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Today in Patriots History
Nick Kaczur
Nick Kaczur
Happy 42nd birthday to Nick Kaczur
Born July 28, 1979 in Brantford, Ontario
Patriot RT, 2005-2010; uniform #77
Pats 3rd round (100th overall) selection of the 2005 draft, from Toledo
Nick Kaczur grew up in Brantford Ontario, a city where Alexander Graham Bell invented the first telephone, and is also where hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and comedian/actor Phil Hartman grew up. After high school Kaczur worked in construction for two years before enrolling at the University of Toledo. He was the first player there to be All-Mac conference for each of his four seasons. Besides being drafted by the Pats he was also selected in the first round (ninth overall) by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2005 CFL draft. Because of the delay enrolling in college he was already 26 years old when he began his first NFL training camp in New England.
Kaczur played in 68 regular season games for the Patriots, with 62 starts. The Pats were also 5-2 in the postseason when he started. In 2008 Nick started 14 games at right tackle as a member of an offensive line that was a part of the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than twenty years in terms of rushing yards (2,278), rushing touchdowns (21) and yards per carry (4.44). The following year he started 13 games on an offense that allowed the fewest sacks (18) by a Patriots line since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.
Despite the somewhat relatively short career, Nick Kaczur is a member of the Patriots All-Decade Team of the 2000s. He was inducted into the University of Toledo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
Nick Kaczur (2012) - Hall of Fame - University of Toledo Athletics
Nick Kaczur, Class: 2004 Induction: 2012 Sport(s): Football - Nick Kaczur is one of only two Rocket football players to ever make All-MAC four times. A starter at
utrockets.com
Nick Kaczur is one of only two Rocket football players to ever make All-MAC four times. A starter at left tackle in all 51 games his four-year career, Kaczur made second-team All-MAC as a freshman in 2001, then earned first-team honors in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He played on MAC Championship teams in 2001 and 2004, and bowl teams in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Kaczur blocked for future NFL players Chester Taylor and Bruce Gradkowski. In his senior season, Kaczur was a Lombardi Award candidate for the nation's best lineman, linebacker or tight end, and an Outland Trophy candidate for the nation's best interior lineman. He played in the 2005 East-West Shrine Game and the 2005 Hula Bowl. He was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by New England and played six seasons with the Patriots as a starting right tackle. He played in the 2008 Super Bowl with the Pats and was named to their All-Decade Team at right tackle. Kaczur earned his degree in recreation & leisure from UT in 2005.
Below is a timeline of events directly and indirectly related to Kaczur:
- April 23, 2005: Nicholas Jesse Kaczur is drafted by the Patriots.
- July 20, 2005: Signs a 5-year, $2.59 million contract.
- 2005: Begins season as backup to Tom Ashworth. Becomes starting LT in week four after Matt Light is injured.
- Nov 2006: Replaces Ryan O'Callaghan as starting RT.
- 2007-08: As the starting RT, misses only three games due to injuries over two seasons.
- June 2008: Boston Globe reports that Kaczur had been arrested in April for illegal possession of oxycontin after being pulled over for speeding.
- April 2009: Pats draft OT Sebastian Vollmer.
- Aug 24, 2009: Kaczur signs a 4-year, $16 million extension.
- Oct 18, 2009: Part of a Patriots' line that powers the offense to 619 yards, setting a franchise record in an epic 59-0 victory over Tennessee.
- Dec 13, 2009: New England gets a much needed win over Carolina, 20-10. The Pats were coming off a 1-3 stretch that began with the 35-34 loss at Indy after leading 24-7 (the 4th and two, pass to Kevin Faulk game), then the 38-17 Monday Night annihilating loss at New Orleans, and finally the 22-21 loss at Miami, blowing a 21-10 second half lead. The victory over the Panthers would turn out to be Kaczur's final NFL start. He would leave the game with a back injury, replaced by Sebastian Vollmer.
- Dec 20/27, 2009: Inactive for games against the Bills and Jaguars due to the back injury.
- Jan 3, 2010: Kaczur is healthy and active, but Vollmer remains at RT in the starting lineup for the week 17 loss at Houston. Wes Welker shreds his knee, putting a damper on New England's postseason hopes.
- Jan 10, 2010: Ray Rice runs for an 83 yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage as the Pats are one-and-done in the playoffs. Kaczur does get some playing time but Vollmer again got the start; it would turn out to be Nick's final NFL game.
- April 2010: Pats draft OL Ted Larsen.
- July 2010: The plan is to move Kaczur inside to guard and leave Vollmer at RT. Kaczur suffers a back injury in first week of training camp.
- Sept 2010: Kaczur makes the initial roster over Larsen, who is quickly claimed off waivers by Tampa.
- Oct 12, 2010: After missing almost all of training camp due to a back injury and being inactive for first four games, Kaczur is placed on IR.
- July 29, 2011: Kaczur is released by the Patriots, one day before he turns 32.
Oct 16, 2003:
Kaczur hits it big at UT
Try to conjure up this image in your mind. You will need the big screen to capture it all. As a junior hockey player advances near the blue line, coming ...
www.toledoblade.com
Nov 10, 2005:
Rookies making an impact
With all the injuries the Patriots have dealt with this season, many of their rookies have been forced into action earlier than expected.
Five rookies: Logan Mankins, Nick Kaczur, Ellis Hobbs, James Sanders and Mike Wright have been thrown into the mix and asked to make large contributions for a team who is trying to be the first in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
Having two new starters on the left side of the offensive line may not be a team's ideal situation but both Mankins and Kaczur have played well this season. Kaczur, especially, has been a pleasant surprise. The rookie has held his own against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL like the Falcons Patrick Kerney and the Colts Dwight Freeney.
Head coach Bill Belichick likes what he sees out of his two rookie linemen.
"I think they're both coming along and making progress," Belichick said.
"Logan has played inside the whole year so he is locked in there. Nick has spent time at both tackles but now more at left tackle since Matt is injured, so he has kind of settled in there. They have both done well for us.
"Both those guys work hard and are well prepared. They have seen some things and situations they may not be familiar with but overall they have managed it well with minimal mental errors."
Feb 2, 2008:
From Great One to Perfect One
A handwritten sign on the door to Frankie's Hometown Tavern reads "Super Bowl Party – Already Sold Out."
Kaczur was a defenceman ... a big defenceman.
"I think I scared some of the other kids' parents when they saw me come on the ice", he recalled.
June 5, 2008:
Patriots' Kaczur arrested; Ex-UT lineman turns informant in drug case, lawyer says
BOSTON - A starting offensive lineman for the New England Patriots worked as an informant for federal drug agents after he was arrested in New York on a ...
www.toledoblade.com
Dec 11, 2008:
Man sentenced for selling drugs to Pats player
BOSTON (AP) - A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for selling prescription painkillers to New England Patriots lineman Nick Kaczur.
Kaczur is not named in court records but The Boston Globe reports that Ekasala's defense attorney, Bernard Grossberg identified the player as the cooperating federal witness. The drug charges were put on hold if Kaczur stays out of trouble for six months.
Aug 21, 2010:
Back surgery jeopardizes lineman Nick Kaczur’s season
The Patriots may have lost another likely starter to a season-ending surgery. Two sources close to the situation told The Herald that offensive lineman Nick Kaczur has already undergone back surger…
www.bostonherald.com
July 29, 2011:
Patriots Release Ty Warren, Alge Crumpler, Nick Kaczur, Others
The Patriots continued to make moves on Friday, announcing several players had been cut.
boston.cbslocal.com
The Patriots continued to make moves on Friday, announcing several players had been cut.
Veterans Defense Lineman Ty Warren and Tight End Alge Crumpler seemed to be the biggest surprises on that list.
Warren missed last season after undergoing hip surgery. Many expected him to make a big impact this season.
Crumpler was a team captain last season.
The Patriots also released Nick Kaczur, Tully Banta-Cain, Tony Carter, Marcus Stroud, and rookie free agent Ryan Coulson.
June 24, 2013:
Community News - Toronto Local News | Toronto.com
Read the latest community news stories from Toronto and the surrounding area.
These days Nick Kaczur is back in his hometown of Brantford, coaching varsity football:
April 24, 2020:
Kaczur: 'I would do it again in a heartbeat'
Nick Kaczur is using lessons learned from his first career to help him with a second one.
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