June 9 in Pats History: Tedy Bruschi

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Tedy Bruschi​

Happy 48th birthday to Tedy Bruschi
Born June 9, 1973 in San Francisco
Patriot ILB, 1996-2008; uniform #54
Pats 3rd round (86th overall) selection of the 1996 draft, from Arizona

​

- 2013 Patriots Hall of Fame inductee.
- Played in 211 games (189 regular season games and 22 playoff games) for the Patriots over 13 seasons.
- The 13 seasons played and the 189 regular season games played both rank as eighth most in franchise history.
- Owns the team record with 17 forced fumbles.
- 30.5 career sacks ranks as 16th best in club history.
- With Bruschi the Patriots went to the playoffs nine times, won eight division titles, five conference titles and three super bowl championships.
- All Pro second team (2003, 2004), Pro Bowl (2004), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2005), Super Bowl champion (2001, 2003, 2004).
- 22 playoff games was at the time most in Pats history (since surpassed by four others), and is tied for 20th most in NFL history.
- Arguably one of the top three Patriots in the Belichick era.
- First player in NFL history to return four consecutive interceptions for touchdowns.
- Was part of eight defensive touchdowns: four pick-sixes, two forced fumbles that were returned for TDs, a blocked punt returned for a TD, and a tipped pass that was intercepted and returned for a TD.
- Those four interceptions returned for a TD are second must in Pats history, behind only Ty Law (6).
- His twelve interceptions ranks 26th in franchise history, and fifth most by a linebacker.
- Made countless clutch iconic plays, such as: ripping the ball from Dominic Rhodes in the 2004 AFCCG; stonewalling Charlie Garner on 2nd-and-3 in the 2001 playoff game against Oakland; or the 2003 pick-six in the snow against Miami to win the division.
- Trivia: the Patriots traded down ten spots in the '96, getting draft picks which turned out to be Bruschi, Chris Sullivan and Marrio Grier from Detroit. The Lions used that pick on safety Ryan Stewart, who started just two NFL games with one career interception.
- Described by Bill Belichick as "the perfect player".
- University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, 2000
- National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, 2011
- College Football Hall of Fame, 2013
- New England Patriots Hall of Fame, 2013

Best of the Belichick Era: Number 3 — Tedy Bruschi

I’m spending 50 days ranking the top 50 players of the Bill Belichick Era, from No. 50 down to No. 1. (Click here for a criteria on how I made my selections.) Enjoy. Today we reach . . . . NUMBER 3: TEDY BRUSCHI Years With Patriots: 13 (1996-2008), 9 under Belichick (2000-08) Games: 189 (127...

www.csnne.com

In snowy Foxborough, Patriots blank Dolphins to win division - The Boston Globe

With mounds of snow piling inside and around the stadium, the Patriots suffocated the Dolphins 12-0 to win the AFC East as fans celebrated with cannons of snowballs.

www.bostonglobe.com

Bruschi: 'Today is my end' - The Boston Globe

Teddy Bruschi HOF

Teddy Bruschi HOF

arizonawildcats.com

Tedy Bruschi Named to CFB Hall of Fame

Former Arizona defensive lineman Tedy Bruschi is the fourth Arizona football player to be inducted in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame and the third in the last five years. Bruschi (1991-95) ended his UA career with 52 sacks, tied for the most in NCAA history. He was a consensus...

uanews.arizona.edu

Tedy Bruschi | National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame

Tedy Bruschi | The Patriots Hall of Fame

www.patriotshalloffame.com

Tedy Bruschi

Three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi joined ESPN as a NFL analyst in August 2009, one week after announcing his retirement from pro football. The former New England Patriots linebacker provides analysis on Sunday NFL Countdown, Get Up, First Take, SportsCenter and ESPN Radio, and he...

espnpressroom.com

Tedy Bruschi charts a new career path with latest gig

New England Patriots legend Tedy Bruschi will be joining the Arizona Wildcats coaching staff alongside former Patriots staffer Jedd Fisch.

www.nbcsports.com

​

 

[Pape]

one of the greatest Patriot players of all time...

he exemplified the Patriot dynasty moreso than any other player not named Brady

it is a greek tragedy that his accomplishments will not be recognized in Canton, as he was even better than the sum of all the parts... i fervently wish borges was replaced with some one who would or could state his case in an eloquent manner so he had a real chance for enshrinement...

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Jason Licht, Matt Gutierrez and Big Mac McNeil​

June 9, 1999: Jason Licht is hired to the college scouting staff. He had been a scout with Carolina the previous year, and had been with the Miami Dolphins' staff prior to that. Licht worked with the Patriots until 2011, ascending to the position of Director of Player Personnel. After two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals he moved on to Tampa Bay, and has been the Bucs general manager since 2014.



Happy 37th birthday to Matt Gutierrez
Born June 9, 1984 in Concord, California
Patriot QB, 2007; uniform #7
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 8, 2007

Matt Gutierrez had been enrolled at Michigan and was slated to be their starter in 2004, before he suffered a shoulder injury (torn labrum). While Gutierrez was sidelined Chad Henne played well enough to keep the starting position, so Gutierrez transferred to Idaho State.

The Patriots signed the undrafted rookie about a week after the 2007 NFL draft. He made his NFL debut with a kneel down on the final play of a 38-14 September 9, 2007 victory against the Jets. Gutierrez completed his first NFL pass to Donté Stallworth for a 15 yard gain, against the Miami Dolphins in week 7. That would turn out to be his only pass play with New England.

Gutierrez appeared in five games during garbage time in '07. During the 2008 preseason Gutierrez completed 29 out of 45 passes for 362 passing yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two picks. He was cut at the end of training camp, and was signed to the practice squad. After Tom Brady went on IR, Gutierrez was promoted to the 53-man roster; he was an inactive healthy scratch in all 14 games.

Soon after the start of training camp the following August the Patriots signed veteran Andrew Walter, and cut Gutierrez. Over the next five years Gutierrez bounced between practice squads and training camps with the Bears, Skins and Rams, the Arena League, and the United Football League. His only other NFL appearance was in one 2009 game for the Chiefs. Matt Gutierrez now works in commercial real estate.

Happy 54th birthday to Emanuel 'Big Mac' McNeil
Born June 9, 1967 in Richmond, Virginia
Patriot NT, 1989; uniform #92
Pats 10th round (267th overall) pick of the 1989 draft, from Tennessee-Martin

Emanuel McNeil appeared in just one game with the Pats. When **** Steinberg left Foxboro to become GM of the Jets in 1990, he signed McNeil as a Plan B free agent. Plan B free agency was something the owners had grudgingly put in to place for legal purposes. They were able to protect any 37 players they desired, which when you think about it is all your starters on offense and defense, all your third down players, and all your core special teamers. Only those other players at the bottom of the roster were permitted to depart in free agency.

In standard Jet fashion, after all that maneuvering McNeil played in just two more NFL games. He later signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, but suffered a career ending knee injury in 1992. McNeil is now back at his alma mater, working as the Director of Player Development at the University of Tennessee.

​

Emanuel McNeil - Football Coach - UTM Athletics

Emanuel “Big Mac” McNeil enters his first season as the director of player development at UT Martin. Before UT Martin, McNeil previous served as a defensive line

utmsports.com

The University of Tennessee-Martin | Emanuel 'Big Mac' McNeil




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

Julian Talley, 32 (June 9, 1989)
UMass alum had 60 catches for 759 yards his senior year; he has played in the CFL, Arena Football League and NFL. Was with the Giants from 2012-15, but mostly only in off season or on the practice squad; the WR appeared in two games in 2013 and two more in 2014.

New York Giants cut former UMass football players Julian Talley, Jeromy Miles

The Giants signed Talley in 2013 and Miles this past July.

www.masslive.com

Bernie Digris (June 9, 1919-Nov 1, 1978)
Connecticut native was born in Union City, raised in Ansonia, and went to St John's Prep after Ansonia High School. He graduated from Holy Cross, and was captain of their football team. Bernie played tackle and guard for the Bronko Nagurski-led 1943 NFL champion Chicago Bears, and then joined the Navy in WWII.

Bernie Digris - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Other pro football players born June 9 include:
- Olin Kreutz, 44; 6-time Pro Bowl center for the Bears.
Local legend Olin Kreutz

- Josh Cribbs, 38; 3-time Pro Bowl KR/WR for the Browns. It never looked right at all seeing him wear a Jets or Colts uniform.

Josh Cribbs retires as a Brown: 'I can look in the mirror and say I'm done'

Josh Cribbs has been out of football for two years, but officially retired Wednesday as a Brown.

www.cleveland.com

- Woodrow Lowe, 67; 11-season starting LB for the Chargers.

Woodrow Lowe honored as Alabama Football Legend

The former Alabama All-America linebacker spoke at the Camellia Bowl luncheon.

www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

 

[captain stone]

Today in Patriots History
Tedy Bruschi​

Happy 48th birthday to Tedy Bruschi
Born June 9, 1973 in San Francisco
Patriot ILB, 1996-2008; uniform #54
Pats 3rd round (86th overall) selection of the 1996 draft, from Arizona

- 2013 Patriots Hall of Fame inductee.
- Played in 211 games (189 regular season games and 22 playoff games) for the Patriots over 13 seasons.
- The 13 seasons played and the 189 regular season games played both rank as eighth most in franchise history.
- Owns the team record with 17 forced fumbles.
- 30.5 career sacks ranks as 16th best in club history.
- With Bruschi the Patriots went to the playoffs nine times, won eight division titles, five conference titles and three super bowl championships.
- All Pro second team (2003, 2004), Pro Bowl (2004), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2005), Super Bowl champion (2001, 2003, 2004).
- 22 playoff games was at the time most in Pats history (since surpassed by four others), and is tied for 20th most in NFL history.
- Arguably one of the top three Patriots in the Belichick era.
- First player in NFL history to return four consecutive interceptions for touchdowns.
- Was part of eight defensive touchdowns: four pick-sixes, two forced fumbles that were returned for TDs, a blocked punt returned for a TD, and a tipped pass that was intercepted and returned for a TD.
- Those four interceptions returned for a TD are second must in Pats history, behind only Ty Law (6).
- His twelve interceptions ranks 26th in franchise history, and fifth most by a linebacker.
- Made countless clutch iconic plays, such as: ripping the ball from Dominic Rhodes in the 2004 AFCCG; stonewalling Charlie Garner on 2nd-and-3 in the 2001 playoff game against Oakland; or the 2003 pick-six in the snow against Miami to win the division.
- Trivia: the Patriots traded down ten spots in the '96, getting draft picks which turned out to be Bruschi, Chris Sullivan and Marrio Grier from Detroit. The Lions used that pick on safety Ryan Stewart, who started just two NFL games with one career interception.
- Described by Bill Belichick as "the perfect player".
- University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, 2000
- National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, 2011
- College Football Hall of Fame, 2013
- New England Patriots Hall of Fame, 2013

Best of the Belichick Era: Number 3 — Tedy Bruschi

I’m spending 50 days ranking the top 50 players of the Bill Belichick Era, from No. 50 down to No. 1. (Click here for a criteria on how I made my selections.) Enjoy. Today we reach . . . . NUMBER 3: TEDY BRUSCHI Years With Patriots: 13 (1996-2008), 9 under Belichick (2000-08) Games: 189 (127...

www.csnne.com

In snowy Foxborough, Patriots blank Dolphins to win division - The Boston Globe

With mounds of snow piling inside and around the stadium, the Patriots suffocated the Dolphins 12-0 to win the AFC East as fans celebrated with cannons of snowballs.

www.bostonglobe.com

Bruschi: 'Today is my end' - The Boston Globe

Teddy Bruschi HOF

Teddy Bruschi HOF

arizonawildcats.com

Tedy Bruschi Named to CFB Hall of Fame

Former Arizona defensive lineman Tedy Bruschi is the fourth Arizona football player to be inducted in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame and the third in the last five years. Bruschi (1991-95) ended his UA career with 52 sacks, tied for the most in NCAA history. He was a consensus...

uanews.arizona.edu

Tedy Bruschi | National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame

Tedy Bruschi | The Patriots Hall of Fame

www.patriotshalloffame.com

Tedy Bruschi

Three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi joined ESPN as a NFL analyst in August 2009, one week after announcing his retirement from pro football. The former New England Patriots linebacker provides analysis on Sunday NFL Countdown, Get Up, First Take, SportsCenter and ESPN Radio, and he...

espnpressroom.com

Tedy Bruschi charts a new career path with latest gig

New England Patriots legend Tedy Bruschi will be joining the Arizona Wildcats coaching staff alongside former Patriots staffer Jedd Fisch.

www.nbcsports.com

​

What more could I possiblly add, except maybe this:




And this describes Tedy as well:

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Full time , Full Tilt. My favorite Patriot ever. He still has that p i s s and vinegar in his veins. I recall once on a tv program Damien Woody was stating he believed Brady did "cheat" and you could tell it took Bruschi every ounce of decency in him to not leap over the table and punch Woody in the face.

They don't build em like that anymore peeps...Patriot 4 Life.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Thank you! Thank you! What a player! What a tribute!

That photo of him coming over the line at Testaverde, grinning like a pirate is my favourite picture of my favourite player of all time (and the one of him stripping poor Dominic Rhodes is close).

Happy birthday, sir, and many happy returns!