Today In Patriots History March 14: Happy Birthday to Don Blackmon

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Don Blackmon​

Happy 67th birthday to Don Blackmon
Born March 14, 1958 in Pompano Beach, Florida
Patriot OLB, 1981-1987; uniform #55
Patriots 4th round (102 overall) selection of the 1981 NFL Draft, from Tulsa
Pats résumé: 7 seasons, 89 games (72 starts); 541 tackles, 30½ sacks, 5 picks; 6 playoff games, 4 sacks; Pats All-1980s Team; 3 seasons as coach

Don Blackmon was an extremely underrated player. With he and Andre Tippett on the outside, Steve Nelson inside (plus Clayton Weishuhn, Johnny Rembert, and Larry McGrew) the Patriots had one of the very best linebacking corps in the NFL in the 80's.

It's unfortunate that Blackmon's career ended prematurely due to injury (and Weishuhn's as well). On the bright side he didn't end up paralyzed like Darryl Stingley; (not so) coincidentally both career-ending plays came against the Raiders.

Blackmon played in all but four games, up until the career-ending injury. He started in 72 of those 89 games. Blackmon finished his career with 541 tackles, 30½ sacks and five interceptions. He also took part in six playoff games, with four sacks.

Don Blackmon is a well deserving member of the New England Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1980s.

After the injury he joined the Pats coaching staff for three seasons. From 1988 to 2007 he coached for several NFL teams, primarily as a linebacker coach.

New England Patriots linebacker Don Blackmon, who lay paralyzed... - UPI Archives

New England Patriots linebacker Don Blackmon, who lay paralyzed on the field five months ago, retired Monday so no one will have to 'wheel me out into the...

www.upi.com

New England Patriots linebacker Don Blackmon, who lay paralyzed on the field five months ago, retired Monday so no one will have to 'wheel me out into the sun.'​

Blackmon, 30, underwent neck surgery in February to have two discs removed and bone grafts performed. He will join the Patriots coaching staff and work with the linebackers.​

Blackmon, an outside linebacker, was overshadowed by fellow linebacker Andre Tippett and never reached the Pro Bowl in his seven seasons. Blackmon was frequently mentioned as one of the NFL's most underrated players.​

'He was one of the premier linebackers in the game,' Patriots Coach Raymond Berry said.​

Squish the Fish: 1985 Patriots Run One of the Greatest in NFL History

“We had a great defense,” said (John) Hannah. “We had Andre Tippett and Donnie Blackmon as bookends. You couldn’t double-team one and leave the other unblocked. There was no getting outside on those two guys. They were the best outside linebackers I’ve ever seen put on a team.”​

Some Pats Trivia: Don Blackmon was the first of 11 athletes from Boyd H Anderson High School in Broward County to play in the NFL. 22 years later a fifth player would join the ranks: Asante Samuel.


More Pats History Trivia: 1982 was a strike-shortened season. Teams were just playing their sixth game of the year on December 12th. With the regular season consisting of only nine games, every win or loss became far more critical than it would be in a typical season.

December 12, 1982 is also the date of the Snowplow Game. John Smith had just kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead with 4:45 left to play, causing Don Shula to nearly have a stroke. On the following possession Miami was fired up and drove the ball deep into Patriot territory for what would have been a game-winning touchdown. It was Don Blackmon who picked off David Woodley's pass at the flag on the goal line to secure that historical win.

Screw you, Shula!

Don Blackmon - Hall of Fame - Tulsa

Don Blackmon - Football, 1976-80 Class of 1989 Recognized as one of the great defensive ends in Golden Hurricane history, Don Blackmon was an outstanding pas...

tulsahurricane.com

Don Blackmon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

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

www.pro-football-reference.com

Don Blackmon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[patman12]

Loved him on Soul Train

 

[RobertWeathers]

Perfect compliment to Tip on the other side.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Antowain Smith​

Happy 53rd birthday to Antowain Smith
Born March 14, 1972 in Millbrook, Alabama
Patriot RB, 2001-2003; uniform #32
Signed as a free agent on June 7, 2001
Pats résumé: 3 seasons, 3,308 yards from scrimmage (2,781 rushing), 24 TD; 6-0 in playoffs, 456 yards rushing, 2 TD; two rings


When the Pats signed Smith as a veteran free agent, hopes were tempered. Many thought he was over the hill at age 29, overused after rushing the ball 300 times in 1988 for Buffalo.

Smith and Troy Brown were virtually the entire offense on that Super Bowl winning team. Antowain rushed for 12 touchdowns (the rest of the team combined had 3) and 1,157 yards (Kevin Faulk was 2nd, with 169). Smith led the team with 13 touchdowns (nobody else had more than five) and he represented more than a quarter of the total offense, with 1,349 yards from scrimmage. His twelve rushing touchdowns and 13 total touchdowns both rank as the sixth most in a single season in franchise history.

Although he was only with the Patriots for three seasons - and not in the prime of his career - Smith ranks 11th in Patriot history with 21 career rushing touchdowns, and 12th with 2,781 yards rushing. The bulk of that came in 2001-02, when he had 2,574 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns.

Antowain Smith played the best when the stakes were the highest. He rushed for 204 yards in the 2001 playoff run. That included 5.1 yards per carry for 92 yards in the Super Bowl 36 Silencing of the Rams. Two years later at the age of 31 his playing time had dwindled, but he came through in the clutch again. He scored a touchdown in the 17-14 division round victory over Tennessee, ran for 100 yards in the AFCCG versus Indy, and then had 26 carries and another touchdown in the Super Bowl win over Carolina. Smith was a perfect 6-0 with the Patriots in the playoffs, rushing for 456 yards.



March 1, 2002: Pats re-sign running back Antowain Smith -- Patriots.com

Smith, 29, set a career-high with 1,157 yards rushing on 287 attempts (4.0 avg.) and caught 19 passes for 192 yards (10.1) during the 2001 season. He became only the ninth player in Patriots franchise history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark and his 1,157 yards ranks seventh in Patriots history. Smith also set a career-high with 13 touchdowns (12 rushing-1 receiving) last season and tied the third-highest total in franchise history. His 13 scores ranked third in the AFC and fifth in the NFL. The Patriots were 8-1 in games during the 2001 season when he rushed for a touchdown.​

Smith led the Patriots with 204 yards rushing on 53 carries (3.8 avg.) during the playoffs. He led all rushers with 92 yards on 18 carries (5.1 avg.) during the Patriots 20-17 victory in Super Bowl XXXVI.​

The 6-foot-2-inch, 230-pound running back has gained 4,089 yards on 1,047 carries (3.9 avg.) and 38 touchdowns during his five-year career. Smith has rushed for 100 yards or more in 11 games during his career, including four last season with the Patriots. It was the highest single-season total since Robert Edwards recorded four in 1998. Smith’s teams have a 10-1 record when he reaches the 100-yard mark, including the Patriots 4-0 record in 2001.​

Life After Football: The Story of Antowain Smith

Smith was offered scholarships but decided to put college on the back-burner and took two years off to work in a material dyeing factory to take care of his grandparents who had fallen ill.​

“It was my way of giving back to them something they had gave to me all their lives,” Smith said. “Which was to take care of me, make sure I went to school and good clothes and it was my time to give back to them, so I put my dreams on hold.”​

On her deathbed, Smith’s grandmother’s final wish was for him to go back and do what he loved to do.​

“That last night that has always stuck in my mind that she told me was ‘go to school so you don’t live on the streets,'” Smith said. After she passed, I had a tryout at East Mississippi where I did my 40-time and the broad jump and they offered me a scholarship right there.”​

At 21 years old, Smith entered his freshman year of college chasing his dream that his grandmother wanted him to catch.​

“I tell [people] my story and I tell them ‘It’s never too late to accomplish anything in life that you want to accomplish,'” Smith said. “‘You just have to stick to it and there’s going to be trials and tribulations though you know across the path that you’re going that’s for anyone, tough people last, tough times don’t.'”​

2001: Antowain Smith Signs with Patriots

On June 7, 2001 the New England Patriots took a step toward improving their running game by signing RB Antowain Smith to a one-year contract. The 29-year old, who started college late and was thus a comparative latecomer to the NFL, had spent the previous four years with the Buffalo Bills.​

Smith didn’t play football until he was a high school senior, but excelled when he did, achieving both all-district and all-conference honors. After working for two years to support the grandparents who raised him, he moved on to Eastern Mississippi and then the University of Houston, where he ran for 1847 yards and 19 touchdowns in two seasons.​

With a new front office and coaching staff taking over, the Bills released Smith. He joined a New England squad that had yet to suitably replace star RB Curtis Martin, who departed for the Jets following the 1997 season. J.R. Redmond, a third-round draft choice in 2000, had been the latest disappointment. He started five games and ran for 406 yards in an injury-plagued year while Kevin Faulk, better suited to a part-time role, led the club with 570 yards on the ground. The team as a whole dropped to 5-11 in the first season under Head Coach Bill Belichick and was seeking to retool. Smith was the sort of player that New England was rebuilding with – another club’s misfit who nevertheless was also a highly-motivated, team-oriented type and played with passion.​

Smith moved into the lineup and became part of a surprising turnaround by the Patriots that culminated in a NFL Championship. While the biggest story was the injury to QB Drew Bledsoe that opened the door for the unsung Tom Brady, Smith helped by having his best season. A slow start gave way to a 94-yard, two-TD performance against the Colts in the third contest and he had three hundred-yard performances in four weeks at midseason. He reached a high of 156 yards on 26 carries against Miami in the next-to-last game and ended up with 287 rushes for 1157 yards (4.0 avg.) and 12 touchdowns. In the playoffs, Smith gained another 204 yards that included 92 on 18 attempts in the Super Bowl upset of the Rams.​

Smith spent two more seasons with the Patriots, rushing for 982 yards in 2002 and catching a career-high 31 passes for 243 yards, although he scored only six touchdowns on the ground and, at age 31, appeared to be wearing down. While New England again reached the top in ’03, Smith was less productive and was released in the offseason. His last hundred-yard game for the Patriots was an even 100 on 22 carries against the Colts in the AFC Championship game, and he rushed for 83 yards on 26 attempts in the Super Bowl vs. Carolina, his final game with the club.​

Smith played another two years, with Tennessee in 2004 and New Orleans in ’05, and finished up with 6881 rushing yards on 1784 carries (3.9 avg.) and 54 TDs. Never much of a receiver out of the backfield, he had 136 pass receptions for 982 yards (7.2 avg.) and three TDs. Not a breakaway threat, he was a solid power runner who was at his best carrying the ball between the tackles and wearing defenses down. In 2001, most notably, his performance helped to take pressure off of a promising young quarterback, who could typically stick to a conservative passing game, with excellent results.​

Antowain Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

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

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More March 14 Birthdays​

Happy 52nd birthday to Chris Sullivan
Born March 14, 1973 in North Attleboro, MA
Patriot DE, 1996-1999, 2001; uniform #74
Pats 4th round (119th overall) selection of the 1996 draft, from Boston College
Pats résumé: four seasons, 63 games (20 starts), 79 tackles; six playoff games

Patriots defensive lineman Chris Sullivan walks off the field after Super Bowl XXXI on Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans​

The local guy received a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots after being re-signed on December 12, 2001. The far more interesting, and inspiring story is how he managed to turn his life around in a positive way after his NFL career was over, after the Pats released him at the start of the 2002 training camp.

Former Patriots player shares his opioid addiction story in Portsmouth

Event held by Realtors for Recovery in hopes of raising money for treatment facilities

www.wmur.com

Former Patriot shares story of addiction

It was a moment that should have been the pinnacle of his career. But after winning Super Bowl XXXVI, New England Patriot Chris Sullivan instead faced a dark reality.

www.metrowestdailynews.com

Sullivan's Message - Speaking For Change

Taylor’s Message & Not in the Playbook | Community Speaker Series - The Winchendon School

Ask Chris Sullivan, former defensive lineman for the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers and he’ll tell you he was in the best shape of his life upon retirement, including a Superbowl ring from the Patriots 2001-2002 season. But the winning smile masked a personal life in turmoil and...

winchendon.org

Happy 73rd birthday to Garry Puetz
Born March 14, 1952 in Elmhurst, Illinois
Patriot G, 1979-1981; uniform #77

Puetz was the 300th player selected in the 1973 draft, from Valparaiso. He had been a starter for the Jets and Bucs before the Pats picked him up as a backup. Puetz appeared in 36 games with the Patriots, with four starts. In his final NFL season he earned a Super Bowl ring with the 1982 Washington Redskins.

After retiring from pro football Puetz spent 25 years in the school transportation field, including 16 years as Director of Transportation in Forsyth County, Georgia.

Redirecting…

Happy 64th birthday to Dave Windham
Born March 14, 1961 in Mobile, Alabama
Patriot LB, 1984
Pats 9th round (251st overall) selection of the 1984 draft, from Jackson State

Windham did not survive training camp roster cuts, and never played in any real games with the Patriots. Three years later he was a replacement player during the strike for Washington. The Skins went on to win the Super Bowl that season, and eventually all the replacement players - including Windham - received a Super Bowl ring for their contributions.

Thirty years later, Redskins replacement players receive Super Bowl rings - The Washington Post

“It was just the right amount of weight to level off my body. It was just a little light for 30 years,” joked former linebacker David Windham, who was drafted by the New England Patriots and played a Thursday game with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders before suiting up for the Redskins three days later.​

For Windham, the ceremony felt more like validation. For Jackson, it represented “vindication.” Meanwhile, Kevin “Tony” Robinson, who quarterbacked the Redskins to a 13-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football,” called it “one of the happiest days of my life.” And all of them agreed that it was a surreal experience that had exceeded their expectations.​

Happy 82nd birthday to Charlie Green
Born March 14, 1943 in Dayton, Ohio
Patriot QB, 1965
Pats 13th round (103rd overall) selection of the 1965 AFL draft, from Wittenberg

Charlie Green (2002) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation

In three years as Wittenberg's starting quarterback, 1962-1964, Charles Green led his school to a 25-0-1 record and three championships in the Ohio Athletic Conference. In 1964 he was named Little All-America and the Ohio Athletic Conference offensive player of the year. In 1963 and 1964 he led the conference in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense. He finished his career with 5, 575 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns. He played on Wittenberg's basketball team and was named most valuable player on the baseball team. He played four pro seasons with the Boston Patriots and Oakland Raiders.​

Charlie Green

Charlie Green was perhaps the finest quarterback, in his undergraduate days, in Wittenberg football history. Green was named All-Ohio Conference from 1962 through 1964, and was also the Mike Gregory Award winner (presented to the best back in the conference) in both 1963 and '64. He was the co-captain for the 1964 national championship squad, and he led the Tigers to the national championship in 1962 as well. During his career, Green established 14 OAC records, several of which still stand, including 5,575 yards passing for a career, 2,182 passing yards in a season and 61 touchdown passes for a career.​

One other March 14 birthday with a New England connection:
Doug Dubose (3/14/64) turns 61
Born in New London CT, went to Montville HS
RB/KR for 49ers in '87-'88; got a ring under Bill Walsh in 20-16 SB22 victory over Cincy.