Today in Patriots History
Non-Orchids of Asia February 22 Events
February 22, 1994:
The NFL approves the transfer of ownership of the New England Patriots from
James Orthwein to
Robert Kraft
Ironic that the Orchids of Asia event was also on this date.
Perhaps that was Bob's way of celebrating the anniversary?
The National Football League Tuesday formally approved the sale of the New England Patriots from James Orthwein to Robert Kraft....
www.upi.com
The National Football League Tuesday formally approved the sale of the New England Patriots from James Orthwein to Robert Kraft.
The approval was reached in a vote of the 28 clubs at a league meeting in Orlando, which was attended by both Kraft and Orthwein.
Kraft agreed in January to pay a reported $155 million to purchase the team from Orthwein and keep it in the Boston area. Kraft owns Foxboro Stadium, the Patriots' home.
Orthwein, a St. Louis businessman, decided to sell to Kraft after also receiving offers from outside New England. Orthwein had said he wanted to sell the team to local investors that would keep the franchise in New England.
Orthwein, who had hoped to land an expansion franchise for St. Louis, purchased the Patriots in May, 1992 from Victor Kiam.
February 22, 1993:
Pats re-sign
John Granby
The cornerback was originally a 12th round draft pick by Denver in 1992, from Virginia Tech. Granby finished the '92 season on the Pats practice squad, but never played for New England. He was released on August 23, thus finishing his brief NFL career with three games played.
February 22, 1994:
Patriots sign unrestricted veteran free agent
Bob Kratch
A third round pick by the Giants in 1989, Kratch started every game for the Patriots in 1994 at left guard, and in 1995 at right guard. Kratch finished his NFL career in 1996 with the Pats, playing in eight more games (with four starts) after being replaced in the starting lineup by Todd Rucci.
Kratch now lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the shark bite capital of the world, where he is a substitute teacher. I'm guessing the students there don't get away with quite as much as they do with other substitutes.
Former Hawkeye, NFL lineman living a healthy life.
www.hawkeyenation.com
February 22, 1999:
New England re-signs unrestricted free agent
Henry Thomas
Thomas was a two-time Pro Bowl DT with Minnesota , before the Patriots signed him at the age of 32 in 1997. He was a three-year starter for the Pats from '97-'99, then played in all 16 games in 2000 as a rotational sub. He had 1,006 tackles and 93½ sacks over the course of his NFL career, but unfortunately missed out on an elusive super bowl ring by one season.
Former LSU standout nose tackle Henry Thomas, who enjoyed a decorated professional career spanning 14 years, was nominated Tuesday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. Thomas was announced among a group of 173 Modern-Era players that will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November...
www.tigerrag.com
February 22, 2001:
Reserve quarterback John Friesz was among three players released Thursday by the New England Patriots.
www.upi.com
FOXBORO -- Fall River's Marc Megna was among those released by the Patriots yesterday, joining veteran backup quarterback John Friesz and linebacker Olrick Johnson. Megna, 24, a linebacker, was cut…
www.southcoasttoday.com
Fall River's Marc Megna was among those released by the Patriots yesterday, joining veteran backup quarterback John Friesz and linebacker Olrick Johnson.
Megna, 24, a linebacker, was cut as the team moves to meet next week's salary cap deadline. He was originally drafted by the Patriots from Richmond in 1999. After spending most of 1999 on the Patriots practice squad, he was signed by Cincinnati in 2000 and waived Nov. 30, when the Patriots reclaimed him. He played in NFL Europe for Barcelona last year and is expected to play for Berlin this spring.
Friesz, 33, appeared in two games in his two seasons with the Patriots. Last year, he replaced starter Drew Bledsoe in the second quarter of a 16-13 overtime loss to Buffalo, completing 11 of 21 passes for 66 yards and an interception.
Friesz was originally drafted by San Diego in 1990 from Idaho. He played four seasons with San Diego, one with Washington and four with Seattle. In 11 seasons, Friesz has started 38 of 69 games played and completed 745 of 1,364 passes for 8,699 yards. He has thrown 45 touchdowns and 42 interceptions.
Johnson, 23, appeared in 12 games for the Patriots last season. He was signed by the New York Jets as a rookie free agent from Florida A&M in 1999, appearing in three games with the Jets and five regular season games and two playoff games with Minnesota.
February 22, 2008
Free agent
Bam Childress signs with Philadelphia
The Pats had originally signed the wide receiver as an undrafted rookie in 2005, from Ohio State. The wide receiver spent most of his three seasons in New England on the practice squad, getting onto the field for a total of three games in those three years. He now works as a State Farm insurance agent in Bedford, Ohio.
February 22, 2010:
In a move that had been highly expected, the New England Patriots designated defensive tackle Vince Wilfork with the non-exclusive franchise tag yesterday. What happens next is anyone's guess.
www.metrowestdailynews.com
In a move that had been highly expected, the New England Patriots designated defensive tackle Vince Wilfork with the non-exclusive franchise tag yesterday.
What happens next is anyone's guess.
Under the franchise tag rules, Wilfork will make $7.003 million for the 2010 season - the average of the top five salaries in the NFL at the position. But the two-time Pro Bowler made no secret of his dissatisfaction with potentially receiving the tag, and told WEEI late last month that the move would be a "slap in the face.
"I want a long-term deal, or I want to be free," Wilfork said during that radio appearance. "Point blank. And that's how I'm looking at it."
February 22, 2012:
INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Wright’s once-promising career took a disappointing turn in what may prove to be a sad end to his battle with concussions. The Patriots released the versatile defensive lineman …
www.bostonherald.com
Mike Wright joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005.
www.nbcsports.com
Letting go of Mike Wright must have been a difficult choice for New England. He led or tied for the team lead in sacks in 2009 and 2010, but missed the final two months of 2010 because of repeated concussions and almost all of 2011 because of recurring concussion problems. Wright was due $2.1 million next season.
New England needs to add a lot of bodies to their defensive line this offseason. Wright’s dismissal creates another hole on a depth chart that is filled with aging veterans and free agents on the defensive line.
The Patriots on Wednesday announced the release of defensive lineman Mike Wright and guard Rich Ohrnberger. Both finished the 2011 season on injured reserve.
www.espn.com
For Wright, this could spell the end of the 29-year old's seven-year NFL career, the entirety of which he spent with the Patriots after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2005. After playing in 70 games in his first five seasons, Wright's 2010 and 2011 campaigns were ended by concussions.
Speaking to reporters last October, Wright discussed the after-effects of his 2010 concussion, and gave the impression that his playing future was in doubt. In the final season of his contract, Wright was scheduled to earn $2.355 million in base salary in 2012.
Rich Ohrnberger, a fourth round draft choice of the Patriots in 2009, was placed on injured reserve with a head injury on Sept. 3. In three seasons, Ohrnberger played in five games for New England, all as a reserve.
Patriots release OL Rich Ohrnberger and DL Mike WrightBummer on both accounts. Ohrnberger probably moreso because he was the most comically gifted of all Patriots tweeters, but with Wright it&rsquo…
www.patspropaganda.com
Bummer on both accounts. Rich Ohrnberger probably moreso because he was the most comically gifted of all Patriots tweeters, but with Wright it’s likely his career is done after having back to back seasons ending with concussions.
While Myron Pryor should be back and provide some interior rush, the loss of Wright only highlights the need to replace him with someone similar. He could play every position along the D-line and was an absolute beast when it came to rushing the passer.
February 22, 2022:
Pats sign OL
Drew Desjarlais
The Patriots signed offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais, a CFL All-Star, to a futures contract.
www.boston.com
The Patriots signed a CFL All-Star to a futures contract: Drew Desjarlais, an offensive guard who is a two-time Grey Cup champion in the Canadian Football League, has signed a futures contract with the Patriots.
February 22, 2024:
Berj Najarian, Bill Belichick's longtime former assistant, is reportedly leaving the Patriots for a role at Boston College.
www.boston.com
With Bill Belichick not landing any NFL job this offseason, his most trusted confidante is moving on with his own career. But Berj Najarian isn't going far.
www.cbsnews.com
