Today in Patriots History
More June 23 Birthdays
Happy 51st birthday to Mike Bartrum
Born June 23, 1970 in Gallipolis, Ohio
Patriot LS/TE, 1996-1999; uniform #86
Acquired in trade from Packers on August 25, 1996 for past considerations
Mike Bartrum was a precursor to Mike Vrabel: with the Pats he had only four receptions but two were for touchdowns. Over his career the Marshall grad (and teammate of Troy Brown) had 11 receptions with six touchdowns;
Vrabel is the only player with more TD and fewer than 15 receptions in NFL history.
Aside from being known as a precision long snapper throughout his career, among his his highlights in New England included a one-yard TD reception from Drew Bledsoe on October 6, 1996 in a 46-38 victory over the Ravens in Baltimore; two weeks later his first career forced fumble on the punt coverage team at Indy, which was recovered by Marrio Grier and converted into a Curtis Martin touchdown in a 27-9 win; and a fumble recovery for a turnover in the 20-6 AFCCG victory over Jacksonville on January 12, 1997.
Bartrum was so accurate with his long snaps that a Philadelphia television affiliate filmed him with some stunts:
Happy 46th birthday to Chris Floyd
Born June 23, 1975 in Detroit
Patriot FB, 1988-2000; uniform #37
Pats 3rd round (81st overall) selection of the 1988 draft, from Michigan
Chris Floyd was part of Michigan's 1997 national championship team, in the backfield primarily blocking for Chris Howard and Anthony Thomas. Floyd played in all 16 games with two starts in his rookie season, used mostly on special teams. After an attempt to find
a role for Floyd at tight end failed, Bill Belichick cut Floyd in late November of 2000. The finale was not pretty; it was a penalty filled game in Detroit in front of Floyd's hometown friends and family that dropped the Pats record to 3-9.
Floyd totaled 14 rushes for 33 yards in 40 games for New England, with four receptions for 43 yards. He played two more games in 2000 with Cleveland, and then his pro football career was over.
As of 2012 Floyd was back in Ann Arbor, working in the Parks and Recreation Department in the day and as a bouncer at night.
On a side note, the
first link above lays out the reality of how bad the drafts were for the Patriots in the three Pete Carroll/Bobby Grier years, and how the club botched the bounty of draft picks received when the Jets signed Bill Parcells and Curtis Martin.
Happy 43rd birthday to Greg Robinson-Randall
Born June 23, 1978 in Galveston, Texas
Patriot RT, 2000-2002; uniform #77, #64
Pats 4th round (127th overall) pick of the 2000 draft, from Michigan State
Greg Randall started four games as a rookie and then every game in 2001 for the super bowl champions. Then in 2002 Randall started just three games before being replaced by Kenyatta Jones, a 2001 4th round pick by the Pats. Randall was inactive, a healthy scratch for the final nine games of the season plus the playoffs.
The Patriots traded Randall to Houston in March of 2003 for a fifth round draft pick. That pick was traded again and ended up netting center Dan Koppen. Randall started all 16 games for the Texans but was out of the NFL the following year; he later played in the CFL and Arena Football League. Over three seasons Randall appeared in 35 games with 23 starts for the Patriots, plus three playoff games. He earned a ring as part of the '01 team that upset the
Greatest Showoffs on Turf in Super Bowl 36.
Happy 61st birthday to Doug Rogers
Born June 23, 1960 in Chico, CA
Patriot DE, 1983-1984; uniform #65
Claimed off waivers from Atlanta on September 14, 1983
The former second round pick by Atlanta off waivers played on special teams, and on the line on passing downs for the Pats. Over two seasons he played in 22 games, but was slowed down by shoulder and foot injuries that ended up requiring surgery. The foot injury kept him off the field in '85 and the Pats eventually waived him from the physically unable to perform list in mid-October.
Defensive end Doug Rogers, who had not played this year due to a foot injury, was waived Tuesday by the New England Patriots.
www.upi.com
Happy 30th birthday to Jon Halapio
Born June 23, 1991 in St Petersburg, FL
Patriot G, 2014; uniform #59
Pats 6th round (179th overall) selection of the 2014 draft, from Florida
The draft pick used on the former Gator was acquired along with a fourth round pick (used on Bryan Stork) from Jacksonville, in exchange for New England's third round pick (#93 overall, Brandon Linder, who is still the Jaguars' starting center). Jon Halapio was cut at the end of his rookie training camp; after that he spent two seasons in the Fall Experimental Football League (2014 with the Boston Brawlers and 2015 with the Brooklyn Bolts). Halapio was on Denver's practice squad for a few weeks, and in Arizona for their 2015 training camp. The Pats re-signed Halapio in the 2016 offseason, but once again he was cut at the end of training camp. Since then he has mostly been with the Giants, bouncing back and forth between their practice squad and the 53-man roster; he finished 2020 on Denver's practice squad and is currently a free agent.
Happy 26th birthday to Colby Gossett
Born June 23, 1991 in Cumming, GA
Patriot G, 2019 practice squad; uniform #67
Signed to the practice squad on September 2, 2019
Colby Gossett was originally a sixth round (compensatory) pick in 2018 by the Vikings, from Appalachian State. He has been on the practice squads for Minnesota, Arizona, New England and Cleveland, appearing in five games with four starts for the Cardinals after Mike Iupati was injured. That audition did not go too well though, as Gossett allowed five sacks while not doing anything noticeable as a run blocker. The Patriots signed him to their initial 2019 practice squad, then waived him nine days later to make room on the PS for defensive backs Obi Melifonwu and Nate Brooks. Gossett opted out of the 2020 season and is currently on the Browns roster.
July 23, 2001:
Patriots sign college wrestler
Stephen Neal.
He might be better known as a member of two Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots teams, but Stephen Neal was a four-time All-American wrestler at Cal State Bakersfield.
www.oklahoman.com
Two other pro football players with New England area connections:
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John Bredice (6/23/1934-10/1/1997); Connecticut native went to Notre Dame High School in West Haven and Boston University, and was an end for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hall of Fame
goterriers.com
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Don Panciera (6/23/1927-2/9/2012); Rhode Island native went to LaSalle Academy in Providence, and Boston College. The QB played pro football from 1949-53, then owned Panciera Chevrolet in Wakefield RI before retiring.
View Donald M. Panciera Sr.'s obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.
www.legacy.com
Other pro football notables born on June 23:
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LaDainian Tomlinson, 42; HoF RB is probably still whining about the Pats.
LaDainian Tomlinson was one of the best, most dynamic running backs to ever play football, yet in New England, his legacy is hardly held in such esteem.
boston.cbslocal.com
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Dave Butz, 71; Washington All-Pro DT and member of the NFL's all-decade team of the 1980s played in 231 games from 1973 to 1988, after St. Louis gave up on him after two seasons.
Lumbering around the Washington Redskins locker room, Dave Butz presents quite an eyeful.
articles.latimes.com
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Cory Schlesinger, 49; Detroit Lions FB played in 181 games from 1995-2006.
For now, Cory Schlesinger has no regrets about the 12 seasons he spent barreling into defenders so violently that he broke 200 face masks.
detroit.cbslocal.com
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Bob Toneff, four-time Pro Bowl DT with 49ers and Washington played from 1952 to 1964.
View Bob Toneff's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.
www.legacy.com
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Marcel Reece, 36; Oakland's four-time Pro Bowl fullback.
ALAMEDA — With fullback Marcel Reece scheduled to return from a suspension this week, the Raiders instead released him from the roster Monday. The Raiders made the announcement with a press r…
www.mercurynews.com
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Tony Hill, 65; Dallas WR had 51 touchdown receptions.
As No. 2 Receiver Or A Leading Role, Hill Always Thrilled
www.dallascowboys.com
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Shaun O'Hara, 44; Giants Pro Bowl center is now on NFL Network.
There’s an old saying that football players die twice – once when they can no longer play the game they love, and then when they actually stop breathing. Those who haven’t played football simply can’t relate. But those of us who’ve played a team sport know there will be a time where we have to…
www.mensfitness.com
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Brandon Stokley, 45; the 'slot machine' had five seasons with 40+ receptions.
Brandon Stokley retires: Ex-Broncos receiver ends 15-year NFL career
www.denverpost.com
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Josh Scobee, 39; kicked 241 field goals and scored 1,046 points.
Upon signing a ceremonial one-day contract Thursday to retire as a member of the Jaguars, kicker Josh Scobee was in full reminiscing mode. But not entirely about his 11 years with the Jaguars, whic…
www.jacksonville.com
bostonsportsmedia.com
www.success.com
www.mattlight72.com
www.si.com
