Today in Patriots History

[jmt57]

For the handful of people that seem to be interested in this discussion, I figured we could attempt to put these posts in one thread going forward (at least until discussion careens off the rails).

March birthdays and events:

Happy Birthday, Don Blackmon
3/14: Don Blackmon

Happy Birthday, Steve Schubert
3/15: Ted Karras, Steve Schubert

Today's Birthdays: Mike Dukes, Pat Harlow, Steve Israel, Zoltan Mesko
3/16: Pat Harlow, Zoltan Mesko, Steve Israel, Mike Dukes

Remembering Ray Costict
Happy Birthday, Joe Kapp
3/18: Darius Butler, Carlos Pennywell, Dexter Reid
3/19: Ray Costict, Tavon Wilson, Marty Moore, Leon 'X-Ray' McQuay, Joe Kapp, Jonathan Fanene

Happy Birthday, Steve Zabel
3/20: Steve Zabel, Steve Maneri, Marques Murrell, White Graves, David Douglas

Patriots History: March 21 Birthdays
3/21: Clyde Washington, Jack Rudolph, Paul Gipson, Hason Graham, Asante Cleveland
3/22: The team is renamed the 'New England Patriots'

Patriots History: Happy Birthday Richard Bishop, Sammy Morris
3/23: Richard Bishop, Sammy Morris, Abe Cohen, Mark Buben, Jason Staurovsky, Scott Lockwood

3/25 Pats History: Happy Birthday Stephen Belichick, Glenn Gronkowski
3/25: Stephen Belichick, Glenn Gronkowski, Niko Koutouvides, Luther Henson, Willie Porter

Happy Birthday to The Duke, Gino Cappelletti - Mr. Patriot
3/26: Gino Cappelletti

Happy Birthday to New England Patriots Kyle Van Noy, Eric Kettani
3/26: Kyle Van Noy, Eric Kettani, John Cagle, Bill Murphy, Jimmy Raye

Today in Pats History: Happy Birthday Justin Coleman
3/27: Justin Coleman, David Key, David Bavaro, Gene Chilton, Jerry Patton

New England Patriots History: Happy Birthday Charlie Weis
3/30: Charlie Weis, Dave Chapple, Chris Canty


The April birthdays we have thus far:

Happy Birthdays: John "Hog" Hannah, Jon "Pat Patriot" Morris
Happy Birthday, The One And Only, Russ Francis
4/1: Don Hasselbeck, Bob Soltis, Brian Dowling, David Posey, Mark Wheeler, Chris Eitzmann
4/2: Oscar Lofton
4/3: Russ Francis, Ralph Anderson, Randy Beverly
4/4: John Hannah, Arthur Moore
4/5: Jon Morris, Eddie Ray, Bob Kuberski
4/6: Charley Long, Chad Eaton, Jeremy Ebert, Cyhl Quarles, Adrian White, Jon Sawyer, Frank Robotti
4/7: Bob Suci, Lovett Purnell, Tim Wright, Jemea Thomas, Ken Price
4/8: Fred Smerlas, Frank Sacco, Pat Coleman
4/9: Ken Toler, Bob White, **** Capp
4/10: nothing

Remembering Patriot DT Houston Antwine
4/11: Houston Antwine, Justin Canale, Tom Reynolds, David Richards, Dietrich Jells, Donald Brown
4/12: Nate Solder

 

[jmt57]

Continuing on, with April 12

Tom Addison (4/12/1936-6/4/2011)
Uniform #53
Patriot LB, 1960-67
Addison was the equivalent to an All-Pro for five straight years, and member of the Pats' All-Decade team for the 1960s. He played in 107 games for the Pats, with 16 interceptions. Addison was also the first president of the AFL's player association, which in turn helped give players confidence to sign with the new league and helped the league improve and eventually merge with the NFL.


Nate Solder, 29 (4/12/1998)
Uniform #74 (2011), #77 (2012-)
Patriot RT (2011), LT 2012-
Solder has been a starter since he was drafted in the first round (17th overall) out of Colorado in 2011. While he may not be an All-Pro it would behoove the Pats to extend him rather than letting him hit the free agent market. He is due to be an unrestricted free agent in 2018 and the Pats are already thin at the position with the departure of Sebastian Vollmer. With no first or second round picks at their disposal it is highly unlikely that the Pats will find a suitable replacement in the upcoming draft.


Bobby Abrams, 50 (4/12/1967)
Uniform #50
Patriot LB, 1995
Abrams was a career backup and special teams player, appearing in 33 games over five years with five teams. New England was his last stop, where he played in nine games with one start. Since then he has worked as an educator and is now a high school principal in Montgomery Alabama.


Perry Williams, 53 (4/12/1964)
Uniform #38
Patriot DB, 1987
Williams was one of the replacement players during the 1987 strike. In the season opener of the 1985 season at Clemson, Williams had five pass deflections in a 20-17 victory at Virginia Tech.


Also from the New England area:

Fred Wallner (4/12/1928-11/4/1999)
Greenfield Mass. native was an All-American under Frank Leahy at Notre Dame. Wallner was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals and was a Pro Bowl linebacker in 1955. In 1960 he was a player coach with the Houston Oilers, who won the first AFL championship. Wallner continued coaching in the college ranks and with minor league teams. He was the head coach of the Hartford Knights of the old Atlantic Coast Football League.

Walter Tullis (4/12/1953)
Tullis is from Hartford CT and was a late draft pick by Washington in 1976. The wide receiver appeared in 32 games with the Packers, catching ten passes and one touchdown. His biggest play though was off the field, helping to rescue a mother and two children trapped in an early morning fire.


Notable NFL players born April 12:

Ray Horton, 57
Spent ten years with Cincy and Dallas as a CB and safety. Since then has been a coach, most recently as DC in Cleveland.

Charles Mann, 56
Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end with Washington.

Mike Garrett, 73
Before he got into hot water as USC's athletic director, Garrett was an All Pro RB in Kansas City, earning a ring in the Chief's Superbowl IV win over Minnesota.


Best 4/12 Birthday Football Name:
Austin Brucklacher (4/12/1898-1/7/1941)
Guard for the Louisville Brecks, 1921-1923

 

[jmt57]

April 13:

Ted Washington, 49 (4/13/1968)
Patriot NT, 2003
Uniform #92
Big Ted had been a four-time Pro Bowler with Buffalo and Chicago. Washington was 35 years old and coming off a year where he missed all but two games due to a fractured leg and torn ligament in his foot. As a result the Pats were able to obtain him for just a 2004 4th round pick, which turned out to be a bargain. Washington was dominant, and an important part of the defense that led the Patriots to their second Lombardi trophy.


Monty Brown, 47 (4/13/1970)
Patriot LB, 1996
Uniform #93
In '96 Brown appeared in 11 games with 7 starts for the Pats. He signed with New England as a RFA primarily because he wanted to be closer to WWF headquarters in Stamford CT (geography lesson here Monty: Giants or Jets would have been a more suitable choice). A year later he quit pro football and began training full time to become a pro wrestler.


Dave Wohlabaugh, 45 (4/13/1972)
Patriot C, 1995-98
Wohlabaugh was a 4th round selection (112th overall) out of Syracuse in the '95 draft. He was a four year starter at center, and is a member of the Patriots' All-Decade Team for the 1990s. After the '98 season he signed as an unrestricted free agent with Cleveland, in what was then the largest contract ever for an NFL center. The free agency loss of Wohlabaugh and three other players is what resulted in the Pats receiving a 6th round compensatory pick in the 2000 draft (Tom Brady) - though Wohlabaugh's loss is more aligned to the Pats gaining a 4th round pick in that draft.

 

[jmt57]

April 14:

Tracy White, 36 (4/14/1981)
Patriot LB, 2010-12
Uniform #58
Over ten years White appeared in 136 games with five teams, primarily on special teams. In early September of 2010 the Patriots acquired White and a 7th round pick from Philadelphia in exchange for a 6th round pick. White played in 42 games with two starts in New England, registering 46 tackles and 19 assists.


Rohan Davey, 39 (4/14/1978)
Patriot QB, 2002-04
Uniform #6
Davey was a 4th round pick out of LSU (117th overall) in the '92 draft. Maybe Tom Brady saw that as a slight after having just won the Superbowl, and used that as extra incentive. Davey appeared in garbage time in seven games over three seasons, completing 8 out of 19 passes for 88 yards and no touchdowns. He played in NFL Europe and was cut by the Pats prior to the 2005 season. Davey later spent time in the Arena Football League.



Tim Roberts, 48 (4/14/1969)
Patriot LDE, 1995
Uniform #94
Roberts was a 5th round choice from Southern Miss by Houston in '92. After three seasons with the Oilers the Pats signed Roberts early in '95. He appeared in 13 games with 12 starts, with 35 tackles and 18 assists.


Gail Clark, 66 (4/14/1951)
Patriot LB, 1974
Uniform #54
As a junior at Michigan State, Clark led the Spartans in tackles and assists, forced three fumbles, broke up six passes and had one interception. After knee surgery not much was expected from him the following season. As a senior though he came through and again led the team in tackles and assists, with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pick. Clark appeared in eight games for the Patriots in '74, primarily on special teams.


Other NFL players with New England roots:

Philip Gaines, 26 (4/14/1991)
Kansas City CB was born in Concord MA.

Shawn Regent, 54 (4/14/1963)
BC alum was a replacement center for Raiders during 1987 strike.

 

[jmt57]

April 15:

Billy Yates, 37 (4/15/1980)
Patriot RG, 2005-08
Uniform #74
The Patriots signed Yates in September of 2004, and he would bounce between the practice squad and active roster until September of 2009. Yates appeared in 22 games with 11 starts for the Pats. He now works as the head strength and conditioning coach at Bowling Green.


Steve Gordon, 48 (4/15/1969)
Patriot C, 1992
Gordon was a 10th round (277th overall) selection by the Patriots in the 1992 draft. He did not survive cuts, and later spent time with San Francisco, Denver and Cleveland. Gordon appeared in 13 NFL games, all with the Niners in 1998.


From the New England region:

Amari Spievey (4/15/1988)
Middleton CT native started 26 games at strong safety for Detroit from 2010-12.

Jeff Williams (4/15/1955)
Williams is a graduate from Gloucester High School and the University of Rhode Island. The offensive lineman was a 5th round draft pick by the Rams in 1977 and played in 56 NFL games from 1977-82.


Other semi-related birthdays:

Andre Caldwell (4/15/1985)
Brother of former Patriot Reche Caldwell appeared in 105 games at WR with Bengals and Broncos from 2008-15.

Tom Graham (4/15/1950)
Linebacker played in 89 NFL games from 1972-78, and is the father of former Patriot TE Daniel Graham.

 

[jmt57]

April 16 in Patriot franchise history.

April 16, 2000:
"In the sixth round with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL draft, the New England Patriots select Tom Brady, quarterback from the University of Michigan."

Bill Belichick, 65 (4/16/1952)
Patriot assistant HC and DB coach, 1996
Patriot HC and GM, 2000-
GOAT
Five Lombardi trophies with Patriots. 7 time AFC champion. 14 division titles, including the last eight in a row. 201-71 (.739) regular season record with Pats. NFL-record 26 playoff wins. 25-9 (.735) playoff record with Patriots.


Joe Cardona, 25 (4/16/1992)
Patriot LS, 2015-16
Uniform #49
Navy alum was drafted in the fifth round (166th overall) in the 2015 draft, and has played in all 32 regular season and five playoff games during that span.

Ron Bolton, 67 (4/16/1950)
Patriot CB, 1972-75
Uniform #27
Fifth round Pats selection in the '72 draft started 45 games at right corner in four seasons with New England. Had 18 interceptions during that time before moving on to Cleveland. Bolton is now a defensive backs coach at Howard University.

Jerry Green (4/16/1936-12/12/1994)
Patriot E, 1960
Uniform #45
Green graduated from Georgia Tech in 1959, and played for the Boston Patriots of the newly formed AFL in 1960. As an end he had three receptions for 52 yards, with a long gain of 31 yards.

Darryl Lewis, 56 (4/16/1961)
Patriot TE, 1983
The Pats selected Lewis in the 5th round (128th overall) in the 1983 draft. He did not survive roster cuts, but did get in to two NFL games for Cleveland in 1984.



Elsewhere from New England:

John Fitzgerald, 69 (4/16/1948)
With a name like this you know this guy is from New England. Fitzy is a Southbridge MA native who was the starting center for the Dallas Cowboys throughout most of the 70s.



And of other significance:

Richard "Night Train" Lane (4/16/1928-1/29/2002)
Seven-time pro bowl Hall of Famer was more feared for his soul crushing hits than his 68 career interceptions.

Tevin Coleman, 24 (4/16/1993)
Thanks for the whiff, missed assignment, or whatever that olé was!

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Rohan Davey, 39 (4/14/1978)
Patriot QB, 2002-04
Uniform #6
Davey was a 4th round pick out of LSU (117th overall) in the '92 draft. Maybe Tom Brady saw that as a slight after having just won the Superbowl, and used that as extra incentive. Davey appeared in garbage time in seven games over three seasons, completing 8 out of 19 passes for 88 yards and no touchdowns. He played in NFL Europe and was cut by the Pats prior to the 2005 season. Davey later spent time in the Arena Football League.

Besides the SB rings he got here, Rohan was on a World Bowl winner.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

April 16 in Patriot franchise history.

April 16, 2000:
"In the sixth round with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL draft, the New England Patriots select Tom Brady, quarterback from the University of Michigan."

Bill Belichick, 65 (4/16/1952)
Patriot assistant HC and DB coach, 1996
Patriot HC and GM, 2000-
GOAT
Five Lombardi trophies with Patriots. 7 time AFC champion. 14 division titles, including the last eight in a row. 201-71 (.739) regular season record with Pats. NFL-record 26 playoff wins. 25-9 (.735) playoff record with Patriots.

Well, today is a huge day for us. Pretty obvious that Bill's 48th birthday turned out to be a great success.

I'll always remember Bill on Patriots All Access before Tom's first start against the Colts in '01. The Patriots were 0-2, after finishing 5-11 the previous season, and he was so pleasant, enthusiastic about football, and detail-oriented, I really liked him better than the other coaches we'd had since Fairbanks left. I'll always like him.

 

[jmt57]

April 17 is unusual in terms of the number of New England natives that made it to the NFL.

Darrell Fullington, 53 (4/17/1964)
Patriot FS, 1991
Uniform #29
Native of the shark bite capital of the world went to the University of Miami. As a hurricane he was one of the end zone defenders that missed Doug Flutie's Hail Mary touchdown pass. The year before he was also on the wrong end of an improbable comeback. Miami was up 31-0 at halftime, arrogant and full of trash talk. Frank Reich came in off the bench to lead Maryland to the biggest comeback in college football history, winning 42-40. Late in the game a long Reich pass bounced off Fullington's hands into Greg Hill's arms for the go-ahead score. Fullington was drafted in the fifth round by the Vikings in 1988, and appeared in five games with the Pats in '91. He was waived during final roster cuts in '92.

Barry Brown, 74 (4/17/1943)
Patriot TE/OL, 1969-70
Uniform #66, 86
Brown was born in Boston but grew up in Michigan. He graduated from the University of Florida and in the 1966 Sugar Bowl had nine receptions from quarterback Steve Spurrier. He was a late (266th overall) pick by the Colts, playing on special teams as a backup linebacker. Brown played in 21 games for the Patriots with ten starts as a blocking tight end, catching 21 passes for 214 yards.


Other New England area pro football players:

Joe Todd, 48 (4/17/1979)
Born and raised in Mansfield MA, Todd was a linebacker with the Jets in 2001 and Bucs in 2002. He has spent several years coaching at the high school and college football levels and is now linebackers coach at the University of Rhode Island.

James Hamilton, 43 (4/17/1974)
Hamilton was born in Hartford but went to high school in North Carolina. The linebacker was a third round pick by Jacksonville in 1997. He was primarily a special teams player that was done in by injuries, appearing in 17 games over two seasons.

Gordon Laro, 45 (4/17/1972)
Born in Lynn, Laro went to Lynn English High School and Boston College. The tight end played for Jacksonville in 1995.

Lance Olssen, 70 (4/17/1947)
The Boston-born Olssen was a third round pick by the 49ers in 1968. He spent two seasons in SF as a tackle and center.

Fran O'Brien (4/17/1936-10/21/1999)
O'Brien was born in Springfield and grew up in Holyoke MA. He spent ten years in the NFL, mostly as a right tackle for the Sonny Jurgensen-era Redskins. He became more well known for his restaurants, particularly in the DC area.

Walt Kowalczyk, 82 (4/17/1935)
The Westfield native won the Harry Agganis Award in 1954 for the best high school athlete in New England. Kowalczyk was the sixth overall pick in the 1958 draft. He played for the Eagles, Cowboys and Raiders but was more well known for his days at Michigan State. "The Sprinting Blacksmith" was an All American halfback, scoring nine touchdowns and leading the Spartans to a number three ranked 8-1 record.

 

[jmt57]

Needless to say the next couple of days are more big letdowns after Bill Belichick's birthday and the anniversary of the Patriots drafting Tom Brady.


Zach Sudfeld, 28 (4/18/1989)
Patriot TE, 2013
Uniform #44
Sudfeld was an undrafted free agent signing in 2013. He was considered to be nothing more than camp fodder, stuck on the depth chart behind Gronk, Aaron Hernandez, Michael Hoomanawanui, Daniel Fells and Jake Ballard. Sudfeld impressed in the offseason and in preseason games - including a TD and two-point conversion in week two. With AH infamously released, Sudfeld went from nobody to fan favorite and survivor of final roster cuts.

The fairy book tale didn't last long though. In week one a pass bounced off his hands for an interception. After being inactive for one game, in week three another pass thrown his way in the end zone was picked off. Then in week four he fumbled away an onside kick and his New England Patriot career was over. In those three games he had zero receptions on three targets, with two of those passes resulting in interceptions.

The Jets claimed Sudfeld off waivers and he appeared in 27 games for them in 2013-14, totaling ten receptions for 148 yards and no touchdowns. He spent 2015 on IR after tearing his ACL in minicamp, and was released at the end of training camp in 2016.

His legacy lives on, however. Patriot fans now have the Zach Sudfeld Award, given to a new player who is wildly overrated by fans and the media during training camp and preseason games.


David Green, 45 (4/18/1972)
Patriot RB, 1995
Uniform #38
Green went to BC, and rushed for 1018 yards at 5.1 yards per carry his senior year. In the 1994 Aloha Bowl he rushed for 127 yards in a victory over #8 Kansas State. Green appeared in the first two games of the 1995 season for the Patriots on special teams, but never got a chance to touch the ball.


Other New England area pro football players born today:

Walt Sweeney (4/18/1941-2/2/2013, age 71)
Sweeney is one of only two pro football players from Cohasset. He played his college ball at Syracuse and was the second overall pick in the 1963 AFL draft by San Diego. Sweeney was a nine-time Pro Bowl and two-time All Pro right guard for the Chargers. He played for 13 years and missed just one game during that time, in his final season. The hard living Sweeney probably suffered from the old guard bias that prevented many AFL players from being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Merlin Olsen once said that if he had to play against Sweeney every week, "I'd rather sell used cars."

John Sinnott, 59 (4/18/1958)
Sinnott was a left tackle who spent four seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants. He appeared in nine games with seven starts for the Colts in 1982. Sinnott graduated from Dedham High School and Brown University, with a degree in civil engineering. He is now a vice president and Business Unit Leader at Gilbane Building Company.

Steve Cheek, 40 (4/18/1977)
Cheek attended UMass and was a punter in 2004 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also spent time with the Eagles, Giants, Texans, Niners and Panthers. Cheek was also in NFL Europe for two years.

James Marten, 33 (4/18/1984)
Marten is a left guard and left tackle from Boston College. He was selected by the Cowboys in the third round (67th overall) in the 2007 draft. He spent time with the Cowboys, Raiders, Bears and Dolphins from 2007-2010, but appeared in only one NFL game.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

the Zach Sudfeld Award, given to a new player who is wildly overrated by fans and the media during training camp and preseason games.

Well on the plus side, his name is Zach.

How many of those have we had?

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Joe Todd, 48 (4/17/1979)
Born and raised in Mansfield MA, Todd was a linebacker with the Jets in 2001 and Bucs in 2002.

Well he may not be related to Richard, but he was a linemate of Mo (thanks for doing what we all were waiting for Belichick to do already) Lewis, and has a Super Bowl Ring. But he ain't in Wiki.

 

[jmt57]

Well on the plus side, his name is Zach.

How many of those have we had?

There was Zach Moore, the DE the Pats drafted in 2014 from a division-2 school.

The only other "Zach" that I am aware of is CB Tony Zackery, an 8th round pick in '89 who was a backup with the Patriots in 1990 and 1991.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It' the Zach Studfeld award

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

There was Zach Moore, the DE the Pats drafted in 2014 from a division-2 school.

The only other "Zach" that I am aware of is CB Tony Zackery, an 8th round pick in '89 who was a backup with the Patriots in 1990 and 1991.

...probably not related to our beloved late, great Steve "Big House"

...or Sterling "Slap Saves Super Bowl Bid"

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
“Tis a foine name… PAT-riots!!”
​

April 19, 1960
Cartoonist Phil Bissell drew what would become known as Pat Patriot as part of his newspaper duties.

The Story Behind Patriot Pat from the Cartoonist who created him



Time for our April 19 birthdays, which will be a very short entry.

Mark van Eeghen, 65 (4/19/1952)
Patriot FB, 1982-83
Uniform #34
He was born in Cambridge, grew up in Cranston RI, and went to college at Colgate. While he spent his last two NFL seasons in Foxboro, van Eeghen is primarily known as an Oakland Raider fullback. Oakland released him when they drafted Marcus Allen, and the Pats picked him up. In his time with the Patriots he appeared in 24 games with 16 starts, totaling 860 yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns. A bit of trivia: his daughter Amber was a Patriot cheerleader, and married Dan Koppen. In his post-NFL career van Eeghen returned to Rhode Island, working in commercial insurance.

Jim Donaldson: Mark van Eeghen remains loyal to his Raider roots

Boston.com / Sports / Football / Patriots / Catching_up_with_Mark_van

Mark van Eeghen, Raiders Fullback January 2, 1978


Joe Scibelli (4/19/1939-12/11/1991, age 52)
Scibelli is a Springfield MA native: born in Springfield, graduated from Springfield Cathedral High School, and attended American International College. He transferred to Notre Dame and then spent 15 years at right guard for the Los Angeles Rams. Scibelli played in 202 NFL games, plus six playoff games.

Longtime Ram Standout Joe Scibelli Is Dead at 52


Although he never played or coached for the Patriots, there is also this guy who was inducted in to the Pats Hall of Fame in 2013:





Other notable NFL names born today include LB/HC Jack Pardee, S Troy Polamalu, OT Harris Barton, TE Keith Jackson and K Jeff Wilkins.

 

[DarrylS]

Van Eeghan was a local hero and everytime we drive by where he was brought up, my wife tells me a story about how that is where he grew up... I knew about his daughter, but either did not remember or did not know his daughter married Dan Koppen(probably the former)

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Mark van Eeghen, 65 (4/19/1952)

Good for Mark that his Raiders did win a legitimate title in 1980.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

In his time with the Patriots he appeared in 24 games with 16 starts, totaling 860 yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns.

Jim Donaldson:

He had been with the Patriots only a few days, van Eeghen recalled, when big John Hannah, another future Hall of Famer, approach him, eyes narrowed, jaw clenched, and said: “I’ve got to talk to you!”

“What about?” asked van Eeghen, making sure to smile at the all-time great guard.

“Ben Dreith,” Hannah said.

It was Dreith, who, late in the fourth quarter of the 1976 playoff game between the Patriots and Raiders in Oakland, made the controversial -- ah, heck, it was flat-out wrong -- call on Ray “Sugar Bear” Hamilton for roughing the passer after Stabler had thrown an incompletion on third down.

The penalty enabled the Raiders to maintain possession and go on to score the winning touchdown.

“John was 100 pounds bigger than me,” van Eeghen said. “So I looked up at him and said: ‘Oh, yeah, John, you guys got shafted. It was a terrible call.’ Then we both laughed."

 

[jmt57]

The rest of this week is relatively uneventful for Patriot birthdays.

Omare Lowe, 39 (April 20, 1978)
Patriot CB, 2004
Uniform #23
Per his Washington Huskies bio, in high school Lowe was an option QB with 15 TD and over 900 yards rushing. His best sport though was track; at the 1997 state championships he won the 110 high hurdles (14.52), the 300 intermediate hurdles (37.94) and was part of championship 1,600-meter relay team (3:23.07). From 2002-08 Lowe was at some point signed with the Dolphins (who drafted him in the fifth round in 2002), Titans, Jets, Vikings, Redskins, Patriots, Seahawks, Falcons, Seahawks again, and Jaguars. Lowe appeared in 43 NFL games with 32 of those in 2005-06 with Atlanta; most of the rest of his NFL days were on practice squads. He spent two weeks in November of 2004 on the Pats practice squad and then played in three games for the Pats late in the '04 season.

John Simerson, 4/20/1935-4/20/1992 (57)
Patriot C, 1961
Uniform #75
The 6'3" 275 lb Simerson was born and raised in Hawaii. He was a tackle at Purdue but converted to center in the pros. Simerson was a late (254th overall) draft pick by the Eagles in 1957. He played in a total of 43 games with Philly, Pittsburgh, Houston and the Pats. Simerson appeared in all 14 games for the Oilers in their 1960 championship season, then in 1961 he played in ten games for the Patriots backing up former Boilermaker teammate Walt Cudzik.


Others born today with New England ties:

Luke Kuechly, 26 (4/20/1991)
The linebacker was a two-time All-American at Boston College. He was drafted ninth overall in the 2012 draft by Carolina. Kuechly has been named to the Pro Bowls four times and is a three time All Pro. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. Unfortunately Kuechly has been plagued with concussions recently, a major cause for concern.

Ernie Stautner, 4/20/1925-2/16/2006 (80)
The German-born Stautner is another alumnus of Boston College. Stautner was a guard on offense and defensive tackle and end on defense. He played for the Steelers from 1950 through 1963, remarkably missing just one game in those 14 years. Stautner was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969. he then went on to became the defensive coordinator under Tom Landry for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 to 1988.


And other notable football players born today:
- George Andrie (77): 5-time Pro Bowl DE with Cowboys from 1962-72.
- Rob Carpenter (62); 10-year NFL vet FB and father of Bobby Carpenter.
- Steve Spurrier (72); 1966 Heisman Trophy winner was more successful as a college football coach than an NFL quarterback. Biggest NFL head coaching accomplishment was handing the Patriots their final loss of the 2003 season.
- Rodney Holman (57); TE was named to three straight Pro Bowls with Bengals.
- John Carney (53); appeared in 300+ games, scoring 2062 points - but may be most well known for one epic missed point after.