June 21 in Pats History: Duane Thomas

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Duane Thomas​

June 21 is highlighted by the birth date of a player who is center stage on of the more bizarre anecdotes in Patriots franchise history.

Happy 74th birthday to Duane Thomas
Born June 21, 1947 in Dallas
Patriot RB, 1971 off season
Acquired in a trade with Dallas on July 31, 1971

As a rookie in Dallas, Duane Thomas took over for Calvin Hill at running back and was named Rookie of the Year, leading the league with an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He then became the first rookie to ever rush for 100 yards in consecutive playoff games, gaining 278 yards on the ground against the Lions and 49ers. The following year Thomas refused to report to training camp, holding out to have his contract renegotiated. On July 31 Dallas traded Thomas, Halvor Hagen and Honor Jackson to the Patriots in exchange for Carl Garrett and the Pats first round 1972 draft pick.

​

"Before the first Super Bowl, I asked him how it felt to be playing as a rookie in the ultimate game. He said, `If this is the ultimate game, how come they play it every year?' "​

At first Thomas could not be found to be notified of the trade. Then on the second day of practice he refused to get in to a 3-point stance, later explaining "I was in a two-point stance because it gives a better view of a handoff. I was behind Jim Nance, and I couldn't see. His ass was the size of a volleyball court."


John Mazur ordered him off the field, then claimed Thomas didn't pass his physical. A few days later Pete Rozelle stepped in and voided the trade, sending Thomas and Garrett back to their former teams. Despite holding out for three games, Thomas proceeded to lead the NFL with 13 total touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns in 1971. He scored a TD in each of Dallas' three playoff games and rushed for 95 yards on 19 carries in the 24-3 super bowl victory over Miami.

Thomas was reportedly voted the MVP in the 24-3 Super Bowl VI win over Miami, but after having boycotted the media all season due to what he felt was one sided and erroneous reporting on his contract dispute, the decision was allegedly made to give the award to Roger Staubach instead, in order to avoid another potentially awkward interview.

Duane Thomas played in more postseason games (6) than season sin the NFL (4), despite leading the league in yards per carry as a rookie (5.3) and leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns (11) and total touchdowns (13) the following year. He was traded to San Diego in 1972, suspended for failing to report, and was ended up not playing the entire season. Thomas was traded to Washington but didn't do much there, then was released in 1975 after once again failing to report after seeking an increase in pay. Thomas never played another down in the NFL after that.

Duane Thomas, Running Back

In the 25 years since he retired from the NFL, former running back Duane Thomas has tried acting, various jobs in sales and hosting a sports talk-radio

www.si.com

Boston.com / Sports / A (silent) voice of experience

The infamous Duane Thomas interviewed | PRO FOOTBALL DALY

Found on YouTube: Duane Thomas' classic interview with CBS's Tom Brookshier after Super Bowl VI.

profootballdaly.com

Ex-Cowboy Duane Thomas had one word for late commentator Brookshier

Ex-Cowboy Duane Thomas had one word for late commentator Brookshier

sportsday.dallasnews.com

Flashback: Like Marshawn Lynch, Cowboys' Duane Thomas was also a Super Bowl media challenge

Flashback: Like Marshawn Lynch, Cowboys' Duane Thomas was also a Super Bowl media challenge

sportsday.dallasnews.com

The Lonely Blues of Duane Thomas

Why the best runner in pro football ran right out of the game.

www.texasmonthly.com

Duane Thomas: His own man

Even as free spirit, Cowboys RB still relishes the concept of team Some running backs...

www.houstonchronicle.com

​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Brandon and Bruce​

Happy 51st birthday to Brandon Moore
Born June 21, 1970 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Patriot OT, 1993-1995; uniform #70
Signed as a veteran free agent on July 19, 1993

Not to be confused with the more well known ButtFumble star namesake, or the linebacker of the same name with the Pats for a short while in 2002, this Brandon Moore played in 26 games for the Pats, including all 16 in 1993. The 6'8, 315 pound lineman went to Duke when the Blue Devils had a new coach by the name of Steve Spurrier, and Moore was signed as a rookie free agent. Brandon played mostly on special teams, and was a backup to Bruce Armstrong. Not just all brawn, Moore later went on to earn his PhD and become a professor.

Former NFL lineman tackles research, teaching at Tech

www.latech.edu

From 1993-’95, Moore played for the NFL’s Patriots, mostly behind All-Pro tackle Bruce Armstrong. And when the Patriots went to Super Bowl XXXI the next season and began their current streak as one of the league’s modern elite, Moore was back in school, this time earning a Bachelor of Science in life sciences at Arizona State.​

​

After that he was back with Spurrier, in a sense, as Spurrier coached the Florida Gators and Moore earned his Ph. D. in zoology at the Gainesville university. After a decade there, Moore spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow at Tulane in New Orleans before coming to Tech in February of 2011 with his wife, Dr. Thea Edwards, and their two children, Christopher, 5, and Nicholas, 2.​

Happy 70th birthday to Bruce Barnes
Born June 21, 1951 in Coshocton, Ohio
Patriot P, 1973-1974; uniform #3
Pats 12th round (290th overall) selection of the 1973 draft, from UCLA

Barnes was the career punting leader at UCLA, and punted 100 times for the Pats, averaging 38.8 yards per kick. In his second year he was limited to nine games due to a strained back muscle, and was replaced by Mike Patrick in '75. His son Ricky Barnes golfs on the PGA tour; he won the 2002 US Amateur and finished second in the 2009 US Open.

All 'grown up,' Barnes shows off his game at U.S. Open - USATODAY.com

The guy who once punted for the New England Patriots had just watched his son set a scoring record for the U.S. Open. Boy, this must have really reminded him of the glory days in the NFL. Except, Bruce Barnes said, for him there weren't that many...

usatoday30.usatoday.com

Other pro football players with New England area connections born on this date:

Bulger Lowe (6/21/95-2/18/39); Arlington native was an All Pro end and tackle in the twenties, once played for Jim Thorpe, and won a championship with Frankford in 1926.

https://gridclubofgreaterboston.com/awards/bulger-lowe-award.html

John 'Baby Grand' Scafide (6/21/11-10/24/79); tackle for the 1933 Boston Redskins was later mayor of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi from 1953 to 1969.

Hancock County Obituary Record : Scafide, John A. Sr. - Hancock County Historical Society

Obituary record for Scafide, John A. Sr. :: October 31, 1979 (Hancock County, MS)

www.hancockcountyhistoricalsociety.com

Other NFL notables born June 22:
- Mike McCormack
- Dan Henning
- Bob Gain
- Al Wilson
- Bruce Davis

 

[captain stone]

Today in Patriots History
Duane Thomas​

June 21 is highlighted by the birth date of a player who is center stage on of the more bizarre anecdotes in Patriots franchise history.

Happy 74th birthday to Duane Thomas
Born June 21, 1947 in Dallas
Patriot RB, 1971 off season
Acquired in a trade with Dallas on July 31, 1971

As a rookie in Dallas, Duane Thomas took over for Calvin Hill at running back and was named Rookie of the Year, leading the league with an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He then became the first rookie to ever rush for 100 yards in consecutive playoff games, gaining 278 yards on the ground against the Lions and 49ers. The following year Thomas refused to report to training camp, holding out to have his contract renegotiated. On July 31 Dallas traded Thomas, Halvor Hagen and Honor Jackson to the Patriots in exchange for Carl Garrett and the Pats first round 1972 draft pick.

​

"Before the first Super Bowl, I asked him how it felt to be playing as a rookie in the ultimate game. He said, `If this is the ultimate game, how come they play it every year?' "​

At first Thomas could not be found to be notified of the trade. Then on the second day of practice he refused to get in to a 3-point stance, later explaining "I was in a two-point stance because it gives a better view of a handoff. I was behind Jim Nance, and I couldn't see. His ass was the size of a volleyball court."


John Mazur ordered him off the field, then claimed Thomas didn't pass his physical. A few days later Pete Rozelle stepped in and voided the trade, sending Thomas and Garrett back to their former teams. Despite holding out for three games, Thomas proceeded to lead the NFL with 13 total touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns in 1971. He scored a TD in each of Dallas' three playoff games and rushed for 95 yards on 19 carries in the 24-3 super bowl victory over Miami.

Thomas was reportedly voted the MVP in the 24-3 Super Bowl VI win over Miami, but after having boycotted the media all season due to what he felt was one sided and erroneous reporting on his contract dispute, the decision was allegedly made to give the award to Roger Staubach instead, in order to avoid another potentially awkward interview.

Duane Thomas played in more postseason games (6) than season sin the NFL (4), despite leading the league in yards per carry as a rookie (5.3) and leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns (11) and total touchdowns (13) the following year. He was traded to San Diego in 1972, suspended for failing to report, and was ended up not playing the entire season. Thomas was traded to Washington but didn't do much there, then was released in 1975 after once again failing to report after seeking an increase in pay. Thomas never played another down in the NFL after that.

Duane Thomas, Running Back

In the 25 years since he retired from the NFL, former running back Duane Thomas has tried acting, various jobs in sales and hosting a sports talk-radio

www.si.com

Boston.com / Sports / A (silent) voice of experience

The infamous Duane Thomas interviewed | PRO FOOTBALL DALY

Found on YouTube: Duane Thomas' classic interview with CBS's Tom Brookshier after Super Bowl VI.

profootballdaly.com

Ex-Cowboy Duane Thomas had one word for late commentator Brookshier

Ex-Cowboy Duane Thomas had one word for late commentator Brookshier

sportsday.dallasnews.com

Flashback: Like Marshawn Lynch, Cowboys' Duane Thomas was also a Super Bowl media challenge

Flashback: Like Marshawn Lynch, Cowboys' Duane Thomas was also a Super Bowl media challenge

sportsday.dallasnews.com

The Lonely Blues of Duane Thomas

Why the best runner in pro football ran right out of the game.

www.texasmonthly.com

Duane Thomas: His own man

Even as free spirit, Cowboys RB still relishes the concept of team Some running backs...

www.houstonchronicle.com

​

"Duane, are you really that fast, that quick?"

"Evidently."

BAM!

 

[captain stone]

Today in Patriots History
Brandon and Bruce​

Happy 51st birthday to Brandon Moore
Born June 21, 1970 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Patriot OT, 1993-1995; uniform #70
Signed as a veteran free agent on July 19, 1993

Not to be confused with the more well known ButtFumble star namesake, or the linebacker of the same name with the Pats for a short while in 2002, this Brandon Moore played in 26 games for the Pats, including all 16 in 1993. The 6'8, 315 pound lineman went to Duke when the Blue Devils had a new coach by the name of Steve Spurrier, and Moore was signed as a rookie free agent. Brandon played mostly on special teams, and was a backup to Bruce Armstrong. Not just all brawn, Moore later went on to earn his PhD and become a professor.

Former NFL lineman tackles research, teaching at Tech

www.latech.edu

From 1993-’95, Moore played for the NFL’s Patriots, mostly behind All-Pro tackle Bruce Armstrong. And when the Patriots went to Super Bowl XXXI the next season and began their current streak as one of the league’s modern elite, Moore was back in school, this time earning a Bachelor of Science in life sciences at Arizona State.​

​

After that he was back with Spurrier, in a sense, as Spurrier coached the Florida Gators and Moore earned his Ph. D. in zoology at the Gainesville university. After a decade there, Moore spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow at Tulane in New Orleans before coming to Tech in February of 2011 with his wife, Dr. Thea Edwards, and their two children, Christopher, 5, and Nicholas, 2.​

Too bad that Moore didn't stick for the SB run in '96; his only competition for backup OT that season would've been the end-of-his-career Dave Richards...