby?) Scott throwing five interceptions.



The generic front cover had no Patriots or Saints, but it did include WR Raymond Berry​
 
Today in Patriots History
The Eighties



August 25, 1980:
QB Tom Owen is traded to Washington for Tom Flick.
The Cleveland Browns claim Mark Buben off waivers.


When I saw the name Flick, my mind quickly wandered to this store I occasionally drove past when I first moved to Florida, before Blockbuster put all the mom-and-pop video stores out of business.

 
Today in Patriots History
The Early Nineties



August 25, 1990:
The team must drop another six players by Tuesday, when NFL rosters must be reduced to a maximum of 60 players.​

Running backs James Gray and Anthony Landry were the two rookies dropped from the team. Gray, from Stephen F. Austin in Texas, was a fifth-round selection and Landry, from Texas Tech, was chosen in the 10th round.​

The free agents waived were Glenn Antrum, wide receiver; Pat Crowley, guard; Tim Hauck, safety; Charles Jackson, defensive end; Mike Murphy, wide receiver; Michael Proctor, quarterback; Chuck Pellegrini, guard; Blaine Rose, guard; Mac Stephens, linebacker; and Kirk Warner, tight end.​





August 25, 1991:
Nose tackle Tim Goad, cornerback Maurice Hurst and linebacker Johnny Rembert are re-signed.





August 25, 1992:
San Francisco signs recently linebacker Ilia Jarostchuk, who had just been released by the Patriots a few days earlier.

Wide receiver Hart Lee Dykes is placed on PUP.

As it turned out, Dykes would never play in the NFL again, his career over after 26 games in two seasons. 'Heartless' Dykes suffered a severe eye injury when he and Irving Fryar were involved in a vicious Providence bar room brawl.



 
Today in Patriots History
The Late Nineties



August 25, 1995:
Preseason Week 4
New England at Oakland
Friday, 9:00 (6:00 PDT) at Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto CA
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Mike White
Starting Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe, Jeff Hostetler
Weather: sunny, 70º, 3 mph wind
Paid attendance: 54,002; actual attendance 51,709
Raiders 32, Patriots 24

The Patriots played well, up 24-7 before the Raiders scored 25 fourth quarter points. This marked the first time that the Patriots played the Raiders since they moved from Los Angeles back to Oakland. Drew Bledsoe threw three first half touchdowns: 10 yards to Curtis Martin, two yards to Ben Coates and three yards to John Burke.

Game Summary with complete stats & full play-by-play:



 
Today in Patriots History
The Early Aughts



August 25, 2000:
Guard Todd Rucci is placed on the Non-Football Injury list.

Rucci had been the Pats starter at right guard since 1994, and had undergone knee surgery in the offseason. The Pats offensive line in the previous night's game against Carolina was a patchwork of subs, with Rucci (knee), Max Lane (thumb) and Adrian Klemm (knee) all out in the final preseason game. Rucci's absence created a major void that was never adequately filled for the entire 2000 season, with Sale Isaia not up to the task. Rucci would be released on October 31, ending his pro football career.



Rucci, who signed a five-year, $10 million deal with a $2.8 million bonus following the 1997 season, underwent surgery last spring and missed the entire training camp with the injury and was placed with rookie Adrian Klemm on the physically unable to perform list before the start of the season. Rucci had reportedly recovered from the surgery, but nevertheless Belichick made the decision to release him.​

“Todd’s really done a good job for this organization,” said Belichick. “He was here in ’96 when I was here, I know him pretty well. It was a very difficult decision to make and basically the clock had run out. We had to make a decision as to whether we would either activate him or not activate him, and putting him back on injured reserve really wasn’t a legitimate option. So that was a decision that we made and it was a tough one.​


 
Today in Patriots History
More of the Aughts



August 25, 2005:
Antuan Edwards is released.


The New England Patriots released safety Antuan Edwards on Thursday after signing him as a veteran free agent in early June.​

Edwards, who spent the first five of his six previous NFL seasons with Green Bay, played in both of the Patriots first two exhibition games and made three tackles. The Patriots play at the Packers on Friday night.​

Edwards 28, split last season between Miami and St. Louis. He started 31 of his 68 games after being taken with the 25th pick of the first round out of Clemson in 1999. He had seven interceptions but only one in the last four years. Last season he started a career-high 13 games.​








August 25, 2007:





August 25, 2008:





August 25, 2009:
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this afternoon via Twitter that the Patriots are sending offensive lineman Russ Hochstein to Denver for a late-round pick in the 2010 draft. Another report has that pick being a 7th round selection.​

Hochstein was drafted as a fifth round pick in 2001 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He joined the Patriots back in 2002, and appeared in 91 games for New England over seven seasons.​




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Today in Patriots History
The Early 2010's



August 25, 2010:
Another rainy day here in New England, and here are this morning's Patriots headlines.

The Worcester Telegram reports this morning that recently acquired offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka will start this season with a one game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. According to the report the suspension stems from a domestic dispute in which Ojinnaka threw his wife down the stairs in an altercation where he claims she started the fight by trying to stab him with a pen.

Mike Reiss takes another look at the trade for Ojinnaka, as well as breaking down some of the other young offensive linemen.

Mark Farinella of the Attleboro Sun Chronicle reports that Ojinnaka is ready to turn the page and move on from the incident and focus on football.

Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com echoes Farinella's article, and writes that Ojinnaka is prepared to "bust his butt" in order to protect Tom Brady.

The Telegram also has an article on linebacker Thomas Williams, who spent the offseason getting into shape by going through Mixed Martial Arts training.

"You go and do something like that, it's so tenacious, it's so ferocious," Williams said. "It really makes you dig deep and have to look within. Those 'dog days' and those double days are tough in themselves, so to do something like that it really helps you out as far as you've been there before."

Everyone in New York heard the comments by Tom Brady on Monday regarding his dislike for the Jets, including quarterback Mark Sanchez who The New York Post reports responded with comments of his own yesterday.
The New York Times also has more quotes from other Jets players who reacted to Brady's comments from Monday.

Jerry Thornton of WEEI.com writes why he feels that Jets coach Rex Ryan is 'the perfect villain' for this rivalry.

Farinella writes that the Jets lead the league in talking, but not much else and isn't getting caught up in all the buzz and hype surrounding them this season.

Patriots runningback Laurence Maroney told the Attleboro Sun Chronicle that "the best is yet to come" from him, as he says the great years he's had in college haven't had a chance to show on the field just yet, but they will this season.

The Boston Herald also has more on Maroney, who isn't discouraged at all by the fact that he's gotten a lot of work so far during the preseason by running with the second offensive unit.

"I don't really trip off of it. It is what it is," Maroney said. "I was always told you don't cry over spilled milk. So if that's what I'm going to be, that's what I'm going to be, and I'm going to shine right there. When they want to put me back with the (starters), just keep doing it."

Christopher Price of WEEI.com has a great piece this morning as he takes a look at how some of the positional battles appear to be shaping up.
Price also looks at offensive lineman Dan Connolly, who seems to have established himself enough where he appears comfortable with his new role as a starter with the first unit.

Price also reports that Patriots defensive lineman Kade Weston cleared waivers and will be placed on injured reserve, which ends his season.

The Standard-Examiner has an article this morning on wide receiver Wes Welker, who they feel is still the NFL's toughest player.

Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald has a great story on offensive lineman Brian Simmons, who underwent 16 medical procedures to correct a deformaty in his foot that he was born with, and has overcome it all and made it into the NFL.

Rapoport also has an article on Sam Bradford getting the start tomorrow night in Foxboro, with Belichick telling the media yesterday the Patriots didn't scout him because they "didn't feel he'd be there" by the tim New England made thier first draft selection in the first round.

SouthCoastToday.com has an article by Jonathan Comey, whowrites that the Patriots 'still lack that finishing touch', and apparently isn't enamored with this year's draft picks.

Albert Breer of the Boston Globe has notes from yesterday's indoor practice, which also included the absence of wide receiver Julian Edelman who missed his second straight session.

And finally Mike Reiss takes a look at the film to try and figure out exactly when Edelman was injured during the Falcons game last Thursday.

That's it for this morning. Hope everyone makes the best of today's rainy day here in New England and we'll have more throughout the day.





August 25, 2010:








August 25, 2011:











August 25, 2012:












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Today in Patriots History
More of the 2010's



August 25, 2013:





August 25, 2014:





August 25, 2015:



When the initial news of under inflated footballs broke last January, I will admit that as a fan of the Patriots I was very concerned. Based on the only information available at that time, it certainly looked as if there was foul play involved. In the seven months since then it has become very apparent that it is not only 'more probable than not' that the Patriots were not guilty of any nefarious actions, but it was the NFL itself that is culpable for conspiring to deceive the public.


That leads to the question: why?


Since it became obvious that the only scheme in this whole sordid affair originated from the offices at 345 Park Avenue, I kept thinking that this was all about deflecting attention away from other issues. The NFL was being hit hard from multiple sides, and constant battering was taking its toll. Concussion lawsuits, Ray Rice and domestic violence, Adrian Peterson beating his four-year old with a switch - and another domestic abuse case (Greg Hardy) was still looming. Avert the bright lights of those cases with a fall guy. History showed that the public ate up everything - regardless of how untrue many of the reports were proven to be - for ten months when the Patriots filmed from an unauthorized area. Since they were still portrayed as the evil villain, why not go to the well once more?


Although that rationale is quite plausible, I am now inclined to fully consider that there is much more to this sham. Michael C. Horowitz of the Washington Post postulates that the negative press towards Goodell due to the Rice, Peterson and Hardy incidents - as well as the ongoing concussion revelations - placed the commissioner in a precarious position. Many openly wondered if he could continue in his position, and if he should be replaced. Horowitz astutely compares Goodell to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Robert Kraft was becoming a powerful figure in the NFL while Goodell was losing his influence; this set-up put Kraft on the defensive and took away some of his credibility. Rather than forming an alliance to oust Goodell, now owners were picking sides against one another.


One other extremely relevant topic that Horowitz points out is the unholy alliance between the NFL and ESPN. The world wide leader has been a mouthpiece of the NFL's from day one - from leaking the initial lie about football being more than two PSI below the minimum level, to never retracting that story, to their legal analyst giving outlandishly one-sided reports, and more. For the vast majority of NFL fans, they get almost all their information about the league from BSPN, with most of the remainder coming from the league-owned NFL Network. By controlling the information, Goodell controlled what most of the public thought about the incident. The boys at Park Avenue make the cold-war era Pravda appear to be moderately balanced in comparison.


Former NFL linebacker Dave Meggyesy sums it up well when he states that "Roger is a bumbler".



"They're in a box, and they're the (expletive) league," Meggyesy said with a chuckle. "They're not going to back down. That kind of arrogance — where they'll say, 'We lost, but we didn't lose' — that's the arrogance of power. They lose in court over and over and over, but to them, no, they never lose, and they're not going to lose now."
 
Today in Patriots History
The late 2010's



August 25, 2016:







August 25, 2017:


The Patriots have a logjam at the receiver position, and it looks like someone else may be forced to step after a rough night in Detroit for Julian Edelman.

The veteran receiver got the team going early, opening the game with three catches for 52-yards, helping set up the team’s first touchdown to Chris Hogan.

Unfortunately on Edelman’s third reception, the receiver’s knee buckled as he was cutting after the catch and he fell to the turf untouched in obvious pain.



He was later carted to the locker room, leaving everyone wondering about his status moving forward.

The team officially listed him as “Questionable” to return. Hopefully the injury isn’t serious as many of the reports seem to indicate but it’s certainly made things interesting heading into the final weeks of training camp.







August 25, 2018:







August 25, 2019:

Quick Hitters:

Andrew Luck – Announced his retirement yesterday. Luck has been hobbled by injuries for much of his career and it was cut short after just seven seasons. He was once thought to be the “next great one” but it never materialized for him. For a Colts team that had made major strides in building up a legit contender, this is a huge setback. Jacoby Brissette is the man for the time being again in Indy.

Tom Brady – on the learning process with Jakobi Meyers said, “I think for all of us, you play with guys that are maybe new to the offense and so forth. Sometimes they think they’re not part of the route, and then a team plays a certain coverage and they’re part of the route. Early in the season, that’s part of this time of year. We don’t have the full week to prepare. We’re kind of putting things together on the fly.”

And BTW Tom, ditch that hat…not a good look

Bill Belichick [on the play of the defense] – You know, I thought we played competitively. We still have a lot of things to work on. There’s a lot of things we can improve on, so we’ll just go back to work this week and just keep grinding away. We’ve got a long way to go. We’re making progress.

Devin McCourty – was asked about the changes to the new pass interference rules and if the referees have done a good job of explaining it to the players. He is not a fan. “I’m never a fan of those meetings. I feel like they go however we ask the question, and then once we get in the season you might as well throw that whole meeting away. So Bill always says it the best; week-by-week. We have to go how the game is being called, and we have to adjust to it.”

Jakobi Meyers – wasn’t pleased with the way his early snaps with Brady went, but was happy to be able to persevere. He had this to say about sitting down with Brady. “Tom has played for a long time so when he wants to sit down and talk, you sit down and talk with an open ear. I am just trying to listen to everything he says, soak it up and get better.”


Jarrett Stidham Is Ahead of His Projections And Learning His Craft:

The NFL Draft isn’t an exact science, we all know that. Some players have superstar potential and never make it. Others, aren’t very highly sought after but thru hard work, belief in themselves, and a burning desire to succeed will rise far above their projected ceiling when the draft rolls around.

Take Tom Brady, drafted in the 6th round,199th overall in 2000. No one thought he’d amount to much. Now 20 years later, he stands alone at the absolute pinnacle of the sport. Which brings us to this year’s 4th round draft choice Jarrett Stidham, the rookie QB from Auburn.

Stidham played in an offense at Auburn that really stunted his growth as an NFL QB. He too wasn’t highly thought of and his selection barely registered across NFL circles. He struggled in minicamp and even threw an interception in a walkthru. When training camp started, he frequently held the ball too long and struggled to make a decision. Although he throws a really nice ball, he was struggling with his reads, things that not uncommon with rookie QBs.
 
Today in Patriots History
The 2020's



August 25, 2020:









August 25, 2021:






August 25, 2022:





August 25, 2023:





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Today in Patriots History
More 2020's



August 25, 2024:





August 25, 2025:
1) This will be a big week for the Patriots, with the club currently just over 24 hours away from paring its roster down to 53, having already parted with 14 players following their 42-10 blowout loss in New York Thursday night.

They added one more yesterday after Layden Robinson, who was part of the 2024 Patriots Draft class, was waived with an injury designation.

That currently brings the number down to 74, with the Patriots sitting with 75 on their roster thanks to the international exemption they have for David Olajiga. They’ll certainly have some interesting decisions to make, but the fact that Robinson’s now gone adds some frustration to a draft class that hasn’t quite panned out too well.

Here’s where last year’s draft class currently stands:

  • Drake Maye, QB – Round 1 (#3 overall)
  • Ja’Lynn Polk, WR – Round 2 (#37 overall)
    *Injured Reserve
  • Caedan Wallace, OL – Round 3 (#68 overall)
    *On the bubble
  • Layden Robinson, OL – Round 4 (#103 overall)
    *Waived Sunday and No Longer with the team
  • Javon Baker, WR – Round 4 (#110 overall)
    *On the bubble
  • Marcellus Dial, CB – Round 6 (#180 overall)
    *Injured Reserve
  • Joe Milton, QB – Round 6 (#193 overall)
    *No Longer with the team (traded to Dallas)
  • Jaheim Bell, TE – Round 7 (#231 overall)
    *Waived on Friday and No Longer with the team

As it stands, heading into the 2025 season, it’s possible it could be just Drake Maye among that group as the last one standing, albeit Javon Baker – if he’s waived and clears waivers – could end up on the practice squad if they decide to bring him back.

After that, Marcellus Dial had been having a solid preseason before getting injured, and if he comes back healthy, he could factor into things in 2026. But the verdict remains out on Ja’Lynn Polk, and Caedan Wallace looks like he’ll also be among some difficult decisions that could be coming.

Wallace was someone head coach Mike Vrabel talked about following last week’s game, with Wallace continuing to be in the competition at left guard after seeing time again there against the Giants.

“Well, we’d always hoped that he would be in that competition,” said Vrabel. “Got injured, missed a few days, and came back. So gave him a large opportunity there at left guard today. That’s kind of where he was starting to make strides, I think, in the offseason. And we’ll just continue to coach him. And he’s gotten reps at other places in practice, and maybe that hasn’t shown up as much in the games.”

Still, the fact that they’ve gotten such a small return from that class is disappointing. In the Joe Milton trade, the Patriots ended up with a fifth-round pick (171st overall in 2025), which they parlayed into three draft picks. Those turned out to be kicker Andres Borregales, long snapper Julian Ashby, and Kobee Minor.

So far, Ashby has been the only player who has panned out, while both Borregales and Minor are still question marks ahead of tomorrow’s cutdowns. Minor has had a busy preseason and is currently tied for the team lead in tackles with Kyle Dugger with 11, while the rookie also has two passes defended. Borregales has had an inconsistent preseason and he’s locked up in a battle with John Parker-Romo for the kicking job heading into 2025.

As a result, it should be interesting to see who will be left standing. But for a team that’s struggling to build depth at key spots, the fact that they’re parting ways with guys they no longer believe are fits so quickly after drafting them is certainly not making things any easier.





August 25, 2026:







.
 
Today in Patriots History
The other Mike Jones


Happy 57th birthday to Mike Jones
Born August 25, 1969 in Columbia, South Carolina
Patriots defensive end, 1994-1997; uniform #96

Signed as a veteran free agent on June 7, 1994
Pats résumé: four seasons, 61 games (38 starts), plus six postseason games



Mike Jones was the 32nd overall pick by Phoenix in 1991, out of North Carolina State. He missed only three games with the Pats over four seasons, compiling 15 sacks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Jones also played in six playoff games for the Patriots, including Super Bowl 31 versus the Packers.



On August 30, 1998 the Patriots traded Jones to the St. Louis Rams. In exchange the Pats received a fifth round draft pick in the 2000 draft. That was used on Missouri guard Steve Marriott - who was cut at the end of his rookie training camp, and never played in the NFL. While the Pats got nothing to show for that trade, Jones became a starter with the Rams.

At the time there were two starters on defense in the NFL whose careers overlapped. To make matters more confusing for announcers and fans, they played together on the 1998 St. Louis Rams.

After one year with the Rams, Jones signed with Tennessee for his final year in the NFL. Those two teams would meet in the Super Bowl, with Jones' Titans on the losing end of 23-16 thriller.

That championship game came down to the final play, when Tennessee WR Kevin Dyson was tackled on the one yard line. Ironically, the player who tackled Dyson was the other Mike Jones - this one a linebacker for the Rams.




Our Mike Jones finished his NFL career with 27½ sacks over nine seasons. He played in 135 regular season games, plus ten playoff games.





Overall there are more than a half dozen people by the name of Mike Jones that have been in the NFL.

LB Mike Jones of Missouri played from 1991-2002, mostly with the Raiders and Rams, as referenced to above for his super bowl tackle

DE Mike Jones of North Carolina State played from 1991-99, including four seasons with the Patriots

WR Mike Jones of Tennessee State played for the Vikings and Saints from 1983-89

TE Mike Jones of Bridgeport CT and Texas A&M was a 3rd round draft pick by Minnesota in 1990

LB Mike Jones of Jackson State played for the Seahawks in 1977

LB Mike Jones of Brockport State was a replacement player for Buffalo in 1987

LB Mike Jones of LSU was with Atlanta in the 2023 offseason

LB Mikel Jones of Syracuse was on the Dallas practice squad in 2023, and later with Tennessee






 
Today in Patriots History
The kicker who preceded Missin' Sisson


Happy 59th birthday to Charlie Baumann
Born August 25, 1967 in Erie, Pennsylvania
Patriots kicker, 1991-1992; uniform #8

Signed as a free agent on November 6, 1991
Pats résumé: two seasons, 23 games



The Patriots signed Charlie Baumann after Jason Staurovsky went on injured reserve with a pulled quad muscle in the middle of the 1991 season. Baumann had spent the 1989 offseason in Buffalo, a couple weeks on the Minnesota taxi squad, the entire 1990 season on IR in Seattle, and had filled in for two games with Miami earlier in '91.


Baumann connected on 7 of 10 field goals in 1991, and returned in '92, going 11-17. A year later he was cut near the end of training camp, which was no surprise. The Pats had used a fifth round draft pick on Scott Sisson - who would last only 13 games in New England, connecting on just 14 of 26 field goal attempts to become one of the biggest draft busts in franchise history.




Charlie Baumann later spent two seasons with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He went back to school at the University of Central Florida for his MBA, and became CFO of US Medical Group in Orlando.

Charlie Bauman
Charlie Baumann is Chief Financial Officer and Director of Business Development. In addition to receiving a bachelors degree from West Virginia University in 1990, Charlie has earned the following degrees from the University of Central Florida; a business administration degree in 1996, an MBA with a concentration in finance in 1997 and a Master of Science in Accounting Degree in 2004.​

After a six year National Football League career, Baumann accepted a contracts and agreements position with high-tech conglomerate Siemens Information and Communication Networks at their Lake Mary, Florida facility. Baumann was responsible for $50 million in annual negotiation and international business activity. Baumann’s latest venture was with industry giant Arrow Electronics where he helped conceptualize and implement an initiative to cultivate the telecommunications industry as an emerging market.​


Three-year scoring leader at Cathedral Prep 1982-84. 87 of 93 PATs and 6 of 12 field goals. Kicked field goals of 33-44-50 yards in 1985 Save an Eye game. Veterans Memorial Stadium record of 50-yard field goal in 1984. Full scholarship to West Virginia University. Starting kicker for 45 games (1985-88). Co-Captain senior year. Career kicking stats included 52 of 70 field goals and 134 of 138 PAT's. Single season WVU records of points (119), PAT attempts (61) and made PAT (59). Ranks 4th in WVU career scoring (294 points), second in consecutive field goals made (14) and 3rd in career field goals (52).​

Graduated from West Virginia University in 1990; All-Big East and UPI All-American played in a total of 81 professional games in the NFL, World League, Canadian Football League, and Arena indoor League. Kicked for Buffalo, Minnesota, Seattle, Miami, New England, New York Jets, – Pittsburgh of the NFL, and Orlando Thunder of NFL Europe, Baltimore Stallions (CFL) and the Orlando Predators (Arena Football).​

Received his MBA in Finance from the University of Central Florida in 1997 and Masters in Accounting from UCF in 2004. Currently President and Shareholder of the Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League (Advanced Class Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers), Chief Financial Officer and Shareholder of US. Medical Group of Florida, Inc., and Financial Consultant to the Cancer Institute of Florida. Charlie and his wife Michelle have two daughters.​


Charlie Baumann on LinkedIn













.
 
Today in Patriots History
Jaylinn Hawkins


Happy 29th birthday to Jaylinn Hawkins
Born August 25, 1997 in Buena Park, California
Patriots safety, 2024-2025; uniform #21

Signed as a veteran free agent on March 21, 2024
Pats résumé: two seasons, 32 games (22 starts), plus four postseason games



Hawkins was a steady player at free safety during his two years in New England, an improvement while over the 2023 void without Devin McCourty. He was on the field for 612 defensive snaps in 2024, and was third on the team with 838 defensive snaps in 2025. Hawkins had four interceptions with the Pats in 2025, then signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Ravens as a free agent on March 12 after the Patriots decided to upgrade to three-time first team All Pro safety Kevin Byard.










.
 
Today in Patriots History
He's a People Person


In memory of George Peoples, born 66 years ago today
Born August 25, 1960 in Tampa
Died November 23, 2003 at the age of 43 in Tampa
Patriots fullback, 1983; uniform #35

Claimed on waivers from Dallas on August 30, 1983
Pats résumé: one season, 16 games



George Peoples was primarily a blocking back at Auburn, but he performed fairly well when given the opportunity. After Josh Cribbs departed for the NFL, Peoples became the Tigers starter in his junior year. He rushed for 443 yards and 5.6 yards per carry, mostly blocking for James Brooks. As a senior in 1981 he ran for 442 yards and scored two touchdowns; his highlight was a 63-yard TD against rival Alabama.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Peoples in the eighth round (216th overall) of the 1982 NFL draft. A preseason game may have piqued the Pats interest in him; he scored on a 79-yard catch-and-run against the Patriots in a week three preseason game against Dallas on August 28, 1982.

Peoples played in all 16 games for Ron Meyer in 1983, primarily on special teams, recording no offensive stats. He was credited with nine tackles and one fumble recovery. Peoples was waived on August 27, 1984, and then spent two seasons back home with the Buccaneers. He played in a total of 32 NFL games from 1982 to 1985.


Aug 21, 1980:
Auburn's Peoples wants 1,000 yards - The Tuscaloosa News

Aug 29, 1982:
Cowboys 36, Patriots 21 - Eugene Register-Guard

Aug 28, 1984:
Patriots trade for Rod McSwaim, waive eleven - The Nashua Telegraph

Nov 24, 2003:
Police found former Tampa Bay Buccaneer George Peoples dead Sunday in a downtown Tampa motel room.​

Peoples, 43, of 13923 Bridgeport Drive in Tampa, was found in the Harbor Lite Motel at 3301 W Kennedy Blvd. about 11:15 a.m., police said. When a motel manager couldn't get anyone to answer the door at Room 10, Tampa Fire crews forced their way in, police said.​

"We don't believe it's foul play," said Capt. Bob Guidara, Tampa police spokesman. "It might be accidental. That's how we're going to handle it for now."​

An autopsy will determine the cause of death. Police said Peoples was last seen alive Saturday. An investigation is continuing.​

Peoples, a running back, played in eight games with the Bucs in 1984 and 1985. He also played with Dallas and New England.​

Ten years ago, Peoples worked as a firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Tampa Fire Department, said Capt. Bill Wade, Tampa Fire spokesman.​

"He was a big guy and he was a nice guy," Wade said. "He always tried to help out when he could." Wade said Peoples left the department several years ago, but he was unclear about the circumstances surrounding his departure.​

Records show Peoples had been arrested at least eight times since 1999. His most recent arrest was in July, when police charged him with driving while his license was suspended, canceled or revoked; giving a false name to a law enforcement officer; and possession of cocaine. Previous arrests include other drug and driving violations.​

Born in Tampa, Peoples was a football player and track-and-field star at King High School. He attended Auburn University, majoring in education.​

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Peoples in the eighth round in 1982. He played in eight games for the Cowboys, including the 1982 NFC Championship Game, then signed with the New England Patriots in 1983. Peoples signed with the Bucs in 1984. He is survived by his wife, Regina.​


Former Auburn University standout and NFL running back George Peoples was found dead Sunday in a Tampa motel room. He was 43. No cause of death was announced, and members of Peoples' family, reached at their Tampa home, declined comment Sunday night.​

Police said Peoples was staying at the motel where he was found. Firefighters forced entry into the room after motel officials were unable to reach Peoples and became suspicious. He was last seen alive Saturday, police said. The medical examiner's office is investigating the death.​

Peoples spent three seasons in the NFL, the last 1984 with the Tampa Bay Bucs.​

Peoples ran track and played college football at Auburn, where he received the team's offensive player of the year award in 1981. He was chosen in the eighth round of the 1982 NFL draft by Dallas.​

He spent 1983 with New England, then signed with Tampa Bay as a backup fullback with six games left in the 1984 season. He was in training camp with the Bucs in 1985, but was cut just before the regular season began.​



He began his career playing for Auburn University in 1981, before being signed professionally in 1982 as an NFL running back during the NFL entry draft. He went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys in 1982, the New England Patriots in 1983, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1984 until he was cut just before the 1985 season.







 

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