Today In Patriots History June 10: Chuck Fairbanks

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Chuck Fairbanks​

Happy posthumous birthday to Chuck Fairbanks, who would have been 91 today. The second best coach and general manager in the history of the Patriot franchise was born on June 10, 1933 in Detroit, and was hired by the Pats on January 26, 1973.

After seven years of awful to average-at-best drafts had left the Patriot roster devoid of talent, in Fairbanks' first draft the team selected John Hannah, Sam Cunningham and Darryl Stingley. The next year they drafted Steve Nelson, Andy Johnson and Sam Hunt. Then in '75 the Pats added Russ Francis, Rod Shoate and Steve Grogan. For most teams a three-year stretch like that would be extremely impressive, but the Patriots were not done yet - hitting gold the following year.


Grogan had performed well enough in relief of injured Jim Plunkett for Fairbanks to put the number one pick from the 1971 draft on the market. Three days prior to the 1976 draft the trade was made, with the Pats receiving two first round selections in the upcoming draft, first and second round 1977 picks, and a backup QB for good measure. Those four draft picks turned out to be center Pete Brock, safety Tim Fox, running back Horace Ivory, and cornerback Raymond Clayborn, who was belatedly voted in to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2017. That group of four went on to play a combined 482 games for the Patriots.

In Fairbanks first season the Pats only went 5-9, but the improvement was already apparent. The offense improved from 24th to 16th in points scored, while the defense rose from 26th to 16th. The next year Fairbanks installed his 3-4 defense and the team started out at a league best 6-1, before injuries were too much to overcome. Still, the 7-7 finish was the first non-losing record since just missing out on a chance at the first super bowl in 1966, ending a streak of seven consecutive losing seasons.

1975 saw a player strike over the Sullivan's miserly negotiating tactics that led to a canceled preseason game, and a distraction that could not be overcome. Unfortunately this was just a foreshadowing of events to follow a couple years later.

In '76 the Pats went 11-3, making the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The team ranked second in scoring offense and third in turnover differential. The Pats led the league with 5.0 yards per rush, and had not lost a game since October. Then came the Ben Dreith game, arguably the most egregiously one-sided officiated game in the history of the NFL. With Pittsburgh decimated by injuries and the AFC vastly superior to the NFC that year, the Raider-Patriots game was the de facto league championship game. Yes, it still bothers me to this day.

Fairbanks worked out contract extensions for Hannah and Leon Gray, two future Patriot Hall of Famers. The Sullivans screwed Fairbanks over however, not approving the deals and forcing him to renege on the contracts. Hannah and Gray walked out on the team during preseason and did not return until week four. The Pats had lost two games to below average teams by that time and never recovered, going 7-3 the rest of the way to finish 9-5, but missing the playoffs.

In 1978 Fairbanks worked out a contract extension with Stingley, just prior to his being viciously hit and paralyzed by Jack Tatum in a preseason game. When the Sullivans refused to honor that verbal commitment, it was the final straw; Fairbanks started looking for another job. The team won the AFC East, but then word leaked out that Fairbanks had been hired by the University of Colorado. Billy Sullivan suspended Fairbanks prior to the final game of the season, making the OC the head coach when the Pats had the ball, and the DC the head coach when on defense. The ridiculous arrangement predictably failed, and Fairbanks was allowed to return and coach the first home playoff game in franchise history. Under gloomy skies a lethargic and distracted team was defeated by Earl Campbell, Dan Pastorini and Bum Phillips' Houston Oilers on new years eve of 1978. With that loss, the Patriots' Chuck Fairbanks era was over.

Former Patriots Head Coach Chuck Fairbanks Passed Away

Chuck Fairbanks, a Fitful Football Coach, Dies at 79 (Published 2013)

Mr. Fairbanks built successful football teams in college at the University of Oklahoma and in the N.F.L. with New England. But controversy often followed him.

www.nytimes.com

Chuck Fairbanks for Patriots Hall of Fame

This time of year the Patriots Hall of Fame committee meets to decide who will be the newest inductees. Each of the past couple years a heated debate has been centered around Bill Parcells, but I t…

www.patspropaganda.com

Roughing the Passer: The Patriots-Raiders Game You Should Know About

Now that Tom Brady has shown us his throwback resume, lets flash back to the Patriots-Raiders AFC divisional playoff game that took place on Dec. 18, 1976.

archive.boston.com

Listen to 'Rough Injustice: The Story of the 1976 New England Patriots'

The 1976 New England Patriots are chronicled in the 98.5 the Sports Hub special "Rough Injustice". Listen for interviews with John Hannah and many others.

985thesportshub.com

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[p8ryts]

An underrated coach in Patriots history. With Bucko Kilroy, he put together one of the best Patriot teams. He should be in the Patriots HOF. Definitely ahead of Parcells, who complained about not selecting the players. Fairbanks had to deal with the Sullivans, one of the most dysfunctional ownerships in NFL history.

 

[The Gr8est]

An underrated coach in Patriots history. With Bucko Kilroy, he put together one of the best Patriot teams. He should be in the Patriots HOF. Definitely ahead of Parcells, who complained about not selecting the players. Fairbanks had to deal with the Sullivans, one of the most dysfunctional ownerships in NFL history.

Fairbanks could have been one of the greats with better ownership.

 

[signbabybrady]

6/10 will also be the future retirement date for 6 time SB champ Drake Maye!

 

[turkeyneck]

Fairbanks could have been one of the greats with better ownership.

It is a point of everlasting frustration to me to contemplate what could have been under Fairbanks if the Sullivans had not applied their usual reverse Midas touch.

As enjoyable as the BB teams were I had more fun watching the Fairbanks teams - maybe that just comes down to the stages of life when each occured.

 

[captain stone]

The fact that Billy ****ing Sullivan is in the NEP HOF and Chuck Fairbanks isn't is, in the words of former President Jimmy Carter, a Disgrace to the Human Race.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Still today it hurts that 1976 season...
That L in Oakland was so sad
Patriot team was the best that season and we should have had allready on that year our first Super Bowl trophy
Ben Dreith was awful

 

[oldrover]

I’d been a fan since 1971, and other than a brief half season in 1974 before injuries hit, the team stunk.

1976 was a glorious year, and the next two were almost as good. And it was due primarily to Chuck, and of course, the players he acquired.

Ben Dreith was terrible, but I am so grateful for the Fairbanks era. God rest ye, Chuck.

 

[The Gr8est]

Still today it hurts that 1976 season...
That L in Oakland was so sad
Patriot team was the best that season and we should have had allready on that year our first Super Bowl trophy
Ben Dreith was awful

Even Phil Villapiano gave a shout out to the Pats after the SB.

Referring to the Vikings, he said “the Pats would have beat them too.”

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Steve King​

Happy 73rd birthday to Steve King
Born June 10, 1951 in McAlester, Oklahoma
Patriot OLB, 1973-1981; uniform #52
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on March 6, 1973

In an incredibly appropriate coincidence, we stick with today's 1976 New England Patriots theme thanks to linebacker Steve King sharing the same birth date as head coach Chuck Fairbanks.

Due to paperwork not being properly filed for his redshirt freshman season at Tulsa, Steve King went from being ineligible for the draft, to eligible for the supplemental draft, to eligible and removed for the supplemental draft, to finally being declared a free agent. Remembering the linebacker from when he recruited him when he was in high school, Chuck Fairbanks signed King as a rookie.

Steve King proceeded to play 126 games with the Patriots, mostly in sub packages and on special teams. King was a starter in 1974 and 1976, and was a team captain in 1981.

I found a few cool columns on Steve King, linked below.

This first one focuses on his high school days as a quarterback, with some post-football tidbits.

Steve King reflects on 9-year career as NFL linebacker

Steve King had an illustrious nine-year career as an NFL linebacker.

www.washingtontimes.com

In one game against the New York Jets, King sacked future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath twice and intercepted one of his passes.​

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“It was interesting because my wife always joked about how good looking he was,” King laughed.​

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King married his wife Cathy in 1975 and the couple has since lived in the Boston area.​

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Their son, Tyler, was a four-year starting lineman at the University of Connecticut, saw some time on NFL practice squads, and is now a personal trainer and mixed martial arts fighter in the Boston area.​

This one is a must-read for PatsFans forum members. It was written by our own Steve Balestrieri after he spoke with Steve King in 2013:

Catching Up With Former Patriots LB Steve King

I spent nine years as a member of the Patriots but the one thing that always had me wondering, was where I would have gone in the draft.

www.patsfans.com

“Coach Fairbanks was a no-nonsense kind of guy and he wanted to see who had a passion for football and who liked to play,” King said.King landed on the taxi-squad his first season (today’s practice squad) and would be moved to the active roster after the fourth game. He saw action in the final seven games of the season and it set the tone for things to come.In 1974, Fairbanks drafted ILBs Steve Nelson and Sam Hunt and the Patriots switched to the Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4 Defense. King started all 14 games as the Patriots turned the corner from doormat to potential Super Bowl contender.​

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1976 Heartbreak Playoff Loss​

“We were so pumped for that game, because the winner would play Pittsburgh to go to the Super Bowl. We had already beaten the Steelers in Pittsburgh that season,” King recalls. “And they were really beat up at the end of the season, they had no Rocky (Bleier) or Franco (Harris) for that game. It turned out the Raiders ran the ball right down their throats. And we were a much better running team than they were that season.”​

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But in the Raider game, the Patriots led late in the game but the handwriting was already on the wall. “There were so many ridiculous calls in that game,” King remembers. “Banazak, (Raiders RB Pete) got tackled and after he was on the ground, stretched out his arm and placed the ball a good yard ahead of where he was tackled at.​

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Prentice McCray (Patriots SS) moved the ball back to where it rightfully should have been,” King added.“ But then the referee (Ben Dreith) picks up the ball and places it right where Banazak had placed it, way beyond the spot he was tackled. Prentice was livid, and moved the ball back again. That’s when the ref throws the flag on him and we got penalized 15 yards.​

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But a few more plays would haunt the Patriots in their final possession with a chance to run out the clock. On a second down play, Patriots QB Steve Grogan tried a pass over the middle to TE Russ Francis which would have essentially ended the game with a first down. Francis was flagrantly interfered with by Raiders LB Phil Villipiano but no flag was thrown.​

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“Did he interfere with Russ?” King asked. “Heck he had Russ in a full Nelson with his arms pinned at his side,” he added. “If they call that interference we either run out the clock or are in John Smith’s range for a FG that ices the game.” On third down and about six, Sam Cunningham ran to the outside, “Sam was nursing a bad shoulder then and had it wrapped,” King said. “Maybe he’d have tried to stay in bounds otherwise, but he headed for the sideline. The guys holding the sticks had dropped them when he neared and he thought he went past them for a first down. But when they picked them out we were six inches short and we turned the ball over,” he added.​

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Asked about Ray Hamilton’s roughing the passer call, King smiled and said, “it may not even be a penalty today.”​

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King would then become more of a role-player in the sub-packages or as a spot starter later in his career but remained a standout special teams player, being elected as a captain and not missing a game in 1981, his final season even playing with a broken wrist.​

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“Then it was time to start over,” he said speaking of life after football. For the past nearly thirty years, he’s been involved in the insurance business and is now the VP of Cleary Insurance in Quincy, Mass.​

This next article is from a defunct website, PatriotsAlumni dot com.
Unfortunately neither the column on King nor any other articles on Pats alumni from that site are available, other than this excerpt.

Quinton, Oklahoma is a long way from Foxboro, Massachusetts, but somehow, Steve King found his way there.​

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For most of his childhood, Steve grew up on a cattle ranch in southeast Oklahoma owned by his grandmother who in turn, deeded his family 40 acres. As one might imagine, his life was full of the chores typical of that type of setting but when those were done, sports dominated, and football was on the top of that list.​

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Once football was over, it was decision time again for Steve. At 32 years of age, Steve says it “was like starting over.”​

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Rather than use his Bachelor of Science degree in Education, a friend who worked for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance convinced him to get into the business. For 10 years he worked as an independent agent and then in 1992, opened his own brokerage. He then merged his firm with Risk-Strategies where he currently works.​

Quinton grad Steve King reflects on NFL career

Steve King had an illustrious nine-year career as an NFL linebacker.

www.mcalesternews.com

I really liked this article, as it focuses on the magical-but-tragical 1976 season.

Alumni Spotlight: Steve King

"The guys got together in a team meeting without the coaches, and we all made a commitment. There was a great chemistry on that team. We went on to go 11-3, got the Wild Card and came within a couple of plays of beating the Raiders, who were the Super Bowl Champions that year. ​

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If we beat Oakland in that game, I'm convinced we would have won the Super Bowl, because we'd already beaten Pittsburgh, who would have been our next opponents. Oakland took them apart. The Super Bowl was against the Vikings, and I believe the way the Raiders ran the ball on the Vikings--and we were the strongest running team in the league that year with (Sam) "Bam" Cunningham, Andy Johnson and Don Calhoun--we would have run all over the Vikings."​

 

[oldrover]

I remember Steve King being rated only a 4 in Strat-O-Matic Football.

The outrage!!!!

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
A New Guy, and 7 Quick Cups of Coffee​

Happy 27th birthday to K.J. Osborn
Born June 10, 1997 in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Patriot WR, 2024-; uniform #2
Signed as an unrestricted veteran free agent on March 17, 2024

Patriots Add Vikings WR Osborn | PatsFans.com

The Patriots may be having a tough time attracting high-end talent when it comes to wide receivers, but that hasn't stopped Eliot Wolf from trying to add talent to the offense.

www.patsfans.com

The veteran wideout averaged 500+ yards per season over the last three years, including right around 50 receptions each year.​

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He’s put up similar numbers to what veteran Kendrick Bourne had in San Francisco prior to signing with the Patriots, with Bourne then going on to put up some pretty good totals during his tenure here.​

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Osborn’s totals over the last three seasons:​

2021: 50 catches, 655 yards, 7 touchdowns​

2022: 60 catches, 650 yards, 5 touchdowns​

2023: 48 catches, 540 yards, 3 touchdowns​

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Happy 76th birthday to Jeff White
Born June 10, 1948 in Bronxville, New York
Patriot K/P, 1973; uniform #2
Signed as a free agent on October 2, 1973

Jeff White took over as the Pats kicker in week four of 1973, and somehow lasted the rest of the season. He missed his only field goal try in a two-point week 5 loss to the Jets, then had a horrible game at Philadelphia two weeks later. White went 1-5 on his field goal attempts that day and also missed an extra point in a 24-23 loss to the Eagles.

In the final game of the season White missed both field goal attempts as well as an extra point in an 18-13 loss to the Colts. For the season he connected on just 14 of 25 field goals - including two misses from inside the twenty - and went 3 for 9 outside the forty.

October 28, 1973: Jeff White's infamous 3-yard punt versus Miami at Schaefer Stadium​

FOLLOWING PERFECTION: THE 1973 MIAMI DOLPHINS

By: Randy Campbell (OLD DOLFAN) Game 7; MIAMI @ NEW ENGLAND, Oct. 28, 1973 Weather: 44 degrees, relative humidity 58%, wind 14 mph Surface: astroturf Start Time: 1:00pm Stadium: Schaefer S…

finsmobunleashed.com

When the first half was over, New England still held a 14-13 lead. This improved Patriots’ team was giving Miami all they could handle.​

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Patriots’ punter/place kicker Jeff White had failed to win a spot with Miami during summer camp. Eventually, he ended uo in New England. Shula decided to rush 10 players when White punted early in the third quarter. Lloyd Mumphord got a piece of it, forcing a short punt. Garo’s ensuing 23 yard field goal put Miami ahead 16-14.​

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Again the Dolphins’ defense stopped the Patriots’ offense cold. White, under a ferocious rush, kicked the next punt STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR! A backwards bounce left the ball at New England’s three yard line! Mercury Morris’ two yard touchdown run put Miami ahead 23-14 after three quarters.​

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The Dolphins mounted a long, time consuming, drive in the final stanza. Miami’s outstanding offensive line simply wore down the Patriot’s defense.​

While the Patriots did bring White back for training camp in 1974, the team had already signed a left footed soccer player from England to play in the Atlantic Coast Football League to learn how to be a pro football placekicker. John Smith became the Pats new kicker in '74, bringing stability to the position, while White was at least able to still collect a paycheck for spending the '74 season on IR.




Happy 34th birthday to Dewey McDonald
Born June 10, 1990 in Ranson, West Virginia
Patriot safety, 2015; uniform #31
Waiver claim from Indianapolis on October 28, 2015

The Pats claimed Dewey McDonald off waivers and added him to the roster when LB Rufus Johnson was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. That move was done primarily to utilize Dewey on special teams, as Brandon Bolden was suffering from a hamstring injury. The product from the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans was released on November 12, and then went on and off the practice squad a couple times.

McDonald was added to the active roster on November 26 when Aaron Dobson was placed on IR, and then cut for good two days later. McDonald played in only one game for the Pats; he appeared in a total of 32 NFL games from 2014 to 2017, mostly with the Colts and Seahawks.

Patriots place WR Aaron Dobson on IR; Sign DB Dewey McDonald

The New England Patriots announced that they have signed DB Dewey McDonald to the 53-man roster. In addition, the Patriots placed WR Aaron Dobson on injured reserve.

www.patriots.com

Dewey is also an example of why coaches determine a player should be a defensive back rather than a receiver:

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Happy 54th birthday to David Wilson
Born June 10, 1970 in Los Angeles
Patriot safety, 1992; uniform #26
Signed to the practice squad on September 30, 1992

David Wilson was elevated to the active roster on October 16, 1992 and appeared in one game for the Patriots, a week 7 loss to the Browns. Originally a late round pick out of Cal for the Vikings, he then re-signed with Minnesota and was with the Rams for the full 1994 offseason.




Happy 76th birthday to Dan Kecman
Born June 10, 1948 in Pittsburgh
Patriot LB, 1970; uniform #45

A literal one hit wonder, Dan Kecman's sole NFL game was in week one of the 1970 season at the age of 22, in a 27-14 win for the Patriots against Miami. For the last several years he has been an assistant high school football coach in Rockville, Maryland.




At least Kecman stuck around long enough to get one game in under his belt, unlike the following.

Happy 26th birthday to Leroy Watson
Born June 10, 1998 in Snellville, Georgia
Patriot OT, 2022 practice squad
Signed to the practice squad on September 1, 2022

Watson entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Texas-San Antonio. He joined the Pats’ practice squad ahead of the 2022 season, but in matter of days he was gone, joining the 49ers. Leroy played in seven games for the Bowns in 2023.

Browns Trade T Leroy Watson To Titans

The Browns and Titans have pulled off a minor swap in advance of this month's draft. Cleveland has sent offensive …

www.profootballrumors.com

Happy 33rd birthday to Bennie Fowler
Born June 10, 1991 in Bloomfield, Michigan
Patriot WR, 2018; uniform #
Signed to the practice squad on September 1, 2022

Patriots Sign RB Kenjon Barner and WRs Corey Coleman and Bennie Fowler

5 things to know about new Patriots wide receiver Bennie Fowler

The New England Patriots signed free-agent wide receiver Bennie Fowler on Tuesday, filling one of three open roster spots on the team following Week 1. Fowler will spend his fourth year playing professional football with the Patriots, having spent the previous three seasons playing for the...

www.boston.com

The New England Patriots signed free-agent wide receiver Bennie Fowler on Tuesday, filling one of three open roster spots on the team following Week 1.​

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Fowler will spend his fourth year playing professional football with the Patriots, having spent the previous three seasons playing for the Denver Broncos. The 27-year-old holds potential for filling out the wide receiver depth that the Patriots are lacking until Julian Edelman returns to the field in Week 5.​

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The Patriots only had three wide receivers on their roster– Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson and Phillip Dorsett – prior to signing Fowler and fellow wide receiver Corey Coleman.​

The Pats released Fowler four days later.

Report: Patriots cut WR Bennie Fowler

The New England Patriots have cut receiver Bennie Fowler, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. They signed him on September 11.. Cutting Fowler left the Patriots with 52 men on their roster, which allowed them to promote tackle Cole Croston to the 53-man roster.

patriotswire.usatoday.com

Cutting Fowler left the Patriots with 52 men on their roster, which allowed them to promote tackle Cole Croston to the 53-man roster. The Patriots then signed receiver Riley McCarron to the practice squad.​

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Their receivers include Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Paterson, Corey Coleman and Matthew Slater.​

Sept 12, 2018: Corey Coleman (L, #10) and Bennie Fowler (R, #16)​

Happy 27th birthday to Darryl Williams
Born June 10, 1997 in Bessemer, Alabama
Patriot C, 2022 offseason
Signed as a free agent on June 17, 2022

Patriots Reportedly Sign Darryl Williams, But Not One You're Thinking Of

The New England Patriots reportedly bolstered their offensive line depth on Friday by signing center Darryl Williams, formerly of the Chiefs.

nesn.com

New England signed 25-year-old center Darryl Williams, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Friday afternoon, citing a source. Williams spent all of last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad after signing with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He played his college ball at Mississippi State.​

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Williams was cut earlier this week.​

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Now, if you did a double-take when you read the headline, just know you probably weren’t the only one. There are two other NFL players whose names sound phonetically similar to that of the Patriots’ new center — and both hit free agency this offseason.​

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Running back Darrel Williams, the Chiefs’ leading rusher last season, signed with the Arizona Cardinals in late May. And then there’s offensive tackle Daryl Williams, who still is a free agent after being a full-time starter for the Buffalo Bills in each of the last two seasons.​

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Again, the Patriots landed neither of those players. Instead, they added a center who likely will compete in training camp for a spot as a backup lineman. New England currently doesn’t have any true center depth behind David Andrews, though some view rookie guard Cole Strange as a potential future replacement.​

Williams did much better than Fowler, sticking around for 39 days.

Patriots Make Flurry Of Roster Moves Ahead Of Day 1 Of Training Camp

The New England Patriots made transactions involving three players on the eve of their first training camp practice.

nesn.com

The New England Patriots made transactions involving three players on the eve of their first training camp practice.​

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The Patriots on Tuesday placed punter Jake Bailey on the non-football illness list and defensive back Myles Bryant on the non-football injury list, according to the NFL transaction wire. They also released offensive lineman Darryl Williams, who signed with the team last month.​

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Rookie offensive linemen Chasen Hines and Andrew Stueber also will begin camp on the non-football injury list. Center David Andrews, running back James White, Jonathan Jones and Peppers are on the physically unable to perform list. Players can be removed from these lists at any time.​

Happy 37th birthday to Mike Mitchell, who was never a part of the Patriots organization, but was involved in a Pats draft day trade.

On 4/27/08 the Pats traded down, sending 3.69 to San Diego for 5.160 and a 2009 second (2.47). A year later the Pats traded up, sending 2.47, 4.124 and 6.199 to Oakland for 2.40, which they used on Ron Brace. The Raiders used 2.47 on FS Mitchell, who played in 145 games over 11 years. Even though Mitchell's best years came after leaving Oakland, the Raiders won that deal, also getting WR Louis Murphy (90 receptions in his first three seasons). By comparison Brace only played in 39 games with seven starts.



Two other players with a New England connection that shares today's birthday:

Mike DeVito, 37 (June 10, 1984)
Mike went to Nauset Regional High School on Cape Cod, and the University of Maine.
The defensive lineman spent nine years in the NFL, playing in 110 games for the Jets and Chiefs.

It's too bad the Patriots didn't use on of their late 2007 round draft picks on DeVito rather than the guys they did pick that did absolutely nothing. DeVito ended up playing in more NFL games than the entire Pats '07 draft class once you exclude Brandon Meriweather. Mike Wright was very effective at DT and DE when healthy, but his career was shortened by concussions. Having DeVito on the roster would have made the team less dependent on linemen such as Wright, Shaun Ellis, Derrick Burgess, etc.


Dieter Eiselen, 28 (June 10, 1996)
An NFL player that went to Yale is not all that common. But a player that went to not only an Ivy League school, but prior to that a hoity toity upper crust prep school like Choate is a rarity. Eiselen is a four-year veteran guard for the Bears and Texans that checks off both of those boxes.




Some other notable NFL players born on June 10 include:

- Dan Fouts, 73 (1951); the Hall of Fame QB for the Chargers, and definitely not HoF announcer.

- Kyle Williams, 41 (1983); 5-time Pro Bowl DT for the Bills.

- Larry Brooks, 74 (1950); 5-time Pro Bowl DT for the Rams.

- Kevin Donnalley, 56 (1968); Oiler/Dolphin/Panther guard played in 207 games from 1991 to 2003.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Tebow-Mania Circus comes to Foxboro!!!​

June 10, 2013:
The Patriots sign QB Tim Tebow to a two-year contract

Tebow: 'Honor' to play for Belichick

Tim Tebow said Tuesday it was "an honor" to be able to play for Bill Belichick and learn from Tom Brady, saying he expects his time with the New England Patriots "to be a lot of fun."

www.espn.com

By the 14th straight Tebow question, Belichick said: "I think I've covered it. Anything else?"​

A teammate of Tebow's for three seasons at the University of Florida, Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez said Tuesday he was surprised to be reunited with his college quarterback in the NFL.​

"Once I heard the information I was a little shocked and I was happy," Hernandez said. "Definitely was a surprise for probably most of us."​

Tebow participated in Tuesday's practice solely as a quarterback, but Hernandez said he was unsure of Tebow's role going forward.​

"There's a reason why he's here. I actually don't now the reason yet but we'll see," Hernandez said. "I'm sure he'll be doing a few things here. That's up to Bill Belichick."​

Former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke, who has been working with Tebow over the past month to tweak his throwing mechanics, told USA Today Sports that he believes Tebow can play quarterback in the NFL.​

The move reunites Tebow with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was the Broncos' head coach when Denver traded into the first round to draft the Heisman Trophy winner in 2010.​

Belichick often has spoken with admiration of Tebow's versatility, intelligence and character. Belichick covets what he has described as tough, smart, versatile football players.​

Last month, Yahoo! Sports cited an "organizational source" as saying Belichick disliked Tebow as a player and there was "no chance" of him landing in New England. Belichick dismissed that notion last week, telling ESPNBoston.com that the report was completely untrue.​

When asked about his relationship with Tebow, Belichick said, "Yeah, I like Tim. I have a lot of respect for Tim."​

Ironically, Tebow's last NFL start came in Denver's blowout playoff loss in Foxborough to Brady and the Patriots following the 2011 season.​

Tebow, 25, figures to compete with Ryan Mallett for a backup job behind Brady. The Patriots also released reserve quarterback Mike Kafka on Monday.​

One of the NFL's most polarizing players, Tebow was released by the New York Jets in late April following a disappointing season as a backup to Mark Sanchez.​

More June 10 Past Pats Events​

June 10, 2022:

Patriots cut Quinn Nordin, sign journeyman kicker Tristan Vizcaino

Nordin was a surprise in 2021, opening the season on the 53-man roster.

www.masslive.com

The Patriots have parted ways with Quinn Nordin.​

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The undrafted rookie opened the 2021 season on New England’s 53-man roster, but was released on Friday afternoon. In his place, the team signed journeyman kicker Tristan Vizcaino, who was most recently with the Chargers.​

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Nordin never kicked in a game, but kept Bill Belichick’s undrafted-free-agent streak alive by starting the year on the 53-man roster. It’s somewhat perplexing that the kicker was released given how high the team seemed on him last fall. To keep Nordin from being claimed on waivers, New England actually cut Nick Folk — knowing he’d re-sign — and placed the veteran on the practice squad, using game-day elevations in Week 1 and 2 to get him on the field.​

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As for Vizcaino, he’s only 25 years old, but the Patriots are the seventh organization he’s been with. After signing a futures contract with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 season, Vizcaino spent time in Dallas, Minnesota, San Francisco, Buffalo, and Los Angeles. He won the gig as the Chargers’ starting kicker last season, but was released in October, going 6 for 7 on field goals, but only hitting 10 of 15 extra points. The starting gig certainly still belongs to Folk.​

June 10, 2016:

Patriots TE Michael Williams suffers ACL tear, put on waived/injured list

Patriots tight end Michael Williams tore his ACL during Wednesday's noncontact practice and on Friday, was put on the waived/injured list.

www.espn.com

New England Patriots tight end Michael Williams suffered a torn ACL during Wednesday's minicamp practice, a source confirmed.​

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On Friday, the Patriots put Williams on the waived/injured list. If he clears waivers, he will revert to the injured reserve list.​

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Williams sustained the injury during the 7-on-7 portion of practice when he was away from the ball. He went down and grabbed the area near his knee.​

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Williams has been projected as the team's No. 3 tight end behind Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett, and is known for his powerful blocking. He converted from offensive tackle to tight end after being acquired in a trade with the Detroit Lions last September. He was targeting the 270-pound range for the 2016 season and appeared to be moving well in spring camps while catching the ball consistently.​

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Last season, Williams played in 15 games with nine starts. He finished with three catches for 26 yards, as his primary role was as a blocker.​

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His injury could open the door for other tight ends on the roster, a group that includes veteran free-agent signing Clay Harbor, 2015 sixth-round pick A.J. Derby and undrafted rookie free agents Steven Scheu (Vanderbilt) and Bryce Williams (East Carolina).​

June 10, 2013:

Pats release QB Kafka, DT Cherrington

In roster moves that will be far overshadowed by bigger news, the New England Patriots released quarterback Mike Kafka and defensive tackle Dewayne Cherrington on Monday.

www.espn.com

In roster moves that will be far overshadowed by bigger news, the Patriots released quarterback Mike Kafka and defensive tackle Dewayne Cherrington on Monday.​

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Kafka, a fourth-round pick of the Eagles in 2011, signed with the Patriots earlier this offseason and was the third quarterback on the roster during organized team activities.​

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Cherrington was an undrafted rookie free agent from Mississippi State. The Patriots may ultimately choose to swap out the 6-foot-3, 335-pounder for a more experienced defensive lineman; they have hosted veteran defensive tackles Sedrick Ellis and Spencer Johnson in recent weeks.​

June 10, 2010:

Patriots release DL Gordon

The Patriots announced the release of defensive lineman Amon Gordon this morning. Gordon, who was signed April 21, was a long shot to earn a roster spot.

www.espn.com

The Patriots announced the release of defensive lineman Amon Gordon this morning. Gordon, who was signed April 21, was a long shot to earn a roster spot.​

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Here is one projection of the Patriots' current defensive line depth chart (out of the 3-4 alignment):​

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LDE: Ty Warren, Ron Brace, Darryl Richard, Brandon Deaderick, Kade Weston, Adrian Grady​

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NT: Vince Wilfork, Mike Wright, Gerard Warren, Myron Pryor, Ron Brace, Kyle Love​

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RDE: Mike Wright, Gerard Warren, Damione Lewis, Darryl Richard, Brandon Deaderick, Kade Weston, Adrian Grady​

June 10, 2005:

Pats see enough relevance in last pick to sign Stokes

Andy Stokes, the last player selected in the 2005 draft, will be the first of the New England Patriots' seven selections to earn a paycheck. When it comes to his bank account, at least, Stokes isn't exactly "Mr. Irrelevant" anymore.

www.espn.com

Andy Stokes, the last player selected in the 2005 draft, will be the first of the New England Patriots' seven selections to earn a paycheck. When it comes to his bank account, at least, Stokes isn't exactly "Mr. Irrelevant" anymore.​

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A little-known tight end from even lesser-known William Penn College in Oskalaloosa, Iowa, Stokes has reached agreement on his first NFL contract. The two-year deal is worth $557,500. It includes a $17,500 signing bonus and minimum base salaries of $230,000 for 2005 and $310,000 for 2006.​

Stokes out to prove he's relevant to Pats

FOXBORO — In generic terms, he is known as "Mr. Irrelevant." Irrelevant because he was the last player chosen in the NFL draft. If the Patriots hadn't selected tight end Andy Stokes of William Penn…

www.capecodtimes.com

June 10, 1999:
Patriots sign seventh round draft pick Sean Morey

The graduate of Marshfield High School and Brown University later became a Special Teams All-Pro, but prior to that he caught Tom Brady's first touchdown pass in an NFL uniform - in the preaseason.

Sean J. Morey (2007) - Hall of Fame - Brown University Athletics

Brown University Athletics

brownbears.com

Sean Morey - Sprint Football Coach - Princeton University Athletics

Former Ivy League standout and Super Bowl champion Sean Morey enters his third season as the head coach of the Princeton University sprint football team in 2...

goprincetontigers.com

June 10, 1997:
Pats re-sign WR Hason Graham, who had 15 reception in his first two seasons.

There would not be a third season; Graham was released on August 20. His most memorable play was a 96-yard kickoff return for a TD to open the 2nd half against Dallas - in a 1996 preseason game.


June 10, 1992:
New England re-signs ILB Vincent Brown, who was entering the fifth of his eight seasons with the Pats


June 10, 1982:
Patriots sign rookie free agent RB Bernie Adell

Adell returns to Ipswich, enters Hall of Fame

IPSWICH — It had been almost 30 years since Bernie Adell was in Ipswich.

www.salemnews.com

June 10, 1974:
LB **** Blanchard bolts for the rival WFL, signing a contract with the Detroit Wheels; the franchise declared bankruptcy and folded in mid-October.