Patriots Daily News Thread NEW ARTICLE: Monday Patriots Notebook 5/13: News and Notes

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Monday Patriots Notebook 5/13: News and Notes
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Although the New England Patriots rookie class got to work late last week, Saturday was obviously the day that took center stage thanks to the fact the team opened things up to reporters as cameras were also allowed in.

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Jets Injuries Result in Changes​

One interesting note from Rich Cimini, who covers the Jets for ESPN, had to do with the fact the club recently parted ways with three members of their “athletic care and performance department,” which was created several years ago to combat a high injury rate.​

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Details behind the changes weren’t revealed, although a source told Cimini the departures weren’t performance related while one of the staffers left on their own accord.​

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Obviously, everyone knows how last season started with Aaron Rodgers suffering his Achilles injury, which ended his much-anticipated season before it ever got started.​

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However, Cimini noted that last season saw injuries across their offensive line, which resulted in 15 different linemen seeing action over the course of having to play 13 different starting combinations up front.​

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What’s notable is the fact that it feels like these three guys took the fall for what has already been an issue for both the Jets and Giants at MetLife Stadium. That field has been the subject of frustration across the league for its playing surface, with an article by The Sporting News’ Dan Treacy pointing out the alarming number of injuries that occurred there since 2020.​

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He listed them out:​

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Nick Bosa (ACL tear)
Solomon Thomas (ACL tear)
Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle sprain)
Raheem Mostert (MCL tear)
Sterling Shepard (Achilles tear)​

Sterling Shepard (ACL tear)
Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL tear)
Blake Martinez (Achilles tear)
Shane Lemieux (patellar tendon tear)
Jabrill Peppers (ACL tear)
Kyle Fuller (ACL tear)
Aaron Rodgers (Achilles tear)
Al Woods (Achilles tear)
Jaelan Phillips (TBD)​

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While Treacy said that the turf can’t necessarily be blamed for all of the injuries, there had been non-contact injuries that certainly stood out.​

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MetLife actually installed a new playing surface ahead of last season, which appeared to receive positive reviews early on from players.​

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However, as Treacy points out, the key difference between turf and grass is the fact grass gives way when a player’s foot is caught, often leading to divots. With artificial turf, that often isn’t the case and if their foot gets caught, it increases the chance of injury. Players have also noted that turf feels harder when they’re tackled, compared to a grass surface.​

I can remember driving down I-95 in New Jersey at night about 40 years ago. You could see humongous mountains of land fill just off the highway. The smell was so bad I thought I was going to choke pass out; my eyes were watering and stung. I was going to pull over to try and catch my breath, but my friend who I was driving with shouted at me 'no, no, we'll die if you pull over! Keep going, as fast as you can to get away from it. It's going to kill us!'

Perhaps they used that debris as part of the fill above when they built MetLife Stadium 15 years ago, with so many discarded homicide victims cursing those playing football above them from their graves, forever inflicting painful tears of the ACL and Achilles tendon.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
May 13 Birthdays​

Happy posthumous birthday to Bill Rademacher, who would have been 82 today
Born May 13, 1942 in Menomonie, Michigan
Patriot WR, 1969-1970; uniform #33
Signed as a veteran free agent on September 10, 1969


In 1964 Bill Rademacher was undrafted out of Northern Michigan, and signed with the Jets. In his first four seasons he spent as much time on the taxi squad as on the active roster. Rademacher made four starts as a rookie due to injuries, but appeared in only 17 games during that span - on special teams, wide receiver, and as a defensive back.

The versatility paid off with an increased role and more playing time in 1968, as Bill appeared in every game that season for the Jets one and only championship. He was waived just a few days prior to the start of the 1969 season, and immediately signed by the Patriots. Rademacher played in 27 games with five starts for the Boston Patriots, with 21 receptions for 268 yards, 12.8 yards per catch and three touchdowns. He suffered a fractured arm early in training camp in 1971 and was waived later that season, ending his NFL career. Rademacher later became assistant coach and then head coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan. He was also a linebackers coach at Michigan State from 1983 to 1991. Bill Rademacher passed away on April 2, 2018 at the age of 75.

NMU Sports Hall of Famer Bill Rademacher Passes Away

MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University Sports Hall of Famer and former Head Coach, Bill Rademacher, has passed away at the age of 75.

www.nmuwildcats.com

A four-time letter-winner with the Wildcats from 1960-1963, Rademacher was an A.P. All America Honorable Mention selection in 1963. A wide receiver and defensive end for NMU, he went on to play professionally for seven years with the New York Jets and Boston Patriots. He was a member of the Jets team that won Super III.​

After his playing career, he coached for two years at Xavier University before returning to NMU as an assistant coach in 1974. In his second season with the team, the Wildcats went 13-1 on their way to win the 1975 Division II National Championship.​

Rademacher was named the Head Coach in 1978 and posted a 37-16 record in his five seasons behind his high-powered passing attack. He was named the 1980 Mid Continent Conference Coach of the Year. He left NMU in 1983 after accepting a coaching position at Michigan State University.​

In 1981, Rademacher was inducted into the Northern Michigan University Sports Hall of Fame and was later enshrined into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.​

Former Patriots WR Bill Rademacher dies at 75

After five scoreless years with the Jets, Bill Rademacher scored all of his career points in two years with the Patriots

www.newscentermaine.com

Overall, Rademacher played in 58 pro games and had 24 catches for 282 yards and three touchdowns, all of his scores coming with the Patriots.​

After five scoreless years with the Jets, Bill Rademacher scored all of his career points in two years with the Patriots​

Early Jets Wideout Bill Rademacher Dies

"One of Weeb Ewbank's favorite quotes was 'the more things you can do helps you get a spot on the team,' " recalled long-time Jets public relations director Frank Ramos. " 'Rad,' like John Dockery, was one of those good athletes who could help out on offense and defense in a pinch and also proved to be a very good special teams player."​

The Jets waived Rademacher in the '69 preseason and he moved on to Boston for his final two pro seasons. He had the best pro receiving game of his career as a Patriot in a loss to the Jets in '69 with six catches for 78 yards and his first pro touchdown.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Guy Morriss​

In memory of Guy Morriss, who would have been 73 today
Born May 13, 1951 in Colorado City, Texas
Died September 5, 2022 in Perryville, Kentucky at the age of 71
Patriot LS/C, 1984-1987; uniform #75
Signed as a veteran free agent on July 31, 1984



Philadelphia selected Guy Morriss with the 28th overall pick of the 1973 draft. The former TCU Horned Frog was an 11-year starter for the Eagles, playing in 158 games for Philly. Morriss played in 59 games with 22 starts for the Patriots, occasionally filling in at center due to injuries. He was one of the first players to strictly be a long snapper, and was part of the first Patriot team to play in a Super Bowl. Five years prior he had also played in Super Bowl 15 with Philadelphia. Guy Morriss played in 217 games with 173 starts over 15 NFL seasons, plus another 12 games in the postseason.

Morris became the Pats assistant offensive line coach in 1988 and 1989. He was also head coach at Kentucky for two years and Baylor for five seasons; unfortunately he is now battling Alzheimer's.

Wesley Woodyard, Guy Morriss and Tommy Bell to be Inducted into Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Friday

Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame honors a person who has brought significant recognition to the state of Kentucky

ukathletics.com

Morriss coached Kentucky in 2001 and 2002, finishing 2-9 in 2001 and 7-5 in 2002. He left UK after the 2002 season to become the head coach at Baylor. He returned to the Bluegrass briefly as an assistant at Kentucky State in 2008 before taking on the head-coaching duties at Texas A&M Commerce for four seasons (2009-12).​

Morriss once again returned to the Bluegrass but this time to coach in the high school ranks. He was as an offensive line coach at Warren Central in 2014 and at Lexington Catholic in 2015.​

Morriss' playing career was remarkable. He played college football at Texas Christian University and spent 15 seasons as an offensive lineman in NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles (1973–1983) and the New England Patriots (1984–1987). Morris played in over 200 regular season games during his NFL career and started at center for the Eagles in Super Bowl XV.​

After his playing days were over, Morriss made the transition to coaching. He got his coaching start in 1988 as the offensive line coach for the Patriots under Raymond Berry. In 1992, after a brief stint as the head coach of the Washington Marauders of the Professional Spring Football League, Morriss coached under Hal Mumme and alongside Mike Leach at Valdosta State University before rejoining Mumme at Kentucky in 1997, where he was the school's offensive line and assistant head coach.​

WKYT Exclusive | Former UK coach Guy Morriss battling Alzheimer's

Guy Morriss is sharing the story of the greatest challenge of his life in hopes of helping others.

www.wkyt.com

Since his days as an assistant and then the head football coach at the University of Kentucky, Guy Morriss was always known as a friendly and approachable guy. Lately, friends have noticed a change in the 66-year-old.​

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"People say, 'what's wrong with Coach Morriss? Why is he doing this? He's kind of sluggish,'" Morris described.​

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Now, the former coach, affectionately known as "Guy Mo," admits he hasn't been his old self, and there's a reason.​

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"State of the art testing, looking at PET scan imaging of the brain, was able to detect plaques within the brain," said Dr. Greg Jicha, MD, Ph.D. "That is a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease."​

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For the past nine months, Guy and his wife Jackie have been dealing with that sobering diagnosis. Dr. Jicha says the condition is very likely brought on by more than 20 years as an offensive lineman, 15 in the NFL.​

Guy Morriss Obituary (1951 - 2022) - Lexington, KY - Lexington Herald-Leader

View Guy Walker Morriss's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

www.legacy.com

Former Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss dies at 71

Guy Morriss, Kentucky's head football coach from 2001-02, died Monday after a six-year bout with Alzheimer's disease.

www.courier-journal.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More May 13 Trivia​

Happy 52nd birthday to Josh Taves
Born May 13, 1972 in Watsonville, CA
Patriot DE, 1997
Signed as a free agent on February 20, 1997

Though he was born in California, Josh Taves grew up locally. He went to Dennis-Yarmouth High School, and then Northeastern from 1991-94. Taves was with the Patriots in the 1997 offseason but was waived prior to the start of the regular season. He did play in 29 games for Carolina and Oakland, and also spent a year in NFL Europe with Barcelona. Taves was with the Raiders when Oakland lost to the Patriots in the snow in the 2001 divisional playoff game.


Aug 20,1977 - NFL Transactions

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Waived LB Monty Brown, WR Hason Graham, WR Ray Lucas, OL Curtis McGee, OL Juan Porter, DL Josh Taves, DL Jermaine Miles, DL Therone McQueen, LB Richard Alvarado, LB James Williams, LB Chris Wing, DB Jason Parker and DB Allan Jackson.​

Josh Taves

Taves had an outstanding career at Northeastern before playing in the NFL. A four-year letterman, Josh had a career-best 43 tackles in 1993 (with three sacks and four fumble recoveries) for the Huskies. In 1994, he had 42 tackles and a career-high four sacks.​

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After graduating in 1995, Taves went undrafted by the NFL and originally signed with the Detroit Lions as a rookie free agent. Josh did not play for the Lions that year and was signed by the New England Patriots for the 1997 season, but he did not play that year either. In 1998, Taves played for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. He started all ten games for the Dragons and had 34 tackles, a team-high nine sacks, and three forced fumbles. He was named first-team All-NFL Europe, and the league's defensive MVP in 1998. Later that year, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins but did not play in the NFL.​

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In 1999, the Raiders signed Taves but released him before the season; he then signed with the team again in 2000 and played in every game. In the regular season, Josh had 23 total tackles (20 solo), three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. In the January 6 play-off game against Jay Fiedler and the Miami Dolphins, Taves assisted in one tackle in Oakland's 27-0 victory -- it was the first playoff shutout in Raiders history. In the 2001 AFC Championship game, Josh had two tackles (one solo and one unassisted) in the Raiders' 16-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.​

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The Raiders finished the 2001 regular season with a record of 10-6 and won the AFC West. During the season, Taves made 12 tackles (9 unassisted) with one sack. In the playoffs, they defeated the New York Jets in the first round but lost in their next game to the New England Patriots.​

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Josh finished with 86 tackles, 8 sacks, and 4 fumble recoveries at Northeastern. With Barcelona, Taves started all ten games and finished with 34 tackles, a league-leading 9 sacks.​

Josh Taves | Sports Acupuncture

Josh Taves is a Licensed Acupuncturist with Sports Performance Acupuncture and Lead Acupuncturist of the Sports Medicine Department at St. Mary’s College.​

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Josh had a previous externship with UC Berkeley Athletic Department and is a graduate of Acupuncture & Integrated Medicine College. He is a former NFL defensive linemen for the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.​

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After enduring years of injuries in the NFL Josh was exposed to the top doctors and sports therapists igniting a lifelong passion for healing others. Josh’s approach to treatment is to combine the best treatment options for each client – a “Bruce Lee approach”. From acupuncture and myo-fascial release to joint manipulations, shiatsu and herbal formulas, Josh is known to blend and perfect treatment plans making him extraordinarily equipped to handle the needs of athletes.​

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Josh’s passion is treating sports related injuries and chronic pain to help his clients achieve their full potential on the golf course, in the yoga studio, during cross training or on the running trail. He is known for his holistic approach to patient’s well-being, incorporating tailored acupuncture treatment with dietary and supplement guidance.​

May 13, 2024:

Patriots cut RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, sign four undrafted rookies

The Patriots announced five roster moves Monday.

www.nbcsports.com

The Patriots announced five roster moves Monday.

They released veteran running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn and signed four rookie free agents.

Running back Terrell Jennings, offensive guard Ryan Johnson, linebacker Jay Person and Australian defensive end Jotham Russell signed after successful tryouts at the team’s rookie minicamp. The Patriots will receive a roster exemption for Russell as an International Pathway Program player.

Vaughn, 27, signed with the Patriots’ practice squad on Dec. 19 after his release from the Buccaneers.

The Bucs drafted him in the third round of the 2020 draft.

Vaughn has played 43 regular-season games and has totaled 13 rushes for 384 yards with two touchdowns and 14 receptions for 81 yards with one touchdown. He has also appeared in four postseason games, including the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV win, and has 22 rushing attempts for 74 yards and two receptions for 9 yards.

Jennings, 23, played 44 games during his college career at Florida A&M and totaled 281 rushing attempts for 1,860 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Johnson, 23, played both guard and tackle during his college career at Duquesne (2019-20) and Youngstown State (2021-23).

Person, 24, began his college career at Appalachian State in 2018 before transferring to Chattanooga. He played 51 games during his college career and finished with 233 total tackles, 26.5 sacks, six passes defensed, nine forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Russell, 20, is an Australian rugby player who is converting to defensive end. The 6-foot-4, 239-pounder, played for the Currumbin Eagles and Tweed Seagulls under 21 team.

'Do it the Patriot way:' Former Bradley County high school football star signs to the NFL

Not too long ago, Chattanooga Native Jay Person was playing on the Jimmie Lovell Field at Bradley Central High School.Now, he'sone step closer to the NFL.A Ch

chattanoogacw.com

Ryan Johnson Signs Undrafted Free Agent Contract With New England - Youngstown State University

Former Youngstown State offensive lineman Ryan Johnson signed an undrafted rookie free agent contract with the New England Patriots, the organization announced on

ysusports.com

Patriots receive IPP roster exemption, sign Australian rugby player Jotham Russell

Updated International Player Pathway program rules allow the Patriots to sign Russell without forfeiting one of their 90-man roster spots.

www.boston.com

Former Buccaneers Running Back Cut From New England Patriots

It is always good to keep tabs on former Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they move around the league, and now a former Super Bowl-winning running back for the Bucs will

www.si.com

May 13, 2019: OT Jared Veldheer retires, just days after signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract. He had been expected to be the Pats starting left tackle. Per the second article all it took was one workout session, and his hip said 'no mas'.

OL Jared Veldheer Placed on Reserve/Retired List

Jared Veldheer explains why he left Patriots so quickly and retired

Grand Rapids native, who left after nine seasons as a starter in the NFL, discovered offseason rehab work didn't yield results he anticipated.

www.mlive.com

May 13, 2013: New England waives DL Brandon Deaderick
A 7th round pick in 2010 out of Alabama, Deaderick played in 34 regular season games with 14 starts over three seasons, plus six playoff games with five starts. He was mysteriously suspended by the team on January 3, 2011 during the Pats bye week but reinstated before the next game.



One other pro football player born on this date with a New England connection:

Tom Nalen, 53 (May 13, 1971); Foxborough High School and Boston College.
Five-time Pro Bowl center played 198 games for Denver from 1994-2007.

Football Star Tom Nalen Inducted into Denver's Ring of Fame - Boston College Athletics

Sept. 29, 2013 Tom Nalen, one of the best offensive linemen in Boston College football history who spent his entire 15-year professional career with the Denv...

bceagles.com

10. Tom Nalen

The Denver Broncos put everything together in the late, and there were a lot of differences around John Elway that you could point to on the offensive weapons that he now had (Shannon Sharpe and Terrell Davis), but he also had a top Center in Tom Nalen. From 1997 to 2000 he was named to the Pr...

www.notinhalloffame.com