Today in Patriots History
Elbert, Al and Matt
In memory of Elbert Crawford, who would have turned 58 today
Born June 20, 1966 in Chicago
Died May 2, 2013 in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 46
Patriot guard, 1990-1991; uniform #65
Signed as a free agent on September 12, 1990
Originally selected by the Rams in the 8th round of the 1990 draft out of Arkansas, the interior offensive lineman from Arkansas was signed a few days after being waived by Los Angeles, just before the season kicked off. Crawford played in 14 games for that pitiful 1990 team, primarily on special teams. Under new head coach
**** MacPherson in 1991, Crawford started all 16 games at left guard. In the off season he signed with the Broncos as a Plan B free agent, but three weeks later he had a heart attack while working out at Denver's facilities. That ended his playing career, and Crawford went on to become a player agent. A second heart attack at the age of 46 in 2013 turned out to be fatal.
Elbert Crawford, former New England Patriot offensive lineman, was in serious but improving condition at Presbyterian Hospital in Aurora, Colo., after suffering a heart attack.
www.latimes.com
Former Razorback Crawford Dead at 46
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the largest source for award-winning news and opinion that matters to you. Featuring up to the minute breaking news and the most in-depth Razorback, business, and political coverage in Arkansas.
www.arkansasonline.com
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the largest source for award-winning news and opinion that matters to you. Featuring up to the minute breaking news and the most in-depth Razorback, business, and political coverage in Arkansas.
www.arkansasonline.com
Happy 83rd birthday to Al Snyder
Born June 20, 1941 in Baltimore
Patriot WR, 1963-1964; uniform #38
Pats 23rd round (183rd overall) pick of the 1963 draft, from Holy Cross
In college Snyder was a three year starter, playing flanker, defensive back and kick returner. While there he set a school record for career receptions, and also played baseball with the Crusaders. Snyder spent his first year on the Pats taxi squad. He then appeared in two games in 1964, with one reception for twelve yards. Snyder later spent two seasons with the Colts, during which time he earned his law degree from the University of Maryland.
Al Snyder | Holy Cross
Happy 39th birthday to Matt Flynn
Born June 20, 1985 in Tyler, Texas
Patriot QB, 2015 off season; uniform #8
Signed as an unrestricted veteran free agent on June 11, 2015
The Patriots had Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo and Garrett Gilbert on their roster at quarterback during 2015 OTAs; Gilbert had finished the previous season on the practice squad. With the possibility of a suspension to Tom Brady not being overturned, Gilbert was released in favor of a veteran QB. Flynn had parlayed one good game in relief of an injured Aaron Rodgers (against the Patriots coincidentally) into a big free agency pay day with Seattle, but then rookie Russell Wilson beat him for the starting job in 2012. Still, with 53 NFL games Flynn provided a lot more security over going with two inexperienced quarterbacks for four games, and he was signed June 12. The problem was that Flynn was on the NFI list and couldn't practice, and in camp three arms are a necessity. He was released August 10, 2015.
Frank Cornish, 80 (6/20/44) was part of a lopsided 1990 draft day trade between the Patriots and Cowboys.
Dallas traded up, sending 3.80, 5.120 and 7.166 to New England for 3.64, 6.143 and 8.197.
The Cowboys used that on:
- DT Jimmie Jones, who had an 8-year career, four as a starter.
- 5.120 (Cornish) was used in a trade for LB Godfrey Myles, who won three rings over six seasons with Dallas.
The Patriots used their picks on:
- WR
Greg McMurty, who averaged 30 receptions for 380 yards an 1 TD in his four seasons with the Pats.
- Texas Tech RB James Gary, who was waived at the end of camp and never played in the NFL.
The two 7th and 8th round picks never played in the NFL either.
Other pro football players born on this date with New England area connections:
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Derek Stingley Jr., 23 (6/20/01); the grandson of former Patriot WR
Darryl Stingley is entering his third season as a corner for Houston. He was drafted third overall by the Texans out of LSU in the 2022 draft, and had five picks last year.
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Jamil Demby, 28 (6/20/96);
University of Maine
The OT was a sixth round pick by the Rams in 2018; he was on IR when LA beat the Bengals in SB 56.
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Tony Plansky (6/20/00-2/10/79); South Boston native played FB in the NFL from 1928-32 with the Giants and Boston Braves, and led the NFL in scoring in 1929. A three-time national decathlon champion (1925, 1926, 1928) and Eastern League batting champion (.376) in 1930, Plansky went on to coach the Williams College track and cross-country teams from 1931 to 1978.
Anthony Joseph Plansky-He was an American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants and Boston Braves. He attended Georgetown University. He participated in Cross Country at Williams College for 43 years. The track at Williams is now named after him. Much more...
www.findagrave.com
Died: Tony Plansky, 78, three-time national decathlon champion (1925, 1926, 1928), NFL scoring leader in 1929 and Eastern League batting champion (.376) in 1930; of cancer; in North Adams, Mass. Plansky coached the Williams College track and cross-country teams from 1931 to 1978 and was elected to the Helms Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1967.
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Joe Sulaitis (6/20/21-2/8/80); RB/G/LB/DE played 11 NFL seasons, including one with the 1946 Boston Yanks.
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Vic Baltzell (6/20/12-4/25/86); FB/DB/K/P/KR/PR for the 1935 Boston Redskins.
Some other pro football players sharing this birthday:
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Len Dawson (6/20/35-8/24/22); it is amazing to consider that within just a few years the Pittsburgh Steelers, while mired in futility, gave up on not one, but two future hall of fame quarterbacks: Dawson and
Johnny Unitas.
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Darren Sproles, 41; the RB had 62 career touchdowns with the Chargers, Saints and Eagles.
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Dave Elmendorf, 75; Ram safety never missed a start over nine seasons, a span of 130 consecutive games from 1971 to 1979.
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Fred McAfee, 56; Saints Pro Bowl special team standout played in 194 NFL games from 1991 to 2006.
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LaVar Arrington, 46; three straight Pro Bowls led to a big payday for the second overall pick of the 2000 draft, but he played in just six more NFL games after signing that contract.
Elmendorf and Arrington were also part of two of the largest trades in NFL history.
George Allen was a successful coach who never got along with his team's owners. In 1966 Allen left Chicago to become the head coach of the LA Rams, who had only had one winning season in the past decade, and finished 4-10 the season before. In his first season Allen went 8-6, then 11-1-2 in 1967, winning Coach of the Year. Allen was beloved by his players, but he never seemed to be able to get along with management. When the Rams lost their last two games to finish 2nd in their division - at 10-3-1, the third best record in the NFL - it gave owner
Dan Reeves the excuse he needed to fire him.
38 of the 40 players on the Rams roster announced that they'd either retire or demand a trade if Allen was not immediately brought back. Reeves blinked, and extended Allen for two more years. But when that contract expired he was not brought back, and signed with Washington. He immediately worked on bringing some of his favorite Ram players to Washington.
On January 28, 1971 George Allen traded seven draft picks: a first (10th overall), a third (Dave Elmendorf) and five (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th) 1972 draft picks to Los Angeles. In exchange the Skins received starting RLB Maxie Baughn, LLB Jack Pardee, MLB Myron Pottios, RG John Wilbur and DT Diron Talbert, plus backup RB Jeff Jordan and a fifth round draft pick.
Washington made the playoffs for the first time since 1945. The club had a winning record in each of Allen's seven seasons as head coach, and made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons. In year two they went to the Super Bowl.
That roster-building strategy worked fine in the days prior to free agency and the salary cap.
Mike Ditka apparently never read the memo that things had changed.
Ditka had been head coach of the Bears, famously winning Super Bowl 20, all prior to NFL free agency and a salary cap. On April 17, 1999 he decided that he would follow George Allen's philosophy of building a team without draft picks. The problem was that Allen received five starters in his trade - and Ditka place all his chips on one single player.
On April 17, 1999 the Saints traded their first round draft pick (12th overall), third (71st), fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh round draft picks to move up seven spots to number five overall. If that wasn't bad enough they also included their 2000 first and third round picks as part of the deal for Heisman Trophy running back
Ricky Williams, who had rushed for 52 touchdowns as a junior and senior. Washington traded some of those picks away for the rights to draft Hall of Fame CB
Champ Bailey.
What Ditka failed to consider was that Williams was no longer running behind the University of Texas offensive line, against SWC opponents. The Saints went 15-33 in three seasons with Ditka as head coach. Washington used that 2000 first round pick - second overall - on one of today's birthday players, LaVar Arrington. Arrington was a two-time All Pro, three-time Pro Bowler before knee injuries, a ruptured Achiles and a motorcycle accident prematurely ended his football career.
