Today in Patriots History
More May 15 Events
Happy 81st birthday to Rickie Harris
Born May 15, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri
Patriot safety, 1971-1972; uniform #25
Signed as a veteran free agent early in the 1971 offseason
Undrafted out of Arizona, Harris spent his first six NFL seasons with Washington. As a rookie he led the league with 12.2 yards per punt return. Over those six years he averaged 8.4 yards on 119 punt returns, with three touchdowns. Harris also averaged 22.8 yards on 102 kickoff returns.
Harris was used sparingly on returns with the Patriots, but saw plenty of playing time at safety. He appeared in all 28 regular season games over two seasons for the Pats, with 21 starts. Harris had three interceptions, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries during his time with New England, then spent two years in the WFL.
Deadspin | The Player Whose Bell Stayed Rung
deadspin.com
Most Blazers players—a mix of NFL refugees like Harris and rookies right out of college—didn’t get paid for weeks at a time. Some didn’t get paid at all. Yet head coach Jack Pardee, forced to pay for locker room toilet paper out of his own pocket, used victimhood to bind his squad. The Blazers made it all the way to World Bowl I, the first and only WFL championship game.
The specific tale I’d been chasing for years held that just before kickoff of that big game, one of the unpaid Blazers took a stand on behalf of his penniless brothers by snatching the coin from the coin toss—-and keeping it. I’d heard long ago that Harris, the Blazers’ defensive captain, was that guy.
Yup, says Harris: “They called ‘Heads!’ and I scooped it up and said, ‘At least I get paid this week!’” We’re both laughing at the punchline.
In memeory of Don Shinnick, who would have turned 89 today
Born May 15, 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri
Died January 20, 2004 at the age of 68 in Modesto, California
Patriot LB coach, 1985-1989
Hired on January 9, 1985; fired on February 27, 1990
Don Shinnick was the RLB for the Baltimore Colts from 1957 to 1969, winning three NFL championships. He played in 166 games and still to this day hold the NFL record for most interceptions by a linebacker, with 37. Prior to joining the Patriots he was a defensive backs coach for the Bears and Cardinals, a linebackers coach for the Raiders and the head coach for Central Methodist University in Missouri.
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Happy 28th birthday to Andrew Beck
Born May 15, 1996 in Tampa
Patriot TE/FB, 2019 offseason; uniform #63/86
Signed as an undrafted rookie from Texas on May 2, 2019
The Patriots were a mess at tight end in 2019, having to lure 39 year old Ben Watson out of retirement to be their starter. Beck was signed to a three year contract that included a $15,000 signing bonus and $115,000 guaranteed. Despite all that Beck was unable to beat out Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo for a roster spot and was waived at the end of training camp. He was claimed by Denver, and appeared in 66 games for the Broncos from 2019-2023.
The rookie will earn $115,000 in guarantees.
www.patspulpit.com
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Shortly after the 2019 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots brought in 12 undrafted free agents. Based entirely on signing bonus alone, Andrew Beck was the most highly sought-after of the group. Because Beck is guaranteed his $115,000 signing bonus, he was the favorite among...
nesn.com
The Patriots' highest-paid undrafted free agent signee is Andrew Beck, a block-first tight end out of Texas.
sports.yahoo.com
Happy 38th birthday to Marcus Thigpen
Born May 15, 1986 in Detroit
Patriot PR/KR/RB, 2014 practice squad
Signed as a veteran free agent on September 3, 2014
Marcus Thigpen played in 50 NFL games from 2012 to 2015 with the Dolphins, Bills, Bucs and Raiders. He averaged 9.7 yards on 95 punt returns and 23.7 yards on 107 kick returns over the course of his career. Thigpen was released by the Pats two weeks after his arrival, and re-signed with Miami.
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Happy 54th birthday to Artie Smith
Born May 15, 1970 in Stillwater, Oklahoma
Patriot DE, 1998 offseason
Signed as a veteran free agent on March 12, 1998
Artie Smith was a fifth round pick out of Louisian Tech by San Francisco in 1993. The Bengals claimed him off waivers in '94, and he was their starting RDE through '96. The Pats signed him early in '98, then traded him to Dallas in August for 'past considerations'. He played in 76 NFL games and won a super bowl ring as a rookie in '93 with the 49ers.
May 15, 2019: Patriots sign free agent LB Jamie Collins to a one-year, $2 million contract.
New England brought the veteran linebacker back into the fold.
www.patspulpit.com
May 15, 2018:
WR Darren Andrews is placed on reserve/non football injury list with torn ACL in right knee.
New England has ended the rookie’s season.
www.patspulpit.com
May 15, 2014:
TE Tyler Beck and LS Charley Hughlett are released.
The Patriots make some moves on their roster today, further proving that we know nothing.
www.patspulpit.com
May 15, 2013:
DT Kyle Love is released.
The New England Patriots made a surprising roster decision Wednesday, releasing starting defensive tackle Kyle Love with a non-football injury designation.
www.espn.com
May 15, 2012:
QB Mike Hartline is released.
The Patriots have announced the signing of second-round draft pick Tavon Wilson. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but last week Scout.com reported that it was a four-year deal worth $4.2 mil…
www.providencejournal.com
WR Wes Welker signs his franchise tender.
May 15, 2008:
The Patriots sign free-agent WR Robert Ortiz, who is a longer shot to earn a roster spot.
www.boston.com
May 15, 2007:
ILB Justin Warren of Texas A&M was released, 12 days after the rookie free agent and teammate of Ty Warren (no relation) was signed.
May 15, 2006: Doug Flutie retires.
Doug Flutie retired from pro football Monday, ending a 21-year career in which the Heisman Trophy winner puzzled both opposing defenses and his own coaches with hisunconventional style at quarterback.
www.espn.com
Two rookie free agents are signed: RB Patrick Cobbs and WR Jakari Wallace.
May 15, 2001:
RG Sale Isaia is released, and Lee Gissendaner is hired as a scout.
May 15, 1976:
New England signs free agents Bob Mitch, Don Callahan, Jim Jerome and John Delaney.
May 15, 1971:
The Patriots re-sign WR Bill Rademacher and TE Tom Beer to one-year contracts.
Other pro football players born on this date with New England connections:
Cliff Olander, 69 (5/15/55); born in Hartford.
QB played in 15 games over three seasons with the Chargers. Later won the Grey Cup with Edmonton in the CFL, and then played in the USFL.
Pete Lamana (5/15/21 - 8/7/07); born in Bristol, went to Springfield Cathedral and BU.
LB/C/FB played 35 games for the Chicago Rockets in the forties.
Swede Ellstrom (5/15/06 - 4/25/94); WB for the 1934 Boston Redskins and 1936 Boston Shamrocks.
Joe Murphy (5/15/97 - 5/22/40); born in Concord NH, went to Worcester Academy, Hebron Academy, Harvard and Dartmouth. Played guard for the Canton Bulldogs and Cleveland Indians under Jim Thorpe in the first two seasons of the NFL, or the APFA as it was known then.
Butch Spagna (5/15/97 - 12/11/48); Avon (MA) High School, Brown University.
Tackle/guard played for the Buffalo All-Americans, Cleveland Tigers and Frankford Yellow Jackets in the early days of the NFL, from 1920-1925.
Plenty of other famous (and infamous) pro football players were also born May 15, including:
- LB
Ray Lewis, aka RLKAG
- QB Ryan Leaf
- RB Emmitt Smith
- WR Rod Smith
- S Joey Browner: 6x Pro Bowler with three brothers and two nephews who played in the NFL
- WR
Desmond Howard: annihilated the Patriots with his returns in Super Bowl 31.
I had the pleasure of meeting with him once at a charity fundraiser, and we spoke for quite some time. I have to say that Desmond Howard is a super nice guy who, on a side note, was extremely positive and complimentary of the Patriots, and Bill Belichick specifically.
