Today in Patriots History
Sergio 'thrown out of the club' Brown,
and other May 22 birthdays
Happy 82nd birthday to Don 'Spider' Webb
Born May 22, 1939 in Jefferson City, Missouri
Patriot CB/S, 1961-1971; uniform #48 ('61) and #42 ('62-'71)
Pats 24th round (186th overall) selection of the 1961 draft, from Iowa State
Don Webb intercepted five passes as a rookie, and in a 41-0 shutout over the Chargers he scored two touchdowns: one on a blocked punt return and another on a 31-yard pick-six. Webb then unfortunately missed the entire 1963 campaign due to a knee injury that occurred just prior to the start of the season. In '67 he moved from starting left corner to safety, and was an All-Star in 1969. Overall Don Webb played in 134 games for the Patriots, with 21 interceptions. Those 21 picks were third most in team history for many years, and even now still rank as 12th best in franchise history. Don Webb is also a member of the
Patriots All-Decade Team for the 1960s at safety.
Feb 5, 2017:
As the New England Patriots prepare to play in today's Super Bowl game, a Jefferson City man remembers his time with the team fondly.
www.fultonsun.com
Going into the 2016 season, Webb still ranked 11th in team history with 21 interceptions, according to Patriots records.
Webb remembers many of the players on those teams, including Nick Buoniconti, an all-league linebacker who has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
"They were tough guys," he said. "My foot speed was probably the secret to my longevity. I was the fastest guy on the team."
Webb used the money he earned as a player to help his family back in Jefferson City. ...
Happy 50th birthday to Corey Croom
Born May 22, 1971 in Sandusky, Ohio
Patriot RB, 1993-1995; uniform #26
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 3, 1993
The Patriots signed Corey Croom as an undrafted rookie in 1993 out of Ball State. He was initially cut at the end of training camp and signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the regular roster on September 19. Croom was primarily a special teamer, also gaining 293 yards from scrimmage with one TD as a backup to Leonard Russell.
In '94 Croom led the Pats in rushing (33 carries, 159 yards, 4.8 ypc) in the preseason, but he did not get a single touch that whole year - despite the mediocre production at RB from Marion Butts and Leroy Thompson. Bill Parcells made a surprise move in the postseason, naming Croom the starter over Butts in the wild card game. Parcells leaned on the arm of Drew Bledsoe (52 dropbacks) while ignoring the run (16 rushing attempts), with not unexpected results. Bledsoe went 21-50 with one TD and three interceptions, plus multiple throwaways to avoid an imminent sack. Bill Belichick's Browns won 20-13 in what was the last playoff win by Cleveland prior to this past postseason; Croom averaged an acceptable 3.9 yards per carry on his nine rushing attempts.
The Browns' last playoff came at ehe end of the 1994 season with Bill Belichick as coach of the Browns and Bill Parcells leading the Patriots.
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While Corey Croom did not get on the field on offense that year, he did play in every game on special teams in '94, and in '95 he appeared in 13 games, getting his hands on the ball in three of those games as a backup to Curtis Martin. Croom finished with 352 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown over three seasons with the Pats. He later signed with Philly but did not make their roster.
1/31/2015:
By DAN ANGELO
sanduskyregister.com
“I think of the turnaround,” said Croom. “Before we got there, they weren’t one of the better teams in the league. I came there with coach (Bill) Parcells and he really started the turnaround with quality players and quality coaches.”
Croom signed as an undrafted free agent in 1993 after rushing for 3,500 yards in three season at Sandusky and a record-setting career at Ball State University. ....
Croom, who has been coaching Sandusky football players since 1999, now watches the game with a vantage point the average fan never sees.
“I really watch and put myself in certain situations as a player and as a coach,” he said. “I think of the different ways to execute plays and I applaud the players when they do certain things to take advantage of a defense.
“For instance, a couple of weeks ago, the Patriots played Baltimore and they were doing things with different formations. It was smart because they were having problems getting off the ball and with their spacing, but they found a wrinkle they could use and it was highly successful.”
Croom now watches the Patriots now as a fan and will be rooting for them in Super Bowl XLIX.
“I’m still a fan and take price in being part of that organization,” he said. “I attribute a lot of their success to being coached extremely well and getting the right players into the system. A lot of them aren’t superstars or big money guys, but they know how to get in and work the system and they know how to execute.”
Happy 33rd birthday to Sergio Brown
Born May 22, 1988 in Maywood, Illinois
Patriot safety, 2010-2011; uniform #38 (2010) and #31 (2011)
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 25, 2010
The Pats signed Brown as an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame in 2010. He was signed to the practice squad after being waived during final cuts. Six weeks later Brown was promoted to the active roster and immediately forced to fill in, due to the somewhat unexpected release of both Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders at safety. Not surprisingly he was in over his head, thrust into that position too soon. Brown was let go during final roster cuts prior to the start of the 2012 season. He is perhaps most well known for being 'thrown out of the club' by Gronk after he became an Indianapolis Colt.
Happy 39th birthday to Alex Smith
Born May 22, 1982 in Denver
Patriot TE, 2009 (offseason); uniform #80
Acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay on April 30, 2009
A third round pick by Tampa Bay in 2005, the Pats acquired Smith from the Bucs in exchange for a 2010 fifth round draft pick a few days after the 2009 draft. Smith was one of two would-be veteran pass catchers acquired in exchange for a draft pick (WR Greg Lewis from Philadelphia being the other) that did not survive final roster cuts in 2009. That was the same year several veterans were signed as free agents with very mixed results (Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor, Shawn Springs, Chris Baker, Leigh Bodden, Paris Lenon, Brandon McGowan, Tully Banta-Cain).
April 30, 2009:
The New England Patriots acquired veteran tight end Alex Smith from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today in exchange for an undisclosed selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.
www.patriots.com
Despite being cut by the Pats, Smith spent seven more seasons in the NFL, mostly with Cleveland. He has been working as a pro scout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since retiring from pro football.
Patriots training camp: Day 11 - Patriots tight end Alex Smith fends off linebacker Adalius Thomas during Sunday's lone practice at Gillette Stadium.
May 22, 2017:
Raymond Clayborn is elected into the Patriots Hall of Fame
The Patriots announced today that Raymond Clayborn has been voted by fans as the 26th person to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
www.patriots.com
May 22, 2003: Pats sign veteran free agent WR
Dedric Ward and restricted free agent RB
Patrick Pass
The Patriots announced the signings of free agent wide receiver Dedric Ward and restricted free agent running back Patrick Pass today.
www.patriots.com
CEDAR RAPIDS — Imagine walking out of the dark tunnel to thousands of fans yelling your name, wearing your jersey …
www.thegazette.com
Other pro football players born on this date with New England area connections:
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Tony Holm (5/22/1908); FB for the 1930 Providence Steamroller.
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George Sergienko (5/22/1918); western Mass native went to Chicopee High School and AIC; he was the LT for the 1945 Boston Yanks.
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Frank Santora (5/22/1926); QB for the 1944 Boston Yanks.
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Marcus Dupree (5/22/1964); RB for the USFL Boston Breakers.
At 52, Marcus Dupree is slower and heftier than the strapping teenager who inspired...
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