Today in Patriots History
May 3rd New England Patriots Drafts
May 3, 1977:
Day One (rounds 1-5) of the NFL Draft, from the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City
(Pats received a 1st and 2nd in the 1977 draft (1.16, 2.44) as well as two 1976 firsts in the Jim Plunkett trade from San Francisco, 4/5/76)
1.16 -- CB
Raymond Clayborn, Texas
1.25 -- WR
Stanley Morgan, Tennessee
2.44 -- RB
Horace, Ivory, Oklahoma
2.52 -- TE
Don Hasselbeck, Colorado
3.82 -- DB Sidney Brown, Oklahoma
4.109 - OT Gerald Skinner, Arkansas
(Pats had traded 5.135 to the St Louis Cardinals for DB Durwood Keeton on 8/28/75)
This day of drafting may have spoiled New England football fans for an eternity.
May 3, 1978:
Day Two (rounds 7-12) of the NFL Draft
7.188 -- LB Mike Hawkins, Texas A&I
(Pats had traded John Sanders to Philadelphia for 8.198 on 9/6/77)
8.198 -- G Terry Falcon, Montana
8.215 -- RB
Mosi Tatupu, USC
9.242 -- LB Tim Petersen, Arizona State
10.269 - DB Brian Ferguson, Miami
11.296 - LB Charlie Williams, Florida
12.328 - C John Gibney, Colgate
UDFA -- K Nick Lowery, Dartmouth
I think I will take 13 years of Mosi Tatupu over 95% of the annual draft picks that come this late.
May 3, 1979:
Day One (rounds 1-6) of the NFL Draft, from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City
1.25 --- S
Rick Sanford, South Carolina
2.52 --- DT Bob Golic, Notre Dame
(Pats had traded 3.81 and a 1980 4th to the Rams for WR Harold Jackson on 8/16/78)
4.106 -- P Eddie Hare, Tulsa
5.135 -- LB John Zamberlin, Pacific Lutheran
(Pats had traded 6.161 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, and Zamberlin was backup depth.
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.
Buffalo used the number one overall pick that they received in the Simpson trade on LB Tom Cousineau, but the 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 Art Modell offered what was then the highest contract ever by the 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.
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 combined to start a total of eight games for Cleveland.
Other players born on this date with New England area connections:
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Ron Monaco, 58: 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.
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Tom McCauley, 74: 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.
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Bernard Buzyniski: the Holy Cross grad was a linebacker who appeared in all 14 games for Buffalo in the AFL's inaugural 1960 season.
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Bob Davis: tackle for the 1948 Boston Yanks.
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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.
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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.
One Pro Football Hall of Famer born today:
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Dave Robinson, 80; Packer Pro Bowl linebacker won rings for Superbowls I and II.
Aside from Bernard Buzyniski, other tongue-twister football players born today include
Cliff Thrift and
Stan Sytsma, a Saints seventh round selection in '79.
