Today In Patriots History August 26: Jim 'Cowboy' Crawford

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
This Original Patriot was a Cowboy​

In memory of Jim 'Cowboy' Crawford, who would have turned 89 today
Born Aug 26, 1935 in Greybull, Wyoming
Died June 10, 2018 at the age of 82 in Coleman, Oklahoma
Patriot RB, 1960-1964; uniform #30

Jim Crawford was an original Boston Patriot. He played in all 14 games in the inaugural 1960 season, and in 55 games total with the Pats. His best season came in 1962 when he had 683 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. For his career Crawford had 1,579 yards from scrimmage with seven touchdowns, plus a pair of two-point conversions.

James L. Crawford - University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame

Jim Crawford is one of the greatest homegrown Wyoming athletes in history. The Greybull, Wyo. native emerged as one of the nation’s best running backs in his senior season. Crawford earned All-American honors in 1956 and was the NCAA rushing yardage leader with 1,104 yards and was selected the Skyline Conference Back of the Year.

Crawford rushed for 103 yards on 18 carries and was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1956 Sun Bowl, in which Wyoming beat Texas Tech, 21-14. For his career, Crawford rushed for 1,775 yards. He later spent several seasons in the National Football League with the Boston Patriots.

Inducted September 15, 1995

Honors and Awards
[*]1956 All-American
[*]NCAA Rushing Leader
[*]1956 Sun Bowl Most Valuable Player
​

James Lee Crawford

James Lee Crawford passed away peacefully at home in Coleman, Okla., on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at the age of 82.

www.codyenterprise.com

He graduated from Greybull High School and went on to the University of Wyoming where he was a standout football player. He is in the Wyoming Hall of Fame twice – once as an individual and once with the undefeated 1956 team. He was an All-American in 1957 and was honored as the Outstanding Player for the Sun Bowl in 1956. He was first in the nation in rushing with 1,104 yards.

Jim was drafted into the Army where he played on the Fort Carson football team, after teaching a year in Lovell. He was a running back on the original AFL Boston Patriots team from 1960-64.

Jim retired as an engineer from the Burlington Northern Railroad after 30 years. He also loved to ranch, rodeo and hunt. He spent many years as a hunting guide in the Thoroughfare and the mountains near Dubois.​

Historical Details - Niobrara County Library

Crawford, Jim - 'Cowboy Tough' Courtesy of The Laramie Boomerang, 11/05/2011 TAILBACK JIM CRAWFORD EPITOMIZED 'COWBOY TOUGH' used with permission from writer Bob Hammond, Laramie Boomerang LARAMIE, Wyo. -- There are various theories on the origin of the term "Cowboy Tough." Regardless of the...

www.niobraracountylibrary.org

There are various theories on the origin of the term "Cowboy Tough."

Regardless of the source, one guy fits the mold: the University of Wyoming's former All-American tailback, Jim Crawford.

He was a rodeo cowboy, a UW Cowboy and was nicknamed "cowboy."

And the Greybull native was as tough as they come.

Just ask former teammate John Watts, who was wingback in the same backfield as Crawford in the mid-1950s.

"Jim was the toughest SOB who ever walked," said Watts, a Ruleville, Miss. native, said with a Southern drawl. "He played injured his whole senior year and never complained. He would just duck his head and run hard. He was a horse."

Watts remembers one instance in UW's 21-14 victory over Texas Tech in the 1956 Sun Bowl.

The Cowboys were on the Red Raiders' 5-yard line and needed two yards for a first down. Crawford carried two players, who weighed some 245 pounds apiece, for three yards and that first down.

"That's the only time I ever heard Jim say anything," Watts said. "He came back to the huddle and said, 'Boy, you think that wasn't hard?'"

Watts said Crawford was not only a football player and competitor, but he was also a great all-around athlete.

Early in Crawford's time at UW, a promoter brought in a police boxing team from Denver for exhibition matches with the locals. They set up a ring in the armory with the dirt floor in the back of the Half Acre.

"The Denver team didn't have a heavyweight to box Teddy Shaffer, Two-Bar Teddy from out at Tie Siding. He was a guard out there," Watts said. "So they coerced (Crawford) to get in the ring with him. Teddy was dancing around trying to hit Jim, and Jim threw one punch - whop! You could hear that all over the place, and that was the end of the fight."

When it came to football, Crawford was something special, especially at UW.

He rushed for 1,775 yards during his three-year career while helping the Cowboys to a record of 24-7, including a 10-0 mark in 1956.

During his senior year in 1956, Crawford emerged as one of the nation's best running backs. That season he was the NCAA rushing yardage leader with 1,104 yards.

Among the running backs he beat out were Jim Brown of Syracuse and Tommy McDonald of Oklahoma.​

UW's Top 50 football players: No. 37

This running back was the first in school history to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark

7220sports.com

#120CowboyTough, 44 Days to Kickoff: Jim Crawford Into the Record Books - University of Wyoming Athletics

July 19, 2013 LARAMIE, Wyo. - Purchase Season Tickets Jim Crawford Into the Record Books After an unremarkable beginning to his career due to injuries,

gowyo.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Myron Guyton​

Happy 57th birthday to Myron Guyton
Born Aug 26, 1967 in Metcalf, Georgia
Patriot free safety, 1994-1995; uniform #29
Signed as an unrestricted veteran free agent on February 28, 1994

​

Myron Guyton was an 8th round draft pick by Bill Parcells for the Giants in 1989, and reunited with the Big Tuna for the last two seasons of his career. Guyton started 30 games with the Pats, plus the 20-13 playoff loss to Bill Belichick's Cleveland Browns on New Years Day in 1995.

In his two seasons in New England, Myron Guyton had five interceptions, one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries and 155 tackles. Guyton played in 98 regular season NFL games over seven seasons, with 10 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.


Feb 24, 1994:

Patriots reportedly agree to terms with Guyton - UPI Archives

The New England Patriots reportedly have agreed to a three-year contract with New York Giants unrestricted free agent safety Myron Guyton....

www.upi.com

The New England Patriots reportedly have agreed to a three-year contract with New York Giants unrestricted free agent safety Myron Guyton.​

The New York Times and New York Newsday are reporting that Guyton has agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth more than $5 million with the Patriots.​

The Patriots, who plucked free agent offensive lineman Bob Kratch from the Giants earlier in the week, have not confirmed the signing of Guyton.​

The New York Times also reported that New England head coach Bill Parcells, who led the Giants to Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991, may raid his former team with more free agent signings. Parcells reportedly is interested in running back Lewis Tillman and cornerback Mark Collins, who are both unrestricted free agents.​

The Patriots are one of the few teams in the National Football League with plenty of room under the salary cap, giving Parcells the opportunity to tap into the free agent market.​

Guyton was an eighth round draft choice in 1989 and played five years for New York.​

Kratch agreed to a multi-year deal with the Patriots reportedly worth $6.9 million over four years with a salary of $2.5 million for the 1994 season.​

Myron Guyton (2007) - Hall of Fame - Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Myron Guyton, Class: 1989 Induction: 2007 Sport(s): Football - A seven-year veteran of the National Football League, Myron Guyton was a four-year starter in the

ekusports.com

A seven-year veteran of the National Football League, Myron Guyton was a four-year starter in the defensive backfield for head coach Roy Kidd (1985-88). Guyton led the Ohio Valley Conference in interceptions during his senior year as well as leading the league in blocked kicks his final two seasons. A team captain whom earned EKU MVP honors in 1988, Guyton was chosen in the eighth round of the 1989 draft by the New York Giants.​

One of only two rookies to start for Bill Parcells (Lawrence Taylor), Guyton led the NFL’s second-ranked defense in tackles during his rookie campaign. In his second year with the organization, Guyton was an instrumental part of the Super Bowl championship. After five years with the Giants, Guyton completed his career by playing two seasons with the New England Patriots. In 98 professional football games, Guyton made 10 interceptions.​

Guyton has been dedicated to community service throughout this life, working with Tomorrow’s Children while in New York and with the Boston Boys and Girls Club while with the Patriots. The Metcalf, Ga. native continued his success by owning several Burger King franchises in Georgia.​

Myron Guyton | Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame

Myron played professionally as a defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Giants (1989–1993) and the New England Patriots (1994–1995). He was a member of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXV and participated in 7 playoff games.​

Before his NFL career, he played college football at Eastern Kentucky University and was selected by the Giants in the eighth round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He was inducted into the EKU Hall of Fame in 2007.​

One of only two rookies to start for Bill Parcells (Lawrence Taylor being the other), Guyton led the NFL’s second-ranked defense in tackles during his rookie campaign. In his second year with the organization, Guyton was an instrumental part of the Super Bowl championship. After five years with the Giants, Myron completed his career by playing two seasons with the New England Patriots.​

In 98 professional football games, Guyton made 10 interceptions.​

Myron Guyton's son was a soccer player at Flagler College in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida

Myron Guyton - 2016 - Men's Soccer - Flagler College Athletics

Myron Guyton (4) Defender - Statistics: Career | 2016 | 2015 2016 (SOPHOMORE): Played in six matches with one start...Logged 216 minutes...Played in a season-high

flaglerathletics.com

Nov 12, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium: Myron Guyton intercepts Dan Marino and returns the ball 45 yards.
The 4th quarter pick set up a Matt Bahr field goal, and the Pats pulled off an 8½ point upset, winning 34-17.



Nov 19, 1995: Myron Guyton picks off Jim Harbaugh in a game against the Colts.



Nov 26, 1995: Guyton with a 23-yard interception off Jim Kelly at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park.
The Patriots won the game 35-25.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Mike Gisler​

Happy 55th birthday to Mike Gisler
Born Aug 26, 1969 in Runge, Texas
Patriot C/G, 1993-1997; uniform #67
Signed as a free agent on February 26, 1993


The backup offensive lineman played in 73 games with the Patriots, and 105 NFL games over seven seasons.

Feb 4, 2017:

Family now captivates former Super Bowl player

Twenty years after witnessing the lights and glory of Super Bowl XXXI as a New England Patriots lineman, Mike Gisler, 47, was looking forward to watching his former team with

www.victoriaadvocate.com

"I had a lot of fun, and it was a great deal, but once it was over, it was over," said Gisler, now a husband, father of two and co-owner of a family-run Karnes County energy company.​

​

Midway through an NFL career that also included time with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, Gisler and the Patriots lost to the Green Bay Packers in 1997 at the Louisiana Superdome. But, the University of Houston graduate and Runge native said he is content to put his days in the NFL behind him.​

​

Despite his new, humbler lifestyle, the retired player still possesses remnants of his past. His 6-foot-four-inch and 310-pound frame still gets the occasional comment from fans, he said, despite the years.​

​

Other, more permanent mementos still remain. His wife, Lynn Gisler, 48, sometimes wears her commemorative Super Bowl pendant to their 13-year-old son, Sam's, Nazareth Academy football games.​

​

A golden football celebrating the game's 50th anniversary that was given to every Super Bowl player is an object of pride in the household.​

Feb 26, 1998:

PRO FOOTBALL; Jets Add Burger and Byars To Free-Agent Acquisitions (Published 1998)

New York Jets sign free-agent guard Todd Burger and running back Keith Byars (M)

www.nytimes.com

The Jets continued to make key moves in the free-agent market yesterday. They added a starting guard from the Chicago Bears, Todd Burger, and, 12 years after thinking about drafting him in the first round, signed the versatile and respected fullback-tight end Keith Byars.​

​

Burger, a 300-pounder who grew up in Clark, N.J., idolizing Bill Parcells and the Giants, is the second instant starter on the troubled offensive line that the Jets have picked up in the last week. He will step in at left guard.​

​

Last week, the Jets gave more than $3 million a year to center Kevin Mawae from the Seattle Seahawks. They also acquired the backup lineman Mike Gisler from the New England Patriots.​

Nov 19, 2020:

Where Are They Now: Mike Gisler

Bill Parcells knew the type of player he wanted on his team to be successful when he became the head coach of the Jets in 1997.​

​

Mike Gisler was that type of player.​

​

The center/guard and Parcells had a five-year history with the New England Patriots before reuniting in New York in 1998.​

​

"I was with Parcells the first year he got to the Patriots, '93, and I was there after the Super Bowl [XXXI] when Bill left and went to the Jets," Gisler said. "I was still under contract, so I played the final year when Pete Carroll was (New England's head coach).​

​

"And then after that year was over, I went down as a free agent to the Jets. By then I had realized pretty much it was a good fit for both parties. He valued me, and so it was the best place for me to play."​

​

Originally drafted by New Orleans out of the University of Houston in 1992, Gisler would end up playing six of the eight years he was in the league for the Hall of Fame coach. He was the type of role player who has always been the backbone of the NFL.​

​

"I don't so much think that I was a leader on the team, I just wasn't high enough status maybe when you're talking about Kevin Mawae and Curtis (Martin) and those guys," Gisler said. "But Parcells, what he used to always tell me was the main thing he wanted to know was what the output was going to be. He wanted to know the consistency from day to day. Whether good or bad. He'd rather have consistency than somebody that plays really, really great, but then really, really poor.​

​

"The thing with Parcells, we practiced really hard compared to a lot of other teams, and if we were to play a team that we were supposed to beat and we played poorly – whether we won or loss – if we had a bad game, he would typically be nice to us. Not be hard.​

​

"Where if we played a great game and beat somebody we weren't supposed to beat, he might be a lot harder on us. He was trying to keep us on an even keel. He didn't want incredible highs or incredible lows. He just wanted consistent play. So, that's what, I guess, he figured he'd get with me, and what I tried to give."​

​

"I learned a lot of life lessons that I used after I got out of football on how we approached games and practices and everything. I've used that every day," Gisler said. "I tell my kids for example, it's never as good as it seems, it's never as bad as it seems."​

​

With the Jets for two seasons, helping them reach the AFC Championship Game against Denver in 1998, what is Gisler's fondest memory from his time with the Green & White?​

​

"I'll give you two," Gisler said. "The owner, Mr. (Leon) Hess, back then was pretty old, and was at that time in a wheelchair. And I guess he did this all throughout the time, but he came out to our Thanksgiving Day practices. I thought that was really neat for an owner to come out on Thanksgiving. And he'd present us with these little Hess toy things. They were pretty neat. I still have them to this day in my house.​

​

"And the other thing I can say is my wife enjoyed going to the games, and the Jets had a great setup. I guess my daughter would have been around seven or eight then, and they had like a daycare thing for kids. My wife watched the game with the other wives. So, she really enjoyed that aspect of it."​

​

Returning to Texas after his playing days, 15 years ago Gisler, his wife, Lynn, and their children: Jordan and Sam; made their home in his hometown of Runge.​

​

Gisler and his brother, Wes, own and operate an oil field mud logging business that their father and uncle founded 45 years ago – Gisler Brothers Logging.​

​

"The oil field has been really good for my family, been really good financially for us," Gisler said. "Right now, due to the coronavirus and everything, our numbers have been down. But at times we've had 50 to 55 employees, and that's a lot of fun because you are part of a lot of people's successes. And if they do well, they're part of our successes. So, getting to deal with our employees is the fun part. It can be the frustrating part too, but for the most part, that's the fun part."​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More August 26 Birthdays​

Happy 43rd birthday to Jon Condo
Born Aug 26, 1981in Phillipsburg, PA
Patriot LS, 2006 offseason; uniform #xx
Signed as a free agent on January 30, 2006


In high school as a junior, Jon Condo rushed for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns, averaged 17 tackles per game and received All-conference honors as a running back, linebacker and punter. As a senior, he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards, had more than 100 tackles, 13 sacks and 3 interceptions. He set school career records for rushing yards (2,700) and tackles (374). He received first-team All-state honors at linebacker and All-Big 8 Conference honors at running back, linebacker and punter. Condo was also an All-State selection in baseball as a catcher on the P-O baseball squad. As a senior, he was a state champion wrestler, winning the PIAA 275 lb championship in the AAA classification, finishing the year with only one blemish on his record.

Condo chose the University of Maryland over Penn State. The Terrapins lost their long snapper due to low grades, and Condo selflessly converted from OLB to LS tirelessly every day all offseason. Dallas signed him as an undrafted rookie in 2005, but cut him due to some shaky snaps after three games. The Pats signed Condo early in the 2006 offseason, but Lonie Paxton wasn't going anywhere, and the Patriots waived Condo on August 21, 2006.

Aug 21, 2006:

Patriots Release LS Jon Condo and QB Todd Mortensen

At this point Condo's prospects in the NFL didn't look very good. The Raiders signed him to their practice squad late in the 2006 season, and he made their 2007 roster. Condo excelled in Oakland, playing 11 seasons with the Raiders. He was a two-time pro bowler, snapping for two other pro bowlers: punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski. In 2011 those three were all named to the pro bowl for the Raiders, along with former Patriot Richard Seymour.

Five Things To Know About Long Snapper Jon Condo

July 17, 2019:
Q&A with longtime NFL long-snapper Jon Condo | Centre Daily Times

Philipsburg native Jon Condo is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the area’s most storied athletes. He was an all-state linebacker at Philipsburg-Osceola, in addition to being named all-state at catcher and earning a state wrestling title. He graduated in 2000, went on to play college football at Maryland and then played 13 seasons as one of the NFL’s top long-snappers. (He’ll be 38 years old next month and, although he’s a free agent, he’s not ready to officially retire just yet.)​

So is there kind of a timetable for you, regarding that next potential NFL job?​

JC: I kind of gave a window from March to early September if a team will call me to give me the opportunity. But I knew my chances of getting back in the league were really slim, just based on my age and teams not really wanting an older guy right now. They want a guy later in the year when their guy gets injured or starts to have some errant snaps.​

So I’ve been telling people if (New England Patriots coach Bill) Belichick gives me a call, that’d be a tough scenario to turn down. And I don’t want to sound greedy or anything like that. That’d be a tough scenario to turn down and I love the game of football, but my family is starting to come up in the priority list of what is important in my life — and, right now, I’m having an awesome time spending time with them and being in their lives.​

Who’s been the best player you’ve been able to play with in the NFL?​

JC: Well, I did spend some time with the Patriots back in 2006 in their offseason. I played in preseason games with them, so I guess I could say I was teammates with Tom Brady. I snapped him the ball a couple times during drills; they needed long-snappers, so that was pretty special.​

And, during the offseason workouts too, long-snappers and specialists would always be paired up with the quarterbacks. So I was there with Tom Brady, Teddy Bruschi, (Mike) Vrabel, all those guys. And so that’s pretty memorable. But I played with a lot of great, great players — being around Charles Woodson, probably the best defensive guy; Tom Brady, probably the best offensive guy.​

Jon Condo at the 2010 pro Bowl​

Four others born on Aug 26 with a New England connection:

- Kyren Williams, 24 (2000)
Draft Pick Trade
On March 17, 2021 the Patriots traded their fifth round 2022 draft pick to the Raiders for Trent Brown and a 2022 seventh. A year later Las Vegas traded that fifth to the Rams, who used the pick on Kyren Williams. The running back from Notre Dame made the Pro Bowl in 2023 after scoring 15 touchdowns, gaining 1,350 yards from scrimmage, and leading the NFL with an average of 95.3 yards rushing per game.

- Molly McGee (1952-1994)
University of Rhode Island
Running back was a late round pick by Atlanta in '74.

- Ted Kucharski (1907-1992)
Born and raised in Exeter NH; Exeter HS; Holy Cross
Played end for the 1930 Providence Steam Roller

- Ray Reckmack (1914-1982)
Born in Cheshire CT; Roxbury (CT) High School; Cheshire Academy
End and halfback from the late thirties.




Some of the other pro football players born on this date:

- Donnie Shell, 72 (1952)
Hall of Fame strong safety was named to five Pro Bowls and won four Duper Bowls with the Steelers, playing in 201 games from 1974 to 1987.

Donnie Shell | Pro Football Hall of Fame

Donnie Shell, a two-time team MVP and All-Mid-Eastern Conference player at South Carolina State, signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974.

www.profootballhof.com

- Barret Robbins, 51 (1973)
Raiders center from 1995 to 2003 may be most well known for mysteriously going missing just prior to Super Bowl 37.

When Barret Robbins disappeared before Super Bowl

Raiders center Barret Robbins disappeared the evening before the biggest game of his life, Super Bowl XXXVII. Since then, he has reappeared, only to go off the grid again and again.

www.si.com

- Drew Bennett, 46 (1978)
Wide receiver had 307 receptions and 28 TD with Tennessee and St. Louis from 2001 to 2008.

Miramonte and UCLA alum Drew Bennett reflects on time in NFL

Lamorinda Weekly is a weekly community newspaper for Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda in California USA. 26,600 printed copies delivered to 23,000 houses or 65,000 people.

www.lamorindaweekly.com