Today in Patriots History
2014: The Latest NFL Draft Ever
May 8, 2014:
The 79th Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting, aka
Day One (Round One) of the 2014 NFL Draft
Radio City Music Hall, New York City
The late timing of this draft was due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall. Apparently the NFL just assumed the Hall would accomodate them without bothering to make a reservation, while at the same time focusing on ways to spread out events over the course of the off-season. As a result the draft was delayed by two weeks.
Earlier there was discussion and rumors leading up to the draft on the future of keeping the draft in New York City, where it had been held since 1965. Interest in the draft had grown exponentially over the last decade, and there was a belief by some that the event had outgrown Radio City Music Hall, which had been the venue for the previous eight drafts. The possibility of extending the draft to a fourth day was also discussed in the months leading up to the draft. The NFL decided soon after that the 2015 NFL draft would take place in Chicago.
Jadeveon Clowney was the number one overall pick; he was the first #1 defensive player since 2006. Four of the top eight never lived up to their draft status, with zero Pro Bowls between them. OT Greg Robinson, QB Blake Bortles and WR Sammy Watkins were starters for several years, but none were as big of a draft bust as the #8 pick, Browns CB Justin Gilbert, who started just three games and was out of a job three years later. Twenty of the first 36 picks went on to become Pro Bowlers.
1.29 -- DT
Dominique Easley, Florida
Dominique Easley was ranked the number defensive tackle prospect in high school, then accepted a scholarship to play with the Gators for Urban Meyer. Late in the 2011 he tore his ACL, then tore another ACL three weeks into the 2013 season. Easley was dominant when healthy, but there were serious red flags with his knees. As good a player as he was, he never should have been drafted this high.
Vince Wilfork was getting older and Easley was seen as a long term replacement at the position. But Easley went on injured reserve with another knee injury after 11 games his rookie season, and the writing was on the wall. The Patriots used their next first round pick on the same position, selecting Malcom Brown in the 2015 draft. Easley finished the 2016 season on IR again, this time with a quadricep injury. Knowing he would never pass a physical the Patriots were unable to trade Easley, and ended up releasing him two weeks prior to the 2016 draft. Easley signed with the Rams and didn't miss a game in 2016 - but suffered season ending knee injuries again in both 2017 and 2018, ending his NFL career.
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May 8, 1979:
New head coach Ron Erhardt hires
Gino Cappelletti as Special Teams Coach.
Gino was an original member of the AFL Boston Patriots from 1960-71. He was an integral part of the first 50+ years of the Patriot organization, contributing as an All-Star player for eleven years and assistant coach and radio broadcaster for 32 years. His many roles with the Patriots enabled him to be around football, a game he loved with a passion for most of his life.
Gino, left, shakes hands with QB Joe Kapp before a Boston Patriots workout session at Curry College in Milton on October 2, 1970.
May 8, 1982:
The New England Patriots Saturday signed five free agents, bringing the number of players on their roster to 94.
www.upi.com
FOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Patriots Saturday signed five free agents, bringing the number of players on their roster to 94.
John Ellis, a 267-pound offensive lineman from the University of Rhode Island, and wide receiver Richard Brown of Fitchburg State were among the group.
Also signed after a tryout were Ricky Bynum, a cornerback from Colorado; Peter Corrigan, a running back from Purdue; and Roy Dean, a wide receiver from Alabama A&M.
A total of 187 prospects attended the free-agent tryout camp.
All Patriots rookies and free agents will report to a mini-camp Tuesday. Veterans will join them on Friday and a full squad mini-camp will be held Saturday and Sunday.
None of the above ever even lasted to the start of training camp.
May 8, 1989:
The Patriots sign rookie free agent WR
Glenn Antrum.
A native of Ansonia CT and graduate of UConn, Antrum spent most of 1989-90 on what was then known as the developmental squad. His only NFL playing time came in a November 19, 1989 33-24 victory over Buffalo when the two teams combined for ten turnovers.
May 8, 2006:
New England signs two veteran free agents and two undrafted rookies.
Barry Gardner was an inside linebacker and seven year NFL veteran with the Eagles, Browns and Jets. He suffered a leg injury in preseason and spent the 2006 season on IR, and retired the following year. LB
Jeremy Loyd had been with the Browns and Rams, and was waived a couple weeks later. Rookie DT
Remi Ayodele didn't stick with the Pats, but later became a starter for the Saints and Vikings.
May 8, 2007:
The Patriots sign six undrafted rookie free agents.
- UAB LB
Kyle Bissinger was waived with an injury settlement in August, and was later signed to the practice squad.
- N Illinois TE
Jake Nordin spent time on several other team's practice squads, and played briefly for Baltimore and Detroit.
- Rice RB
Quinton Smith was also waived at the end of camp; he was later on the Giants, Saints and Raiders practice squads.
- Texas A&M OLB
Justin Warren was waived just a week later; he played for various arena league teams from 2008-2014.
- UTEP DE
Zach West spent 2007-2008 on the Pats and Cleveland Browns practice squads.
- Idaho State QB
Matt Gutierrez made the roster as a rookie, and appeared in five games in 2007. He began 2008 on the practice squad, then was promoted after Tom Brady's injury, but was active on the game day roster just once. The Patriots released Matt when they signed QB Andrew Walter on August 3, 2009. Gutierrez was later with KC, Chicago, Washington and St Louis, as well as spending time in the United Football League and Arena Football League.
May 8, 2015:
New England signs seven undrafted rookie free agents.
- Vanderbilt DT
Vince Taylor was placed on PUP at the beginning of training camp, and never played in the NFL.
- 6'3 UAB CB
Jimmy Jean was waived at the end of camp, and never caught on with another team.
- Ball State CB
Eric Patterson was waived just a month after being signed; he later played briefly for the Colts and Rams. He was
shot and killed by an intruder in his Tampa home in 2019; the case remains unsolved.
- Michigan QB
Devin Gardner's stay in Foxboro was even shorter: he was waived May 18.
He and Jeremy Gallon later played in Japan.
- Cal WR
Chris Harper was activated from the practice squad, but was
released after a costly muffed punt.
- Georgia C
David Andrews won the starting job as a rookie, and has now played in 132 games while collecting two Super Bowl rings.
- Auburn ST
Brandon King spent five seasons with the Pats, before a torn quad ended his NFL career; he too has a pair of rings.
May 8, 2019:
WR/PR/KR
Bruce Ellington is released with an injury waiver, less than two months after being signed by the club.
The former fourth round pick had dealt with hamstring injuries throughout his career, totaling 769 yards receiving in four seasons.
