July 17 in Pats History: Jerry DeLucca, the Pride of Peabody

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Today in Patriots History
The Pride of Peabody​

Happy posthumous birthday to Jerry DeLucca, who would have been 85 today
Born July 17, 1936 in Peabody
Patriot OT/DT 1960-61, 1963-64; uniform #74 ('60-'63), #70 ('64)
Acquired in a trade with Buffalo on September 4, 1962 ... or was it Sept 23?
Died January 28, 2017 at the age of 80

Jerry DeLucca was originally a seventh round (84th overall) selection by the Bears in the 1957 draft. He joined the Pats on September 23, 1960 for their inaugural season and started at right tackle for the club's first two years. After Mike Holovak replaced Lou Saban as head coach, he opted for Milt Graham over DeLucca at right tackle and defensive tackle Jesse Richardson, and traded DeLucca to Buffalo just before the start of the 1963 season. DeLucca rejoined the Pats in '63 for depth.

Jerry DeLucca played in 31 games for the Patriots with 25 starts from 1960 to 1964.

In-depth seven-page PDF bio on Jerry here:
Jerry DeLucca Biography | Pro Football Researchers

From 1961, the Boston Patriots offensive line: tackle Gerry DeLucca (74), guard Tony Sardisco (64),
center Walt Cudzik (54), guard Charlie Leo (63) and tackle Charley Long (76)​

Gerald J 'Jerry' DeLucca obituary | The Salem News

Born in Beverly, he was the son of the late Anthony and Stella (Koziski) DeLucca. He was raised and educated in Peabody and graduated from Peabody High School in 1953. He continued his education at Middle Tennessee State where he excelled as a lineman on the football team.​

Following his college football career, Jerry played six seasons of professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots before retiring in 1964. After retiring from football, Jerry embarked on career selling insurance for All State Insurance and later owned his own insurance agency, Jerry DeLucca Insurance Agency in Peabody before he finally retired many years ago.​

 

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Today in Patriots History
The Pride of Peabody​

Happy 43rd birthday to Brandon Gorin
Born July 17, 1978 in Muncie, Indiana
Patriot OT, 2003-2005; uniform #76
Signed as a free agent to the practice squad on September 5, 2002

Brandon Gorin played in 32 regular season games for the Patriots, with 18 starts. The Pats went 6-1 in Gorin's seven playoff games, including the Super Bowl 39 victory over Philadelphia. Brandon played in a career-high 14 games with ten starts in that 2004 season, when Corey Dillon set the Patriots' single-season rushing record with 1,635 yards.

Hide the women and daughters: here is the 2005 New England Patriots offensive line​

From the PatsFans message board on June 3, 2006:
No way that Brandon Gorin makes this team ...

Brandon Gorin vs. Wesley Britt


Aug 21, 2006 - Patriots Trade OT Brandon Gorin to Arizona | Patriots.com

Gorin, 28, is in his fifth NFL season and was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-6-inch, 308-pound offensive lineman was listed as a game-day inactive for all 16 games as a rookie with the Chargers in 2001. He was released by the Chargers following their 2002 training camp and was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 5, 2002.​

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The Muncie, Ind. native spent the remainder of the 2002 season on New England’s practice squad and was signed to the Patriots’ active roster on Jan. 6, 2003. He made his NFL debut in 2003 for the Patriots and played in six regular season games and two playoff contests that season. In 2004, the Purdue product broke into the starting lineup at right tackle, starting 10 of 14 games and all three playoff contests as New England allowed just 26 sacks and averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry for the first time in 19 years.​

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Last season, he played in 12 games at right tackle and started the final eight contests of the regular season in addition to both of New England’s playoff games. He has played in played in 32 career games with 18 starts.​

July 28, 2016 - Super Bowl Champion Celebrates Failure | Inside Indiana Business

Brandon Gorin, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, is area developer for Marco's Pizza in the Indianapolis market. During a presentation at FailFest today in Fishers, Gorin said the only secret to success he has found as an entrepreneur is "intentional work over time."​

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Gorin was born and raised in Muncie. He attended Purdue University before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001. He opened his first Marco's Pizza store in 2011. Since then, he says, while some of his stores have been successful and some have not, "all have taught me lessons." He is area developer for the Indy market, which includes 23 stores, with an additional four in development.​

Brandon Gorin - Owner - MP Indy llc | LinkedIn

Area Representative for Central Indiana Marco's Pizza​

 

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Today in Patriots History
More July 17 Trivia​

Happy 44th birthday to Justin Kurpeikis
Born July 17, 1977 in Allison Park, PA
Patriot LB, 2004-05; uniform #47
Signed to the practice squad on October 22, 2003

Justin Kurpeikis was undrafted out of Penn State, where he had been a 2000 All Big 10 Conference first teamer. He was first with the Steelers for three years, appearing in just nine games during that time. From 2004-05 Kurpeikis was with the Patriots, spending more time on the practice squad than on the 53 man roster. In the five games that he got to play for the Pats he had three tackles (one solo). Kurpeikis also spent time with Cleveland, Detroit, and Hamburg in NFL Europe.

8/27/2004: Dan Klecko, left, stretches with teammate Justin Kurpeikis​

Post-NFL Kurpeikis owns a physical therapy clinic, and has worked in sales of medical devices.

LB Justin Kurpeikis released from Practice Squad

LB Justin Kurpeikis released from Practice Squad

www.patriots.com

Behind the Desk: Justin Kurpeikis

Address: 613 Valley View Blvd. Suite 200, Altoona. Also operates a State College location. Telephone number: 889-0310 Position: Owner/CEO Years with company: About 10 years; was a founding member Family: Wife, Kelly; and kids:âOlivia, 11; Isabel, 9; Leonard, 7; and William, 5 What products or...

www.altoonamirror.com

Our Team | Atlas Therapy

Justin Kurpeikis | LinkedIn




July 17, 2007:

Dolphins cut Culpepper, Patriots re-sign Brown

The Miami Dolphins have released quarterback Daunte Culpepper, the NFL said on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com

Other pro football players born on July 17 with New England connections include:

- Stalin Colinet, born 7/17/1974; Boston College.
The defensive lineman was a third round draft pick by Minnesota, and played in 68 games with 42 starts over six NFL seasons.

RandBall Q+A with ex-Viking Stalin Colinet: "We royally screwed that up."

Among other things.

www.startribune.com

- Clyde Smith, born 7/17/1904; Providence Steam Roller.
A three-time all-pro center, Smith was part of the 1928 championship team from Providence that lost only one game and outscored their opponents by a 3:1 margin.

Season in Time: Providence Steam Roller 1928

- Ed Brawley, born 7/17/1884; born in Boston, Medford High School, Holy Cross.
Two guys from Peabody in one day?

After a brief time in the NFL (where he played with Jim Thorpe), Brawley coached football, basketball, and baseball at Allen Military School in Waltham and Hillhouse High School in New Haven. From 1922 to 1926 he was the head football coach at Peabody High School as well as the University of Peabody, a semi-pro football team. Ed Brawley was the chair of Peabody High's history department until his death on May 1, 1956.

This photo from 1921 shows several members of the University of Peabody football team,
including Edward Brawley senior (top right) who coached the team in the 1920s and 1930s.
Courtesy of Peabody Historical Society.​

Some other notable pro football players born on this date:

- Daryle Lamonica, 80 (7/17/41); the Mad Bomber had a career record of 66-16-6 and may have been the league's best player over the final three years of the American Football League. In 1969 Lamonica led the league in passing yards, touchdowns, TD percentage, lowest sack percentage - and also had three 4th quarter game winning comebacks, leading the Raiders to a 12-1-1 record.

Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica, "The Mad Bomber"

True fans of the Silver and Black know that the Oakland, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas Raiders history at quarterback is amazing, including Daryle Lamonica

www.si.com

- Eric Moulds, 48 (7/17/73); this three-time Buffalo Bill Pro Bowler was one of the NFL's premier wide receivers from 1998 to 2002. He had 764 career receptions and 49 touchdowns, with 12,310 all purpose yards.

Eric Moulds reflects back on his Football Life

On the latest episode of Listen In With KNN on Fox Sports 1340AM, host Kelsey Nicole Nelson welcomed former Buffalo Bills wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowle

foxsports1340am.com

- Mike Thomas (1953-2019); the running back was the 1975 offensive rookie of the year for Washington, but overuse (813 touches in his first three seasons) shortened his career.

Local football legend Mike Thomas dead at 66

Mike Thomas, a standout running back from Greenville who followed two older brothers into the National Football League, has died at the age of 66.

www.heraldbanner.com