Today In Patriots History Happy 74th birthday to Sam Hunt

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Today in Patriots History
Linebacker Sam Hunt
Patriots All-1970s Team, 35th Anniversary Team​

Happy 74th birthday to Sam Hunt
Born August 6, 1951 in Longview, Texas; hometown White Oaks TX
Patriot inside linebacker, 1974-1979; uniform #50
Pats 15th round (374th overall) selection of the 1974 draft, from Stephen F Austin University
Pats résumé: six seasons, 84 games (82 starts); seven interceptions, six fumble recoveries; two playoff games

Sam Hunt started all but two games during his six years with the Patriots. He is the right inside linebacker, next to Steve Nelson, on the Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

Hunt played in 84 games for the Pats, plus two more in the playoffs. He had six fumble recoveries and seven interceptions, including one for a touchdown - that saved the 1976 Pats from what would have been an embarrassing loss.

The Surprise Emergence Of The 1976 New England Patriots – OUAT Sports

thesportsnotebook.com

Dec 12, 1976:
Patriots 31, Buccaneers 14 | BucPower.com

Ending their first National Football League season with as many victories as they began, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers achieved perfect imperfection Sunday in a 31-14 loss to the New England Patriots. It was the 14th consecutive Sunday without a victory for the Bucs, setting an NFL record for imperfection.​

But in doing so, the playing with a roster that has been changed more than 50 per cent since the season began because of injuries, gave the playoff-bound and now 11-3 Patriots a run for their pride in front of 41,517 Tampa Stadium customers.​

The Bucs led 14-7 late in the third period on Ed Williams' 17-yard touchdown run and Steve Spurrier's 27-yard scoring toss to Morris Owens, but the Patriots revived themselves in time to score 24 points and dish out a few insults along the way to victory.​

Andy Johnson's nine-yard run with 4:59 left in the third period tied the score at 14. Then linebacker Sam Hunt, who wasn't supposed to play because of a pulled hamstring, intercepted a Spurrier pass and returned it 68 for a touchdown with 6: 15 to play in the fourth period to boost New England into a 21-14 lead.​

John Smith's 30-yard field goal made it 24-14 with 2:41 to play and the Patriots twisted the knife when they called time out with six seconds to play so quarterback Steve Grogan could score from a yard out. Grogan's touchdown run gives him 12 for the season, breaking the previous NFL mark for most touchdowns rushing in a season by a quarterback held by Tobin Rote and Johnny Lujack. On top of that, the Patriots allowed linebacker Steve Zabel, who fancies himself a place-kicker but did no kicking all year, to kick the extra point.​

But there were no complaints about the last-second touchdown from Bucs' Head Coach John McKay, who out his first season in the NFL without a victory: "That doesn't bother me," 'an unusually perturbed McKay 'said after the game.​

New England Coach Chuck Fairbanks apologized to McKay at midfield when it was over. McKay's mood was more a result of his own team's imperfection when it could have had the game safely in hand by halftime. Twice in the first half the Bucs put together long drives and were less than 10 yards from scoring when fumbles stopped them without a point.​

That the Bucs' defense, hit hardest by the injury epidemic, could hold the Patriots' offense to only seven points for the better part of three periods, was a major accomplishment. That score was a 69-yard touchdown run by Johnson in the second period. Johnson gained 127 yards on 14 carries and scored twice for the Patriots, who used fullback Sam Cunningham sparingly because of a bruised shoulder.​

The Patriots, as the American Football Conference wild-card team, travel to Oakland next week for the first round of the playoffs against the Raiders. New England's 11-3 record a complete reversal of last year's 3-13 mark. Should the Bucs be able to pull such a reversal next season, they would be 14-0. But right now, one win would be an improvement. Says McKay, "I think I'll take some time off and go hide somewhere"'​

Sam Hunt Pick-Six - 1976, Patriots vs Buccaneers
Steve Nelson and Steve Zabel, former 1976 Patriots with the commentary
​

Sept 5, 2004: Catching up with Sam Cunningham -- Boston.com

Question: HARDEST HITTER YOU PLAYED AGAINST:​

Answer: Sam Hunt​

From page 20 of the 1979 New England Patriots Media Guide:

"Big Backer" continued to surprise NFL observers this past season with his ability to move his large frame swiftly against opponents' ground attacks . . . contributed 60 tackles as a dominant factor in Patriots run defense and on several occasions ran down Earl Campbell from behind on sweep plays in the two 1978 meetings between the Patriots and Oilers . . . his 56 tackles in 1977 and great inside teamwork with Steve Nelson was a key factor in the team's number one ranking among AFC run defenses that year . . . his 68 yard interception return versus Tampa was the NFL's third longest of the year and a highlight of his great 1976 season . . . second leading tackler on the Pats in 1975 with 99 stops and tops among the club's inside linebackers in 1974 with 74 tackles . . . was the major surprise of the 1974 draft, stepping into a starting role in the new 3-4 alignment and then gaining All-Rookie Team with Pro Football Weekly and Football Digest . . . also named Rookie of the Year by the 1776 Fan Club . . . four year starter in college and was team co-captain as a senior . . . averaged ten tackles a game in each of his 35 collegiate contests . . . is an avid fisherman



Nov 23, 2001:

PRO FOOTBALL; A Competitor Who Withdrew From the Game (Published 2001)

Article profiles Leon Gray, top offensive lineman who played for New England Patriots; Gray died in November; photo (M)

www.nytimes.com

April, 2015:
The Ultimate Player Draft: A Look at Their Player Selection by Range, not Round -- Boston.com

BEST PLAYER CHOSEN FROM 257-288​

Toby Williams, DT/DE, 265th, 1983​

Williams, who played 80 games for the Patriots and collected 15 sacks in six seasons, is the best of a marginal bunch. Receiver Ricky Feacher (270th, '76) had a decade-long run as a kick returner for the Browns.​

BEST PLAYER CHOSEN FROM 289-320​

Jim Cheyunski, LB, 305th, 1968​

The Bridgewater native played 66 games over five seasons (1968-72) with the Patriots, then spent two season each with the Bills and Colts. Also of note: punter Bruce Barnes (290th, 1973) is the father of golfer Ricky Barnes.​

BEST PLAYER CHOSEN FROM 321-352​

Ray Hamilton, NT/DT, 342nd, 1973​

Now there's a late-round find. Sugar Bear started every game for the Patriots from 1973 through '79. Too bad Ben Dreith used him to get famous.​

BEST PLAYER CHOSEN FROM 353-380​

Sam Hunt, LB, 374th, 1974​

And here's another dependable member of the talented '70s Patriots defenses found in the afterthought rounds. The massive Hunt -- he was listed at 270 pounds -- was a brick wall of a run-stuffer for six seasons alongside Steve Nelson.​

Sam Hunt Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Sam Hunt Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Football Archives -- Sam Hunt Player Profile

1979 Patriots Media Guide -- Samual Kay (Sam) Hunt, page 20

Sam Hunt (American football) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Pape]

Happy Birthday Sam...

Underrated Patriot...



training camp, with the Pearl...


Is it me, or does OJ look scared...

 

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Some more photos of Sam Hunt

November 24, 1974 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Patriots defeated the Colts 27-17 to improve to 7-4.


September 28, 1975 at Schaefer Stadium: Hall of Famer Larry Little thinks about how to try to handle Sam Hunt.


Dec 14, 1975 at Schaefer Stadium: O.J. Simpson sweeps left, running for his life with Sam Hunt closing in.


Nov 14, 1976 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. 3x-Pro Bowl RB Lydell Mitchell #26 gets crushed by Sam Hunt. The 8-1 Colts were favored by 11, but the Pats won 21-14 to close within one game in the AFC East. Pete Barnes (59), Tim Fox (upper right) and Julius Adams (85) help out as well.


Aug 21, 1977: Julius Adams dumps water on Sam Hunt during a morning workout at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I


Sam Hunt gets ready for the snap on Dec 4, 1977 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Colts came from behind in the 4th quarter to win 30-24,
winning the AFC East with a 10-4 record. The Pats missed the playoffs with a 9-5 record.​

Colts Rally and Turn Back Patriots, 30‐24
Although New England's playoff chances ended when Miami beat Buffalo yesterday, the Patriots went right after the Colts and were by far the better team through the first half. Baltimore, which had lost its previous three games, looked listless again until Bert Jones, the quarterback, rallied his forces.

The winning touchdown was scored by Don McCauley, the reserve halfback, from the 3‐yard line 12 minutes into the final quarter. That play concluded a 99‐yard drive that consumed six minutes of the most vital kind of playing time. The big play of the drive was a Jones pass of 57 yards to Glen Doughty, which took the Colts from their 4‐yard line to the Patriot 39.

Two plays before McCauley scored, the controversial play took place. It was an apparent fumble recovered by New England's Sam Hunt on the Patriot 12‐yard line. But the officials’ decision reversed the recovery and enabled the Colts to retain possession.

The action began at the Patriot 6 with Jones changing the designated play called in the huddle with audible signals shouted at the scrimmage line. But the noise from the excited crowd with the home team trailing by 1 point was such that not all the Colts heard the signal switch. Both backs, Roosevelt Leaks and Lydell Mitchell, ran to block linebackers and Jones had no one to take the ball. So he ran into the scrimmage line and was hit hard from behind by Steve Zabel, one of those four large, mobile New England linebackers.

The ball popped out of Jones's hands as he went down and it bounced backward. Julius Adams, the Patriot defensive end, got a hand on it and Sam Hunt, the linebacker, ostensibly recovered for New England at the 12.

But wait. The referee, Fred Silva, ruled that Jones had been stopped and the play had ended before the Baltimore player lost control of the ball.

The television replay failed to confirm this and Zabel said: “I knocked the ball out when I hit him. How could he have been down?”

It takes a whistle signal to stop a play and Zabel, Hunt and Adams all said they never heard a whistle.

The photo credits say this was from Oct 1, 1978 at Schaefer Stadium versus the Chargers,
but other sources say Hunt missed that game, replaced in the lineup for one week by Ray Costict. Patriots won 28-23.​

 

[Pape]

Some more photos of Sam Hunt

November 24, 1974 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Patriots defeated the Colts 27-17 to improve to 7-4.


September 28, 1975 at Schaefer Stadium: Hall of Famer Larry Little thinks about how to try to handle Sam Hunt.


Dec 14, 1975 at Schaefer Stadium: O.J. Simpson sweeps left, running for his life with Sam Hunt closing in.


Nov 14, 1976 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. 3x-Pro Bowl RB Lydell Mitchell #26 gets crushed by Sam Hunt. The 8-1 Colts were favored by 11, but the Pats won 21-14 to close within one game in the AFC East. Pete Barnes (59), Tim Fox (upper right) and Julius Adams (85) help out as well.


Aug 21, 1977: Julius Adams dumps water on Sam Hunt during a morning workout at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I


Sam Hunt gets ready for the snap on Dec 4, 1977 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Colts came from behind in the 4th quarter to win 30-24, winning the AFC East with a 10-4 record. The loss dropped the Pats to 9-5 - and out of the playoffs.


The photo credits say this was from Oct 1, 1978 at Schaefer Stadium versus the Chargers, but other sources say Hunt missed that game, replaced in the lineup for one week by Ray Costict. Patriots won 28-23.​

love it

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
RIP, **** Rehbein
The man most responsible for
Tom Brady being a New England Patriot​

August 6, 2001:
Patriots QB coach **** Rehbein passes away due to a heart condition at the young age of 45. He is most well known for being the primary staff member to lobby for the Pats to draft Tom Brady.

​

August 5, 2021:
**** Rehbein's legacy – Tom Brady's career – lives on for family of Papa Angel to cherish 20 years later

The suspension-of-disbelief part comes into play when we mull the sobering reality that **** Rehbein never lived to witness Brady’s epic ascendancy. During training camp in Brady’s second season — on Aug. 6, 2001, 20 years ago this week — Rehbein lost consciousness while undergoing a stress test at Massachusetts General Hospital. The doctors couldn’t bring him back. He was 45 years old, leaving his wife, Pam, and two daughters, Betsy, 16 at the time, and Sarabeth, 12.​

Rehbein had been a trim, healthy-looking man who watched what he ate and liked to work out. But what outsiders couldn’t have known is that he had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 1988, or that the trip to Mass General had been arranged after he had collapsed while running on a treadmill a day earlier.​

As Pam and the kids retreated to their North Attleboro home to pick up the pieces after ****’s tragic death, the mournful Patriots picked up the pieces after losing their quarterback coach. The team left the position vacant for the 2001 season.​

**** wasn’t there, then, when Brady took over as the Patriots’ starting quarterback after the crushing Mo Lewis hit that landed veteran Drew Bledsoe in the hospital in September. . . . . . . . .​

But to ****’s kids, Betsy and Sarabeth, it’s as though their dad has been there every step of the way. The two women, both now married with children of their own, are unabashed Tom Brady fans, and not just because he’s a great quarterback. The bonus to Brady’s success is that their own kids are being given a precious gift: A chance to celebrate their grandfather’s success in real time each time Brady does something magical on the football field.​

And along the way, the late **** Rehbein has earned a new title: Papa Angel.​

He is Papa Angel to Pam, to Betsy, to Sarabeth.​

And, especially, he is Papa Angel to the grandchildren he never lived to see.​

Papa Angel.​

Is there a cooler grandpa handle than that?​

https://riponredhawks.com/news/2021/7/29/football-ripons-100-for-100-****-rehbein-77.aspx

**** Rehbein '77 was a football lifer. A two-time First Team All-American and three-time First Team All-Conference performer as an offensive lineman for Ripon College, he built a life out of the game he loved, going on to serve as an assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 years across four different teams until his untimely death in 2001. One of Rehbein's most notable contributions to the sport came many years after playing his final game at Ripon's Ingalls Field, when he played an integral role in New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick drafting future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.​

But before he became a successful assistant in the NFL, Rehbein was one of the finest players Ripon's football team had ever seen before or since as one of just three players in program history to earn All-American honors more than once, doing so in each of his final two seasons. Playing center as the anchor of Ripon's offensive line, Rehbein started every game of his career. During his senior season, Rehbein was paramount in Ripon leading the Midwest Conference in both rushing yards per game (251) and total offensive yards per game (417). His domination on the gridiron landed Rehbein in the Ripon College Athletics Hall of Fame, with his induction occurring in 1997.​

A Criminal Justice major from De Pere, Wis., Rehbein was the only Division-II or Division-III player from a Wisconsin school to earn All-American honors during his senior season. What ended as a storied collegiate career almost never happened at Ripon. As student-athlete at De Pere High School, Rehbein had thoughts of playing football at a large university, but turned down an opportunity to attend the University of Minnesota, which he never regretted.​

"I've played a lot more here than my friends who went to big schools," Rehbein is on record as saying during his time as a Ripon College student-athlete. "I've learned a lot more playing here than I would have warming the bench somewhere else."​

After Rehbein's graduation in 1977, he pursued his dream of playing professional football, participating in the Green Bay Packers' training camp that summer. He did not make their final roster, as he was cut by Packer great and then-Head Coach Bart Starr. Two years later, Rehbein again found himself with an opportunity in the NFL - this time as a coach, with Starr hiring him as the Packers' Special Teams Coach.​

After serving in that role for four seasons with the Packers, Rehbein worked one year for the USFL's Los Angeles Express, before being hired as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings, including as Assistant Offensive Coordinator for two years. He then worked as an assistant in many roles for the New York Giants, prior to being hired by the Patriots in 2000 as the team's quarterbacks coach.​

One of his first jobs in that new role, as requested by first-year Head Coach Bill Belichick, was to find a developmental quarterback that could be a project behind starter Drew Bledsoe. That project turned out to be Michigan's Tom Brady, who Rehbein lobbied for during draft meetings at every opportunity.​

After flying to Michigan to scout Brady during his senior season, along with then-Patriots linebackers coach Rob Ryan, Rehbein was sold.​

"**** had an unbelievable vision for him. I remember flying on the way back home and **** was talking, 'This is my guy. I love this guy," recalled Ryan. Rehbein raved about Brady to his wife Pam and spent parts of the next several months advocating for him to Belichick and the rest of the front office.​

"**** loved Brady. He loved the quarterback's potential, his awareness, and his ability to find receivers all over the field," one of ****'s closest friends and then-Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said. "**** was certain Brady could be an NFL star and he was never afraid to offer an opinion unlike many other assistant coaches."​

Rehbein's wish came to fruition with the 199th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft when the Patriots selected Brady, who would go on to appear in 10 super bowls, winning seven, while setting numerous NFL records including most wins by an individual player in league history.​

Brady did not start in an NFL game until 2001 after serving as the Patriots fourth-string QB as a rookie and sitting behind Bledsoe for the first couple games of the 2001 season, before the latter suffered a major injury. Unfortunately, Rehbein never got to see his pet project play in an NFL game, as he passed away unexpectedly due to the heart condition cardiomyopathy during training camp in 2001, a season that would culminate in Brady's first career Super Bowl victory.​

"This is a very difficult day for the New England Patriots and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing **** Rehbein," Belichick said at the time of ****'s death. "**** was the kindest and most decent of men, who cherished his family and his career as an NFL coach. He was respected and admired professionally, by players and coaches alike and he'll be deeply missed."​

Rehbein's Death Puts Patriot Problems Into Perspective | PatsFans.com

Up until today, Patriot Camp '01 has merely been macabre. Now it is totally tragic.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots' QB coach dies at age 45

BOSTON — New England Patriots quarterbacks coach **** Rehbein died of heart failure yesterday. A Patriots' spokesman said Rehbein, 45, had checked himself into Massachusetts General Hospital in Bos…

www.capecodtimes.com

https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/2...ein-championed-tom-brady-new-england-patriots

https://www.masslive.com/sports/201...ngland-patriots-quarterbacks-coach-alive.html

**** Rehbein with wife Pam and daughter Betsy, center, during a cruise around Manhattan in 1997, when he was an assistant for the Giants




Former Patriots quarterbacks coach **** Rehbein between his daughters Betsy (left) and Sarabeth (right) in 1999.




2001 Patriots Media Guide

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Gerard Phelan suffers career-ending knee injury
BC WR is the answer to the trivia question,
"Who caught Doug Flutie's Hail Mary"?​

August 6, 1985:
Fourth round draft pick Gerard Phelan dislocates his left kneecap in a training camp practice.



There were high hopes for the wide receiver from Boston College who is most well known for being on the receiving end of Doug Flutie's Hail Mary pass to upset the Miami Hurricanes, in what is probably the most iconic play in the entire history of college football.

The extent of the injury was devastating: it ended Phelan's pro football career before it ever had a chance to begin.


In his post-football career Phelan worked at Bowne & Co., a financial services printing and communications company. In 2010 Bowne - which at the time was the oldest publicly traded company in the United States - was bought out by RR Donnelly, North America's largest commercial printer. According to the interwebz he still works there as a Senior Vice president, with 35 years of tenure at this point.



Pro Football: Patriots' Phelan To Miss Season

Gerard Phelan, one of Doug Flutie's key receivers at Boston College, will miss the 1985 season after five hours of knee surgery, the New England Patriots announced yesterday.​

Phelan, the Patriots' fourth-round 1985 draft choice, damaged his left knee in practice Monday.​

He underwent surgery on a damaged ligament and cartilage at Massachusetts General Hospital from 9 P.M. Wednesday until 2 A.M. yesterday. He will remain at the hospital for a week and then begin rehabilitation.​

Phelan gained instant fame last season when, with time running out, he caught the ''Hail Flutie'' pass that carried Boston College over Miami on national television. Phelan was also the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback's roommate.​

​

July 12, 2004:

Gerard Phelan

No matter where Gerard Phelan goes, somebody mentions the catch. "It's remarkable how many times I get recognized," says Phelan, who gained instant fame in

vault.si.com

No matter where Gerard Phelan goes, somebody mentions the catch. "It's remarkable how many times I get recognized," says Phelan, who gained instant fame in 1984 for pulling in a 48-yard Hail Mary pass from quarterback Doug Flutie in the end zone as time expired, giving Boston College a 47-45 victory over defending national champion Miami on national television. "Just the other day my son and I were watching the Red Sox game, and [broadcaster] Sean McDonough started talking about it. It's amazing."​

Phelan hung up his cleats after an injury-marred season and a half with the New England Patriots. In 1989 he joined financial printing giant Bowne & Co. Inc., where he has worked his way up from sales rep to vice president. He lives in Milford, Mass., with his wife, Lisa, and their three children. "Friends of mine joke that my obituary is already written," Phelan, 41, says of the celebrity associated with the catch. "But I think I have a few more chapters left to write."​

Nov 13, 2014:

Recalling "The Play" That Made History - Boston College Athletics

Nov. 13, 2014 Chestnut Hill, Mass. - Written By Reid Oslin Thirty years later, it still ranks as not only the greatest play in Boston College footb...

bceagles.com

"The Play" of course, is the still-talked about 48-yard "Hail Mary" throw from Doug Flutie to Gerard Phelan earning BC a miraculous 47-45 last-second victory over Miami on November 23, 1984. Televised nationally on CBS, the game - which was called by ace broadcaster Brent Musberger - was the highest-rated college football broadcast of the year in 1984. The Eagles soared into the nation's top 10 after the dazzling win and Flutie brought home college football's top individual prize, the Heisman Trophy, in balloting which closed days after the classic contest.​

Phelan said that BC coach Jack Bicknell had drilled the notion of a passing shootout into his team in the days leading up to the Friday-after-Thanksgiving game.​

"Coach Bicknell was a little more animated about this game than he had been with others in the past," Phelan recalled. "He told us before the game, `We're going to throw the ball all over the field.'"​

He wasn't kidding. Flutie wound up connecting on 34-of-46 passes, completing his first 11 throws of the game, for 472 yards and three touchdowns without yielding an interception.​

The game itself was an offensive shootout of biblical proportion. In addition to Flutie's starry totals, Miami QB Bernie Kosar was 25-of-38 for 447 yards and two scores. He was picked off twice. Together the teams generated an eye-popping 1,282 yards of offense - including 627 for BC - and the lead switched hands nine times throughout the game - three of those changes coming in the final four minutes.​

The play called by Bicknell - and he had no other option - was called "Flood Tip," which sent wide receivers Phelan and Kelvin Martin and running back Stradford to the right side of the end zone - all trying to corral the final desperation fling. Fullback Steve Strachan, who was assigned to block in the backfield, noticed that the Miami pass rush was cautious, so he too high-tailed it to the goal line. The plan was for any receiver who could get a hand on the ball to tip it up into the air so that it might be caught for a score.​

BC had practiced the play every Thursday throughout the season. Twice, Bicknell had called it in game situations with a 50 percent success rate: Phelan caught a Flutie "Flood Tip" pass on the final play of the first half in the Temple game on October 13; another "Hail Mary" effort at West Virginia a week later was broken up by a defender in the closing seconds of the first half.​

"In the last second, the ball reappeared and just grazed off the bottom of my facemask and started traveling down my body," Phelan admitted. "The catch was a little unusual; I really wasn't trying to catch the ball, I was really just trying to stop the ball from going through. I got my elbows on it and held it to my waist. That's part of the reason I fell backwards."​

Phelan, of course, had landed within the end zone markings.​

"I wasn't even sure where I was," he admitted. "I had gone in the end zone and then came back out and the ball came down and I was on my back. Then, I saw the writing in the end zone. My initial reaction was that `There is no way they will let us get away with this. There's got to be a penalty or something,'" Phelan said. "Then I got mobbed by our players and that thought went away pretty quickly [laughter]."​

The talented wide receiver from Philadelphia was drafted by the New England Patriots after his magical senior year, but a serious knee injury abruptly ended his football career.​

He is currently a sales executive for RR Donnelly Co., a national leader in the financial printing and digital information management industry. He recently celebrated his 25th anniversary with RR Donnelly and Bowne, a similar firm that was acquired by the parent company.​

Gerard and his wife, Lisa - also a Boston College graduate - live in Walpole, Mass., and are the parents of three children: Alex, a former Massachusetts High School Player of the Year at Xaverian Brothers High School, who went on to play both quarterback and wide receiver at Brown University before launching his own career in investment banking; Taylor, a senior at Boston College who has just accepted a position with Price Waterhouse; and Hannah, a junior at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro where she is a highly-recruited springboard diver.​

"Hannah has great spatial awareness," Phelan says proudly. "I'd like to think she got some of that from her dad."​

1985 Patriots Media Guide

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats waive Malcolm Mitchell
Career comes to sudden end after 16 games, at age 26​

August 6, 2018:
2016 fourth round draft pick Malcolm Mitchell is placed on waivers.


In his rookie season Mitchell had 32 receptions on 48 targets (67% completion rate), for 401 yards with 23 first downs and four touchdowns. On November 20, 2016 Mitchell caught four passes for a career-high 98 yards and his first TD in a 30-17 win at San Francisco. Two weeks later he had a career-high eight catches (on ten targets) for 82 yards in a 26-10 victory over the Rams.

Mitchell's most memorable performance was neither of those games, but in Super Bowl LI against Atlanta. He caught six of the seven passes thrown his way that night, good for 70 yards in the overtime win. In the fourth quarter Mitchell caught all five passes thrown to him, for 63 yards. His final NFL reception was a 11-yard first down, on the play prior to Julian Edelman's iconic catch that set up James White's score to send the game to overtime.

Patriots Release WR Malcolm Mitchell

Malcolm Mitchell's time with the Patriots has come to an end.

www.cbsnews.com

Malcolm Mitchell's time with the Patriots has come to an end. The Patriots have released the wide receiver.​

The Patriots drafted Mitchell in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he's battled injuries throughout his brief NFL career. But he had developed a nice rapport with quarterback Tom Brady when he was on the field, turning in a solid rookie campaign with 32 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns in 12 regular season games. He had his best game when it mattered most, catching six passes for 70 yards in New England's epic comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.​

But Mitchell missed all of last season with a knee injury and underwent another procedure on his knee just a few weeks ago. It appears he's not healthy enough for the Patriots to keep him on their roster, even with a shortage at wide receiver on the depth chart.​

It's a disappointing end for a player who once had a lot of promise in a Patriots uniform.​

Patriots release Malcolm Mitchell in latest WR shuffle

Malcolm Mitchell had a promising start to his career in New England, but injuries derailed his progress.

www.usatoday.com

The New England Patriots aren't done restructuring their receiving corps.​

In the latest move to reshuffle its set of pass catchers, the team released Malcolm Mitchell on Monday.​

A fourth-round pick out of Georgia in 2016, Mitchell showed promise as a rookie by hauling in 32 catches for 401 yards and four touchdowns. But he spent all of last season on injured reserve with a knee injury and was held out of the team's offseason program. He also underwent another procedure on his knee in late July.​

​

The move is just the latest shift for a Patriots wide receiver room that has seen plenty of offseason upheaval. New England also released Jordan Matthews last Wednesday, just short of four months after he signed with the team, with an injury settlement. The Patriots subsequently signed veteran Eric Decker.​

New England also dealt Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams in April. Cordarrelle Patterson arrived via trade in March to join a group that returns Julian Edelman (returning from a torn ACL in 2017), Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and Kenny Britt, among others.​

Release of Malcolm Mitchell a harsh reminder of life in the NFL

In a just world, Mitchell would have been a productive and admired Patriot for years.

www.boston.com

Malcolm Mitchell waived

www.patsfans.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Brian Kinchen
Super Bowl Long Snapper with Sliced Finger​

Happy 60th birthday to Brian Kinchen
August 6, 1965 in Baton Rouge
Patriot long snapper, 2003; uniform #46
Signed as a free agent on December 16, 2003
Pats résumé: two regular season games plus three postseason games; one ring, SB 38


Brian Kinchen played tight end for the Dolphins, Browns/Ravens and Panthers from 1988-2000. He also became a long snapper after joining Carolina in 1999. In 2003 he came out of retirement at the age of 38 to reunite with Bill Belichick when the Pats needed a LS late in the season, after Lonie Paxton and Sean McDermott were both sidelined with injuries. In a bit of forgotten trivia it was actually Kinchen, not Paxton, who snapped the ball on the Adam Vinatieri field goal that won Super Bowl 38 over Kinchen's former team, Carolina.

​

Must-read article here:
Feb 3, 2017:

The Bizarre Tale of the Super Bowl's Longest Snap

The incredible tale of the snap that almost wasn’t before the kick that won Super Bowl XXXVIII

www.si.com

Six hours before kickoff, Kinchen took a seat for pregame meal, across from special teams ace Larry Izzo and linebacker Mike Vrabel. He picked up a roll to start off. It felt cold and hard, too difficult to slice with a butter knife. He grabbed his steak knife instead.​

Kinchen had misjudged. His knife slid right through the roll in one swipe—and straight through to the bone on his right index finger, his throwing hand. Vrabel and Izzo laughed out loud. Our only long snapper. And that’s the most important finger on his hand!​

Further down the table, Walter was not the least bit amused. “At that point I gave up on it,” he says. “That was it, I can’t deal with this.”​

Blood spilled out as Kinchen kept clutching the roll. “I was in as much disbelief as when I threw the bad snaps,” Kinchen says. “All I’m thinking is, What is Belichick going to say when he hears this? After all this crud I’ve been doing all week, how is he going to react to this?” Kinchen would eventually need three stitches to close the cut, but it had to wait until after the game. He'd play with butterfly sutures under his glove.​

On the extra point after New England’s second touchdown, his snap bounced two yards in front of Walter. The holder saved it and the kick went through.​

Oct 12, 2007:

Where are they now? — Brian Kinchen

Four years later, Brian Kinchen still wonders: Was he dreaming, or did the New England Patriots really coax a washed-up player out of retirement to help them win the February 2004 Super Bowl? The answer sits in a small cherry wood case on…

www.baltimoresun.com

​

Brian Kinchen Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Brian Kinchen Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Football Archives -- Brian Kinchen

Brian Kinchen - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Kinchen lives in Baton Rouge, where he and his wife Lori have raised their four sons. His brother Todd also played in the NFL. His sons Austin and Hunter Kinchen were long snappers on the LSU football team. Both Brian’s mother Toni and his wife Lori were LSU cheerleaders.

Since retiring from football, Kinchen has spent time as a high school football coach and was a volunteer coach for Nick Saban’s 2004 national championship team at LSU. He has also served as a college football analyst for ESPN.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Ray Lucas​

Happy 53rd birthday Ray Lucas
Born August 6, 1972 in Harrison, New Jersey
Patriot special teamer/wide receiver/quarterback, 1996; uniform #15
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 6, 1996
Pats résumé: one season, two games


Ray Lucas is the first of more than a dozen players from Rutgers to have played for the Patriots. As a member of the Scarlet Knights he passed for 5,896 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt, with 43 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent, the original plan was to convert the QB to safety, and later to wide receiver. Lucas appeared in only two games (on special teams) for the Pats, with no stats.

After being waived on August 19, 1997, Lucas was claimed by his original NFL head coach, Bill Parcells. The running quarterback had one successful season, going 6-3 as the starter while completing over 59% of his passes, with 14 TD and 7 INT in 1999 as a sub after Vinny Testaverde was injured.


As a Pats fan my most memorable Ray Lucas moment came when he was wearing the green and white. In a Monday Night Football game on Nov 15, 1999, Bill Parcells returned to Foxboro in a game between the Jets and Patriots. Vinny Testaverde had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the season opener against the Pats, and had also traded Glenn Foley away in the offseason. Tuna went through a revolving door of Tom Tupa, Rick Mirer, and finally Ray Lucas as his starting QB. Lucas only threw for 153 yards and threw two picks, but also tossed two touchdown passes. That didn't matter as the Jets intercepted Drew Bledsoe on three consecutive possessions, Curtis Martin ran for 149 yards, and the Pats - who dominated time of possession and total yardage - fell behind 24-3, and lost 24-17 after turning the ball over on downs twice in the fourth quarter.

Jan 12, 1997: Ray Lucas (15) making a special teams play against Jacksonville in the AFCCG​

Interesting article on Lucas here:
Ray Lucas - My Life of Dad

His professional football career, however, came to a sudden end at age 30, when a neck injury caused him to collapse on the sideline during training camp. Instructed by NFL doctors that surgery wasn’t an option, Lucas turned to painkillers for relief, but as his tolerance for medication escalated and his NFL insurance coverage expired, he began to plan his suicide.​

. . .​

TR: Do you remember your first official game? What was that experience like for you?​

RL: It was in Green Bay. I was on kickoff coverage. I ran into the wedge and I didn’t know where the hell I was. I actually got into Green Bay’s huddle after I got up off the ground.​

. . .​

AE: Reading the forward by Bill Parcells it seems that he wanted thought very highly of you. For someone with Bill’s influence and respect in the NFL did you feel that having him on your side helped open up some doors during your time in the league?​

RL: First things first. With Coach Parcells, he is a Jersey boy. I am a Jersey boy. There is an unwritten rule that you have to take care of each other. It took me a long time to become a Parcells guy. You have to show him that you have no fear. You have to show him that you are willing do to whatever it takes to be successful.​

People always ask me, how do you become a Parcells guy? The only way that I can explain it is that he will take you to a cliff. He will make you hang off and then step on one of your hands. If you hold on, he will pick you up and put you behind him.​

Special teamers Larry Whigham and Ray Lucas congratulate each other during the AFCCG vs Jacksonville on Jan 12, 1997​

Ray Lucas (2017) - Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame - Rutgers University Athletics

Rutgers University Athletics

scarletknights.com

Ray Lucas Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Ray Lucas Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Football Archives -- Ray Lucas

Ray Lucas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

1997 Patriots Media Guide

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other August 6 Birthdays: Steve Burks​

Happy 72nd birthday Steve Burks
Born August 6, 1953 in Little Rock, Arkansas
Patriot special teamer/backup wide receiver , 1975-1977; uniform #82
Pats 4th round (91st overall) selection of the 1975 draft, from Arkansas State
Pats résumé: three seasons, 34 games (one start); 13 receptions for 264 yards

Steve Burks played in 34 NFL games (all with the Pats), primarily on special teams. A versatile all around athlete, the 6'5 wide receiver had 13 receptions for 264 yards, plus four kick returns. His pro football career was derailed due to a 1976 training camp knee injury, which in those days was not uncommon to be career ending.

Oct 31, 2012:

Cabot Schools Hall of Fame

The 4th Annual Cabot Schools Hall of Fame banquet sponsored by the Cabot Panther Foundation was held last week and inducted five new honorees into the Hall of Fame. Approximately 250 people were in attendance as Tom Brannon, Shelby Galen Bryant, ...

www.cabotschools.org

Steve Burks grew up in Cabot and is a 1971 graduate of Cabot High School. At an early age it became obvious that Mr. Burks was a gifted athlete. Not only was Mr. Burks gifted with athleticism, his brother, Reagan, was an Arkansas Razorback under Frank Broyles.​

Cabot was a recruiting stop for most of the top college coaches in America. During Mr. Burks’ senior year he won the state decathlon breaking the record that held for many years. Mr. Burks was the Arkansas Democrat Athlete of the Year and was the 1970’s version of the former Razorback, Matt Jones. Mr. Burks was three years all county in basketball, all state and all star in football, all state and all star in baseball and was drafted by the New York Yankees.​

Mr. Burks spent his collegiate years at Arkansas State as a quarterback. He tied the all time touchdown record in a single game with seven touchdowns and is still the all time ASU scoring leader. Steve was drafted by the New England Patriots and played three years as a wide receiver.​

From page 10 of the 1977 New England Patriots Media Guide:

All-America and all-state at Cabot (Ark.) High . . . won state decathlon and lettered in three sports . . . one of the best offensive players ever to play at ASU . . . played four different positions during varsity career (QB, punter, WR, RB) . . . rushed for 1351 yards on 347 attempts (3.9 avg.) and scored 26 TDs in four-year career . . . punted for last three years (145 punts, 5653 yds., 39.0 avg.) . . . caught 29 passes for 552 yards (19.0 avg.), 4 TDs . . . also team's leading passer last two seasons completing 61 of 134 (45.5 avg.) for 698 yards, 4 TDs, 7 interceptions . . . all-conference punter in 1972 . . . set Southland Conference scoring records in 1973 for one game (42 points on 7 TDs against Abilene Christian) and season (110 pts.) . . . in rookie year played 13 games as WR and special teams man, also caught longest pass of the season with 76-yarder against Dallas . . . in 1976 he was hottest receiver in training camp until knee injury interfered . . . forced him to miss six games, first five of the season.

Steve Burks Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Steve Burks Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Football Archives -- Steve Burks

1977 Patriots Media Guide -- Steve Burks, page 10

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other August 6 Birthdays: Eric Lee​

Happy 31st birthday Eric Lee
Born August 6, 1994 in Panama City, Florida
Patriot linebacker, 2017; uniform #55
Signed off the Bills practice squad on November 21, 2017
Pats résumé: one season, six games (five starts); 3½ sacks, one interception; three TFL, one safety

Eric Lee spent 2016 and 2017 on the practice squad for Houston and Buffalo. He was signed off the Bills practice squad to replace Cassius Marsh, who was not working out (and still whines about the Pats to this day). Lee made an immediate impact as an upgrade over Marsh, with eight tackles, one interception, 2½ sacks, and a pass deflection in his first two games.

The Patriots waived Lee at the end of 2018 training camp and he signed with Detroit, reuniting with Matt Patricia. The Lions released Eric during the 2019 season, and he was re-signed by the Patriots to their practice squad in December. Eric Lee has been out of pro football since that practice squad contract expired on January 13, 2020.

Eric Lee Highlights - at Buffalo 12/03/2017 (1:25)

Dec 3, 2017:

Who is Eric Lee? He just had the game of his life for Patriots

Two weeks ago Eric Lee was living in Western New York and working as a member Bills practice squad. Then a need in New England arose, and a call from the Patriots came. He told reporters that the next week was a “hectic” one, but he practiced, he studied, and he came away with his first career...

www.nbcsports.com

Dec 15, 2017:

'Unpredictable' football journey leads DE Eric Lee to Patriots

Eric Lee has been thrown into a front-line role with the Patriots and made a positive first impression. So how'd he wind up in New England?

www.espn.com

Dec 21, 2021:

After Nearly Quitting High School Football, Eric Lee Worked His Way to the NFL | NFL Play Football

playfootball.nfl.com

Eric Lee Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Eric Lee Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Football Archives -- Eric Lee

Eric Lee (American football) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other August 6 Birthdays: Donte Moncrief​

Happy 32nd birthday Donte Montcrief
Born August 6, 1993 in Raleigh, Mississippi
Patriot WR/KR, 2020; uniform #14
Signed as a free agent on November 4, 2020
Pats résumé: one season, six games

At the time there were high hopes that the signing of Donte Montcrief, who was previously a starter for the Colts and Jaguars, was a steal for the Patriots. Instead he was just another in a long list of veteran wide receiver signings that did not return to their previous levels of proficiency. In six games with the Patriots, Montcrief had one 15-yard reception, one four-yard carry, and an average of 19.7 yards on seven kickoff returns. His pats highlight was a 53-yard return against Arizona in a 20-17 victory on Nov 29, 2020 at Gillette Stadium.

Montcrief was a third round draft pick by Indy in 2014, from Ole Miss. He had 205 receptions for 2,576 yards (12.6 ypc) and 21 touchdowns over seven NFL seasons.

Nov 4, 2020:

Patriots sign veteran wide receiver Donte Moncrief to practice squad

It appears the Patriots are bolstering their depth at wide receiver. A day after trading for Dolphins receiver Isaiah Ford, the Patriots are signing free agent Donte Moncrief to their practice squad. Moncrief, who was selected by the Colts in the third round of the 2014 draft, has spent time...

www.boston.com

Nov 29, 2020:

Patriots: Donte Moncrief's big kickoff return set tone

Donte Moncrief's 53-yard kickoff return set up the first TD for the Patriots.

www.telegram.com

Donte Moncrief 53-Yard Kickoff Return -- Patriots vs Cardinals (0:42)

​

Dec 5, 2020:

Report: Patriots signing Moncrief to 53-man roster

The New England Patriots reportedly are signing wide receiver Donte Moncrief off the practice squad and onto their 53-man roster.

www.nbcsports.com

Dec 19, 2020:

Patriots issue update on RB Damien Harris, WR Donte Moncrief

The Patriots issued new injury updates on running back Damien Harris and wide receiver Donte Moncrief ahead of Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

985thesportshub.com

Donte Moncrief Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Donte Moncrief Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Football Archives -- Donte Moncrief

Donte Moncrief - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other even more obscure August 6 Birthdays​

Happy 37th birthday Kevin Hughes
Born August 6, 1988 in New Orleans
Patriot offensive tackle, 2015 offseason
Signed as a free agent on May 11, 2015
Pats résumé: one offseason

Hughes was signed as a rookie UDFA by the Rams in 2011. He bounced between the offseason and practice squad rosters of the Rams, Chargers, Packers, and Panthers for four years after appearing in three games for St Louis in 2011. The Pats signed him soon after the 2015 NFL draft; he was waived/injured early in training camp and never again played in the NFL.

Kevin Hughes at training camp on August 1, 2015​

Kevin Hughes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Kevin Hughes. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Pro Football Archives -- Kevin Hughes

Kevin Hughes (American football) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Happy 22nd birthday Jotham Russell
Born August 6, 2003 in Canbrerra, Australia
Patriot defensive end, 2024; uniform #69 (camp), #66 (practice squad)
Signed as an undrafted rookie on May 13, 2024
Pats résumé: practice squad, 2024

Not sure about the birthdate here. The 2024 Pats Media Guide says August 6, 2003; PFR and Wikipedia say June 8, 2003. Jotham was a rugby player from Australia who joined the NFL through the International Player Pathway Program. He was released from the Pats practice squad on January 13, 2025 and remains unsigned.

Patriots receive IPP roster exemption, sign Australian rugby player Jotham Russell

Updated International Player Pathway program rules allow the Patriots to sign Russell without forfeiting one of their 90-man roster spots.

www.boston.com

Patriots have intriguing names on practice squad

The Patriots announced 7 of their practice squad members.

www.masslive.com

From rugby league to the NFL: rookie loving each day despite Patriots’ woe

Jotham Russell uprooted from Tweed Heads Seagulls to the Patriots’ practice squad with dreams of making the grade in his new trade

www.theguardian.com

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8647729/jotham-russells-nfl-path-from-canberra-to-new-england-patriots/

Stan Flowers, 89 (August 6, 1936)
Halfback,1960 offseason; uniform #43

Stan averaged 4.1 yards per carry from 1955 to 1957 with Georgia Tech, gaining 629 yards on the ground and another 255 yards on 16 receptions. He was a third round (28th overall) selection by Washington in the 1958 draft, but an injury during his rookie training camp landed him on IR - and derailed his pro football career. Flowers was unable to get past Ron Burton, Larry Garron, Jim Crawford and Alan Miller in the 1960 Boston offensive backfield, and was released before the start of the season. He later signed with the Jets, but never appeared in any regular season AFL or NFL games.

Joe Killingsworth, 77 (August 6, 1936 in Sayre, Oklahoma; hometown Oklahoma City))
Wide Receiver, 1970 offseason; uniform #80
17th round (420th overall) selection in the 1970 draft, from Oklahoma

Joe was placed on the reserve list on July 27, 1970 for unknown reasons. Failed Physical? Abducted by aliens? Regardless, that was the last piece of evidence of his pro football career.

Other pro football players born on this date with New England connections:

Seth Wand, 46 (Aug 6, 1979)
Draft Pick Trade
3rd round (75th overall) selection of the 2003 draft, from NW Missouri State

April 26, 2003:
The Patriots traded the draft pick that would be used on Wand (3.75), along with the Pats 2003 2nd round pick (41st overall, Bennie Joppru) to the Houston Texans in exchange for Houston's 2003 2nd round pick (36th overall, Eugene Wilson) and 2003 4th round pick (117th overall, Dan Klecko).

Wand started 18 games over a five-year career with three different teams. Joppru was a tight end whose only NFL stats were a few special teams tackles, and played in only one game for the Texans.


Yes, the Patriots won that trade.



Dezmon Patmon, 27 (August 6, 1998)
Draft Pick Trade
6th round (212th overall) selection of the 2020 draft, from Washington State


Trev Faulk, 44 (August 6, 1981)
Cousin to Kevin Faulk
Middle linebacker from LSU played in 29 games for the Rams in 2004-05.


Mike Evans, 79 (August 6, 1946)
Boston College, class of '68
This Mike Evans was a center, not a wide receiver. He was a ninth round (232nd overall) selection of the 1968 draft by his hometown team, Philadelphia. Evans was the Eagles starting center from 1968 to 1973.


Brendan McCarthy (August 6, 1945 - Aug 26, 1997)
Born in Boston; Boston College, class of '68
Running back for the Falcons and Broncos was originally a 4th round pick by Green Bay in 1968.


Diamond Ferri, 44 (August 6, 1981)
Born in Stoneham; Everett High School, class of '99
Undrafted safety from Syracuse played for the Arizona Cardinals in 2006.




Some other pro football players sharing this birth date:

Ken Riley, (1947-2020)
Pro Bowl CB started 201 games for the Bengals from 1969-1983, recording 65 interceptions. He was finally inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023 - posthumously.

Ed Husmann (1931-2018)
The three-time AFL All-Star DT with the Houston Oilers played in 142 games from 1953 to 1965.

Bruce Van Dyke, 81 (August 6, 1944)
The guard played in 128 games from 1966-76, mostly with the Steelers.

Kareem Hunt, 30 (August 6, 1995)
Good running back; bad human being.

Bruce Miller, 38 (August 6, 1987)
Holds an obscure record of longest amount of time away from football and then returning (post-WWII). Miller missed four full seasons after an arrest for felony assault charges, then returned to play at age 33 in 2020.

Snitz Snyder (1905-1983)
What's not to love about a fullback named Snitz?

Mike Frederick, 53 (August 6, 1972)
Frederick was part of a lopsided trade between the 49ers and Browns. In 1995 San Francisco sent their first round pick (30th overall), 4th rounder (119th overall) and their 1996 first round pick all to Cleveland in order to move up to the 10th overall pick of the draft.

San Francisco used that selection on WR J.J. Stokes who had a good but not great career (though he did pick up a ring after appearing in two 2003 games with the Pats).

Initially Cleveland (ie, Bill Belichick and Ozzie Newsome) looked as though they lost out in the trade. The first round pick was LB Craig Powell; he played in only three games as a rookie and was a draft bust, appearing in just 14 NFL games with zero starts over his career. The third round pick was Frederick, who was a backup DE as a rookie and started only 12 games over a five year career.

The final draft pick, that 2006 first rounder was used a year later after the Browns became the Baltimore Ravens: Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis.

Most importantly, let's never forget: RLKAG

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other 20th Century August 6 Trivia​

Friday Aug 6, 1976:
8:00 pm, Owen Field, Norman, Oklahoma
Preseason Week 2: San Diego Chargers 26, New England Patriots 17
Chargers score twice in the fourth quarter for comeback win.
Pats go 3-9 on third down, while Chargers convert 10-16.
The Chargers were the home team in Chuck Fairbanks' return to Norman.




Saturday Aug 6, 1977:
8:00 pm, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Preseason Week 1: New England Patriots 19, New York Giants 3
Andy Johnson rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries and John Smith kicked four out of five field goals.
The Pats outgained the Giants 333 yards to 185, and controlled the ball for 33:39.




Aug 6, 1980:
New England signs free agent safety Jimmy Stewart

The actor's namesake was an eighth round (201st overall) selection of the 1977 draft by New Orleans, from Tulsa. He played in nine games for the Saints in '77, and five for the Lions in '79, with four starts. I'm not sure of the specifics, but the Pats placed Stewart on injured reserve four days later, and he never again played in the NFL.




Saturday Aug 6, 1983:
7:30 pm, Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
Preseason Week 1: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, New England Patriots 16
Mosi Tatupu rushes for two touchdowns before a crowd of 42,816.
Tony Eason comes off the bench and goes 10-17 for 92 yards, plus 18 yards on three carries.




Aug 6, 1985:
Fourth round draft pick Gerald Phelan dislocates his left kneecap in a training camp practice.

Phelan was placed on injured reserve three days later after undergoing surgery at Mass General, ending his football career.
See post above for more info.




Saturday Aug 6, 1988:
7:00 pm, Sullivan Stadium, Foxborough
Preseason Week 1: Atlanta Falcons 34, New England Patriots 30
Doug Flutie (18-29-213-2-0) gets the bulk of the work, coming in after Steve Grogan (5-11-80) and Tom Ramsey (0-7) each played for one quarter. Joe Peterson, who had played in the three 1987 replacement games, recovered a fumble and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Collectively the two teams put the ball on the ground eleven times, losing five fumbles.




Aug 6, 1997:
The Patriots waive CB Curtis Jones, an undrafted rookie CB from Howard

From a July 16, 1997 article:

Ordeal begins for Patriots' rookie

SMITHFIELD -- Chris Carter was doing his best to sound confident, but in the end he acknowledged that he was only acting. "I really don't know what to expect," the rookie safety said yesterday at B…

www.southcoasttoday.com

But many of the other 26 first-year players expected to report for this afternoon's physicals and conditioning run aren't in such a fortunate position.​

Curtis Jones, a free-agent cornerback from Howard University, for one, knows he is facing an uphill battle to win a job.​

"I just want a chance to compete, to give it everything I can," he said after picking up the key to his dorm room. "I feel like I learned a lot during two mini-camps. Now I'm ready to get it on. This going to be the biggest challenge I've ever faced, but I can't wait to get started."​

New coach Pete Carroll and his assistants also are itching to turn the key to the "on" position because, as linebackers coach Dante Scarnecchia pointed out, nobody enjoys an NFL camp more than an NFL coach.​

"You have time to go over things in detail and to fine-tune everything you've been talking about for months," he said. "It's a good time of year for us."​

The Patriots also waived another player from Howard, RB Rupert Grant.

"Dogghead" Grant had originally been signed as undrafted rookie by the Pats on May 1, 1995. He appeared in seven games for the Patriots in '95, then spent the second half of the season on the practice squad. An injury very early in the following training camp resulted in his spending the 1996 season on injured reserve. Grant was a fullback/linebacker in the Arena Football League from 1999 to 2007 with the Nashville Kats, Detroit Fury and Orlando Predators.

Rupert Grant | ArenaFan.com

ArenaFan is the premier community site for fans of the Arena Football League. News, scores, standings, statistics, games and more. Anything you've ever wanted to know about the AFL.

www.arenafan.com

WR Michael Dritlein clears waivers and is placed on injured reserve with a fractured collarbone.
See the August 5 2024 entry for more on the Washburn University product.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other 21st Century August 6 Trivia​

Aug 6, 2001:
Quarterbacks coach **** Rehbein passes away due to cardiomyopathy at the age of 45

See post #5 above.




Aug 6, 2004:

Patriots release three players

The New England Patriots released three players today: offensive tackle James Williams, quarterback Kurt Kittner and defensive lineman DeVonte Peterson. The team's training camp roster now consists of 84 players, including those carrying NFL Europe roster exemptions.​

Williams, 36, was signed by the Patriots on July 28, 2004. He is a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, playing in 166 games with 143 starts for the Chicago Bears from 1991-2002. The 6-foot-7-inch, 332-pound lineman started at right tackle in 134 consecutive games for the Bears, including every game in his final eight seasons in Chicago. He earned a Pro Bowl nod following the 2001 campaign, a season in which he also earned All-Pro honors from the Associated Press.​

Kittner, 24, was signed by the Patriots on July 15, 2004. He is in his third NFL season after spending the first two years of his pro career with the Atlanta Falcons. In 2003, the 6-foot-2-inch, 221-pound quarterback started four games for the Falcons while playing in a total of seven contests. He finished the season completing 44 of 114 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns. Kittner was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round (158th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.​

Peterson, 26, was signed by the Patriots on June 22, 2004. He was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2001. The 6-foot-2-inch, 275-pound defensive tackle has also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and played in NFL Europe for the Scottish Claymores in 2002.​

Aug 6, 2007:

Hill released

RB Quadtrine Hill, who spent time on the practice squad, released today.

www.boston.com

The Patriots announced the release of running back Quadtrine Hill today. Hill was a longer shot to earn a roster spot.​

Hill, 24, was signed to the Patriots practice squad on January 4, 2007 and was a member of the practice squad during last season’s playoffs. The 6-foot-2-inch, 230-pound running back was signed to the Patriots’ active roster on January 23, 2007. Hill was originally signed by the Houston Texans as a rookie free agent on May 4, 2006. He was released by the Texans on June 15, 2006 and was signed by the Chicago Bears on August 21, 2006. Hill was released by Chicago on August 24, 2006.​

Quadtrine Hill

miamihurricanes.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/quadtrine-hill-b5527b3b

Aug 6, 2009:
Guard Al Johnson was released by the Patriots. The offensive lineman joined the Pats on March 16 after spending the previous season with the Dolphins. Johnson had not participated in training camp due to an undisclosed injury. He and the Patriots reached an injury settlement before parting ways.

The 6'5, 305 pound veteran had spent six seasons in the NFL, playing for the Dallas Cowboys (2003-06), Arizona Cardinals (2007) and the Dolphins (2008).




Aug 6, 2010:

RB Clayton released to make room

The Patriots announced tonight that running back Thomas Clayton, a longshot to make the roster, has been released. The move was made to make room for safety Josh Barrett, who was claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos.

www.espn.com

The Patriots announced tonight that running back Thomas Clayton, a longshot to make the roster, has been released. The move was made to make room for safety Josh Barrett, who was claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos.​

Clayton, who was drafted out of Kansas State by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, spent all of 2007 and the first 14 weeks of 2008 on the 49ers practice squad. Clayton was signed to San Francisco's active roster for the final two games of 2008 but was placed on injured reserved for the 2009 season.​

The Patriots signed the 5-foot-11, 250-pound Clayton on June 11. He has been sidelined for 11 of the team's training camp practices with an undisclosed injury.​

Aug 6, 2011:

Patriots waive two players

The Patriots made two minor roster moves on Saturday, waiving cornerback Thad Turner and waiving/injured offensive lineman Kyle Hix. Both players were considered longshots to make the 53-man roster.

www.espn.com

The Patriots made two minor roster moves on Saturday, waiving cornerback Thad Turner and waiving/injured offensive lineman Kyle Hix. Both players were considered longshots to make the 53-man roster.​

Turner was signed to the Patriots' practice squad on November 9, 2010 after signing with the Colts as an undrafted free agent the previous spring. He was re-signed to a future contract on January 17.​

An undrafted free agent out of Texas, Hix had missed the past five training camp practices with an undisclosed injury. By being waived/injured, Hix will be placed on the Patriots' injured reserve list if he is not first claimed by another team off waivers.​

Aug 6, 2012:

Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years Old?

Can Tom Brady still be an elite quarterback at forty years old?

www.patsfans.com

Aug 6, 2015:

Patriots sign OL Mark Asper, TE Mason Brodine; Release OL Harland Gunn

Patriots sign OL Apser, TE Brodine, release OL Gunn

The Patriots training camp roster shuffling continued Thursday with the team announcing the signings of offensive lineman Mark Asper and tight end Mason Brodine. Terms of those deals were not announced. They also released offensive lineman Harlan Gunn. Asper, 29, 6-6, 321 pounds, spent time on...

www.nbcsportsboston.com

The Patriots training camp roster shuffling continued Thursday with the team announcing the signings of offensive lineman Mark Asper and tight end Mason Brodine. Terms of those deals were not announced. They also released offensive lineman Harlan Gunn.​

Asper, 29, 6-6, 321 pounds, spent time on the Dolphins and Giants practice squads last season. Brodine, 27, 6-7, 270, was on injured reserve with the Rams last season. Gunn was claimed off waivers from the Falcons earlier this week.​

Ray Hill passes away one day shy of his 40th birthday, from colon cancer.

The defensive back suffered a leg injury and spent the 2001 season on injured reserve with the Patriots. He had played in 30 games for the Bills and Dolphins from 1998 to 2000, but never got back on the field after his stint with the Pats.




Aug 6, 2018:
Patriots waive Malcolm Mitchell

See post #7 above.




Aug 6, 2024:

Patriots Daily News Thread - Tuesday Patriots News Thread 8/6

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PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP - Tuesday Patriots Training Camp 8/6

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Aug 6, 2025:
Joint practice with Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium

PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP - Training Camp Day 12 - Wednesday August 6 - Joint practice controlled scrimmage versus Washington Commanders.

Still in bed Pape, come on lazy bones, you have missed it. Wakey, wakey

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