Daily news threads with relevant news, stories, video, or additional content around the team. Feel free to contribute anything interesting you come across as well, which will hopefully make these helpful for people to keep up with what's going on with the team by having all the news in one place.
Tuesday Patriots Notebook 5/14: News and Notes
Ian Logue
The New England Patriots saw its fair share of injuries last season, seeing some key names go down, which left the club in rough shape for much of the 2023 campaign. It now has a surprisingly long list of players who will make this team a little more formidable than people might think, and here's a quick rundown.
Even though the interior offensive line was one of the lowest priorities heading into the offseason, it would still be nice to see them perform better in 2024 and quiet the naysayers. If Sow and the other guard spot (Strange/Robinson) can progress, that's a huge hidden plus for the offense.
Nice little side note on second-year offensive lineman Sidy Sow. Pro Football Focus put together a piece on the most underrated player on all 32 teams, with Sow getting the honor for the Patriots. Sow actually finished as the highest-graded rookie guard last season, with the publication giving him a grading of 65.3. They also gave him high marks in the ground game, with Sow receiving a grade of 71.3, which was 14th out of all the guards in the league. …
Let's be honest - the Patriots WR group in 2023 was not just #32 in the NFL for the 2023 season, it had to be one of the worst WR corps in this century. No place to go but up.
PFF also rated New England as having the weakest wide receiver room heading into 2024, noting that they “could very well outperform expectations with a new coaching staff and better quarterback play, but it’s a room that has a lot to prove in 2024.” They rated the Bears as having the best group in the league heading into this season. …
Drew Bledsoe is turning into quite the comedian. Who would have guessed that 25 years ago?
Bledsoe had another couple of funny moments on Kay Adams yesterday. On Brady, he was asked if the QB was one of his wines, which one would he be? “He’s such a dork these days,” he said via Sophie Weller of A2Z Sports. “It might have to be something non-alcoholic, like grape juice wine with avocados or some stupid sh** like that. Or, I don’t know, he’s from California so he’d be some heavily overpriced Napa Cabernet.” … One other amusing note. Adams also said that Maye was compared to Bledsoe and that “People are saying he’s more athletic than you are.” Bledsoe responded, “That’s a pretty low bar. I wasn’t exactly Lamar Jackson out there running around.”
Happy 35th birthday to Rob Gronkowski Born May 14, 1989 in Amherst, New York Patriot TE, 2010-2018; uniform #87 Pats 2nd round (42nd overall) selection in 2010, from Arizona
-- 5 Pro Bowls, 4-time All Pro, 4-time Super Bowl champion --
Patriot franchise records:
- Most career touchdown receptions (79)
- Most games with multiple touchdowns (16)
- Most consecutive games with a receiving touchdown (6)
- Most games with 100+ receiving yards by a tight end (26)
- Highest single season receiving yards per game average for a tight end (82.9 ypg in 2011)
- Youngest Patriot with 3 touchdown receptions in a game
- Youngest Patriot with 3 touchdown receptions in a playoff game
NFL records
- Most receptions by a tight end in Super Bowl history (29)
- Most receiving yards by a tight end in Super Bowl history (364)
- Most career postseason receiving touchdowns by a tight end (14)
- Only tight end with 1,000+ career postseason receiving yards (1,273)
- Most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end (1,273)
- Only tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (17 in 2011)
- Most touchdown receptions by a tight end in a single season (17 in 2011)
- Most total touchdowns by a tight end in a single season (18 in 2011)
- Most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season (1,327 in 2011)
- Most seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end (five: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
- Most career receiving yards per game by a tight end (64.8)
- Most career touchdowns per game by a tight end (0.66)
- Most average yards per target by a tight end (9.74)
- Only tight end to have 3 seasons with 10+ touchdowns plus 1,000+ receiving yards (2011, 2014, 2015)
- Most consecutive seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end (3; 2010–12)
- Most touchdowns in first two seasons (28; tied with Randy Moss)
- Most seasons of 1,000+ yards receiving by a tight end: (4; tied with Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten)
- Youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a single game
- Youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a playoff game
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year, 2014
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Patriots Regular Season Career Stats:
- 115 regular season games played
- 521 receptions (5th most) on 794 targets (66% catch percentage)
- 7,861 yards receiving (2nd most)
- 7,863 yards from scrimmage (2nd most)
- 7,879 all-purpose yards (8th most)
- 15.1 yards per reception (3rd best for a TE, min 100 receptions; 12th best overall, min 150 catches)
- 28 100-yard receiving games (tied with Wes Welker for 2nd most)
- Four 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2nd most)
- 79 receiving touchdowns (franchise record)
- 80 total touchdowns (franchise record)
- 482 points scored (most for a non-kicker; 5th most overall)
- Only 4 fumbles on 522 touches (0.8%)
Patriots Postseason Career Stats:
- 16 playoff games
- 12-4 in the postseason (.750)
- 81 receptions (2nd most in franchise history)
- 1,163 yards receiving (2nd most)
- Four 100-yard receiving games (2nd most)
- 14.4 yards per reception
- 12 touchdowns (franchise record)
- Most receiving touchdowns in a single game (3, vs Denver on Jan 14, 2012)
Today in Patriots History Their Claim to Fame is Sharing Gronk's Birthday
Happy 34th birthday to Don Jones Born May 14, 1990 in Tuscumbia, Alabama Patriot safety, 2014; uniform #29 and #31 Claimed off waivers from Miami on September 1, 2014
Don Jones appeared in nine out of 11 games with the Pats before being released in late November, recording six solo tackles while being used almost exclusively on special teams. Jones also played for the Saints, Browns, Texans and 49ers, appearing in 56 regular season and two playoff games. Although he was released prior to the postseason, Jones did earn a Super Bowl ring for his contribution to the 2014 New England Patriots.
In a recent "Patriots Are People, Too" segment, defensive tackle Casey Walker said Don Jones is the funniest guy on the team, so we had to catch up with him for this week's personal interview.
It may have been a replacement game, but in week four Twombly became the first and only native of well-heeled Manchester (oh, excuse me; Manchester-by-the-sea) MA (class of '83) to play in an NFL game. Prior to that Twombly went to Boston College, playing on the Doug Flutie era teams. Twombly still lives in his home town today, employed in the field of social work and benefits.
The 6-foot-1, 236-pound linebacker may miss the 2021 season after tearing his ACL last November.
www.bostonherald.com
Cameron McGrone began the 2021 season on the non-football injury list due to a bad knee, and finished the year on the covid list. He spent 2022 on the practice squad, with the exception of three late season games when he was elevated to the active roster but was a healthy scratch. The Colts signed him after he returned to the practice squad, and he played in 14 games for Indy in 2023, with all his snaps coming on special teams.
May 14, 2019: The New England Patriots sign first round draft pick N'Keal Harry to a four-year, $10.22 million contract through 2022, with a one year team option for 2023. The deal included a $5,364,252 signing bonus, $8,900,237 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,524,587. In 2021, Harry would earn a base salary of $1,413,032, while carrying a cap hit of $2,754,095 and negative cap savings if he was cut.
Corey Bojorquez is brought in to compete with veteran Ryan Allen.
www.patriotledger.com
Veteran punter Ryan Allen may have some competition in training camp this summer.
The New England Patriots announced today the signing of rookie free agent P Corey Bojorquez from New Mexico. To make room for Bojorquez on the roster, the Patriots released rookie WR Darren Andrews out of UCLA.
Bojorquez, 21, averaged a school record 47.3 yards per punt as a senior in 2017. The 6-foot, 200-pounder played two seasons at New Mexico after transferring from Cerritos Community College. During his two seasons at New Mexico, he totaled 116 punts for an average of 45.1-yards per punt.
Andrews, 22, was signed by the Patriots on May 11, 2018. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder finished his college career with 162 receptions for 1,977 yards and 15 touchdowns, good for fourth place on the school’s all-time reception list. He started all nine games that he played as a senior in 2017 and finished second on the team with 60 receptions for 773 yards and a team-high 10 touchdown receptions.
Bojorquez did not make the Pats roster, but has played in the NFL for six seasons now. He led the league with 50.8 yards per punt for the Bills in 2020, the 7th highes single season average in NFL history. He has also led the league with the longest punt of a season twice: 72 yards in 2020, and 82 yards in 2021.
Andrews was placed on NFI due to a torn ACL the next day; he was waived as part of final roster cuts a year later.
The most surprising of the Patriots’ 2013 draft picks has become the first to sign, as the team inked a deal with third-round pick Duron Harmon on Monday. The former Rutgers defensive back was an unlikely choice by Bill Belichick at No. 91 overall. Harmon totaled 50 tackles and seven pass...
WR Chris Dunlap (Georgia Tech) and DB Denny Poland (Air Force) signed to contracts.
www.boston.com
The Patriots have signed two players who were in for tryouts during the team’s rookie minicamp: Georgia Tech wide receiver Chris Dunlap and Air Force defensive back Denny Poland.
Dunlap is 5-feet-11 inches, 200 pounds. Poland is 6-foot-1, 227 pounds.
Here is a bit more from the team-issued press release:
Dunlap, 21, caught 13 passes for 142 yards over four seasons from 2003-06. He also returned 13 kickoffs for 265 yards in his college career and participated on several special teams units. Last season with the Yellow Jackets, Dunlap caught nine passes for 101 yards.
Poland, 24, started 31 of 34 games and recorded 180 career tackles (83 solo), including five career sacks. The 6-foot-1-inch, 225-pound defensive back also totaled three career receptions while playing for the varsity team for three seasons (2003-05). Poland served as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 2006.
For Jess Atkinson, storytelling is about finding the gap. “I’m drawn to that difference between what you think the world is and what it is really like, the gaps in expectations and reality,” said the Bethesda father of three and former pro football kicker and TV sports broadcaster. It’s a simple...
The New England Patriots announced Monday the signing of 15 free agents as the NFL club opened its 1984 sping mini-camp....
www.upi.com
The New England Patriots announced Monday the signing of 15 free agents as the NFL club opened its 1984 sping mini-camp.
Five New England area players -- linebacker John Andreoli of Holy Cross, quarterback Michael Beauchemin of the University of Maine, nose tackle Mark Boulris of Harvard, tight end Ed Meacham of Springfield College and wide receiver Tom Mut of the University of Rhode Island - were among the group of 15 free agents.
Beauchemin, Boulris and three others were all signed after they participated in the Patriots annual free agent tryout camp at Sullivan Stadium on Sunday.
Others chosen at that camp were offensive center-guard Andrew Falls of California State-Hayward, defensive back Tony Lowden of the U.S. Marine Corps, punter Walter Marlin of Temple and offensive center Tom Shafer of West Chester State.
Other free agents signed by the Patriots were quarterback Tony Colao of Mount Union College, defensive end Clyde Glover of Fresno State, nose tackle Dean Haugum of Mesa College, offensive guard-tackle James King of Western Kentucky, defensive back Horace Pendergrass of Elizabeth City State and kicker Steve Varga of Baldwin Wallace.
That's a whole lot of small college (or no college) football personnel there.
May 14, 1975:
The Pats re-sign veteran backup QB **** Shiner
No, I did not make that name up.
And if you enjoy old football history stories, check this out:
May 14, 1974:
Patriots sign Emporia State LB Bob Clements, Norfolk State RB Pettus Farrar and Houston RB Tom Mozisek.
Clements was an undrafted rookie, Farrar was a 1970 5th round pick by the Chargers, and Mozisek was a 1972 third round pick by the Giants. None ever made it to a regular season NFL roster.
Bob Clements, Class: 1972 Induction: 1992 Sport(s): Football - Bob Clements was the proto-type linebacker on some of ESU’s finest football teams. A three-year
Other pro football players with New England connections born on this date:
Kelvin Martin, 59 (5/14/65); Boston College, 1983-86
After catching passes from Doug Flutie, K-Mart spent ten years in the NFL, mostly for Dallas. He had 4,768 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns, and another 2,567 yards with three TD on punt returns. In 1992 he led the NFL in punt return yardage.
Dave Widell, 59 (5/14/65); South Catholic HS (Hartford), Boston College
The offensive lineman played in 156 games with Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville and Atlanta.
Rob Francois, 39 (5/14/85); Governor Dummer Academy, Boston College
LB played in 39 games for the Packers from 2010-13.
John Kissell (5/14/23 - 4/9/92); Nashua HS and Boston College
DT was a 4-time league champion with the Cleveland Browns.
Earl Audet (5/14/21 - 12/18/02); Lockwood HS (Warwick RI)
OT played in 51 games from 1945-48 for Washington and the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC.
