Today In Patriots History March 11, 2003: Pats sign free agent LB Rosevelt Colvin

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats land free agent Rosevelt Colvin​

March 11, 2003:
Rosevelt Colvin signs with the New England Patriots.
At the time the seven-year, $30 million contract was the largest ever for a linebacker in free agency.

Patriots Boost Pass Rush With Signing of Colvin

The New England Patriots signed free-agent linebacker Rosevelt Colvin on Tuesday, apparently improving their pass rush.

www.latimes.com

The New England Patriots signed free-agent linebacker Rosevelt Colvin on Tuesday, apparently improving their pass rush.​

Colvin had 10½ sacks last season, tops on the Chicago Bears and tied for 12th in the NFL.​

Patriots sign LB Colvin

The Patriots signed linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, adding one of the most attractive free agents on the market and improving their weak pass rush.

www.tampabay.com

The Patriots signed linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, adding one of the most attractive free agents on the market and improving their weak pass rush. He chose the Patriots over several teams that pursued him.​

"They're very talented on defense. They're coming off a Super Bowl run two years ago," the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Colvin said. "I'm not the answer to any questions they have. I'm just a piece of the puzzle."​

The Patriots had 34 sacks last season. Only 11 teams had fewer. Willie McGinest and Richard Seymour led the team with 5{ each. Colvin had the second-most sacks by a linebacker, trailing only the 11 by LaVar Arrington of Washington.​

Colvin, 25, was fifth on the Bears with 72 tackles last season. He had 10{ sacks for the second straight season, the only linebacker in team history to record double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons.​

Pats from the Past: Episode 29, Rosevelt Colvin -- Patriots.com
53:58 audio interview
In this episode of Pats from the Past, we talk with former Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin. Among the highlights are Colvin's preferred choice when free agency opened in 2003, how he was "recruited" to play in New England and the life-changing moment that happened to him here in New England.




Below is an absolutely fantastic article by Jeff Howe for The Athletic - that is available to all, not behind a paywall.

It recounts how Bill Belichick convinced Rodney Harrison and Rosevelt Colvin to sign with the Pats in 2003, what those players mindsets were, etc. It's extremely detailed, and not just well worth reading; it's a must-read, in my opinion.

Colvin was originally dead-set against coming to New England. He wanted to either play in warm weather, or on turf. And whereas other teams spared no expense courting him, he was picked up at the airport 'by some scout in a Ford Taurus', and put up 'in a Residence Inn'.

How free agency in 2003 allowed Patriots to lay key building block for a dynasty

The signings of Rodney Harrison and Rosevelt Colvin created a snowball effect that helped make New England a destination for veterans.

www.nytimes.com

“He pulled up film of me in Chicago,” Colvin said. “He pulled up film from Purdue. He asked me what I was thinking, what kind of play, what was the call, what was my responsibility, all this other stuff. We just talked football. After that, he was like, ‘We really like you as a player.’ He had some (Lawrence Taylor) references about the history of the defense they run. I’m like, ‘Is this dude trying to tell me I’m going to be the next Lawrence Taylor?’​

“I go back to the hotel. Every other hotel I’m in, it’s a Ritz-Carlton, a five-star (hotel). Man, they dropped me off at a Residence Inn. I got on a flight the next day to go back home. I told my agent, ‘Man, I told you I didn’t want to go out here. This isn’t the place for me.'”​

Belichick had done plenty of homework and had gotten a strong recommendation from Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, who was a Giants scout in the 1980s when Belichick was the defensive coordinator. Belichick wanted to pair Colvin with McGinest to bookend his 3-4 defense.​

Belichick offered Colvin a seven-year, $30 million contract. At the time, it was the biggest contract ever for a linebacker to switch teams in free agency. Colvin made the decision once he returned home to Chicago.​

His career did not get off to a good start. And though I shared concern with the writers below at the time, thankfully the 2003 season did not end in September.

September 19, 2003 - after the week two 31-10 victory at Philadelphia:

Loss Of Colvin Most Crippling Of All

The timing, naturally, stinks. The Jets are heading to Foxborough this weekend.

www.patsfans.com

This might just have been the work of Pedro Martinez.​

Lawyer Milloy is released five days before the season opener, and morphs suddenly into a Patriot opponent. Strike one.​

Ted Johnson sustains a severe foot injury and is out for about six weeks. Strike two.​

Now, ahead in the count 0-2, here comes the knee-buckling changeup which Martinez is famous for.​

Rosevelt Colvin sustains a severe hip injury against Philadelphia while recovering a key Donovan McNabb fumble. Out for the year.​

Strike three, the Patriots are out.​

Well, calling the Patriots "out" might be a little extreme, but it certainly seems like a typical Martinez ponchado. Three key members of the Patriot defense are now gone, and one has to wonder how much more severely the Patriot depth, especially at linebacker, will be tested.​

The loss of Colvin, the prize free agent catch of the offseason, might be the worst of them all. Calling it "crippling" is hopefully not prophetic, if medical reports are to be believed and a worst-case scenario is envisioned. Right now, Colvin is merely lost for the season. It remains to be seen if this hip injury is also career threatening. If normal blood flow cannot be resumed to the hip region, it could cripple Colvin for life.​

September 21, 2003 - after a week three 23-16 win over Jets:

What Kind of Win Is This?

Patriots do just enough to win against the Jets

www.patsfans.com

At this rate, if this pattern of injuries to Patriots defensive starters continues, Head Coach Bill Belichick might be signing Patriots Hall of Famer Mike Haynes by week eight. Let's see. Lawyer Milloy gets released before week one. Ted Johnson breaks his foot in Buffalo. Rosevelt Colvin breaks his hip and is gone for the season last week. And now, we have injuries to Ted Washington, Mike Vrabel, and Ty Law to deal with. Obviously, the Colvin injury is the most devastating out of all of these. And his absence was very evident during the 23-16 victory against the New York Jets on Sunday. Overall, the Patriots defense played well enough to win and made up for a mediocre game by quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. Against a better team, the outcome on Sunday might have been different.​

My Convo with NFL Super Bowl Champ, Entrepreneur, and Sports Parent Rosevelt Colvin | Jackie Bledsoe | Bestselling Author & International Speaker\

jackiebledsoe.com

Catching up with former Bears and Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin

Rosevelt Colvin reminisces about what could've been in Chicago and the lessons he learned in New England.

www.nytimes.com

Rosevelt Colvin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Rosevelt Colvin. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[Pape]

Ain't gonna lie... I loved this signing

 

[Joey007]

Ain't gonna lie... I loved this signing

We signed a lot of vets the first couple years Bill was here, but this move and Rodney felt like his first major swings.

Injuries kept him from living up to the deal. But still spent several years here as a nice player.

 

[RobertWeathers]

We signed a lot of vets the first couple years Bill was here, but this move and Rodney felt like his first major swings.

Injuries kept him from living up to the deal. But still spent several years here as a nice player.

Yep. Rosey was the first big ticket signing in the BB era. 7yr/$30m

Rodney's deal was basically a 1yr $3.6m deal. He was over 30 and hurt the prior year.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Loved the Colvin signing. He was a key piece in the transition to the 3-4 with Ted Washington the final one.

Had Colvin not suffered that freak hip injury, he would’ve been a 10+ sack guy per year easily.

 

[turkeyneck]

Loved the Colvin signing. He was a key piece in the transition to the 3-4 with Ted Washington the final one.

Had Colvin not suffered that freak hip injury, he would’ve been a 10+ sack guy per year easily.

Colvin was not Len Bias level of what could have been and at least we got to enjoy his talent briefly but, dang, that injury was ruinous.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Older March 11 Trivia​

March 11, 1977:
Chuck Fairbanks trades defensive back Joe Blahak to Minnesota in a straight cash deal.

Blahak was a well traveled backup/special teamer from Nebraska who entered the NFL as an 8th round pick by the Oilers in 1973. After signing him as a free agent on Nov 29, 1976, the Pats were a flawless 2-0 with him in their lineup: a 27-6 week 13 victory versus Hank Stram's Saints (where he had one tackle) and a 31-14 week 14 win at Tampa Bay that gave the Bucs a perfect 0-14 record (where Blahak had two tackles. Blahak did not play a week later in the Ben Dreith game.

Joe Blahak played in 44 NFL games with three interceptions, but was more well known for his college days as a Husker.

Joe Blahak, Star on Two National Championship Teams, Dies

A leading character in one of the most famous plays in Nebraska football history died Monday from an apparent heart attack. After recovering from a stroke about five years ago, Joe Blahak, 65, died in

huskers.com

A junior cornerback for Bob Devaney’s top-ranked Nebraska team in the 1971 Game of the Century against second-ranked Oklahoma, Blahak made the signature block that allowed Johnny Rodgers to “tear” the Sooners “loose from their shoes” on a fabled 72-yard touchdown run in Norman, Okla.​

In a heavily promoted nationally televised showdown, that play was the difference in Nebraska’s 35-31 win and remains prominent in television vaults and media archives because 1) it chronicled history; 2) it created some controversy; and 3) it became the first Big Red brick in Johnny “The Jet’s” path to winning a Heisman Trophy one year later.​

Joe Blahak – Columbus Scotus Central – Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame

nebhalloffame.org

Joe Blahak (1950-2016) - Find a Grave Memorial

Professional Football Player. For five seasons (1973 to 1977), he played at the defensive back (cornerback) position in the National Football League with the Houston Oilers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings. Born Joseph Phillip Blahak, he made his...

www.findagrave.com

March 11, 1989:
Brent Williams is re-signed to a four-year contract.

A 7th round selection of the 1986 draft, the DE from Toledo far surpassed his draft status. Williams played in 122 games (102 starts) with the Pats, with 430 tackles. His 43½ sacks ranked fifth in franchise history at the time, and still ranks as ninth most today. Brent was named to the Pro Football Writers All-Rookie Team in 1986, and is a member of the Patriots All-1990s Team.

Brent Williams (2016) - Hall of Fame - University of Toledo Athletics

Brent Williams, Class: 1985 Induction: 2016 Sport(s): Football - Brent Williams was a two-time first-team All-MAC defensive end. He was named first-team All-MAC

utrockets.com

Alumni Spotlight: Brent Williams -- Patriots.com




March 11, 1990:
New head coach Rod Rust hires three assistants to his staff:
+ Charlie Sumner as defensive coordinator and secondary coach
+ Dale Lindsey as defensive line coach
+ Rod Humenuik as offensive line coach

Sumner had been the Pats DC from 1973-78, and spent nine seasons as the Raiders DC.
Lindsey had a lengthy (1974-2022) coaching career that included 21 seasons in the NFL, and ten years as head coach at the University of San Diego.
Humenuik had a 40-year career as a football coach that included four years as the Pats assistant head coach (1985-88) and three (1990-92) as the team's OL coach.

Charlie Sumner: Dublin's Forgotten Hero

In 1973, he got his first shot as a defensive coordinator, returning to the Oakland Raiders where he got his first shot as a defensive coordinator. Much like his time in Pittsburgh, he was joining a bad team. This team was the New England Patriots. But just a few years after his arrival, he had built the Patriots into a top ten defense and played a huge role in taking them from a doormat to an 11-3 record. His final three years there, his teams went a combined 31-13 and went to the playoffs twice. While that must have been cool to build the Patriots, I can’t help but to think he also had some “late night thoughts” as he watched the Pittsburgh Steelers rack up four Super Bowl rings in six years.​

Sumner would then depart from New England to return to the Golden State to coach the Raiders again, this time getting the gig as defensive coordinator. In his second year as defensive coordinator, the Raiders jumped from 18th in total defense to tenth and made the playoffs at 11-5. They beat the Houston Oilers, Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers, and for the second time with the “silver and black,” Sumner found himself coaching on the sport’s biggest stage. He hoped that this time, however, he would find himself holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy. If that were to happen, his team would have to take down the Philadelphia Eagles.​

His defense harassed Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski. The Raiders’ offense did plenty enough, and the silver and black conquered the NFL again, beating the Eagles in the New Orleans Superdome, 27-10. Sumner had won his first Super Bowl ring and had reached the game’s biggest stage. Sumner had done it. He had gone from the small town of Dublin to a Super Bowl champion.​

A rough 1981 season came, but the Raiders got back into the thick of things with an 8-1 strike-shortened season in 1982. Sumner’s defense did okay, but they fell to the New York Jets in the divisional round.​

But 1983 was “the year” for the silver and black. They went 12-4, and easily made the playoffs. They beat the Steelers and the Seahawks, and they headed to the Super Bowl again. Their opponent was the mighty Washington Redskins. The ‘Skins were 14-2, had set an NFL record for points in a single season, and were thought to be unstoppable. Sumner and his guys thought otherwise.​

With Sumner’s defensive mind, the Raiders shocked the football world. They dominated the Redskins’ record-setting offense, holding them to a mere nine points. It is widely considered one of the greatest defensive performances in Super Bowl history, and paired with Marcus Allen’s heroics, the Raiders won another Super Bowl, 38-9. Sumner now had multiple Super Bowl rings.​

March 11, 2004:
Patriots sign DE Rodney Bailey
He would never play for the Pats, as he was placed on IR on August 2nd, and released at the end of camp in 2005.

Patriots get Bailey after Pittsburgh declines to match offer sheet

Restricted free agent Rodney Bailey officially joined the Patriots on Thursday after the Pittsburgh Steelers declined to match New England's offer sheet.

www.espn.com

Restricted free agent Rodney Bailey officially joined the Patriots on Thursday after the Pittsburgh Steelers declined to match New England's offer sheet.​

The 24-year-old defensive end agreed last week to the offer sheet that guarantees him $650,000. The Steelers had until Thursday to match the Patriots' offer or receive a sixth-round draft pick as compensation.​

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Bailey, a sixth-round selection out of Ohio State in 2001, appeared in every Steelers game the past three years, with one start, and had 9½ sacks. Bailey is the fourth restricted free agent the Patriots have acquired in their history, and the first since 1996.​

March 11, 2005:
At the time I really liked this signing; Dwight was fun to watch, an electrifying return man who was a good receiver as well.

Dwight lands with Patriots

www.milforddailynews.com

The Patriots have landed an undersized, hard-nosed veteran free agent wide receiver/kick returner, but it isn't Troy Brown. Instead the Pats have added 29-year-old Tim Dwight, the former Falcon and Charger who agreed to terms on a one-year contract, which likely signals the end of Brown's time in New England.​

A part of the 2001 pre-draft trade that resulted in Atlanta taking Michael Vick and San Diego drafting LaDainian Tomlinson, Dwight has generally held the role that has been reserved for Brown over the last decade - third receiver and kick returner.​

``They were very aggressive in stepping up and making it happen," agent Jack Bechta said. ``That was probably the closer - their commitment, from the head coach and Scott (Pioli). They were the first ones who stepped up and brought him in."​

Yet the Patriots weren't the only team courting Dwight, according to Bechta. He said four other clubs placed calls and that the eight-year veteran ``took a little less" to come to New England.​

``Any time a championship team comes calling for your services, it's really flattering," said Bechta.​

Over his seven-year career, Dwight has made 153 receptions for 2,422 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also averaged 10 yards on 130 punt returns with three touchdowns and has a career average of 23.3 yards on 192 kickoff returns, two for touchdowns. Over the course of his career, he's had 12 punt returns of more than 20 yards but none of them has come in the last two years, when he was bothered by toe and hamstring injuries. He also suffered a collapsed lung that resulted in his missing seven games in 2003.​

He was released last month, before qualifying for a $100,000 roster bonus.​

While Dwight's signing doesn't automatically spell the end of Brown's time with the Patriots, it certainly cuts down the odds of Mr. Patriot coming back for a 13th season. In this age of specialization and the salary cap, teams don't usually allot more than one roster spot for a veteran receiver/returner.​

As for Troy Brown, the prediction of his demise was premature; he would stick around and continue to contribute for a couple more seasons. Tim Dwight on the other hand was a Patriot for just one season; he signed with the Jets as a free agent on March 22, 2006.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Trivia from the last two decades​

March 11, 2006:
The following players became free agents:

Adam Vinatieri --- signed with the Colts on March 23
Andre' Davis ----- signed with the Bills on March 13
Chad Scott ------- re-signed on March 22
Christian Fauria -- signed with Washington on March 13
David Givens ----- signed to a 5-year contract with Tennessee on March 14
Heath Evans ------ re-signed to a one-year contract on March 27
Matt Chatham ---- signed to a 3-year contract with the Jets
Michael Stone ---- signed with Texans on April 10
Stephen Neal ----- re-signed on March 24
Tim Dwight ------- signed with Jets on March 22
Tom Ashworth ---- signed to a 5-year contract with Seattle on March 27
Troy Brown ------- re-signed with Patriots on March 24




March 11, 2008:
One of the distractions from the 2007 season disappears.

Woman asks for case against Moss to be tossed

A woman who obtained a restraining order earlier this year against New England Patriots star Randy Moss has requested that the order be dissolved and the case dismissed.

www.espn.com

MIAMI -- A woman who obtained a restraining order earlier this year in a domestic violence case against New England Patriots star Randy Moss wants the case dismissed, court records show.

The restraining order was issued Jan. 14 after Washington accused Moss of "battery causing serious injury" in a civil domestic violence case. It came just as the Patriots were making their playoff run to the Super Bowl and angling for an undefeated season, which ended in a loss to the New York Giants.

Days before the AFC Championship Game, Moss said the claims were "false allegations" and that Washington had demanded a payment of "six figures" before taking legal action. He acknowledged knowing the woman for about 11 years.

"In my whole entire life of living 30 years, I've never put a hand on one woman, physically or in an angry manner," Moss told reporters in mid-January.


The Patriots also re-signed ERFA Bubba Ventrone




March 11, 2009:

Patriots pick up a pair of free agents

The team reaches an agreement with another cornerback, Leigh Bodden, and signs with long snapper Nathan Hodel.

www.enterprisenews.com

The New England Patriots are cornering the market.​

Following up on the signing of 33-year-old Shawn Springs, the Patriots came to terms with another free-agent cornerback on Tuesday when they reached an agreement on a contract with former Cleveland Brown-Detroit Lion Leigh Bodden. NFL.com reported that Bodden’s contract is a one-year deal that will pay him the veteran minimum of $750,000.​

The signings of Springs and Bodden are an obvious attempt by the Patriots to revamp their secondary. While they ranked 11th in the NFL in pass defense last season, the Patriots surrendered 27 touchdown passes, the most allowed in a season by the team since Bill Parcells’ 1995 squad surrendered 29.​

Addressing another need, the Patriots announced that they signed veteran long snapper Nathan Hodel. A seven-year veteran, Hodel has spent his entire career with Arizona. The 31-year-old has snapped in every Cardinals’ game dating back to 2002.​

A void at the long snapper position has existed in New England since the outset of the free agency period when Lonie Paxton, who’d been with the Pats the entire Bill Belichick era, took the free agent route to Denver.​

March 11, 2011:
Report: Faulk strikes deal to stay with Patriots -- Patriots.com




March 11, 2014:
The following players became unrestricted free agents:

DE/OLB Andre Carter ------ never signed with another team
CB Aqib Talib ---------------- signed with the Broncos the next day to a 6-year contract
WR Austin Collie ------------ never signed with another team
LB Brandon Spikes ---------- signed with Buffalo on March 15 to a one-year contract
LB/DE Dane Fletcher --------- signed with Tampa Bay on March 18 to a one-year contract
TE D.J. Williams -------------- re-signed, released on August 21
WR Julian Edelman ---------- re-signed to a four-year contract on March 18
RB LeGarrette Blount -------- signed by Steelers to a two-year contract on March 31
TE Matthew Mulligan -------- signed by Bears to a one-year contract on April 14
TE Michael Hoomanawanui -- re-signed one day later to a two-year contract
OL Ryan Wendell ------------- re-signed to a two-year contract on March 31
OT Will Svitek ----------------- signed ith Bengals on June 11




March 11, 2015:

New England Patriots sign ex-Packers WR Kevin Dorsey

Kevin Dorsey, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, signed with the New England Patriots Wednesday.

www.masslive.com

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Kevin Dorsey worked out for the New England Patriots on Feb. 24, according to a previous Baltimore Sun report. On Wednesday, Dorsey signed with the Patriots.​

The official signing of wide receiver Brandon Gibson, which was reported by ESPN Tuesday, was also announced via the league wire.​

Dorsey, a former seventh-round pick out of Maryland, was primarily a special teamer in Green Bay. He was sent to injured reserve in November and was later released in February.​

The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Dorsey joins Gibson, Brian Tyms, Jonathan Krause, Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson as players who will be competing for the last few wide receiver spots on the roster.​

March 11, 2016:

New England Patriots free agency: DE Frank Kearse signs with team Friday

The New England Patriots may have added another player in free agency: backup defensive end Frank Kearse.

www.masslive.com

It appears the New England Patriots have their second free agent addition of the 2016 class.​

After inking linebacker/special teamer Ramon Humber on Wednesday, the team announced the signing of defensive end Frank Kearse Friday.​

Like Humber, Kearse is considered a depth player. At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, he played as an end in Washington. He could move inside in New England, possibly absorbing a role similar to the one occupied by Dominique Easley and Akiem Hicks, who the Pats may lose via free agency.​

Patriots sign wide receiver Chris Hogan

Patriots made some free agent noise on Friday

www.boston.com

The New England Patriots have added a brand new target for quarterback Tom Brady: wide receiver Chris Hogan. The team announced a deal with the restricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills on Friday.​

After the Patriots signed Hogan to an offer sheet, the Bills declined to match it. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Hogan agreed with the Patriots on a three-year, $12-million contract, citing an unnamed source involved in the deal. The 6’1’’, 220-pound wideout had 36 receptions for 450 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games with the Bills last season.​

March 11, 2024:
Patriots sign two fee agents, OT Chukwuma Okorafor and WR Jalen Reagor

No comment.
The less said the better.

March 11 Birthdays​

Milford Hodge, 64 (1961)
8th round (224th overall) selection in the 1985 draft, Washington State
DE/NT played in 49 games (8 starts) with the Pats from 1986-89

WSU's 1983 defensive line so stacked a future Super Bowl starter had to rotate in

4 members of Cougs' 1983 d-line played a collective 31 NFL seasons but their WSU memories burn bright and their relationships remain strong

247sports.com

Shawn Springs, 50 (1975)
Signed as a free agent on March 11, 2009
Malcontent CB played in 12 games (8) starts for Pats in 2009

Hall of Fame 2022: Shawn Springs - Ohio State

This fall, the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame inducted 15 new members, including football alum Shawn Springs. Springs is one of the great cornerbacks in O...

ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Meet Shawn Springs, Former NFL Player and CEO of Windpact — Women in Sports Tech

WiST talks to sports and sports technology professionals who embody a more diverse and inclusive workforce, setting the benchmark for their peers and future generations. By Alysse Soll, President, NewModel Advisory, LLC and WiST Board Member Perspiration and Inspiration Shawn Springs is an

www.womeninsportstech.org

Rex Mirich (1941-2021)
Signed as a free agent on Oct 19, 1970
DT played in 7 games (2 starts) for the 1970 Boston Patriots

Rex Mirich (2012) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation

footballfoundation.org

Wayne Mass (1946-2019)
Acquired in trade with Miami on Aug 28, 1972, for a 1973 7th round pick
OT played in 6 games (0 starts) for Pats in 1972
Former Clemson Football All-American Wayne Mass Has Died


Kendall Simmons, 46 (1979)
Signed as a free agent on Sept 6, 2009
RG played in one game, and was waived on Nov 6

Kendall Simmons - Football Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Updated January 2025 Kendall Simmons, a former Auburn great and eight-year NFL veteran, is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff.

goblueraiders.com

Don King (1929-2014)
Acquired in trade with Denver on April 15, 1961, along with Al Romine in exchange for Art Hauser and Bill Striegal
DT/DE was released later in the year and never played for the Patriots
Donald William King -- CFLapedia

Donald King Obituary (2014) - Garden City, GA - Savannah Morning News

View Donald King's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

www.legacy.com

Draft Pick Trade
Mike Mohamed, 37 (1988)
September 5, 2009: Traded by Saints as 2011 6th round pick (189th overall) to Patriots for David Thomas
September 15, 2010: Traded by Patriots as 2011 6th round pick (189th overall) with Laurence Maroney to Broncos for 2011 4th round pick (99th overall subsequently traded, K.J. Wright)
LB played in 26 NFL games, with four starts




Other pro football players with a New England connection born on March 11

Chris Gamble, 42 (1983)
Born in Boston
CB was a 1st round pick by Carolina in 2004; played in 123 games, with 27 interceptions.


Doug Brzezinski, 49 (1976)
Boston College
LG played in 73 games for Eagles and Panthers from 1999-2004.


Frank Morrissey (1899-1968)
Born in Boston; Medford High School; Boston College
Lineman played in the NFL in the 1920s.




Other NFL March 11 Birthdays

Greg Olsen, 40 (1985)
3x Pro Bowl TE had 742 receptions and 60 TD, and has quickly become one of the best NFL broadcast analysts.




Some NFL March 11 Deaths

Bud Grant (1927-2023)
Went from playing forward on NBA champion Lakers, to HC at the age of 30 in the CFL - winning four Grey Cup championships - to becoming HC with the Vikings at the ago of 40. The Hall of Famer is the 5th winningest HC in pro football history.

Merlin Olsen (1940-2010)
5x All Pro Hall of Fame DT was named to 14 Pro Bowls in 15 seasons, then worked NFL telecasts and as well as some television series such as Little House on the Prarie.

Del Shofner (1934-2020)
Wide receiver was a five-time All Pro with the Rams and Giants, scoring 51 touchdowns from 1957-1967.