Happy Birthdays: John "Hog" Hannah, Jon "Pat Patriot" Morris

[Actual Pats Fan]

John Hannah (born 4/4/51), is about as hesitant to give you his frank immediate opinion as he is to block you out of the play and into submission. He made us contenders right away, and played like a champion every game. He is still the last guy on Earth I'd ever want to face across the line of scrimmage.

Jon Morris (born 4/5/42), the Green Bay Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi, picked Morris as their number two draft choice, however Morris chose to go with the Boston Patriots instead and he was signed on as their third pick. Morris was the Patriots' team Rookie of the Year in 1964, and their "Unsung Hero" in 1965. He was an AFL All-Star six times, 1964 through 1969, and was an AFC Pro Bowl Center in 1970; he was the first Patriots player to be selected for the AFC Pro Bowl. Morris was named to the second team, All-Time All-AFL, and to the fan-selected Boston Patriots All-1960s Team. He played 128 games for the Patriots, the eighth best individual record in club history.

 

[jmt57]

I've been slacking in regards to the daily updates; here is an abbreviated look at the last few days in Patriots' history.

April 1 Birthdays

Bob Soltis (4/1/1936-6/26/2009)
Patriot DB, 1960-61
An original Patriot, career was cut short due to a back injury.

Brian Dowling (4/1/1947)
Patriot QB, 1972-73
More well known for being inspiration of "BD" in Doonesbury comic strip.

David Posey (4/1/1956)
Patriot K, 1978
Kicked the game-winning FG that clinched Pats' first division title in 15 years.

Don Hasselbeck (4/1/1955)
Patriot TE, 1977-83
Caught 18 touchdown passes with the Pats.

Mark Wheeler (4/1/1970)
Patriot DT, 1998
One of four players lost in free agency that led to NE getting a certain compensatory draft pick in the sixth round of the 2000 draft.

Chris Eitzmann (4/1/1977)
Patriot TE, 2000
Harvard grad was once a roommate with Tom Brady.

Notable pro football players born on this date include Jumbo Elliott (LT for Giants, Jets), former Dallas DE Jim Jeffcoat and Sean Taylor (RIP).

Announcer's nightmare born 4/1: Owamagbe Odihizvwa, NYG DE who recently said he is 'stepping away from football' at the age of 25.

 

[jmt57]

April 2 Birthdays:

Oscar Lofton (4/2/1938)
Patriot TE, 1960
Being drafted by the Army and then an injury cut his pro football career short. Stayed in football, spending 28 years as a coach and 21 more as a scout. In his final game with the Pats Lofton caught two TD passes with 86 yards receiving.


Two NFL New England natives were also born on this day.

- Kevin Smith (4/2/1967). Newport RI native and URI grad played in 16 games for Pittsburgh in 1991.

- Bill Romanowski (4/2/1966). Rockville CT native and BC alum won four Super Bowl rings while gaining a reputation for dirty play and PED usage.


Announcer's nightmare born 4/2: Shyrone Stith (Jags, Colts 2000-02).


Also: Arnie Herber (4/2/1910); Hall of Fame QB for Packers in the 1930s.

 

[jmt57]

April 3 Birthdays:

Randy Beverly (4/3/1944)
Patriot CB, 1970-71
Had two picks and two fumble recoveries with the Patriots.

Ralph Anderson (4/3/1949)
Patriot FS, 1973
Started 11 games, with two interceptions in '73.

Russ Francis (4/3/1953)
Patriot TE, 1975-80, 87-88
See Happy Birthday, The One And Only, Russ Francis



Announcer's nightmare born 4/3: Viliami Maumau (Panthers, 1999).


Other NFL notables born 4/3:

Leslie Frazier (4/3/59) was a CB with Chicago before becoming a coach.

Jim Parker (4/3/34-7/18/2005); Hall of Fame OL was an 8-time All Pro for the Colts.

Jared Allen (4/3/82); DE has 136 career sacks.

Lyle Alzado (4/3/49-5/14/1992); intimidating DE became spokesperson against steroid abuse.

Kam Chancellor (4/3/1988), four-time Pro Bowl SS for Seattle.

Mike Pruitt (4/3/1954); RB had three consecutive seasons with 1500+ yards from scrimmage with the Browns.

Shane Conlan (4/3/1964): MLB for Bills named to three Pro Bowls.

 

[jmt57]

April 4 Birthdays:

John Hannah (4/4/1951)
Patriot LG, 1973-1985
Ten-time All-Pro. Four-time NFLPA Offensive Lineman of the Year. Hall of Famer. Greatest player in franchise history not named Tom Brady.

Arthur Moore (4/4/1951)
Patriot DT, 1973-1977
Drafted by SF in '73, caught on with Pats and appeared in 29 games.


From the New England area: Nick Giaquinto (4/4/1955). RB from Bridgeport CT got a SB ring with Washington.


New York Jet draft bust: Johnny 'Lam' Jones (4/4/1958)
Second overall pick of 1980 draft averaged 464 yards receiving and 2.6 touchdowns over his five-season career.


Other notable NFL players:

Jack Del Rio (4/4/1963) had an 11-year career at linebacker before he became a coach.

Ed White (4/4/1947); four-time Pro Bowl guard played in 241 games for Vikings and Chargers.

Jessie Tuggle (4/4/1965); five-time Pro Bowl LB with Falcons.

Keith Bulluck (4/4/1977); LB spent 11 seasons with Titans and Giants.

Tom Jackson (4/4/1951); will never, ever live down his infamous "they hate their coach and their season could be over" outburst. He was finally fired last year.

 

[jmt57]

April 5 Birthdays:

Jon Morris (4/5/1942)
Patriot C, 1964-74
Seven-time All-Star/Pro Bowler from Holy Cross was enshrined to the Pats' Hall of Fame in 2011. See original post above for more.

Eddie Ray (4/5/1947)
Patriot RB/TE, 1970
Pats' 4th round pick in 1970 only appeared in five games in '70. He was traded to San Diego on 9/8/71 for a 1972 seventh round pick, which was used on John Tarver. In 1973 Ray was Atlanta's goal line back, scoring 11 touchdowns.

Bob Kuberski (4/5/1971)
Patriot DT, 1999
Navy grad played in five games for the Pats in '99 after having spent four years in Green Bay. He then signed with Denver as a free agent but did not make the roster, ending his NFL career.


More Jet draft busts:
- Troy Taylor (4/5/68); QB was the 84th pick of the '68 draft. He appeared in seven games and was out of the league in two years.
- Rick Terry (4/5/74); DT was the 31st pick of the '97 draft. Jets gave up on him after one season.


Other notable NFL players born April 5:
- Brad Van Pelt (4/5/51), 5-time Pro Bowl LB with Giants.
- Marc Bulger (4/5/77), Ram QB 2002-09.
- Ike Hilliard (4/5/76), NYG & Buc WR had 6,397 career receiving yards.
- Dwight Hicks (4/5/56), won 2 SB rings as FS starter for 49ers in '80s.
- Oliver Luck (4/5/60); Andrew's dad was an Oiler backup QB 1983-86.

Cruel name to give your child:
Les Shy (4/5/44), Cowboy/Giant RB/KR 1966-70.

Announcer's nightmare:
Scott Mruczkowski (4/5/82), Charger OL 2005-11.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Announcer's nightmare born 4/1: Owamagbe Odihizvwa, NYG DE who recently said he is 'stepping away from football' at the age of 25.

Well I'm stepping away from ever trying to pronounce that.

Admit it, you printed his name backwards.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Mark Wheeler (4/1/1970)
Patriot DT, 1998
One of four players lost in free agency that led to NE getting a certain compensatory draft pick in the sixth round of the 2000 draft.

Well of course how relevant could that pick ever possibly be...

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Brian Dowling (4/1/1947)
Patriot QB, 1972-73
More well known for being inspiration of "BD" in Doonesbury comic strip.

My dad had a doctor friend who was a Columbia grad, who arranged his schedule so he could travel to every Yale football game in 1968. Yes, Calvin Hill was great, but it was to see this kid. What he could do on a football field was uncanny. Had there been a Walsh or Bicknell type in the NFL who would give him a chance...the sky was the limit. I feel as robbed of an historic pre-Brady run here with him as I do with Flutie.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

David Posey (4/1/1956)
Patriot K, 1978
Kicked the game-winning FG that clinched Pats' first division title in 15 years.

A big deal, yes.

We forgot one more notable April 1st birthday:

Jeannie Nelson

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Announcer's nightmare born 4/2: Shyrone Stith (Jags, Colts 2000-02).

Shyrone "Revenge of the Stith" Shoelaces

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Announcer's nightmare born 4/3: Viliami Maumau

...oh-oh oh-oh, ramalama ding-dong

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Scott Mruczkowski (4/5/82), Charger OL 2005-11.

Well, at least he didn't go on to be an assistant basketball coach at Duke...

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Tom Jackson (4/4/1951); will never, ever live down his infamous "they hate their coach and their season could be over" outburst. He was finally fired last year.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

More Jet draft busts:

These are almost as delicious as the Pats' alumni detail.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Ike Hilliard (4/5/76), NYG & Buc WR had 6,397 career receiving yards.

And a related birthday today: Irwin L. "Tiny" Turner (April 6, 1895 – October 19, 1965) was an American football guard who played one season for the Dayton Triangles of the American Professional Football Association. Turner played college football at Ohio State University.

What? OK, sorry, so I couldn't resist...whatever.

(rollin' on the rivuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhh...)

 

[Thelonious]

John Hannah was the only Patriot, until Brady became Brady, where you felt you could say, without a second thought,"Yep, we've got the best one of those in the league." Even with Seymour, though he was great at what he did, there were other things that he didn't do, and he lacked the game-wrecking dynamism that many of the very best DE's have. I never had any reservations at all about Hannah.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

you felt you could say, without a second thought,"Yep, we've got the best one of those in the league."

you forgot him

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Also: Arnie Herber (4/2/1910); Hall of Fame QB for Packers in the 1930s

Oh yeah? Check it out: All these guys were born on April 6th:

Tim "The" Beamer, John Beasley, "N"Ed Beatty, Ron Billingsley, John Brewer, Bill "Herb" Brooks, Mike "Mister" Burns, Harry Burrus, Ken Byers, Dave Cadigan, Tom Carr, Chris Carter, Frank Conover, Joe Crowley, Aaron Curry, Chad Eaton, Jeremy "Siskel &" Ebert, Donnie Edwards, Doc Elliott, Jeff Faine, Derrick Fenner, Isaiah Frey, Ben "Judy" Garland, Randall "My Man" Godfrey, David Graham, Tyronne Green, Andy Harmon, Jim Harness, Neville "Love" Hewitt, Chris Hoke, Walter Holman, Marqueston Huff, Denny Hughes, Steve Jackson, Thurmon Jones, Kurt Knoff, Aaron Kyle, Spider Lockhart, Charley Long, Lorenzo Lynch, Herbert Maack, Aaron Maybin, Hurvin McCormack, Jalen "General" Mills, Carlton "Your Doorman" Mitchell, Bill "Tip" O'Neill, Bob Oristaglio, Don "Chief" Parrish, Ricky "Gen." Patton, Ropati "Pituitary" Pitoitua, **** Plasman, Cyhl Quarles, Larry "Defense" Robinson, Frank Robotti, Roy Ruskusky, Julie Rykovich, Jon Sawyer, Sterling Sharpe, Stan Smagala, Charlie Smith, Frank Spellacy, Jerry Stautberg, Thomas Strauthers, Leo Sugar, Ryan Thelwell, Marco Tongue, Adrian Tracy, Joe Tyrrell, Kenny Walker, Jeff West, Adrian White and Nemiah Wilson.

 

[Thelonious]

you forgot him

LOL. I guess if you've got the only of something, youve got the best too.