Today In Patriots History May 3, 1977: NE drafts Ray Clayborn, Stanley Morgan, Horace Ivory & Don Hasselbeck

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 1977 Draft​

May 3, 1977:
The 42nd Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1977 NFL Draft
Roosevelt Hotel, midtown Manhattan
Day One, Rounds 1-5


On February 5, 1976 the Patriots traded Jim Plunkett to San Francisco in exchange for four draft picks, and backup QB Tom Owen. One year later New England was able to cash in on the last of those two picks; one in each of the first two rounds. Added together with their own picks, the Patriots owned four of the top 52 draft picks. Conversely, the 49ers had to wait until the 65th pick to make a choice. That ill-advised trade would lead to San Francisco burning through three head coaches in as many seasons, bottoming out with back-to-back 2-14 seasons before Bill Walsh arrived and turned that franchise around.


This has to be one of the greatest drafts in franchise history, and ranks second only to Pittsburgh's 1974 four-Hall-of-Famer masterpiece as best draft value by any NFL team for the entire decade.


1st round, 16th overall ---- CB Raymond Clayborn, Texas (pick obtained from 49ers trade)
1st round, 25th overall ---- WR Stanley Morgan, Tennessee
2nd round, 44th overall --- RB Horace, Ivory, Oklahoma (pick obtained from 49ers trade)
2nd round, 52nd overall -- TE Don Hasselbeck, Colorado
3rd round, 82nd overall --- DB Sidney Brown, Oklahoma
4th round, 109th overall -- OT Gerald Skinner, Arkansas
5th round, 135th overall -- previously in 1975 to St Louis Cardinals for DB Durwood Keeton


Clayborn and Morgan are in the Patriots Hall of Fame; Stanley deserves to be in Canton as well. In 1978 Horace Ivory rushed for 11 touchdowns, despite the Pats using a running back by committee - at the time, the most rushing TDs by a running back in franchise history. The following year he led the NFL and set a team record by averaging 27.6 yards on 36 kickoff returns. The 6'7 Hasselbeck was a great blocker on those teams that were setting rushing records, while also having good speed that resulted in 15 touchdowns with the Pats.

Collectively this group played in 542 games for the Patriots, with seven Pro Bowl appearances.

Stanley Morgan | The Patriots Hall of Fame

www.patriotshalloffame.com

Raymond Clayborn | The Patriots Hall of Fame

www.patriotshalloffame.com

"#9 - Stanley Morgan | Top 10 Patriots of All Time | NFL Films" - 3:31 Video

​

At this point in time this was the latest date ever for an NFL draft, and the first time it was ever held in May. It was also the first time the NFL held a Supplemental Draft. In addition this was the first twelve-round draft, down from the 17 rounds that had been in effect since the two leagues held a common draft in 1967.


1977 was also the same year that the NFL bowed to public pressure from fans fed up with having to pay full price for three home preseason games - 30% of the number of games in a season ticket package. Simply rebranding 'exhibition games' as 'preseason games' didn't do the trick. The owners were certainly never give up that revenue, so on March 30, 1977 they announced a reduction in the number of preseason from six games to four, and increased the regular season games from 14 games to 16 - effective in 1978.


Running backs went one-two in the 1977 draft, with a wide gap between the two player's productivity. Tampa Bay had the number one overall pick and chose USC RB Ricky Bell. Dallas traded up with the other 1976 expansion team, Seattle, and selected future Hall of Fame Tony Dorsett. Bell had one good season, 1979, when he rushed for 1,263 yards and seven touchdowns - but he never surpassed 680 yards running in his four other seasons. Dorsett on the other hand was the Rookie of the Year, and rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight of his first nine seasons, going to four Pro Bowls.

Dorsett is also the only Hall of Famer from the 1977 draft class - though hopefully the Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Committee will do the right thing sometime soon, and make it two with the addition of Stanley Morgan.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 1978 Draft​

May 3, 1978:
The 43rd Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1978 NFL Draft
Roosevelt Hotel, midtown Manhattan
Day Two, Rounds 7-12


7th round, #188 -- LB Mike Hawkins, Texas A&I
(Pats had traded John Sanders to Philadelphia for 8.198 on 9/6/77)
8th round, #198 -- G Terry Falcon, Montana
8th round, #215 -- RB Mosi Tatupu, USC
9th round, #242 -- LB Tim Petersen, Arizona State
10th round, #269 - DB Brian Ferguson, Miami
11th round, #296 - LB Charlie Williams, Florida
12th round, #328 - C John Gibney, Colgate
UDFA -- K Nick Lowery, Dartmouth

Considering that we are talking about #188 overall and beyond, I will take 13 years worth of Mosi Tatupu and call this a good final day of the draft.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 1979 Draft​

May 3, 1979:
The 44th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1979 NFL Draft
Waldorf Astoria, 301 Park Avenue, midtown Manhattan
Day One, Rounds 1-6


1st round, #25 overall ---- S Rick Sanford, South Carolina

2nd round, #52 overall --- DT Bob Golic, Notre Dame

Pats had no third round pick; they traded 3.81 and a 1980 4th to the Rams for WR Harold Jackson on 8/16/78

4th round, #106 overall -- P Eddie Hare, Tulsa

5th round, #135 overall -- LB John Zamberlin, Pacific Lutheran

Pats had traded their 6th round pick to Pittsburgh for DL Dave Pureifory on 8/22/78.
The Pats waived Pureifory at the end of camp - while the Steelers used the pick on CB Dwayne Woodruff, who had 37 interceptions over 12 seasons with Pittsburgh.)


Sanford was a good pick and Golic was a three-time Pro Bowler - except it was with the Browns, after the Patriots gave up on him too soon. Jackson had four good seasons in New England, so that was a good use of a third round pick. Hare only lasted one season, part of an ongoing rotation at punter. Zamberlin was a starting ILB in 1980 and good depth in his three other seasons in New England, playing in 57 games with 15 starts over four seasons in New England.

​

A side note about the 1979 draft: Buffalo had the first and fifth picks of the draft, thanks to a 1978 trade where they sent 31 year old OJ Simpson to San Francisco for a 1978 2nd and 3rd, a 1979 1st and 4th, and a 1980 2nd. Simpson would run for under 600 yards in each of his two seasons with the 49ers. (San Francisco seemed to have a knack of making bad trades with their first round picks in the seventies.)


Buffalo used the number one overall pick that they received in the Simpson trade on LB Tom Cousineau, but he never played for the Bills. He instead signed with Montreal in the CFL for double the money Buffalo offered, playing there for three seasons. When he was ready to return to the NFL, Art Modell offered what was then the highest contract ever by Cleveland. Buffalo still retained Cousineau's rights though, and the Browns were forced to give up three draft picks - one of which was used on QB Jim Kelly.


Another one-sided '79 draft trade involved Tampa Bay, who seemed to annually be on the wrong end of these deals. The previous year Chicago traded broken down defensive lineman Wally Chambers for the Bucs first round pick in the '79 draft; Chambers was able to start just two games in '78 and '79 was his final year in the NFL. The Bears used that pick on Hall of Fame DT Dan Hampton.


One other move that did work out was San Diego trading up seven spots from 20th to 13th overall, at the cost of their second round pick. The Chargers selected Hall of Fame TE Kellen Winslow. The two players the Browns drafted with those picks combined to start a grand total of eight games for Cleveland.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Another NFL veteran that
did not survive Pats training camp​

Happy 43rd birthday to Joseph Addai
Born May 3, 1983 in Houston
Patriot RB, 2012 (offseason); uniform #29

​

Addai was one of the two running backs to go late in the first round of the 2006 draft that the Patriots should have selected, rather than Laurence Maroney. The former LSU Tiger totaled 5,901 yards from scrimmage and 48 touchdowns during his six seasons with the Colts. The Patriots signed him on May 6, 2012 soon after being cut by Indy. Addai reportedly struggled with his conditioning test at the start of training camp, and just flat out quit the drill - which resulted in Bill Belichick quickly cutting him.

Time for Joseph Addai to give it a try

It’s important to manage expectations for any running back who approaches the age of 30, regardless of their past levels of success. Still, the Patriots have found varying levels of success with such backs in recent years, particularly b…

www.bostonherald.com

Report: Joseph Addai "quit" on Pats conditioning test

When the Patriots released running back Joseph Addai with a failed physical designation, it implies an injury or pre-existing condition or a simple lack of fitness.

www.nbcsports.com

Patriots Release Joseph Addai

On the eve of training camp, at least one question has been answered in regard to how the Patriots' roster will shape out. Joseph Addai will not be a part of it.

www.cbsnews.com

Patriots release Joseph Addai, sign Tim Bulman

The Patriots Wednesday cut veteran running back Joseph Addai, whom they signed as a free agent May 10. They also signed veteran defensive lineman Tim Bulman.

www.boston.com

Joseph Addai was not the first veteran player signed by the Patriots in the offseason that failed to make it past training camp cuts and onto the week one roster, nor the last. One could assemble a decent football team with all the players that at one time were part of the Patriot organization, but never played a single down for the Pats.

QB: Rich Gannon, Fran Tarkenton, Matt Flynn, Andrew Walter, Tim Tebow, Garrett Gilbert
RB: Rocky Bleier, Duane Thomas, Tommy Mason, Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Montee Ball, Bishop Sankey
FB: Eric Kettani, Tony Fiammetta, Spencer Larsen
TE: Marcus Pollard, Fred Davis, Lee Smith, Bo Scaife, Alex Smith, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, James O'Shaughnessy, Bear Pascoe
WR: Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Gary Collins, Demaryius Thomas, Michael Jenkins, Eric Decker, Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, Jordan Matthews, Andre Holmes, Andrew Hawkins, Brandon Gibson, Austin Carr, Jalen Saunders
OT: Bob Vogel, Corey Hilliard
G/C: Ted Larsen, Jonathan Cooper


DT: Dave Pureifory, Terrance Knighton, Phil Olsen, Frank Kearse
DE: Will Smith, Fred Dryer, Kony Ealy, Jonathan Fanene, Jeremy Mincey
LB: Lee Roy Jordan, Rip Hawkins, Marcus Benard, Victor Hobson, Kamu Grugier-Hill
S: John Lynch, Adrian Wilson, Tank Williams, Vinnie Sunseri, Brock Vereen
CB: Herb Adderley, Eric Warfield, Jeff Burris, Johnson Bademosi, EJ Biggers, Kenny Moore, Darryl Roberts, Troy Hill

K: Robbie Gould, Martín Gramática

Italics: drafted by AFL-era Patriots, but never signed with Pats.

 

[jmt57]

Today in New England Football History
May 3​

Other players born on this date with New England area connections:

- Jack Cronin: wingback, PR, KR, P and K for the Providence Steamrollers from 1927-30, Cronin was born in Hingham and went to Dean and then BC. His brother and nephew also played in the NFL.

- Tom McCauley (1947 - 2021): born in Worcester, the FS/PR was a 10th round 1969 draft pick by the Vikings who appeared in 32 games for Atlanta from 1969-71.

- Ron Monaco, 63: not to be confused with Ron Mexico, Monaco was born in New Haven and grew up in Hamden CT. The linebacker played in 17 games in '86-87 with the Rams and Packers.

Top 11 Celebrity Pseudonyms - TIME

"Ron Mexico" The pseudonym of the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback currently in federal prison on charges related to dog-fighting was revealed in a 2005 lawsuit filed by a woman who...

content.time.com

- Bernard Buzyniski: the Holy Cross grad was a linebacker who appeared in all 14 games for Buffalo in the AFL's inaugural 1960 season.

- Johnny Scott: the Exeter NH native was a back for the Buffalo All-Americans from 1920-23 who in one season scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and on an interception.

- Luke Higgins (1919 - 1991): after going to Marianapolis Academy in Thompson, Connecticut, Higgins played for Notre Dame from 1941 to 1942, then joined the Marine Corps in World War II, where he was awarded a Purple Heart fighting in Italy in 1944. Higgins returned to South Bend and was part of the Fighting Irish 1946 national championship team. The center was drafted by the Cleveland Rams, and also played for the original green-and-silver Baltimore Colts, an AAFC that folded in 1950 before another team with the same name began operations in 1953.

- Bob Davis: tackle for the 1948 Boston Yanks.

 

[jmt57]

Today in NFL History
May 3 Birthdays​

Aside from Bernie Buzyniski, other tongue-twister football players born today include Cliff Thrift and Stan Sytsma.



One Pro Football Hall of Famer born today:

- Dave Robinson, 85
Packers Pro Bowl linebacker won rings for Superbowl I and II
NFL All-Decade Team of the 1960s
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2013
College Football Hall of Fame, 1997
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, 1982
Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame, 2022
Gator Bowl MVP, 1962
Gator Bowl Hall of Fame, 1996
Robinson also played on state high school football, basketball and baseball championship teams in Moorestown, New Jersey.

Dave Robinson | Pro Football Hall of Fame

*Richard David Robinson* ... Drafted in 1st round by Packers in NFL; 3rd round by Chargers in AFL, 1963 … Big-play performer on Packers dynasty … Started OLB in three straight NFL championship wins, 1965-67 and Super Bowl I and II victories … Intercepted 27 passes for 449 yards, 1 TD … All-Pro...

www.profootballhof.com

Dave Robinson joined the Green Bay Packers as the team’s first-round pick out of Penn State in the 1963 NFL Draft. For the next 10 seasons in Green Bay, he was a big-play performer from his linebacker spot as the Packers became one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history.​

He established himself as among the finest linebackers in the game during a career that spanned 12 seasons, including two final years with the Washington Redskins in 1973-74. In all, he intercepted 27 passes that he returned for 449 yards and one touchdown.​

Robinson maintained a consistently high level of play but competed for national acclaim with many great defensive stars, including numerous future Hall of Famers on the Packers' roster. He was named All-NFL three consecutive years (1967-69) and voted to three Pro Bowls as Green Bay dominated the league. In addition, he was named second-team All-Pro in 1968 and 1969 and was voted All-Western Conference three times (1966-68).​

At 6’3”, 245 pounds, he possessed great strength but was also extremely agile. He started at left outside linebacker in three NFL championship victories and two Super Bowl wins. He contributed three tackles in Green Bay’s 35-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I and had two tackles, five assisted tackles, one fumble recovery and a pass defensed in Super Bowl II as the Packers downed the Oakland Raiders 33-14.​

Robinson suffered a severe Achilles tendon injury in 1970 that limited him to four games. He rebounded the following season and didn’t miss a game for the Packers in 1971 and 1972 before moving on to Washington. He recorded four interceptions during his first season with Washington. His lone interception return for a touchdown during his career came against the New York Giants on Oct. 14, 1973, when he picked off a Norm Snead pass and ran it back 28 yards for a score in fourth quarter to seal the Redskins’ 21-3 victory.​

Robinson played in a total of 155 regular-season games during his career and was voted to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s.​

​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Sports History
May 3 Events​

May 3, 1991:
26-year old Boston Bruins right winger and future hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely suffers a knee injury on a cheap shot by Ulf Samuelsson in Wales Conference Finals. The injury kept cam out of all but 22 games of the next two seasons, and he would only play a total of 162 NHL games for the remainder of his career after the hit due to knee trouble. Neely did end up getting some revenge on Samuelsson during a game on March 27, 1993 where Neely he manhandled Samuelsson and ended up throwing him around like a rag doll. The bottom line however was that Neely had to retire at the age of 31.

​

1936:
New York Yankees center fielder Joe DiMaggio made his MLB debut against the St. Louis Browns, and gets three base hits.

1951:
Yankees third baseman Gil McDougald ties a major league record with six RBIs in one inning. McDougald, who would win Rookie of the Year Honors, became the fifth player to get six RBI's in one inning, and the first to do so in the ninth inning.

1975:
Christa Vahlensieck sets the female marathon world record at Dülmen, Germany with a time of 2:40:16. During her running career, from 1973 to 1989, she simultaneously achieved world records in the 10,000 meters, in the 25k road race, as well as in the marathon.

1979:
Cleveland Indians right fielder Bobby Bonds hit the 300th home run of his career, an achievement that made him the second player ever to hit 300 homers and steal 300 bases.

1980:
San Francisco Giants first baseman Willie McCovey hit his 521st career home run — the last of the Hall of Famer's career.

1980:
Texas Rangers' Ferguson Jenkins secures his 100th win in the American League. In doing so Fergie becomes only the fourth pitcher to register 100+ wins in both the American and National Leagues.




1981:
The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, marking their third straight second-half comeback to seal a trip to the NBA Finals.




1986:
New York Yankees Don Mattingly is the sixth player to hit three sacrifice flies in a single game.




1992:
New York Met Eddie Murray becomes the 24th MLB player to hit 400 HRs.




2003:
Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya put his WBC Super Welterweight title on the line against Yori Boy Campas, sealing his victory with a seventh-round knockout.




2007:
History was made during the NBA Playoffs when the Golden State Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of the first round of the postseason. The win sealed Golden State's passage to the second round and marked the only time in NBA history an eighth seed defeated a first-seeded team in a seven-game series.




2001:
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose became the youngest player in NBA history to win the MVP award.




2014:
Legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather defeated Marcos Maidana unanimously, retaining his belts and undefeated record.




2018:
NFL quarterback Matt Ryan became the league's first $30M per season player, agreeing to a $150M extension with the Atlanta Falcons.




2023:
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani became the second player in MLB history to strike out 500 opposing batters and also hit 100 home runs. The only other player to pull off that feat was Babe Ruth.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

tommy mason and gary collins ? yikes ! lee roy jordan and herb adderley ? yikes ! fred dryer was kind of a punk tho i did like hunter.... mostly for the female.

 

[Pats Fanatic]

tommy mason and gary collins ? yikes ! lee roy jordan and herb adderley ? yikes ! fred dryer was kind of a punk tho i did like hunter.... mostly for the female.

You mean Stephanie Kramer.