Happy 24th birthday to Anfernee Jennings
Born May 1, 1997 in Dadeville, Alabama
Patriot LB, 2020-; uniform #58
Pats 3rd round (87th overall) selection of the 2020 draft, from Alabama
Anfernee Jennings appeared in 14 games as a rookie, with four starts. He was on the field for 292 defensive snaps (29%) and 96 special team snaps (24%), posting 20 tackles.
Happy 27th birthday to Eric Saubert
Born May 1, 1994 in Chicago
Patriot TE, 2019 offseason; uniform #41
Acquired in a trade with Atlanta for a conditional 7th round pick, on August 13, 2019
Eric Saubert was originally a fifth round draft pick by the Falcons in 2017, and was the first player in 35 years to be drafted from Drake. He was waived by the Patriots as part of roster cutdowns, on August 31, 2019. Currently a free agent, Saubert has also been with the Raiders, Bears and Jaguars; he has appeared in 40 NFL games, with ten receptions.
Get to know the new Patriot.
www.patriots.com
Other pro football players with New England connections born today:
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Jackson Keefer: tailback for the 1926 Providence Steamrollers, who was also an alumnus of Brown University.
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Rudy Romboli; born and raised in Everett, Romboli was a fullback in the 1940s for the Boston Yanks.
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Bob Marques; the Medford born Marques grew up in Everett and was a Boston University graduate before playing six games at linebacker in the AFL's inaugural season for the New York Titans.
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Terry Rennaker; born in Newport, Rennaker appeared in 15 games for the Seahawks in 1980.
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Bruce McGonnigal; born in Cambridge, the TE played for the Cleveland Browns in 1991.
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Erny Pinckert: wingback for Boston Braves was named to two Pro Bowls.
Besides Curtis Martin, three other Hall of Famers were born May 1:
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Ollie Matson; All-Pro RB for Chicago Cardinals in each of his first five NFL seasons.
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Chuck Bednarik; 8-time Pro Bowl LB/C for Eagles known for his vicious hits, including one that knocked Frank Gifford out of the NFL for a year and a half.
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Cliff Battles; tailback for the Boston Braves in the 1930s.
May 1, 1984: Day One (rounds 1-3) of the NFL Draft, from the Omni Park Central Hotel in NYC
Pats trade up 15 spots, sending 1.16, 1.28, 10.265 and a 1985 first to Cincinnati for the first overall pick
- 1.1 -- WR Irving Fryar, Nebraska
- 2.43 - LB Ed Williams, Texas
- 3.70 - RB Jonathan Williams, Penn State
The Patriots would have been better served to stand still, with far too many other positions in need of an upgrade to make this trade. On top of that giving up
three firsts (one came from the Mike Haynes trade) for one is not a good value - and using the number one overall pick on a wide receiver is never a good idea.
It took Ed Williams four seasons to break into the starting lineup, and he finished his career with just ten NFL starts. Jon Williams never had an opportunity to showcase his potential; he blew out his knee in his rookie off season, abruptly ending his pro football career.
Not a good draft - especially when you consider it began with two firsts, and four of the top 70 picks.
May 1, 1985: Day Two (rounds 4-12) of the NFL Draft
- 4.102 -- OT Tom Toth, Western Michigan
- (Pats traded Shelby Jordan to Oakland for 4.108 on 9/6/83)
- 4.108 -- WR Gerard Phelan, Boston College
- (Pats traded 5.109 as part of 1984 trade up for Irving Fryar)
- (Pats traded 6.156 to Philadelphia for K Tony Franklin on 2/22/84)
- (Pats lost 7.188 as compensation for tampering with Oakland scout John Polonchek)
- (Pats traded 7.192 and Mike Haynes to Oakland for '84 1.28 and '85 2.52)
- (Pats traded 8.215 to Atlanta for S Rod McSwain on 8/27/84)
- (Pats traded Matt Cavanaugh to 49ers for 8.224 and '86 7th, on 8/10/83)
- 8.224 -- DT Milford Hodge, Washington State
- (Pats traded 9.242 to Pittsburgh for TE Greg Hawthorne on 8/21/84)
- (Pats traded 10.269 to Denver for P Luke Prestridge on 8/20/84)
- 11.295 - RB Paul Lewis, Boston University
- 12.328 - RB Tony Mumford, Penn State
May 1, 1990: New England signs undrafted rookie
Tim Hauck
The safety from Montana was a victim of final roster cuts, and later signed to the practice squad. Hauck was elevated to the active roster on October 27, and made his first NFL appearance the next day versus Buffalo. He played in all ten remaining games in 1990, then signed with Green Bay the following spring. Unfortunately for the Patriots he went on to play in 183 NFL games over 13 years with several other teams.
May 1, 2006: Patriots sign eight undrafted rookie free agents
The one player of note from this group was
Pierre Woods, from Michigan. Woods was an occasional fill-in at linebacker but primarily a special teams ace. He played in 54 games with eight starts, plus seven playoff games.
May 1, 2015: Day Two (rounds 2-3) of the NFL Draft
- 2.64 -- S Jordan Richards, Stanford
- Pats trade down, sending 3.96 and 7.219 to Cleveland for 4.111, 5.147 and 6.202
- 3.97 -- DE Geneo Grissom, Oklahoma (compensatory pick for Aqib Talib)
May 1, 2021: Day Three (rounds 4-7) of the NFL Draft
- (Patriots begin the day with 4.120, 5.177, 6.188, 6.197 and 7.242)
- 4.120 -- RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
- 5.177 -- LB Cameron McGrone, Michigan
- 6.188 -- S Joshuah Bledsoe, Missouri
- 6.197 -- OT William Sherman, Colorado
- 7.242 -- WR Tre Nixon, Central Florida
