Today in Patriots History
The genesis of Zappe-Mania
June 23, 2022:
Patriots sign fourth round draft pick
Bailey Zappe to a four-year, $4.3m contract with a $647k signing bonus
After a record-setting career at Western Kentucky that saw Zappe throw for 5,967 yards, 62 TDs and just 11 interceptions in 2021. The yards and TD marks set FBS single-season records. Despite his prolific passing performance in 2021, Zappe wasn’t considered by most to be among the best quarterbacks in the NFL Draft.
Thus, he slipped to the fourth round where the Patriots snapped him up to play third string for the team in 2022.
Mac Jones is fully entrenched as the team’s starter barring an injury after a promising rookie season. Jones threw for 3,801 yards, 22 TDs and 13 interceptions in his first year in the NFL.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe becomes the final 2022 NFL draft selection to sign his rookie deal with the New England Patriots.
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And then there were … none.
The New England Patriots announced on Thursday that they have signed quarterback Bailey Zappe to his rookie deal. Zappe had been the last of New England’s 2022 NFL Draft class to agree to terms with the club. First-round choice Cole Strange signed his deal on Wednesday, while second-round pick Tyquan Thornton made it official with the team on Thursday.
The Patriots raised more than a few eyebrows when they selected the Western Kentucky quarterback with the 137th pick in the fourth round of the draft. At the time, Zappe’s selection gave the Pats four quarterbacks on their roster for the upcoming season. In fact, many began to wonder whether the Patriots had squandered valuable draft capital by overindulging in a position of strength.
However, New England decided to thin out the mix at the position, sending reserve quarterback Jarrett Stidham and a seventh-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a sixth-round selection. The move seemingly paved the way for Zappe to earn a spot on the team’s positional depth chart for 2022. He is expected to compete with veteran backup Brian Hoyer as the Pats second option, behind starter Mac Jones.
Zappe had an overwhelmingly successful statistical season at Western Kentucky in 2021. He set FBS single-season records with 62 passing touchdowns and 5,967 passing yards. The 23-year-old is also a strong logistical fit within New England’s style. Much like Jones, Zappe has a quick release and is an accurate short-to-intermediate passer when throwing in rhythm. He moves well within the pocket and demonstrates a good eye for recognizing pressure. In order to be an effective pro, he must improve upon his accuracy when throwing on the move.
June 23, 2014:
The New England Patriots announced Monday that they have signed first-round pick Dominique Easley.
www.cbsnews.com
The New England Patriots announced Monday that they have signed first-round pick Dominique Easley.
Easley, 22, was drafted by the Patriots with the 29th pick in the 2014 draft, after Easley played four years at Florida. While a Gator, Easley recorded 81 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 32 games.
Easley participated in one of the team's minicamp sessions last week despite not yet agreeing to a contract, but he'll be signed on officially when training camp opens on July 23.
The defensive tackle is working himself back into football shape after suffering a torn ACL last year.
The Patriots also announced that they have signed rookie free agent offensive lineman Chris Martin. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound tackle originally signed with the Texans but was released on May 27.
And we're down to five.
www.nbcsports.com
Only injury concerns kept Easley from being drafted higher, as he was exceptionally productive at Florida when well, and his ability to create pressure from inside will be a good fit for a versatile Patriots front.
Southern Living reports on celebrities, entertainment, music, travel, food, and other news from the South.
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A former professional football player is the newest member of the Seminole County Fire Department.
Offensive tackle Chris Martin played for University of Central Florida and was a member of five NFL teams before the death of his two-year-old son Gunner led him to pursue a career as a firefighter.
“On April 6, 2016, my wife and I found our son unfortunately at the bottom of a pool,” Martin, 33, told Click Orlando. “We had a pool in the backyard. We weren’t really aware of the different preventative measures we could take to prevent it. That’s when I realized that’s what I want to do when I’m done [with football].”
June 23, 2010:
Gary Guyton is signed through 2011.
www.boston.com
Inside linebacker Gary Guyton, one of a long line of undrafted free agents who have claimed a spot on the Patriots’ roster, has received a two-year contract extension from the club that includes a $650,000 signing bonus.
Guyton was an exclusive-rights free agent, which means all New England had to do was offer him a one-year tender which would have paid him $470,000 for the coming season.
“We thought the way Gary had performed, stepping in to call the signals when Jerod Mayo was out and playing 84.5 percent of the defensive snaps, he (had earned) something more than the minimum, and they agreed,” Kopelman said, adding that at the time New England told them they had other things to take care of first. “They’ve always been true to their word with us, which is great.”
Under the terms of the extension, Guyton will earn $505,000 in 2010 and $1 million in 2011 and receive a $650,000 signing bonus.
Guyton registered 85 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season, starting all 16 games in his second full season with the Patriots. He signed in 2008 as an undrafted free agent from Georgia Tech.
June 23, 2003:
Free agent running back Mike Cloud signed with the New England Patriots on Monday. If he makes the roster, he would have to sit out the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL's steroid policy.
The career leading rusher at Boston College, Cloud was drafted in the second round by Kansas City in 1999. He played 56 games for the Chiefs, starting six.
Cloud has 121 career carries for 381 yards and four touchdowns. He has caught 11 passes for 89 yards.
Patriots.com | Cloud officially signs
The former Boston College standout and Kansas City backup was on hand for a tryout during the team's recent mini-camp earlier this month and now will return for training camp July 23.
"Mike couldn't be happier," said Cloud's agent, Jonathan Feinsod. "He's looking forward to the season and continuing his career for years to come."
Cloud, who grew up in nearby Portsmouth, R.I., still faces a major obstacle in his quest to earn a roster spot with New England because of his impending four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He refused to discuss the situation during mini-camp but Feinsod explained that his client took a contaminated supplement and had his appeal denied despite evidence to support his case.
Evidently, the problem arose when he ingested a protein powder that contained Nandrolene, which is a banned substance. Cloud's camp had the powder tested and learned that it was tainted with the steroid. Even though the league agreed with his findings, its was forced to uphold the suspension because of liability issues.
The suspension won't kick in until he survives final cuts. At that time, the Patriots will place him on the reserve/suspended list and he will miss the first four games of the 2003 season. He'll be able to take part fully in training camp and in preseason games but once the regular season begins he'll be forced to the sidelines for a month.
With Cloud's addition, the Patriots backfield figures to be a bit deeper. He'll join incumbent Antowain Smith, Kevin Faulk, J.R. Redmond, Antwoine Womack and rookie free agent Derek Watson. Faulk is slated for third-down and situational use while Redmond tries to resurrect his flailing career. Womack is trying to prove he's healthy after missing his rookie year with a torn ACL and could also see time at fullback. Watson is a long shot to make the team.
Cloud, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Chiefs, started six of his 56 career games with 121 career carries for 381 yards and four touchdowns. The former second-round pick received little interest as an unrestricted free agent after backing up Pro Bowler Priest Holmes the past two years in Kansas City.
"It's been frustrating, but given my situation I can understand why," Cloud said during mini-camp. "I am here trying to learn the plays and get myself ready. I am just learning the system as quickly as possible so when I am put in a situation I can respond and I am not out there guessing what I have to do so I can let my talent come through."
Head Coach Bill Belichick is away from his office and was not available for comment on the Cloud signing but he did say during mini-camp that the suspension would not be a key factor in the team's decision. "I don't think that is going to hold up the process because we are aware of it and we know what it is," he said. "If we don't want to deal with it, then we wouldn't be at this point right now."
Obviously Belichick was true to his word and Cloud is now a Patriot.
June 23, 1979:
Patriots activate
Steve Corbett off the retired list
The Pats had selected the guard from Boston College with the 30th overall pick in the 1974 draft. He spent all of his rookie season on IR, then appeared in 14 games the following year. Corbett again spent all of 1976 on IR and retired due to his injuries. The attempted comeback did not come to fruition. After suffering muscle spasms in training camp at Bryant College, Corbett retired for good on July 20, 1979.
Despite his brief NFL career, Steve Corbett is a member of two Hall of Fames:
DOVER — Even with interest in sports arguably at an all-time high, Steve Corbett longs for the day when the entire town came out to Dunaway Field to watch the St. Thomas Aquinas High School football …
www.fosters.com
Boston College Athletics
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June 23, 1979:
Patriots sign free agent
Tom McLaughlin
McLaughlin was an undrafted quarterback from Iowa. Looks like he also spent parts of the offseason with the Lions ('78), Patriots ('79) and Oilers ('80). One site says he was a punter rather than a QB. That might make sense since his stats throwing the ball don't merit a tryout: 7 TD, 24 interceptions from 1975 to 1977 with the Hawkeyes.
Check out Tom McLaughlin's College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits and More College Stats at Sports-Reference.com
www.sports-reference.com
