Today In Patriots History March 2, 2011: Stephen Neal Retires

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Stephen Neal​

March 2, 2011:
Stephen Neal retires

Pats OL Neal retires after 10 seasons; RB Green-Ellis tendered

New England Patriots guard Stephen Neal, who wrestled in college but didn't play football, is retiring after a 10-year NFL career.

www.nfl.com

A two-time NCAA wrestling champion at Cal State-Bakersfield, Neal won the Dan Hodge Award that is known as the Heisman Trophy of collegiate wrestling.​

Neal signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent in 2001 and, after being released, re-signed and injured, finally broke into the starting lineup for good in 2004 when the team won the Super Bowl for the third time in a four-year span.​

The Patriots also extended a restricted free-agent tender (second-round level) to running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis on Wednesday, his agent, Roosevelt Barnes, told the Boston Herald. The move places Green-Ellis under contract for 2011 before the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire Thursday night. It's possible many of these tenders won't be valid when a new labor deal is reached.​

Green-Ellis, a three-year pro, ran for 1,008 yards on 229 carries last season, with 13 touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 85 yards. The former Ole Miss standout signed with the Patriots in 2008 as an undrafted free agent. He has racked up 1,397 rushing yards and 18 TDs in three NFL seasons.​

Excellent long-form biography on Stephen Neal below, well worth taking a few minutes to read:

The remarkable, improbable career of Stephen Neal by California State University, Bakersfield

This is the second in a series of 2022 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame profiles.When he was an assistant wrestling coach at CSUB, Darryl Pope was famous for subjecting his freshmen to a frightening Cobra maneuver to teach them what position not to get into.Most wrestlers got up from it petrified. Not...

news.csub.edu

In 2001, the Patriots learned about Neal from agent Neil Cornrich. They invited him to work out with them and said if he passed a conditioning test, they’d let him into training camp.​

“He absolutely hit a home run in the workout,” said Dante Scarnecchia, the Patriots’ offensive line coach at the time. “It was, ‘Oh my god, will you look at that.' A guy that’s 6’4, weighed about 290, could run really fast, was really athletic and explosive.”​

Needless to say, Neal made it into camp. While some players complained of soreness and low pay, Neal had a blast.​

The Patriots put Neal on defense and he lasted about a week, Scarnecchia said. He just wasn’t very good. Belichick was going to cut Neal but Scarnecchia wanted to see what he could do on offense first. He liked Neal’s smarts, humility and wrestling history.​

The Patriots put Neal on the practice squad and let him sit in on offensive line meetings to learn.​

“Steve, being the human sponge intellectually that he is, tried to get as much information as he could,” Scarnecchia said.​

Scarnecchia summed up Neal’s pro career by saying he had “a really good” one that could have been “really fabulous” had it not been for injuries.​

“But I think he’s satisfied with it. I know we were satisfied with it,” Scarnecchia said. “I think we truly got everything out of this kid there was to get and I think everything you could ever ask for he gave us back ten-fold.”​

Stephen Neal announces retirement -- Patriots.com

New England Patriots guard Stephen Neal announced his retirement today, closing his 10-year career as a member of the Patriots offensive line.​

Neal was a championship wrestler at Cal State-Bakersfield and did not play football in college. During his college career he wrestled against and defeated former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and also earned the Dan Hodge Award, known as the Heisman Trophy of collegiate wrestling.​

Neal signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent in 2001. After being released by the Patriots following training camp, he spent time on the Philadelphia practice squad before returning to the Patriots when he signed to New England's active roster in December of 2001.​

He earned his first career start in his second NFL game on Oct. 13, 2002 vs. Green Bay, but sustained a season-ending injury in that game. After missing the 2003 season, Neal returned in 2004 to wrestle away a starting position at right guard, a position he held for 92 games over the next seven years. During that time, Neal was a part of an offensive line that helped the Patriots finish among the top ten in total offense six times: 2004 (7), 2005 (7), 2007 (1), 2008 (5), 2009 (3) and 2010 (8).​

Patriots guard Neal retiring after 10-year career

Patriots right guard Stephen Neal is retiring after a 10-year career.

www.espn.com

By 2004, Neal broke through as a consistent starter, the balance and leverage he had utilized in wrestling transferring to the field. One of the high points of his career came that season when he was the starting right guard as the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXIX.​

In all, Neal played in 86 regular-season games, with 81 starts. He also played in 12 playoff games, starting each of them.​

Injuries have been mounting for Neal in recent years. In 2010, he was limited to eight games with a shoulder injury and was placed on season-ending injured reserve Dec. 2. After the season, Neal said he planned to rehab his shoulder injury and then make a decision about his playing future.​

Six-year veteran Dan Connolly, who took over Neal's spot at right guard last season after his injury, is the team's projected starter entering 2011.​

This could be one of several changes for the Patriots along the offensive line, as starting left tackle Matt Light is scheduled for unrestricted free agency and starting left guard Logan Mankins has been assigned the franchise tag.​

Patriots' Stephen Neal retires

Stephen Neal, one of the longest-tenured Patriots and a starter at right guard, has retired, according to the team.

www.boston.com

Neal, 34, played eight games last season before a shoulder injury ended his season Dec. 2.​

Shoulder injuries have plagued Neal throughout his career, including one that caused him to miss the entire 2003 season.​

He emerged as a starter in the third week of the 2004 season, starting 14 games as the Patriots went on to win their third Super Bowl in four years.​

Neal nearly retired last offseason but signed a two-year contract last March.​

Retiring Stephen Neal puts his family first

For 10 seasons, Stephen Neal embodied everything coach Bill Belichick would want in a Patriots player. All the 34-year-old offensive lineman has done now is switch allegiances. “My family is my new team,” Neal said yesterday. “I hope we ca…

www.bostonherald.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/stephen-neal-retires-not-an-entirely-unexpected/

Not an entirely unexpected move, but I think Dan Connolly projects pretty well as his replacement. The first of the “big three” offensive lineman to go (Light hopefully back, and Koppen still has another couple years in him).​

Stephen Neal retires with "dignity and class"

MONDAY MARCH 7, 2011 BY MARK FARINELLA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Ponderous thoughts I was pondering on the highway to hoop heaven: - As th...

www.neilcornrich.com

I'd be remiss if I didn't offer at least a few thoughts about the retirement of offensive guard Stephen Neal, which was announced late last week and was anticipated for some time. Injuries have been the bane of his existence for the past few years, and at some point, you have to get out before you're saddled with lingering pain and impairment for the rest of your life.​

I've always thought that Neal was a decent guy, more of a "regular guy" than some of his peers, probably because he came from a much different background than a lot of football players. You know the story - collegiate wrestling champion who didn't turn "pro" like some of his fellow collegians and instead opted to travel a more legitimate avenue of sport by re-learning how to play football.​

He did it well. Throughout the past decade, Neal has been an important part of an offensive line that helped keep Tom Brady safe from harm during a dynastic period for the Patriots, and that had to be a lot more satisfying than taking acting lessons and wearing neon-colored tights while doing Vince McMahon's bidding.​

Offensive linemen rarely experience the same level of exposure that the so-called "skill position" players receive in the NFL. Neal didn't seek the spotlight, either. He went out there every day, doing his job, learning as he went under the trusted tutelage of Dante Scarnecchia, and he became an anchor of one of the best offensive lines in the game, something he admitted he never envisioned when he got the word from agent Neil Cornrich that the Patriots might want to give him a try.​

Not long ago, I and several other writers wrote of Neal's behind-the-scenes efforts to keep the wrestling program alive at Cal State-Bakersfield, his alma mater. Budget cuts were threatening the program that made him an NCAA Division I champion, and he wanted to do everything he could to give something back to the school that gave him the athletic opportunity of his lifetime.​

A while later, I and the other scribes received in the mail hand-written notes of thanks from Neal for the stories we wrote. They weren't form letters. He took the time to thank us individually for just doing our jobs, and it underscored the deep-down decency of the man.​

Neal said during a conference call with the media last week that his next injury might be serious enough to cause a permanent level of disability, which would seriously impact his ability to be an active father to his kids. And he admitted that with the NFL's current labor uncertainty and the possibility that he might not be able to use the team's doctors or facilities in his latest rehab, the best option for him was retirement.​

So, he enters it with dignity and class, and a documented legacy of achievement. I offer my heartiest congratulations to this two-sport champion, and my most sincere wishes of happiness to him and his family as they embark together upon a new chapter in their lives.​

2022 Alumni Hall of Fame: Stephen Neal
3:36 Video by CSU Bakersfield




Toyota's Patriots Today - Stephen Neal Special
2:59 Video








Brock Lesnar vs. Stephen Neal: 1999 NCAA title match (285 lbs.)
11:16 Video




Stephen Neal (USA) vs Andrej Shumilin (RUS) - 1999 World Championships
7:43 Video
​

Stephen Neal

The National Wrestling Hall Of Fame

nwhof.org

Kern County Sports Hall of Fame -- Stephen Neal, 2013 inductee

 

[signbabybrady]

The way he pulled and hunted LBs to block was as good as anyone I remember.

 

[jmt57]

The way he pulled and hunted LBs to block was as good as anyone I remember.

To me, one of, if not the biggest reason the Patriots did not win the super bowl in the 2007 season was because Neal suffered that knee injury in the first half. Nothing against Russ Hochstein, but he's not on the same level as a Stephen Neal.

Neal had also missed the week 17 game against the Giants with a shoulder injury; if he's healthy then, the Patriots play better, the Giants don't have the same amount of confidence. Of course on top of that there was Mankins playing on a bad knee as well.

And when Brady returned in 2008, it didn't help matters that Neal missed the first half of the season while the knee was still rehabbing.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Corey Dillon is released​

March 2, 2007:
Patriots release Corey Dillon

In the What If category, I can't help but wonder what it would have been like had Corey Dillon been a Patriot for longer.
For a player that was here for just three years, he had a major positive impact.

Piggy-backing onto the comment in the previous post, would things have been different had Dillon been amicable to play one more season, even if it was in a reduced role? Laurence Maroney only rushed for 36 yards on 14 carries (2.6 ypc); would Dillon have been able to fare better, and avoid a situation where the Pats dropped back to pass 53 times - especially if he had not been used too much in the previous 18 games?




Some back drop to the story first, from Feb 23, 2007:

Inside the Patriots: Dillon on his way out

The agent for soon-to-be former New England Patriots running back Corey Dillon confirmed to The Standard-Times last night that his client's three-year run with the team will come to an end late next …

www.southcoasttoday.com

The agent for soon-to-be former New England Patriots running back Corey Dillon confirmed to The Standard-Times last night that his client's three-year run with the team will come to an end late next week, despite the three years remaining on his contract.​

The Patriots, according to Feldman (who is also the agent for teammate and safety Rodney Harrison), are expected to grant Dillon's request for an early release so he can begin looking for other opportunities within the National Football League. A Patriots spokesman, however, couldn't either confirm or deny that the transaction will take place.​

Then again, this is a team that used its first-round pick in 2006 on a rusher. For Dillon, this is a classic case of seeing the writing on the wall.​

In the age of the salary cap, Dillon was fighting battles on several fronts. Dillon was going to cost the Patriots $4.43 million on their cap in 2007. He is also going to turn 33 in October. It was unlikely from as far back as last season that the Patriots' ownership was ever going to ever sign those paychecks.​

Dillon seeks release from Pats, may play elsewhere

After ten seasons of pounding from NFL defenses, New England Patriots back Corey Dillon is ready to call it quits.

www.espn.com

Dillon's agent, Steve Feldman, told ESPN.com's John Clayton on Friday that he will be talking to other teams about their interest in the veteran running back. Feldman said he and Dillon talked to Patriots coach Bill Belichick about Dillon's role in 2007 and how Dillon doesn't want to be a back getting only seven to 10 carries a game.​

That followed a report in The Boston Globe in which Dillon said he would ask the Patriots for his release and that he has contemplated retirement. Clayton reported Dillon has asked for his release and was told it would be granted on or before March 2.​

"I think more of my health, how I envision myself five, 10 years down the road," he told the Globe. "I don't want to be broken down, not able to play with my kids." He said the prospect of his returning to another team was unlikely, but anything's possible.​

"Football is the furthest thing on my mind right now," Dillon said in the Globe story. "I may wake up and feel the itch and decide I still want to shake it, but as of now, I doubt that will happen."​

Dillon, who is under contract for the next three seasons with a 2007 salary cap charge of $4.4 million, told the newspaper he has yet to speak with the team.​

March 2, 2007:

Patriots release Dillon

The New England Patriots released running back Corey Dillon yesterday, cutting ties with the top active runner in the NFL on the first day of free agency. Dillon, 32, increasingly split duties with…

www.telegram.com

Dillon, who spent his first seven NFL seasons with Cincinnati, is the top active runner in the NFL with 11,241 career yards in 10 seasons.​

In his first year with New England in 2004, after he was acquired from the Bengals for a second-round draft pick, Dillon ran for a franchise record 1,635 yards on 345 carries and helped the team beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX.​

His production dropped off the next two years. He had 733 yards on 209 carries in 2005 while battling a high ankle sprain and 812 yards on 199 carries last season when he split duties with Maroney.​

The six-foot-one, 225-pound running back has played in 150 regular season games with 133 starts and 82 rushing touchdowns. Hehas also caught 244 passes for 1,913 yards and seven touchdowns.​

Patriots release Dillon

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots released running back Corey Dillon Friday, cutting ties with the top active runner in the NFL on the first day of free agency.

www.seacoastonline.com

The Patriots also re-signed running back Heath Evans and guard Billy Yates Friday. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.​

Unrestricted free agent Evans, 28, enters his seventh season. He joined the Patriots on Nov. 1, 2005 after playing for the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins.​

Restricted free agent Yates, 26, has played in 11 career games. He started three games at right guard last season before being placed on injured reserve with a leg injury on Nov. 13.​

April 19, 2004:

Bengals acquire second-round pick

The New England Patriots have acquired halfback Corey Dillon from the Cincinnati Bengals for a second-round pick, the 56th overall in the 2004 draft.

www.espn.com

Running back Corey Dillon got his wish Monday when the Cincinnati Bengals traded him to the New England Patriots for a second-round draft pick.​

The deal ended a stellar and stormy seven-year stay with the Bengals, who built their offense around him in the 1990s but tired of his complaining and his lobbying to play elsewhere.​

Dillon, who turns 30 in October, wound up going to the defending Super Bowl champions, who are trying to improve a running game that was one of their few weaknesses.​

A groin injury sidelined Dillon and allowed Rudi Johnson to show he could be the Bengals' featured back. When the season ended, Dillon cleaned out his locker and lobbied for a trade.​

Scott Pioli recalled 'secret meeting' with Bill Belichick and Corey Dillon prior to 2004 trade

Retired running back Corey Dillon joined the Patriots in 2004 and immediately set the team’s single-season rushing recording while also helping New England to a second consecutive Super Bowl win. But, as was recently revealed, the start of Dillon’s Patriots career had a much more humble feel to...

www.boston.com

Former Patriots personnel executive Scott Pioli (now a football analyst for NFL Network) recently marked the anniversary of the Patriots’ trade for Dillon by sharing backstory on some research that he did with Bill Belichick prior to the deal with the Bengals.​

“About a week before the draft, Belichick and I get in my car and we do a little road trip down to Rocky Hill, Connecticut,” Pioli recalled. “At the Residence in Rocky Hill, Connecticut we meet with Corey Dillon and his agent Steve Feldman.​

“The Cincinnati Bengals were getting ready to trade him, they wanted to trade him, but Bill and I were in a situation where we wanted to spend time with Corey to make sure that he was going to understand our culture, understand everything that we did,” Pioli continued. “So there we were in this little room in Rocky Hill, Connecticut; Feldman, Corey Dillon, Belichick, and myself, and we were having this conversation, trying to get to know Corey a little bit more than what we knew as a football player. We loved the player, we loved the competitor, we loved his intensity.”​

Ultimately, Pioli and Belichick came away impressed with the then-Cincinnati running back.​

“I’ll tell you, it was a match made in heaven,” said Pioli. “We left that Residence Inn that day feeling so good about it.”​

In the end, the Patriots sent a second-round pick to the Bengals in exchange for Dillon, who rushed for 1,635 yards in his first year with the Patriots, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and totaling 13 touchdowns.​

The 30-year-old had never played in the postseason until the trade to New England, and he made the most of his first opportunity, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and helping Belichick’s team to its third championship in four years.​

“He was a complete game-changer for that football team that year,” said Pioli. “And there was no way that we could have drafted a player that would have given us that season at whatever we could have picked at [pick] 56.”​

Defining Moments: Corey Dillon runs his way to history in 2004

In this edition of “Defining Moments,” we look back at Corey Dillon’s historic rushing season in 2004, his first year with the Patriots.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

Pats from the Past: Corey Dillon -- Patriots.com

Corey Dillon sets the record straight on his Patriots career | WEEI 93.7

Corey Dillon sets the record straight on his Patriots career… | WEEI 93.7

www.audacy.com

“I’ve got nothing against AB. He’s a hell of a football player. I don’t know him personally. I’ve never had an opportunity to meet him,” Dillon told The Athletic. “But I just find it kind of curious every time the Patriots do something, or bring a guy in, my name comes up like I was a bad guy. I’m trying to set that straight.”​

Dillon goes on to explain that his exit from Cincy was about the direction of the team, his desire to win and the way he was treated as one of the Bengals most talented, productive stars. He talks about the $4 million he gave up in a restructured contract in his trade to New England and how his goals, mentality and work ethic melded perfectly in the Patriots culture at the time. He certainly doesn’t think the Patriots “changed his life.”​

“No, no, no. They didn’t change nothing,” Dillon tells The Athletic. “Let’s get this understood, man. I love Bill Belichick. Respect his coaching knowledge. Love him to death. I love Bob Kraft. But listen, (Belichick) wasn’t my therapist. It wasn’t every day I was sitting down in his office and he was giving me therapy on how to act, or how to play football. What actually happened was I was in a place where everybody shared the same common goal, and that was winning football games. It was all about playing the game and winning. And that was my personality in Cincinnati, so it made it easy to go over to New England. My personality meshed with the way they do things around there.”​

“So when these stories pop up about another player going to the Patriots, my name is one of the first ones they slap up there. Like I was some science project. Nah, buddy,” Dillon told The Athletic. “It didn’t go down like that.​

Former Patriots RB Corey Dillon reflects on team using first-round pick to replace him | Sporting News

The four-time Pro Bowler wasn't worried about losing his job.

www.sportingnews.com

Corey Dillon Calls Out Patriots Over Snub: 'I Earned It'

Corey Dillion is angry at the New England Patriots over snubbing him from their Hall of Fame.

heavy.com

Recognition Rant! Patriots Ex Corey Dillon: ‘Give it to Me While I’m Still Breathing!’

Though his anger mostly focused on the Cincinnati Bengals, Corey Dillon did not leave the New England Patriots unscathed as he seeks post-retirement recognition.

www.si.com

Corey Dillon: Bengals’ Ring of Honor, Hall of Fame omissions are ‘near-criminal’

Cincinnati's all-time leading rusher isn't happy about how he feels his career is viewed locally and leaguewide.

www.nytimes.com

On a related note, the Bengals did honor Corey Dillon in 2024:

Corey Dillon set for Bengals honor years after fiery exit

Former running back Corey Dillon, who will be enshrined in the Bengals' Ring of Honor in Week 3, says he believes his total body of work was more important than how he left the club in 2003.

www.espn.com

Oct 10, 2022:

Corey Dillon stays off the grid even as Hall of Fame nominee

Even with a Pro Football Hall of Fame nomination, former Bengals and Patriots running back Corey Dillon has kept to himself in retirement.

bvmsports.com

Unlike other retired athletes, fans won’t find Dillon in a broadcast booth or even on social media. He’s not making the same headlines he used to when he was in the NFL. While he is not in the sports world as much, Dillon likes his life away from fame.​

“My thing is staying off the grid,” Dillon told the Dave Lapham In The Trenches podcast. “I just like living a normal life. There isn’t anything too special about what I’ve been doing. I’m doing father stuff and just being me. I like my peace and quiet.”​

The former running back has three daughters, all in athletics. His oldest daughter Cameron recently graduated from the University of Southern California following a career on the Washington State volleyball team and the Trojans women’s rowing team.​

“My oldest just graduated from USC, she was on the row team, played volleyball, etcetera,” Dillon said in the podcast. “My middle child, she’s a cheerleader at Sierra Canyon. My youngest is a volleyball player as well, on a travel team, and she also attends Sierra Canyon School. They’re all athletic. The thing about it is they’re super smart and I don’t care about them being athletic, I care about them being book smart and they are.”​

With his nomination into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dillon will wait to see if he will get a bust in the building’s hallowed halls. As one of the best running backs of the early 21st century, fans will be eagerly waiting for Clock Killin’ Corey Dillon’s name to finally be called.​

Corey Dillon TRADED to Patriots!
3:46 video - NFL Network Reaction




Corey Dillon | Career Highlights | #28 { Clock Killin!!!! }
9:35 highlight video, by former PatsFans member Jsn




Corey Dillon Talks Historic 2004 Patriots Super Bowl Championship Season | Pats from the Past
37:45 podcast video produced by the New England Patriots
Matt Smith and Paul Perillo interview Corey Dillon
​

Corey Dillon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

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

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[Pape]

Today in Patriots History
Corey Dillon is released​

March 2, 2007:
Patriots release Corey Dillon

In the What If category, I can't help but wonder what it would have been like had Corey Dillon been a Patriot for longer.
For a player that was here for just three years, he had a major positive impact.

Piggy-backing onto the comment in the previous post, would things have been different had Dillon been amicable to play one more season, even if it was in a reduced role? Laurence Maroney only rushed for 36 yards on 14 carries (2.6 ypc); would Dillon have been able to fare better, and avoid a situation where the Pats dropped back to pass 53 times - especially if he had not been used too much in the previous 18 games?




Some back drop to the story first, from Feb 23, 2007:

Inside the Patriots: Dillon on his way out

The agent for soon-to-be former New England Patriots running back Corey Dillon confirmed to The Standard-Times last night that his client's three-year run with the team will come to an end late next …

www.southcoasttoday.com

The agent for soon-to-be former New England Patriots running back Corey Dillon confirmed to The Standard-Times last night that his client's three-year run with the team will come to an end late next week, despite the three years remaining on his contract.​

The Patriots, according to Feldman (who is also the agent for teammate and safety Rodney Harrison), are expected to grant Dillon's request for an early release so he can begin looking for other opportunities within the National Football League. A Patriots spokesman, however, couldn't either confirm or deny that the transaction will take place.​

Then again, this is a team that used its first-round pick in 2006 on a rusher. For Dillon, this is a classic case of seeing the writing on the wall.​

In the age of the salary cap, Dillon was fighting battles on several fronts. Dillon was going to cost the Patriots $4.43 million on their cap in 2007. He is also going to turn 33 in October. It was unlikely from as far back as last season that the Patriots' ownership was ever going to ever sign those paychecks.​

Dillon seeks release from Pats, may play elsewhere

After ten seasons of pounding from NFL defenses, New England Patriots back Corey Dillon is ready to call it quits.

www.espn.com

Dillon's agent, Steve Feldman, told ESPN.com's John Clayton on Friday that he will be talking to other teams about their interest in the veteran running back. Feldman said he and Dillon talked to Patriots coach Bill Belichick about Dillon's role in 2007 and how Dillon doesn't want to be a back getting only seven to 10 carries a game.​

That followed a report in The Boston Globe in which Dillon said he would ask the Patriots for his release and that he has contemplated retirement. Clayton reported Dillon has asked for his release and was told it would be granted on or before March 2.​

"I think more of my health, how I envision myself five, 10 years down the road," he told the Globe. "I don't want to be broken down, not able to play with my kids." He said the prospect of his returning to another team was unlikely, but anything's possible.​

"Football is the furthest thing on my mind right now," Dillon said in the Globe story. "I may wake up and feel the itch and decide I still want to shake it, but as of now, I doubt that will happen."​

Dillon, who is under contract for the next three seasons with a 2007 salary cap charge of $4.4 million, told the newspaper he has yet to speak with the team.​

March 2, 2007:

Patriots release Dillon

The New England Patriots released running back Corey Dillon yesterday, cutting ties with the top active runner in the NFL on the first day of free agency. Dillon, 32, increasingly split duties with…

www.telegram.com

Dillon, who spent his first seven NFL seasons with Cincinnati, is the top active runner in the NFL with 11,241 career yards in 10 seasons.​

In his first year with New England in 2004, after he was acquired from the Bengals for a second-round draft pick, Dillon ran for a franchise record 1,635 yards on 345 carries and helped the team beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX.​

His production dropped off the next two years. He had 733 yards on 209 carries in 2005 while battling a high ankle sprain and 812 yards on 199 carries last season when he split duties with Maroney.​

The six-foot-one, 225-pound running back has played in 150 regular season games with 133 starts and 82 rushing touchdowns. Hehas also caught 244 passes for 1,913 yards and seven touchdowns.​

Patriots release Dillon

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots released running back Corey Dillon Friday, cutting ties with the top active runner in the NFL on the first day of free agency.

www.seacoastonline.com

The Patriots also re-signed running back Heath Evans and guard Billy Yates Friday. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.​

Unrestricted free agent Evans, 28, enters his seventh season. He joined the Patriots on Nov. 1, 2005 after playing for the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins.​

Restricted free agent Yates, 26, has played in 11 career games. He started three games at right guard last season before being placed on injured reserve with a leg injury on Nov. 13.​

April 19, 2004:

Bengals acquire second-round pick

The New England Patriots have acquired halfback Corey Dillon from the Cincinnati Bengals for a second-round pick, the 56th overall in the 2004 draft.

www.espn.com

Running back Corey Dillon got his wish Monday when the Cincinnati Bengals traded him to the New England Patriots for a second-round draft pick.​

The deal ended a stellar and stormy seven-year stay with the Bengals, who built their offense around him in the 1990s but tired of his complaining and his lobbying to play elsewhere.​

Dillon, who turns 30 in October, wound up going to the defending Super Bowl champions, who are trying to improve a running game that was one of their few weaknesses.​

A groin injury sidelined Dillon and allowed Rudi Johnson to show he could be the Bengals' featured back. When the season ended, Dillon cleaned out his locker and lobbied for a trade.​

Scott Pioli recalled 'secret meeting' with Bill Belichick and Corey Dillon prior to 2004 trade

Retired running back Corey Dillon joined the Patriots in 2004 and immediately set the team’s single-season rushing recording while also helping New England to a second consecutive Super Bowl win. But, as was recently revealed, the start of Dillon’s Patriots career had a much more humble feel to...

www.boston.com

Former Patriots personnel executive Scott Pioli (now a football analyst for NFL Network) recently marked the anniversary of the Patriots’ trade for Dillon by sharing backstory on some research that he did with Bill Belichick prior to the deal with the Bengals.​

“About a week before the draft, Belichick and I get in my car and we do a little road trip down to Rocky Hill, Connecticut,” Pioli recalled. “At the Residence in Rocky Hill, Connecticut we meet with Corey Dillon and his agent Steve Feldman.​

“The Cincinnati Bengals were getting ready to trade him, they wanted to trade him, but Bill and I were in a situation where we wanted to spend time with Corey to make sure that he was going to understand our culture, understand everything that we did,” Pioli continued. “So there we were in this little room in Rocky Hill, Connecticut; Feldman, Corey Dillon, Belichick, and myself, and we were having this conversation, trying to get to know Corey a little bit more than what we knew as a football player. We loved the player, we loved the competitor, we loved his intensity.”​

Ultimately, Pioli and Belichick came away impressed with the then-Cincinnati running back.​

“I’ll tell you, it was a match made in heaven,” said Pioli. “We left that Residence Inn that day feeling so good about it.”​

In the end, the Patriots sent a second-round pick to the Bengals in exchange for Dillon, who rushed for 1,635 yards in his first year with the Patriots, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and totaling 13 touchdowns.​

The 30-year-old had never played in the postseason until the trade to New England, and he made the most of his first opportunity, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and helping Belichick’s team to its third championship in four years.​

“He was a complete game-changer for that football team that year,” said Pioli. “And there was no way that we could have drafted a player that would have given us that season at whatever we could have picked at [pick] 56.”​

Defining Moments: Corey Dillon runs his way to history in 2004

In this edition of “Defining Moments,” we look back at Corey Dillon’s historic rushing season in 2004, his first year with the Patriots.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

Pats from the Past: Corey Dillon -- Patriots.com

Corey Dillon sets the record straight on his Patriots career | WEEI 93.7

Corey Dillon sets the record straight on his Patriots career… | WEEI 93.7

www.audacy.com

“I’ve got nothing against AB. He’s a hell of a football player. I don’t know him personally. I’ve never had an opportunity to meet him,” Dillon told The Athletic. “But I just find it kind of curious every time the Patriots do something, or bring a guy in, my name comes up like I was a bad guy. I’m trying to set that straight.”​

Dillon goes on to explain that his exit from Cincy was about the direction of the team, his desire to win and the way he was treated as one of the Bengals most talented, productive stars. He talks about the $4 million he gave up in a restructured contract in his trade to New England and how his goals, mentality and work ethic melded perfectly in the Patriots culture at the time. He certainly doesn’t think the Patriots “changed his life.”​

“No, no, no. They didn’t change nothing,” Dillon tells The Athletic. “Let’s get this understood, man. I love Bill Belichick. Respect his coaching knowledge. Love him to death. I love Bob Kraft. But listen, (Belichick) wasn’t my therapist. It wasn’t every day I was sitting down in his office and he was giving me therapy on how to act, or how to play football. What actually happened was I was in a place where everybody shared the same common goal, and that was winning football games. It was all about playing the game and winning. And that was my personality in Cincinnati, so it made it easy to go over to New England. My personality meshed with the way they do things around there.”​

“So when these stories pop up about another player going to the Patriots, my name is one of the first ones they slap up there. Like I was some science project. Nah, buddy,” Dillon told The Athletic. “It didn’t go down like that.​

Former Patriots RB Corey Dillon reflects on team using first-round pick to replace him | Sporting News

The four-time Pro Bowler wasn't worried about losing his job.

www.sportingnews.com

Corey Dillon Calls Out Patriots Over Snub: 'I Earned It'

Corey Dillion is angry at the New England Patriots over snubbing him from their Hall of Fame.

heavy.com

Recognition Rant! Patriots Ex Corey Dillon: ‘Give it to Me While I’m Still Breathing!’

Though his anger mostly focused on the Cincinnati Bengals, Corey Dillon did not leave the New England Patriots unscathed as he seeks post-retirement recognition.

www.si.com

Corey Dillon: Bengals’ Ring of Honor, Hall of Fame omissions are ‘near-criminal’

Cincinnati's all-time leading rusher isn't happy about how he feels his career is viewed locally and leaguewide.

www.nytimes.com

On a related note, the Bengals did honor Corey Dillon in 2024:

Corey Dillon set for Bengals honor years after fiery exit

Former running back Corey Dillon, who will be enshrined in the Bengals' Ring of Honor in Week 3, says he believes his total body of work was more important than how he left the club in 2003.

www.espn.com

Oct 10, 2022:

Corey Dillon stays off the grid even as Hall of Fame nominee

Even with a Pro Football Hall of Fame nomination, former Bengals and Patriots running back Corey Dillon has kept to himself in retirement.

bvmsports.com

Unlike other retired athletes, fans won’t find Dillon in a broadcast booth or even on social media. He’s not making the same headlines he used to when he was in the NFL. While he is not in the sports world as much, Dillon likes his life away from fame.​

“My thing is staying off the grid,” Dillon told the Dave Lapham In The Trenches podcast. “I just like living a normal life. There isn’t anything too special about what I’ve been doing. I’m doing father stuff and just being me. I like my peace and quiet.”​

The former running back has three daughters, all in athletics. His oldest daughter Cameron recently graduated from the University of Southern California following a career on the Washington State volleyball team and the Trojans women’s rowing team.​

“My oldest just graduated from USC, she was on the row team, played volleyball, etcetera,” Dillon said in the podcast. “My middle child, she’s a cheerleader at Sierra Canyon. My youngest is a volleyball player as well, on a travel team, and she also attends Sierra Canyon School. They’re all athletic. The thing about it is they’re super smart and I don’t care about them being athletic, I care about them being book smart and they are.”​

With his nomination into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dillon will wait to see if he will get a bust in the building’s hallowed halls. As one of the best running backs of the early 21st century, fans will be eagerly waiting for Clock Killin’ Corey Dillon’s name to finally be called.​

Corey Dillon TRADED to Patriots!
3:46 video - NFL Network Reaction




Corey Dillon | Career Highlights | #28 { Clock Killin!!!! }
9:35 highlight video, by former PatsFans member Jsn




Corey Dillon Talks Historic 2004 Patriots Super Bowl Championship Season | Pats from the Past
37:45 podcast video produced by the New England Patriots
Matt Smith and Paul Perillo interview Corey Dillon
​

Corey Dillon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

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

www.pro-football-reference.com

Getting Corey Dillon was a coup... really integrated well here, and was productive as all get out, least in year 1... year 2 he got caught up fighting injuries, but still racked up a dozen tds... Dillon basically forced his way out of town, and never got picked up by anyone... it was a shame really... as you said, what could have been...



and Stephen Neal? has to be one of the greatest undrafted players we've ever had... and we've had some fairly good ones throughout the years

 

[TheRainMaker]

Losing Neal in SB42 was massive. Sammy Morris and Colvin gone were underrated loses as well.

On the other hand, the Giants lost their best offensive player in Jeremey Shockey. Even with Shockey, the Giants had no business beating Dallas, GB and then NE.

Dillon was an exciting, but surprising trade given he was about to turn 30 years old. He statistically had his best season, but you could tell he was slowing down. He fell off a cliff by week 1 in 2005 against Oakland as their defenders continually ran him down. The 2006 AFCCG where he tapped out going out of bounds after he broke loose was the nail in the coffin.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Stephen Gostkowski tagged​

March 2, 2015:
Patriots place franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski

Ten years ago today the New England Patriots place the franchise tag on Stephen Gostkowski. At the time there was some debate on whether the Pats would use the tag on Ghost or Devin McCourty.

Here is a look at the history of the franchise tag with the Patriots:
- 2002, K Adam Vinatieri - signed a 3-year extension three weeks later
- 2003, S Tebucky Jones - traded to New Orleans on April 14, 2003
- 2005, K Adam Vinatieri - played season under tag, left as free agent the following spring
- 2007, CB Asante Samuel - held out in preseason; played season under tag, departed the following spring
- 2009, QB Matt Cassel - signed tag a few days later, and was traded to Kansas City
- 2010, DT Vince Wilfork - 11 days later signed a 5-year, $40 million deal; Pats declined team option in 2015
- 2011, G Logan Mankins - after the lockout signed a 6-year deal; traded to Tampa in 2014
- 2012, WR Wes Welker - played season under tag, left for Denver as free agent following season
- 2015, K Stephen Gostkowski - signed a new 4-year contract just before training camp
- 2020, G Joe Thuney - played season under tag, then signed with Kansas City as free agent the next spring

In addition, the Pats have used the transition tag three times:
- 1993, LB Vincent Brown - signed a new contract the following year
- 1994, CB Maurice Hurst - signed a new contract two months later
- 2024, S Kyle Dugger - signed a 4-year extension April 7, 2024




Some opinions prior to the kicker being tagged, from Mike Reiss and Mark Daniels:

Stephen Gostkowski a more likely candidate for tag than Devin McCourty

If the Patriots use the franchise tag, there is a greater likelihood it will be assigned to kicker Stephen Gostkowski than safety Devin McCourty.

www.espn.com

If the New England Patriots use the franchise tag before Monday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, there is a greater likelihood it will be assigned to kicker Stephen Gostkowski than safety Devin McCourty, according to multiple sources involved in discussions with those involved.​

Gostkowski's tag projects to be closer to $4.5 million, while McCourty's would be approximately $9.5 million.​

The possibility McCourty heads to unrestricted free agency without restrictions of a franchise tag would create a scenario in which any team could sign him without giving up compensation to the Patriots. If that's the way it unfolds, based on past history, the Patriots would likely keep an open line of communication with McCourty and his representatives by letting them know they're interested in retaining him. McCourty could then decide if the team's offer matches up to what he receives on the open market.​

In a year where the free-agent crop at safety is not considered deep, and the draft class is also viewed as thin, McCourty will likely receive considerable interest on the open market if this is the way the scenario unfolds.​

On Feb. 25, McCourty said, "I've thought about all different scenarios, whether I'm here or whether I’m somewhere else. At this point, I don’t have a contract, so it could happen that I could be playing somewhere else. It would be crazy not to think that could [happen]."​

Report: Patriots more likely to use franchise tag on Gostkowski than McCourty

It looks like Devin McCourty won’t be given the franchise tag after all. According to a report from ESPN Boston , kicker Stephen Gostkowski is more likely to receive the tag than the All-Pro safety…

www.providencejournal.com

This would mean that McCourty would enter free agency on March 10 allowed to negotiate with anyone who wants his services. Although placing the franchise tag on McCourty would make some sense (it would give the Patriots an extra year to work out an extension), the hefty projected cost of $9.6 million for one year would give any team some hesitation.​

McCourty is widely considered the top safety in this year’s free-agent class. The dropoff after him is fairly significant. Former Denver Broncos free safety Rahim Moore and the often-injured Tyvon Branch are considered the next-best in that position group. It’s also been said that this year’s draft class is weak for safeties, which makes extending McCourty that much more of a priority.​

The projected tag number for a kicker is around $4.1 million, according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt. If Gostkowski does get the franchise tag, it would not be the first time the Patriots used it on a kicker. The Pats used the tag twice on Adam Vinatieri in 2002 and then 2005.​

Another, from Steve Balestrieri:

Patriots 2015 Free Agent Profile – Stephen Gostkowski

During a December 41-13 blowout of the Miami Dolphins, Gostkowski hit a 35-yard field goal that moved him past Vinatieri (1158 points), and into sole possession as the Patriots all-time leading scorer.

www.patsfans.com

Why Gostkowski Will Return: With a dwindling window of opportunity to win another Super Bowl with what will be a 38 year old quarterback in 2015, Bill Belichick can remove one question mark from the puzzle by re-signing Gostkowski.​

At age 31, he’s far from done. In fact, the past two seasons have been his best accuracy wise hitting on 92.7 percent of his field goals in 2013, and 94.6 percent this year. His predecessor Vinatieri was still going strong this season at the age of 42, exactly nine years since he was replaced. That should show the Patriots the value of keeping a steady, reliable kicker on-board.​

He’s as close to automatic as they come. He really missed only one FG all season, the other came on a bad snap. His range is still excellent; he hit a 60-yard field goal against Carolina in the pre-season, which would have been a Patriots team record. His kickoffs are always deep and allow the coverage units to get downfield if the ball doesn’t travel out of the endzone.​

Kicking in Foxboro isn’t like kicking in the nice cozy domes that are out there or a mile above sea-level where the air is thin and the balls carry. The winds at Foxboro tend to swirl down at field level. To be successful for the Patriots for this long, takes a ton of patience, practice and confidence. He’s been able to handle the pressure of kicking for a contender for nine years and has been to three Super Bowls.​

Gostkowski had a $3.8 million dollar cap hit in 2014, and among the top paid NFL kickers being around the $4 million dollar mark, the Patriots could use their franchise option on Gostkowski which would do two things. Give Gostowski a modest pay raise and keep him around the environs of Foxboro for at least another year.​

This article is from right after he signed:

Pats franchise kicker Gostkowski

The Pats placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski and not safety Devin McCourty. The team confirmed the move Monday afternoon. This is the third time in team history that the Pats have…

www.metrowestdailynews.com

The Patriots’ offseason priorities became a little clearer on Monday.​

The Pats placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski and not safety Devin McCourty. The team confirmed the move Monday afternoon. This is the third time in team history that the Pats have used their franchise tag on a kicker. They used it twice on Adam Vinatieri, in 2002 and 2005.​

"Stephen has been extremely productive and a vital component to our success since joining our team in 2006," the team said in a statement. "Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach an agreement, which is the goal."​

Gostkowski’s salary is expected to be around $4.59 million. Last season was a good year for the kicker, who connected on a career-high 94.6 percent of field goals and led the NFL with 156 points. He also became the Patriots’ all-time leading scorer.​

Some other headlines from that time:

Franchise Tag Gives Patriots More Time For an Extension For Gostkowski

The Patriots gave Stephen Gostkowski the franchise designation, hopefully extending the opportunity for the two sides to reach a long-term deal.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Place Franchise Tag on Kicker Stephen Gostkowski

The New England Patriots announced that they are utilizing the franchise designation on kicker Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots issued the following statement on the use of the franchise tag: “Ste...

www.abc6.com

Stephen Gostkowski gets franchise tag

While most of the speculation had the franchise tag landing on safety Devin McCourty, the Patriots, instead, placed the designation on kicker Stephen Gostkowski prior to the deadline yesterday.The one-year franchise tender for kickers is…

www.bostonherald.com

Pats tag Stephen Gostkowski

The New England Patriots on Monday placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski.

www.espn.com

Patriots Place Franchise Tag on Gostkowski

The move ensures one of the NFL’s best kickers will be in New England in 2015

www.boston.com

Patriots place franchise tag on K Stephen Gostkowski

The Patriots finally played tag, as they slapped the designation on kicker Stephen Gostkowski. The move guarantees the kicker, who made $3 million last season, a one-year salary of more than $4 million in 2015. Of course, this doesn't…

www.bostonherald.com

Report: New England Patriots place franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski

Gostkowski is coming off his ninth season in the NFL -- all in New England -- and posted career bests in field goals made (35-of-37) and field goal percentage (94.6 percent).

www.masslive.com

PatsFans threads from March 2, 2015:

Monday Patriots Noteboook 3/2: Big week for Patriots Free Agents, Amendola the key to Pats Success, More Notes

Some Patriots news and notes for Monday March 2nd, 2015.

www.patsfans.com

Let's say McCourty walks. What is the plan?

Sources close to the Pats today indicated they are more likely to use the tag on Gost than McCourty. I heard this on the radio so i have no link to it but will find one shortly if i can. If that is the case knowing the Pats need to be under the salary cap when FA starts it is not outside the...

www.patsfans.com

RUMOR: Revis "to hit the market?"

Anybody hear anything more or different about this? I can't evaluate this information or its source, but I hope it's just one more idiot rumor. http://www.boston.com/community/forums/sports/patriots/on-the-front-burner/revis-to-hit-the-market/100/7903330

www.patsfans.com

NFL.com asks if Brady or Luck is the second best QB in football after Rodgers

Winning Super Bowls and moving the ball better than any other offense in football despite inferior talent just doesn't count for what it used to. I would think a more appropriate article would be whether or not Brady has surpassed Rodgers, considering Rodgers looked like Ryan Leaf against the...

www.patsfans.com

Patriots place franchise tag on K Stephen Gostkowski

Gost gets tagged According to Schefter

www.patsfans.com

McCourty now has a choice to make

With Gost getting franchised: 1.Resign with the Patriots for about 8-9 million a year (just my guess) 2. Sign somewhere else and be the highest paid safety in the league for about 10-11 million a year (destinations include: Indy, Oakland, Tennessee) If the Colts offer him the deal above and...

www.patsfans.com

Patriots NFL Super Bowl Blu Ray (March 3rd Release)

Hi Everyone, The highly anticipated (by me, anyway) Patriots championship blu ray is being released tomorrow, March 3rd. I figured it would be good to start a discussion thread about the Blu Ray for people to provide some feedback. What were your favortie parts? What should they have shown...

www.patsfans.com

Life without Revis and McCourty

Ok, what's the plan? It's clear they are both going to hit the FA and will likely be paid way more than Pats can afford or are willing to pay. Who can we get in FA to shore up the secondary? Maxwell from Seahawks?

www.patsfans.com

Why have we heard nothing about Wilfork?

I am surprised that we have heard more from Wilfork. In a perfect scenario Vince would take a team friendly deal with incentives. Then again that would be a 180 from the Vince of a year ago. I would assume if the Patriots had approached Vince, we would have heard something. Last year Vince...

www.patsfans.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Today in Patriots History
Stephen Gostkowski tagged​

March 2, 2015:
Patriots place franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski

Ten years ago today the New England Patriots place the franchise tag on Stephen Gostkowski. At the time there was some debate on whether the Pats would use the tag on Ghost or Devin McCourty.

Here is a look at the history of the franchise tag with the Patriots:
- 2002, K Adam Vinatieri - signed a 3-year extension three weeks later
- 2003, S Tebucky Jones - traded to New Orleans on April 14, 2003
- 2005, K Adam Vinatieri - played season under tag, left as free agent the following spring
- 2007, CB Asante Samuel - held out in preseason; played season under tag, departed the following spring
- 2009, QB Matt Cassel - signed tag a few days later, and was traded to Kansas City
- 2010, DT Vince Wilfork - 11 days later signed a 5-year, $40 million deal; Pats declined team option in 2015
- 2011, G Logan Mankins - after the lockout signed a 6-year deal; traded to Tampa in 2014
- 2012, WR Wes Welker - played season under tag, left for Denver as free agent following season
- 2015, K Stephen Gostkowski - signed a new 4-year contract just before training camp
- 2020, G Joe Thuney - played season under tag, then signed with Kansas City as free agent the next spring

In addition, the Pats have used the transition tag three times:
- 1993, LB Vincent Brown - signed a new contract the following year
- 1994, CB Maurice Hurst - signed a new contract two months later
- 2024, S Kyle Dugger - signed a 4-year extension April 7, 2024




Some opinions prior to the kicker being tagged, from Mike Reiss and Mark Daniels:

Stephen Gostkowski a more likely candidate for tag than Devin McCourty

If the Patriots use the franchise tag, there is a greater likelihood it will be assigned to kicker Stephen Gostkowski than safety Devin McCourty.

www.espn.com

If the New England Patriots use the franchise tag before Monday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, there is a greater likelihood it will be assigned to kicker Stephen Gostkowski than safety Devin McCourty, according to multiple sources involved in discussions with those involved.​

Gostkowski's tag projects to be closer to $4.5 million, while McCourty's would be approximately $9.5 million.​

The possibility McCourty heads to unrestricted free agency without restrictions of a franchise tag would create a scenario in which any team could sign him without giving up compensation to the Patriots. If that's the way it unfolds, based on past history, the Patriots would likely keep an open line of communication with McCourty and his representatives by letting them know they're interested in retaining him. McCourty could then decide if the team's offer matches up to what he receives on the open market.​

In a year where the free-agent crop at safety is not considered deep, and the draft class is also viewed as thin, McCourty will likely receive considerable interest on the open market if this is the way the scenario unfolds.​

On Feb. 25, McCourty said, "I've thought about all different scenarios, whether I'm here or whether I’m somewhere else. At this point, I don’t have a contract, so it could happen that I could be playing somewhere else. It would be crazy not to think that could [happen]."​

Report: Patriots more likely to use franchise tag on Gostkowski than McCourty

It looks like Devin McCourty won’t be given the franchise tag after all. According to a report from ESPN Boston , kicker Stephen Gostkowski is more likely to receive the tag than the All-Pro safety…

www.providencejournal.com

This would mean that McCourty would enter free agency on March 10 allowed to negotiate with anyone who wants his services. Although placing the franchise tag on McCourty would make some sense (it would give the Patriots an extra year to work out an extension), the hefty projected cost of $9.6 million for one year would give any team some hesitation.​

McCourty is widely considered the top safety in this year’s free-agent class. The dropoff after him is fairly significant. Former Denver Broncos free safety Rahim Moore and the often-injured Tyvon Branch are considered the next-best in that position group. It’s also been said that this year’s draft class is weak for safeties, which makes extending McCourty that much more of a priority.​

The projected tag number for a kicker is around $4.1 million, according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt. If Gostkowski does get the franchise tag, it would not be the first time the Patriots used it on a kicker. The Pats used the tag twice on Adam Vinatieri in 2002 and then 2005.​

Another, from Steve Balestrieri:

Patriots 2015 Free Agent Profile – Stephen Gostkowski

During a December 41-13 blowout of the Miami Dolphins, Gostkowski hit a 35-yard field goal that moved him past Vinatieri (1158 points), and into sole possession as the Patriots all-time leading scorer.

www.patsfans.com

Why Gostkowski Will Return: With a dwindling window of opportunity to win another Super Bowl with what will be a 38 year old quarterback in 2015, Bill Belichick can remove one question mark from the puzzle by re-signing Gostkowski.​

At age 31, he’s far from done. In fact, the past two seasons have been his best accuracy wise hitting on 92.7 percent of his field goals in 2013, and 94.6 percent this year. His predecessor Vinatieri was still going strong this season at the age of 42, exactly nine years since he was replaced. That should show the Patriots the value of keeping a steady, reliable kicker on-board.​

He’s as close to automatic as they come. He really missed only one FG all season, the other came on a bad snap. His range is still excellent; he hit a 60-yard field goal against Carolina in the pre-season, which would have been a Patriots team record. His kickoffs are always deep and allow the coverage units to get downfield if the ball doesn’t travel out of the endzone.​

Kicking in Foxboro isn’t like kicking in the nice cozy domes that are out there or a mile above sea-level where the air is thin and the balls carry. The winds at Foxboro tend to swirl down at field level. To be successful for the Patriots for this long, takes a ton of patience, practice and confidence. He’s been able to handle the pressure of kicking for a contender for nine years and has been to three Super Bowls.​

Gostkowski had a $3.8 million dollar cap hit in 2014, and among the top paid NFL kickers being around the $4 million dollar mark, the Patriots could use their franchise option on Gostkowski which would do two things. Give Gostowski a modest pay raise and keep him around the environs of Foxboro for at least another year.​

This article is from right after he signed:

Pats franchise kicker Gostkowski

The Pats placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski and not safety Devin McCourty. The team confirmed the move Monday afternoon. This is the third time in team history that the Pats have…

www.metrowestdailynews.com

The Patriots’ offseason priorities became a little clearer on Monday.​

The Pats placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski and not safety Devin McCourty. The team confirmed the move Monday afternoon. This is the third time in team history that the Pats have used their franchise tag on a kicker. They used it twice on Adam Vinatieri, in 2002 and 2005.​

"Stephen has been extremely productive and a vital component to our success since joining our team in 2006," the team said in a statement. "Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach an agreement, which is the goal."​

Gostkowski’s salary is expected to be around $4.59 million. Last season was a good year for the kicker, who connected on a career-high 94.6 percent of field goals and led the NFL with 156 points. He also became the Patriots’ all-time leading scorer.​

Some other headlines from that time:

Franchise Tag Gives Patriots More Time For an Extension For Gostkowski

The Patriots gave Stephen Gostkowski the franchise designation, hopefully extending the opportunity for the two sides to reach a long-term deal.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Place Franchise Tag on Kicker Stephen Gostkowski

The New England Patriots announced that they are utilizing the franchise designation on kicker Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots issued the following statement on the use of the franchise tag: “Ste...

www.abc6.com

Stephen Gostkowski gets franchise tag

While most of the speculation had the franchise tag landing on safety Devin McCourty, the Patriots, instead, placed the designation on kicker Stephen Gostkowski prior to the deadline yesterday.The one-year franchise tender for kickers is…

www.bostonherald.com

Pats tag Stephen Gostkowski

The New England Patriots on Monday placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski.

www.espn.com

Patriots Place Franchise Tag on Gostkowski

The move ensures one of the NFL’s best kickers will be in New England in 2015

www.boston.com

Patriots place franchise tag on K Stephen Gostkowski

The Patriots finally played tag, as they slapped the designation on kicker Stephen Gostkowski. The move guarantees the kicker, who made $3 million last season, a one-year salary of more than $4 million in 2015. Of course, this doesn't…

www.bostonherald.com

Report: New England Patriots place franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski

Gostkowski is coming off his ninth season in the NFL -- all in New England -- and posted career bests in field goals made (35-of-37) and field goal percentage (94.6 percent).

www.masslive.com

PatsFans threads from March 2, 2015:

Monday Patriots Noteboook 3/2: Big week for Patriots Free Agents, Amendola the key to Pats Success, More Notes

Some Patriots news and notes for Monday March 2nd, 2015.

www.patsfans.com

Let's say McCourty walks. What is the plan?

Sources close to the Pats today indicated they are more likely to use the tag on Gost than McCourty. I heard this on the radio so i have no link to it but will find one shortly if i can. If that is the case knowing the Pats need to be under the salary cap when FA starts it is not outside the...

www.patsfans.com

RUMOR: Revis "to hit the market?"

Anybody hear anything more or different about this? I can't evaluate this information or its source, but I hope it's just one more idiot rumor. http://www.boston.com/community/forums/sports/patriots/on-the-front-burner/revis-to-hit-the-market/100/7903330

www.patsfans.com

NFL.com asks if Brady or Luck is the second best QB in football after Rodgers

Winning Super Bowls and moving the ball better than any other offense in football despite inferior talent just doesn't count for what it used to. I would think a more appropriate article would be whether or not Brady has surpassed Rodgers, considering Rodgers looked like Ryan Leaf against the...

www.patsfans.com

Patriots place franchise tag on K Stephen Gostkowski

Gost gets tagged According to Schefter

www.patsfans.com

McCourty now has a choice to make

With Gost getting franchised: 1.Resign with the Patriots for about 8-9 million a year (just my guess) 2. Sign somewhere else and be the highest paid safety in the league for about 10-11 million a year (destinations include: Indy, Oakland, Tennessee) If the Colts offer him the deal above and...

www.patsfans.com

Patriots NFL Super Bowl Blu Ray (March 3rd Release)

Hi Everyone, The highly anticipated (by me, anyway) Patriots championship blu ray is being released tomorrow, March 3rd. I figured it would be good to start a discussion thread about the Blu Ray for people to provide some feedback. What were your favortie parts? What should they have shown...

www.patsfans.com

Life without Revis and McCourty

Ok, what's the plan? It's clear they are both going to hit the FA and will likely be paid way more than Pats can afford or are willing to pay. Who can we get in FA to shore up the secondary? Maxwell from Seahawks?

www.patsfans.com

Why have we heard nothing about Wilfork?

I am surprised that we have heard more from Wilfork. In a perfect scenario Vince would take a team friendly deal with incentives. Then again that would be a 180 from the Vince of a year ago. I would assume if the Patriots had approached Vince, we would have heard something. Last year Vince...

www.patsfans.com

Why can't we sign more OL like Neal. Instead we end up with Vederian Lowe, Okorafor, Wheatley, 35 yeah old reily reiff and demon demontrey Jacob.

 

[Pape]

Why can't we sign more OL like Neal. Instead we end up with Vederian Lowe, Okorafor, Wheatley, 35 yeah old reily reiff and demon demontrey Jacob.

Because we don't have Scar to coach up guys like Neal, Joe Andruzzi, Dan Connolly, David Andrews, Tom Ashworth, Ryan Wendell and even Josh Kline...


Why just those names? Because they are all undrafted OL-men (like Neal) Scar turned into starters...

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Malcolm Butler​

Happy 35th birthday to Malcolm Butler
Born March 2, 1990 in Vicksburg, Mississippi
Patriot CB, 2014-2017 (and 2022 offseason); uniform #21
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent from West Alabama on May 19, 2014
Pats résumé: 4 seasons, 59 games (48 starts); 2015 Pro Bowl; 2016 2nd Team All Pro; 12 playoff games, one pick


The man that should have been given the MVP trophy from Super Bowl 49 turns 35 today.

The Official Patriots vs Seahawks Super Bowl 49 Game thread

Please D create a turnover!!!

www.patsfans.com

 

[Pape]

Best meme/gif ever... You can just see his stanford educated brain break & his heart shatter into a bajillion pieces

 

[Real fan 02]

Because we don't have Scar to coach up guys like Neal, Joe Andruzzi, Dan Connolly, David Andrews, Tom Ashworth, Ryan Wendell and even Josh Kline...


Why just those names? Because they are all undrafted OL-men like Neal Scar turned into starters...

Excellent post Pape! It was just remarkable what scar was able to do with un drafted guys. I'm confident marrone can have looking like at least an NFL level OL this season.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More March 2 Trivia​

March 2, 1995:
After having lost restricted free agent FB Kevin Turner to Philadelphia, the Patriots receive a compensatory third round pick in the upcoming 1995 NFL draft. The Pats would use that pick to select Pitt RB Curtis Martin.




March 2, 2006:
CB Hank Poteat is re-signed to a one-year contract, and WR Cedric James is released

Poteat re-signs

The Patriots have re-signed cornerback Hank Poteat to a one-year, $545,000 deal.

www.boston.com

The Patriots have re-signed cornerback Hank Poteat to a one-year, $545,000 contract, keeping him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.​

“In this market, he’s happy to have a job,” said Brian Levy, who represents Poteat. “The Patriots are a team he’s comfortable with and he’s enjoyed his time there. He feels appreciated there.”​

Poteat was with the Patriots in 2005 training camp, didn’t make the final cut, but was re-signed Oct. 19 after the Patriots had a number of injuries in the defensive backfield. He appeared in 10 games, with one start, and was one of only three healthy corners by the end of the season — along with Ellis Hobbs and Asante Samuel.​

“He’s been a nice insurance policy for them,” Levy said.​

Poteat was one of 16 Patriots players scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent as of midnight.​

EXTRA POINTS: Kicker Adam Vinatieri commented on his pending free agent status in this article out of Orlando, saying: “The opportunity to go into free agency this year is a good thing.” … As of 4 p.m. ET, the Patriots had not contacted representatives for outside linebacker Willie McGinest regarding any potential roster moves. … The NFL salary cap is set at $94.5 million and the Patriots are reportedly about $4 million under that figure, meaning they don’t have to cut any players today to be in compliance with league rules. … The Patriots waived receiver Cedric James, who was allocated to NFL Europe in 2005 but never emerged with the team.​

Patriots Re-Sign CB Hank Poteat -- Patriots.com

Poteat, 28, was initially acquired by the Patriots as a free agent on Jan. 10, 2005, and has played in 10 regular-season games and five playoff games for New England. The 5-foot-10-inch, 192-pound cornerback will enter his sixth NFL season in 2006 and has played in 52 career regular-season games and seven playoff games for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2000-02), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003) and Patriots (2004-05). The University of Pittsburgh product was originally drafted by the Steelers in the third round (77th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft.​

With the Patriots in 2005, Poteat set a single-season career high with 24 tackles (20 solo) and also recorded his first career sack against the New York Jets on Dec. 26, 2005. He set a single-game career high with nine tackles (8 solo) in the 2005 regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 1, 2006. Poteat's career regular-season statistics include 33 tackles (29 solo), one sack, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He has also returned 45 kickoffs for 818 yards (18.2 avg) and 76 punts for 788 yards (10.4 avg) and a touchdown.​

March 2, 2007:
RB Corey Dillon is released; see post above.
On the same day the Pats also re-signed RB Heath Evans and G Billy Yates.

The following players became unrestricted free agents:
Tully Banta-Cain, Don Davis, Daniel Graham, Larry Izzo, Patrick Pass, Junior Seau and Vinny Testaverde.




March 2, 2009:
Free agent TE Chris Baker is signed, and OL Russ Hochstein is re-signed

Patriots sign TE Chris Baker; re-sign OL Russ Hochstein -- Patriots.com

Patriots sign up tight end Baker

The New England Patriots signed tight end Chris Baker, who played seven seasons with the New York Jets. Baker has 145 career receptions for 1,505 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was selected by the Jets in the third round of the 2002 draft…

www.lowellsun.com

Patriots upgrade at TE with Chris Baker

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham Baker If the New England Patriots can generate as much production from Chris Baker as he delivered two and three years ago, then he will outperform all of their other tight ends combined.

www.espn.com

If the New England Patriots can generate as much production from Chris Baker as he delivered two and three years ago, then he will outperform all of their other tight ends combined.​

The Patriots are expected to announce Friday they have signed Baker, who spent his first seven NFL seasons with the New York Jets.​

Baker's numbers faded last year for the Jets, who drafted Dustin Keller in the first round and signed veteran Bubba Franks. Baker finished with 21 catches for 194 yards and zero touchdowns.​

But Baker's previous two seasons were much more effective. In 2007, he had 41 receptions for 409 yards and three touchdowns. In 2006, he had 31 catches for 300 yards and four touchdowns.​

The Patriots have wanted more contributions from their tight ends for years.​

Last year's duo, Benjamin Watson and David Thomas, combined for 31 receptions, 302 yards and two touchdowns. Also on New England's roster are Tyson DeVree and Brad Listorti, prospects with no NFL receptions.​

March 2, 2016:
WR Brandon LaFell and TE Scott Chandler are released

Patriots release Brandon LaFell, Scott Chandler

The Patriots are trimming the budget.The Pats released tight end Scott Chandler and wide receiver Brandon LaFell today. The moves freed up a combined $4.85 million in cap space, with LaFell's charge ($2.8 million) as the greater of the…

www.bostonherald.com

Patriots release WR Brandon LaFell, TE Scott Chandler

The Patriots have released wide receiver Brandon LaFell and tight end Scott Chandler.

www.espn.com

The New England Patriots have parted ways with two of their more notable veteran free-agent signings from the past two seasons, informing wide receiver Brandon LaFell and tight end Scott Chandler that they have been released.​

Neither move comes as a surprise after both had their roles scaled back over the course of the 2015 season, with LaFell slipping to the No. 4 spot on the depth chart in the AFC Championship Game (zero targets) and Chandler spending much of the year as the No. 3 tight end.​

The Patriots save about $4 million on the salary cap.​

LaFell had a career year with the Patriots in 2014, his first season with the club, totaling 74 receptions for 953 yards and seven touchdowns. He started 13 of 16 games during the regular season and then all three playoff contests, adding 13 catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs.​

An injury to his left foot, however, affected his offseason, and he opened 2015 on the physically unable to perform list. LaFell, 29, never seemed to find his groove upon his return, finishing this past season with 37 catches for 515 yards and no touchdowns. He played in 11 games, with seven starts.​

LaFell (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) was set to enter the final year of the three-year, $9 million contract he had signed with New England on March 17, 2014. He had entered the league as a third-round draft choice of the Carolina Panthers in 2010.​

Meanwhile, Chandler had signed a two-year, $5.3 million contract with the Patriots on March 16, 2015 after spending the prior five seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots had visions of pairing Chandler (6-7, 260) with Rob Gronkowski (6-6, 265) in a two-tight-end set, practicing it extensively in spring practices and training camp, but it never came to fruition during the regular season.​

Chandler was slowed by a knee injury and his release came with a failed physical designation.​

Chandler, 30, finished the year with 23 catches for 259 yards and four touchdowns, slipping to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Michael Williams.​

March 2, 2023:
Patriots hire Patrick Stewart to their front office/scouting department.

Patriots adding veteran exec to their scouting department (report)

The Patriots are making some changes to their scouting department

www.masslive.com

The Patriots are adding a veteran scout and front office executive to their franchise.​

According to KPRC Houston, the Patriots are adding Pat Stewart to their scouting department. Stewart has experience in the NFL dating back to 2007 and last worked as the Carolina Panthers VP of Player Personnel.​

Stewart started his NFL career in New England where Bill Belichick hired him as a scouting assistant in 2007. He then worked with the Patriots as an area scout (2009, 2013-2017) and pro scout (2012-2012). In 2013, Stewart was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as a national scout. In 2020, he went to Carolina as their director of player personnel before being promoted in 2021.​

According to the Patriots Media Guide, Stewart held the title of 'Senior Personnel Advisor' in 2023, then 'Director of Pro Personnel' in 2024.

Four days ago he accepted a job as the General Manager for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Patriots Losing Key Talent Evaluator to College Ranks | PatsFans.com

For a team that's in the middle of a significant rebuild, it looks like one key Patriots personnel executive may not be a part of things moving forward.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots front office exec leaving for college job

The evolving Patriots front office lost an executive to a college job.

www.masslive.com

 

[PP2]

To this day I still can't believe that Neal didn't play one down of college football.

When he was invited to the Patriots training camp in 2001 he didn't even know how to put on the pads.

 

[jmt57]

To this day I still can't believe that Neal didn't play one down of college football.

When he was invited to the Patriots training camp in 2001 he didn't even know how to put on the pads.

From one of the articles I found on him it said that he did play football in high school, so there was at least that.

But I have also read that when he first arrived in Foxborough, Bill Belichick said that he didn't even know how to put his equipment on, or words to that effect. Not sure if Bill was talking literally or figuratively there.


Here is some more on Stephen Neal's youth. The real crazy part? He was on his high school SWIM team!!!!!

The remarkable, improbable career of Stephen Neal by California State University, Bakersfield

This is the second in a series of 2022 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame profiles.When he was an assistant wrestling coach at CSUB, Darryl Pope was famous for subjecting his freshmen to a frightening Cobra maneuver to teach them what position not to get into.Most wrestlers got up from it petrified. Not...

news.csub.edu

Neal loved football as a kid but didn’t play Pop Warner because it was too expensive to put all three boys in it. So the brothers played recreational soccer and every other sport, from basketball to football to pickleball, with their dad every weeknight and weekend.

“When you have four males you can figure a lot of things out, have fun,” Neal said.

At San Diego High School, Neal lettered in football, swimming, track and field and wrestling. He dreamed of playing college football but his high school team wasn’t very successful, so he didn’t have much opportunity to play for a Division I football program.

 

[State]

The way he pulled and hunted LBs to block was as good as anyone I remember.

And Stephen Neal made it look easy. Even Hannah couldn’t pull that off. Effortless athleticism. And a football career that was too brief.

Just like Leon Gray, but at a different OL position.

I don’t think I’ll ever see another Patriot OLinemen like those two.