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Today in Patriots History
The Jets-Hating Ozark Sheriff
The Jets-Hating Ozark Sheriff
Happy birthday to Ed Weisacosky, who would have been 77 today
Born May 4, 1944 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Patriot OLB, 1971-1972; uniform #66
Died November 24, 2019
Claimed off waivers from New Orleans on October 1, 1971
Ed Weisacosky was an All-American at the University of Miami, and then a sixth round (42nd overall) pick by the Dolphins in 1966. Rather than play with the brand new AFL expansion team, he instead signed a contract with San Francisco. Five years later Weisacosky joined the Patriots. He did not miss a single game over his final two pro football seasons for the Pats, making 23 starts at left linebacker. Weisacosky later became a sheriff in Missouri, retiring in 2008. He was also inducted to the Miami Hurricanes Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.
To the day he died Weisacosky still had a disdain for anything and everything to do with the Jets, and also stated that he 'enjoyed his years with the Patriots most because management was considerate of the players' and that they are still his favorite team.
Ed Weisacosky was a 1962 graduate of Pottsville Area High School, where he lettered in track, basketball and football. He was named to the 1962 PIAA Big 33 team (State of Pennsylvania All Star Team) his senior year.
After graduating from high school, he played linebacker at the University of Miami, where he was chosen team captain his senior year. Ed was also the Sports Illustrated defensive player of the week twice - once against Boston College and once versus Notre Dame. In 1965 he was named AP First Team All American at defensive end. By the end of his career with the Hurricanes he held the school records for most career tackles and most single season tackles. That same year, in the North-South All Star Shrine Game, he was named MVP for the South Team.
Ed was a sixth round (42nd overall) draft pick by the Dolphins in 1966. Rather than play with the brand new AFL expansion team, he instead signed a contract with the 49ers. Five years later Weisacosky joined the Patriots. He immediately became the starting weak side linebacker in '71, and did not miss a single game. Ed retired in the offseason, but rejoined the club just in time to be activated for week one of the '72 season. Once again he did not miss any time, but did retire for good from pro football at the end of the season.
In 1981 Ed was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
After his football career, Ed went into the ranching business in Mount Vernon, Missouri where he raised cattle and Arabian horses. While in Mount Vernon, he was elected Lawrence County sheriff and later served for nine years on the school board. Perhaps due in part to the four concussions he suffered as a player, as part of his will he asked that as part of his funeral that donations be made in his name to Boston University's CTE program, which conducts research on the long-term consequences of repetitive brain trauma in athletes.
Ed Weisacosky - University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame
Biography page for University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame member, Ed Weisacosky
www.umsportshalloffame.com
He's tackling retirement: Former NFL linebacker-turned-sheriff to hang up badge
By Debby Woodin [email protected] MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Sheriff Ed Weisacosky will soon be through tackling crime in Lawrence County. He’s hanging up his badge and gun to retire in
Happy 43rd birthday to James Harrison
Born May 4, 1978 in Akron, Ohio
Patriot OLB, 2017; uniform #92
Signed as a veteran free agent on December 26, 2018
If Steeler fans weren't upset enough when James Harrison signed a contract with Cincinnati in 2013, those yinzers must have gone berserk when the five-time Pro Bowler donned a Patriots uniform. Apparently that was done out of spite, upset about his dwindling playing time and being a healthy scratch before Pittsburgh released him late in 2018. The Pats were the AFC champions that season but lost in the Super Bowl; Harrison went so far to say that had the Patriots won, he would have returned to New England to help them to a 7th Lombardi Trophy - one more than Pittsburgh owns.
James Harrison Says He Would've Returned To New England 'Out Of Spite' To Get Patriots A 7th Ring If They Won
I think it’s fair to say that, at least based on yesterday’s comments, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison’s reputation was tarnished in the eyes of many fans of the team based on the way that he handled himself during his final season in the league in 2017. He himself admitted...
steelersdepot.com
James Harrison explains what made Patriots' coaches better than Steelers' coaches
He also dished on Tom Brady vs. Big Ben.
ftw.usatoday.com
May 4, 2001: Pats release OT Max Lane
LANE PREPARED TO TAKE ON NEW ROLE
Max Lane started at right tackle last season and helped the Patriots to the Super Bowl. Then came Reggie White. White stormed past Lane for two big sacks in the second half as the Packers rolled to…
www.courant.com
OL Lane released by Patriots
FOXBORO — In the end, Max Lane probably won't be remembered for the seven years of serviceable offensive tackle and guard he played for the New England Patriots.
Max Lane on football and life - The Martha's Vineyard Times
Growing up 60 miles northeast of Kansas City in Norborne, Mo. (population 900), which self-styled itself as the Soybean Capital of the World, Max Lane could not have been farther away from a seagoing Island culture like ours. On the other hand, he also probably never saw himself attending the...
www.mvtimes.com
Others pro football players born on this date with New England connections:
- Montell Owens, 37; University of Maine Black Bear was a Pro Bowl fullback for Jacksonville in 2010 and 2011. He played in 113 NFL games over nine NFL seasons.
- Tim Sherwin, 63; Boston College grad was a 4th round pick in '81 by the Colts, and spent eight years in the NFL.
- Sid Watson: Andover native averaged over 100 yards per game and 7.1 yards per carry at Northeastern. He was an NFL halfback from 1955-58 with Pittsburgh and Washington, and led the league in kickoff returns in '55.
- Ab Wimberly: drafted by the Boston Yanks in 1948, Wimberly was a Pro Bowl defensive end for Green Bay in 1952.
- Honolulu Hughes: Hawaii's first professional football and baseball player was a running back for the 1931-32 Boston Braves.
- Pop Williams: born in Jewett City and raised in Killingly CT; he went to Connecticut Agricultural College (better known today as UConn). The wingback back played five seasons in the NFL; the first four with Providence, winning a championship with the Steam Roller in 1928.
