Today in Patriots History

[Tony2046]

Complainian Tomlinson...What a feckin jackoff...As soon as his face appears on the NFLN, the channel is changed...

I told Ladanian about your comments and he said that you have no class.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Brady, Pats tame Tebowmania 45-10
Dion Lewis scores 3 TD - running, receiving, returning​

Saturday January 14, 2012 at 8:15
2011 AFC Divisional Round Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Fox
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Tim Tebow
Odds: Patriots favored by 13½
Patriots improve to 14-3; advance to AFCCG vs Ravens
Broncos finish 9-9

Broncos vs. Patriots: Tom Brady ties playoff record as New England shreds Tim Tebow and Denver | Washington Post

Then this AFC divisional playoff game started. Less than two minutes in, the Patriots were up by a touchdown. Less than six minutes later, they were up by two. Over the final two-and-a-half minutes of a freakishly good first half, they scored two more to go up by 28 points.​

​

All that pregame dissection of Tim Tebow’s throwing motion and Tebow’s beliefs and Tebow’s leadership and Tebow’s deficiencies seemed downright silly, because the vastly superior player, Brady, and the clearly superior team, New England, won in a never-in-doubt romp, 45-10, in which Tom Brady tied an NFL playoff record with six touchdown passes.​

Tom Brady fuels record night as Pats end Tim Tebow's run with rout | AP/espn

Denver couldn't cover or tackle All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, who tied a postseason mark with three touchdown catches, all in the opening half. Brady toyed with the Broncos (9-9), throwing more TD passes than Tebow had completions (three) in the first 30 minutes.​

​

"We were playing complementary football, and it was awesome," Gronkowski said. "Obviously, you can't start off the game any better than that."​

​

Brady's sixth TD was to his other tight end, Aaron Hernandez, as the quarterback tied Steve Young and Daryle Lamonica for the most in a postseason game.​

​

Saturday January 14, 2017 at 8:15
2016 AFC Divisional Round Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 34, Houston Texans 16
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Bill O'Brien
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Brock Osweiler
Odds: Patriots favored by 16
Patriots improve to 15-2; advance to AFCCG vs Pittsburgh
Texans finish 10-8

Dion Lewis scored three different ways - on a 13 yard pass reception, on a 98 yard kickoff, and on a one yard run - as the Patriots defeated Houston to advance to the AFC championship game against the Steelers.

The defense limited the Texans to three points in the second half, thanks to interceptions by Devin McCourty, Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon. Julian Edelman had eight receptions for 137 yards. In doing so he broke a franchise record held by Wes Welker for career postseason catches, with 76. Meanwhile Tom Brady was held in check, going 18-38 for 287 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

​

January 14, 1991:
Patriots hire Joe Collier as defensive coordinator, and Charlie West as defensive backs coach.

January 14, 2010:
Defensive coordinator Dean Pees resigns following a 33-7 wild card loss to Baltimore.



Happy 37th birthday to Brandon Meriweather
Born Jan 14, 1984 in Apopka, Florida
Patriot safety 2007-2010; uniform #31
Pats 1st round (24th overall) selection of the 2007 draft, from Miami

While at the University of Miami the safety was an All-American and was twice a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back). He was also involved in two incidents: one on field (stomping on opponents who were on the ground during a brawl), one off field (firing his gun in self defense after a teammate was shot). That caused his draft stock to drop, before the Pats used a pick they had received from Seattle in the Deion Branch trade for him.

Meriweather never missed a game while with the Pats, playing in 64 regular season contests plus five playoff games. He was known for his hard hits, one of which resulted in a $50,000 fine. Undisciplined play eventually caught up to him as he was cut at the end of training camp in 2011. That decision caught some by surprise, as the Pats waived both of their starting safeties from 2010 (James Sanders being the other).

During his time with the Pats Meriweather caught twelve interceptions (26th all time in team history and forced five fumbles. He went on to play five more seasons, with the the Bears, Washington and Giants.


Happy 49th birthday to Kyle Brady
Born Jan 14, 1972 in New Cumberland, PA
Patriot TE, 2007; uniform #88
Signed as a free agent on March 3, 2007

Kyle Brady was 35 when the Pats picked him up after 12 years with the Jets and Jaguars. In what would be his final NFL season he had nine receptions for 70 yards, and two touchdowns. The 6'6 Penn State grad had 343 receptions and 25 TD in 13 seasons.


Happy birthday to Mel West (1939-2003)
Born Jan 14, 1939 in Columbia, MO
Patriot HB, 1961; uniform #24
Pats 11th round (82nd overall) selection of the 1961 draft, from Missouri

West played in just four games with the Patriots before he was cut by Lou Saban, despite averaging 6.5 yards per carry and handling kickoff return duties (27.3 yards per return. He signed with the New York Titans but a knee injury in the third game of the 1961 season ended his pro football career. West went back to Missouri University and got his masters degree in education. He then moved to Minneapolis, got a job as a teacher, and quickly worked his way up the ranks - eventually becoming a superintendent.

Missouri football pioneer Mel West never dwelled on past success


Happy 61st birthday to Joaquin Zendejas
Born Jan 14, 1960 in Curimeo, Mexico
Patriot kicker, 1983; uniform #2
Signed as a free agent on Dec 6, 1983

Joaquin played in the final two games of the 1983 season; he replaced Fred Steinfort, who had missed six of his last eight field goal attempts. Zendejas was not much better, going 0-1 on field goal attempts and 3-4 on extra points. The following February the Pats traded for Tony Franklin, and Zendejas was cut on July 26, 1984. He has two brothers and two cousins who were also NFL placekickers.



Happy 29th birthday to James O'Shaughnessy
Born Jan 14, 1992 in Naperville, Illinois
Patriot TE, 2017 offseason; uniform #88
Acquired on April 29, 2017 with a 6th round pick from Chiefs, for a 5th round draft pick

James O'Shaughnessy never played for the Patriots, being cut at the end of training camp. He was beat out for the third tight end roster spot by Jacob Hollister, as a backup to Gronk and Dwayne Allen. O'Shaughnessy started 13 games for the Jaguars in 2020, with 28 receptions for 262 yards. In six seasons with Kansas City and Jacksonville he has 88 receptions and three touchdowns.



Others born on this date with a New England connection:

Frank Varrichione (1932-2018)
Born in Natick; Natick High School
OT was the #6 overall pick of the 1955 draft and went to five Pro Bowls with the Steelers and Rams.

Terry Wooden, 54 (1967)
Born in Hartford; Farmington HS
LB played for nine years, seven with Seattle; he led the NFL in solo tackles in 1995.

Jack Sachse (1921-1988)
C/LB from Texas played for the Boston Yanks in 1945.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Obscure Trivialities​

The fifteenth is one of eight days the Patriots have never played in the month of January; the others being the 9th, 17th, 25th and 28th through 31st. This date is devoid of famous birth dates as well.


Happy 70th to Bill DuLac
Born January 15, 1951 in Detroit
Patriot guard, 1973-1975; uniform #68
Acquired in trade with Los Angeles Rams on July 24, 1973

Bill DuLac was a seventh round draft pick by the Rams in 1973, from Eastern Michigan. The Patriots traded him to Green Bay on August 9, 1973, just 16 days after acquiring him from the Rams. DuLac spent the 1973 season the taxi squad for Dallas, then re-signed with the Patriots when the Cowboys cut him at the end of their 1974 training camp.

DuLac played in 13 games with one start for the Patriots in both 1974 and 1975. He was released on July 1, 1976.

William DuLac - E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame | Eastern Michigan University Eagles

​

Perhaps of more interest is how Bill DuLac ever came to be a New England Patriot.

Herb Adderley is a Hall of Fame cornerback; one of just four players to win six NFL championships. Adderley played from 1961 to 1969 for Vince Lombardi and the Packers, then for Tom Landry in Dallas for three seasons. After being benched late in the 1972 season he was dealt to the Patriots for nothing more than a tenth round draft pick just before the start of training camp.

Patriots Get Adderley, Voss In Separate Transactions | New York Times

After this things get murky. It appears as though Adderley never reported to the Patriots and they traded his rights to the Rams in exchange for DuLac. Wikipedia makes no mention of the Patriots in their Herb Adderley bio, stating he refused to report to the Rams. Pro Sports Transactions says that the Rams waived Adderley with an injury settlement two weeks after the trade with the Pats.




Happy 32nd birthday to Chris White
Born January 15, 1989 in Mobile, Alabama
Patriot ST/LB, 2013-2014; uniform #59
Claimed off waivers from Detroit on September 1, 2013

Chris White was originally a sixth round draft pick by Buffalo in 2011, from Mississippi State. After two seasons with the Bills he was traded to Detroit for QB Thad Lewis; the Patriots picked him up off waivers less than a week later.

In 2013 White played in all 16 games with the Patriots and was on the field for 328 special team snaps (67%), as well as both playoff games (40 ST snaps, 70%). He had nine tackles (five solo) as the Pats went 13-5.

White appeared in 13 games the following season, missing three games late in the year with an ankle injury. He was on the field for 257 special team snaps and seven defensive snaps in the regular season, making seven tackles. White made four more tackles in the postseason, earning a ring from Super Bowl 49 versus Seattle. The Pats released White on August 10, to make room for RB Tony Creecy.

Oct 26, 2013: Football Journey: Chris White | Mike Reiss, espn

Patriots re-sign LB Chris White | Patriots.com

Happy 54th birthday to Fred DeRiggi
Born January 15, 1967 in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Patriot NT, 1990; uniform #71

Fred DeRiggi was originally a seventh round draft pick by the Bills in 1990, from Syracuse. He played in the final two games of the forgettable 1990 season for Rod Rust. DeRiggi was with the Pats for the 1991 offseason but was released as part of roster cutdowns in late August - even though at that point he was reunited with his college coach, **** MacPherson.

Fred DeRiggi - Syracuse University Athletics

Syracuse football hopes LSU rematch looks like 1989 Hall of Fame Game

Rob Drummond can still clearly remember the vibe the last time Syracuse shared a football field with the folks from Louisiana State.​

​

"They were just so arrogant leading up to that game," Drummond recalled Tuesday evening. "We got the same feeling from them that we got the year before from Auburn at the Sugar Bowl.​

​

"You know, they were from the SEC. They had the best conference in the land. They played the tougher schedule. The world revolved around them. All that stuff. Their thing was they were the ones who weren't going to lose to the team from the north."​

​

Drummond, the former Orange running back (via Jamesville-DeWitt High School), was speaking of the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa where 17th-ranked SU took on No. 16 LSU … and beat it 23-10 before a New Year's Day (plus one) gathering of 51,112.​

​

The two schools, which will meet again on Saturday afternoon in the Carrier Dome, haven't butted heads since. And there may have been a reason beyond geography.​

​

Hard feelings, anyone?​

​

"We didn't care if we won the game," said Drummond, who gained 122 yards (on 23 carries) and scored two touchdowns en route to winning the affair's Most Valuable Player award. "We just wanted to beat them up physically and show them that we could play football up north, too."​

​

Wait. The goal was to batter the SEC co-champion Tigers, first … and out-score them, second?​

​

"Correct," Drummond declared. "And we did beat them up. From the very first play. We knocked, like, five of their guys out of the game."​

​

But back in January of '89 things were different. SU, on a 25-4-1 run, had traveled to Tampa with a program stocked with 16 athletes who'd eventually suit up in the NFL. And 11 of them saw the field down there in Florida.​

​

Drummond, David Bavaro, Rob Burnett, Frank Conover, Fred DeRiggi, John Flannery, Daryl Johnston, Rob Moore, Markus Paul, Todd Philcox, Terry Wooden. Each a future pro, they all played that day, 27 seasons ago, against the Tigers, and the stats they compiled were remarkable ones as the Orangemen outrushed LSU 208-76 in yardage, nearly doubled it in first downs (24-14) and shut it out in both the first and fourth quarters.​

Aug 19, 1991: Four players cut by Patriots | Hartford Courant

The Patriots cut their roster to 68 Monday by releasing four players, including Southington's Rob Thomson.​

​

Thomson, a free safety, signed with the Patriots as a free agent April 27. Thomson was a two-year starter for Syracuse and was the team's third-leading tackler in 1990.​

​

The Patriots also released tight end Randy Bethel, a 10th-round pick in April's draft, free-agent nose tackle Fred DeRiggi and free agent wide receiver Brian Wiggins.​

​

The Patriots must reduce their roster to 60 by 4 p.m. today.​

​

Dykes undergoes surgery​

Wide receiver Hart Lee Dykes, injured in Saturday night's 46-0 loss to Phoenix, underwent surgery on his fractured right kneecap. Dykes, who was a starter, is expected to miss the entire season.​

​

Dykes' injury moves second-year player Greg McMurtry into a starting position along with Irving Fryar. McMurtry, a third-round pick out of Michigan, caught 22 passes for 240 yards last season as a rookie.​

And some draft pick trade trivia involving players born on January 15:

Eric Kelly, 44 (Jan 15, 1977)
Third round (69th overall) pick of the 2001 draft

On April 21, 2001 the Patriots traded their third round (#69) pick of the 2001 draft to Minnesota, moving down 17 spots while adding a fourth round pick. The Pats used 3.86 to select CB Brock Williams, and 4.119 TE Jabari Holloway. Neither Williams nor Holloway ever registered a single stat with the Patriots.

Williams dressed for the first game of 2001, then tore his ACL. The following offseason he was limited with an ankle injury before being released on Sept 1, 2002. He went on to play 12 NFL games with the Bears and Raiders.

Holloway began the 2001 training camp on the PUP list, then was placed on injured reserve for the '01 season. He was waived a year later on Aug 25, 2002. The tight end played for two seasons with Houston, with 15 receptions and no touchdowns.

Kelly was a starter for two season with the Vikings, then asked for his release in the 2004 offseason after his playing time had dwindled. The Texans claimed Kelly off waivers, then released him when he refused to renegotiate his contract and take a pay cut. Kelly signed with the Bears but he was cut at the end of 2004 training camp, and he never played in the NFL again.



Travis Lewis, 33 (Jan 15, 1988)
Seventh round (223rd overall) pick of the 2012 draft

On Sept 4, 2010 the Patriots acquired this draft pick plus LB Tracy White from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2012 sixth round pick. White would go on to play 42 games over three seasons with the Pats.

A month later New England traded 2012 draft pick 7.223 to Minnesota along with Randy Moss, in exchange for a 2011 third round pick. That pick was used to select QB Ryan Mallett.

In 2012 the Vikings made a draft day trade with Detroit, receiving a fourth round pick from the Lions. That fourth was one of four draft picks that Minnesota sent to New England in exchange for the Patriots' first round pick, 29th overall. The Viking used that on Cordarrelle Patterson. The Patriots used their picks on Jamie Collins, Logan Ryan and Josh Boyce. The Pats also later packaged a seventh round pick they received in the Minnesota trade with Jeff Demps, to trade for LeGarrette Blount.




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

Fran Morelli (1939-2008)
Born in Medford; Medford High School
Tackle for the New York Titans in 1962

​

Obituary:​

He was traded to the Oakland Raiders but due to injury moved onto teaching and coaching. He was a successful football coach and English teacher at Waltham and Woburn High Schools. Later, Fran held several executive positions in the Wine and Spirits industry with companies such as Fleishmann's, Publicker, Standard Brands, and SoGrape.​

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Perhaps of more interest is how Bill DuLac ever came to be a New England Patriot.

Herb Adderley is a Hall of Fame cornerback; one of just three players to win six NFL championships. Adderley played from 1961 to 1969 for Vince Lombardi and the Packers, then for Tom Landry in Dallas for three seasons. After being benched late in the 1972 season he was dealt to the Patriots for nothing more than a tenth round draft pick just before the start of training camp.

Patriots Get Adderley, Voss In Separate Transactions | New York Times

After this things get murky. It appears as though Adderley never reported to the Patriots and they traded his rights to the Rams in exchange for DuLac. Wikipedia makes no mention of the Patriots in their Herb Adderley bio, stating he refused to report to the Rams. Pro Sports Transactions says that the Rams waived Adderley with an injury settlement two weeks after the trade with the Pats.

Apparently it's four guys.

Four players have won 6 championships counting the pre-Super Bowl era. To avoid double counting from 1966 to 1969, only the NFL championships from 1920–1965 and the Super Bowls from 1966 onward are counted.

• Fuzzy Thurston (offensive lineman) with Colts, Packers
• Forrest Gregg (offensive lineman) with Packers, Cowboys
• Herb Adderley (defensive back) with Packers, Cowboys / also property of Patriots then Rams before retiring
• Tom Brady (quarterback) with Patriots / also played with Buccaneers

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
'Cut That Meat' Game
​

The iconic play of this game occurred in the second quarter when Tedy Bruschi turned a routine play into a signature moment, ripping the ball away from Dominic Rhodes for a takeaway. Before the game was over the crowd in Foxborough was mocking quarterback/television commercial endorser Peyton Manning with 'Cut That Meat' chants.


Sunday January 16, 2005 at 4:45
2004 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium
New England Patriots 20, Indianapolis Colts 3
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Odds: Patriots favored by 1
Pats improve to 15-2; advance to AFCCG at Pittsburgh
Colts finish 13-5

Key Stat I: Turnovers
Patriots 0, Colts 3

Key Stat II: Rushing Yards (and Time of Possession)
Patriots: 39 carries for 210 yards (5.4 ypc) and 1 TD (37:43 TOP)
Colts: 15 carries for 46 yards (3.0 ypc), 1 fumble lost (22:17 TOP)


Bruschi Bruises Indy | New York Post

The play looked rather routine. Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi tackled running back Dominic Rhodes, who had just caught a second-quarter Peyton Manning screen pass.​

​

But when Bruschi popped up, he turned toward the Indianapolis bench and presented it with another surprise on a stunning day. He showed it the football.​

​

Save a two-minute drill at the end of the half, Bruschi and the Patriots defense got the Colts every time. New England held its visitors to its lowest point total since Manning arrived seven years ago and rolled Indianapolis 20-3 in yesterday’s AFC playoff game at Gillette Stadium.​

​

As usual, Bruschi led the defense, forcing a fumble and recovering two. He also hopped and yapped after every big play, taunting some Colts he felt disrespected the Pats with well-publicized comments leading up to the game.​

​

Yesterday’s set of big plays started when he wrestled with Rhodes. Reading the screen, Bruschi shed Colts center Jeff Saturday and hit Rhodes for what appeared to be a two-yard loss. But Bruschi wagged the ball toward the Colts sideline, and officials signaled Patriots possession, ending Indy’s best drive to that point.​

​

In the fourth quarter, he helped seal the game in the secondary. Reggie Wayne caught a Manning pass over the middle and ran into Pats safety Rodney Harrison, whose hit jarred the ball loose. It had barely bounced before Bruschi fell on it.​

The Patriots Deliver Yet Another Cold Slap to Manning | The New York Times

The Colts entered the game with the most decorated offense in recent league history. The Patriots walked onto the field with a secondary built with patchwork and guts. But after a season in which Manning threw a record 49 touchdown passes, he could not even muster one against New England.​

​

But on Sunday, with three defensive starters out with injuries -- cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole and end Richard Seymour -- New England still knocked the Colts' receivers around once they emerged from their 5-yard cushion. The Patriots used linebackers, the young cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Randall Gay, and even the receiver-turned-cornerback Troy Brown to disrupt the Colts' routes.​

​

"What are they going to do next?" Brown said of league officials' decision to reinforce the illegal-contact rule this season.​

​

Then there was the snow, which, as it did in the championship game last season, swarmed into the stadium, falling in damp clumps.​

​

"It played right into our hands," said Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, who intercepted Manning's final pass of the game. "He wasn't the same. It's not 70 degrees inside. It's not a dome."​

Horse Whisperers | ESPN Page Two

This was about respect. This was about four letters ("team") meaning more than five letters ("stats"). This was about a great team taking care of business at home, because that's what great teams do.​

Patriots Cold-**** Colts | Washington Post

The New England Patriots had heard the predictions of their postseason demise from the naysayers who said they couldn't stop Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his stable of big-play performers.​

​

But these are the champions, playing at home, and on a snowy, emotional Sunday afternoon, the Patriots kept hope alive for a third Super Bowl title in four years with a methodical 20-3 victory that ended Manning's dream season with yet another nightmare finish.​

​

"I told someone today I felt like there had been more hype over this game than there was for the Super Bowl last year," Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said. "There was a lot of doubt about it, and it ticked us off more and more. It ticked us off that no one gave us respect. I couldn't even sleep last night."​

​

Manning, who passed for an NFL record 49 touchdowns in the regular season, is 0-7 against the Patriots in Foxboro ...​

​

The Patriots prevailed Sunday mostly because their offense became their best defense. Three of their four scoring drives covered 78, 87 and 94 yards and consumed 9:07, 8:16 and 7:24. It must have seemed like an eternity to Manning and his offense, bundled up against the cold on the sideline and unable to get back onto the field as the Patriots marched toward the goal line.​

2004 AFC Divisional Game: Patriots vs Colts - YouTube





6:00 Highlight Video





3:19 Highlight Video:
​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats end KC's 11-game winning streak, and season​

Saturday January 16, 2016 at 4:30
2015 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game, at Gillette
New England Patriots 27, Kansas City Chiefs 20
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Andy Reid
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Alex Smith
Odds: New England favored by 4½
Pats improve to 13-4, advance to AFCCG at Denver
Kansas City finishes 12-6

The two clubs entered this game as teams headed in polar opposite directions. The Chiefs were the NFL's hottest team, on an 11-game winning streak after defeating Houston 30-0 in a wild card game. Meanwhile the Pats limped to the finish line, losing four of their final six contests. With several Patriots recovering from injuries - and the media in a frenzy after Chandler Jones showed up shirtless and reeking of weed at the Foxborough police station - KC was the trendy pick to win in an upset.

Julian Edelman caught ten passes for 100 yards, returning from a broken foot while the Pats went 2-4 without him. Rob Gronkowski had seven receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns, and also recovered an onside kick to seal the victory.

The crowd became energized when Tom Brady took off for a ten yard run late in the second quarter, taking a hard hit just short of the goal line. On the next play Brady (28-42, 302 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int) snuck in for a touchdown, giving the Pats a 14-6 halftime lead.

Andy Reid once again had some questionable clock management, with the Chiefs using up 5:16 late in the fourth quarter while down by 14 points. KC held an advantage in almost every statistical category, but the Patriots held the lead for almost the entire game. The Chiefs ran 29 more plays on offense (85-56) and held the ball for over 15 more minutes than the Pats (37:51-22:09), but could not come up with a big play when needed.

Six minute highlight video:



Full Game Video:
​

Sunday January 16, 2011 at 4:30
2010 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game, at Gillette
New York Jets 28, New England Patriots 21
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Rex Ryan
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez
Odds: New England favored by 9½
Pats finish 14-3
Jets improve to 13-5, go to Pittsburgh for AFCCG

The Patriots did just enough wrong to lose this game. Late in the first half Patrick Chung audibled for a direct snap out of a punt formation and failed to run for the first down. The Jets took advantage a few plays later, scoring a touchdown with 33 seconds to go to take a 14-3 lead. The Pats scored late in the third quarter to pull within four, then a couple plays later Jerricho Cotchery took a short pass and ran 58 yards to set up another Jet touchdown, early in the fourth quarter.

New England used up 7:45 on the ensuing drive and came away empty handed, again turning the ball over on downs. The Pats kicked a field goal on their next possession to pull within seven at the two minute warning. That was followed by an onside kick that was not only recovered by the Jets, but run back to the 20 yard line. Two plays later the Jets scored again, giving them an insurmountable 14 point lead with 1:40 to play. Brady was sacked five times and the first eight possessions consisted of a pick, FG, back-to-back three and outs, the failed trick play on 4th down, end of the half and two more punts before the offense finally came alive late.




Happy 74th birthday to Brian Stenger
Born January 16, 1947 in Euclid, Ohio
Patriot LB, 1973; uniform #59
Acquired Sept 10, 1973 from Pittsburgh in exchange for a 1974 10th round draft pick

Brian Stenger was originally signed by the Steelers in 1969 as an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame. He played in ten games with two starts and two fumble recoveries in 1973 with the Patriots, before going on injured reserve on November 28.

The following year he was re-signed by the Patriots, and was also drafted by the Florida Blazers of the World Football League. Stenger departed to play in the WFL, first with the Detroit Wheels and then the Southern California Sun.




Happy 47th birthday to Daryl Porter
Born January 16, 1974 in Fort Lauderdale
Patriot DB, 2002 offseason
Signed as a veteran free agent on May 8, 2002
The Boston College graduate was a sixth round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 1997. He played safety, nickel corner and special teams in 55 games for the Lions, Bills and Titans from 1997-2001. Porter did not make the roster out of training camp, ending his NFL career. He now works as a high school football coach in south Florida.




Happy 31st birthday to Joseph Fauria
Born January 16, 1990 in Northridge, California
Patriots TE, 2018 (practice squad)
Signed as a free agent on November 18, 2015
The nephew of former Patriot Christian Fauria went undrafted out of UCLA in 2013. He signed with the Lions and showed promise as rookie, catching seven touchdowns that year. The following season he suffered an ankle injury and his career never got back on track. Foxborough was his final NFL stop; the Pats released him on December 8, 2015. He totaled 24 receptions for 281 yards with eight touchdowns in 23 games. Fauria keeps himself busy these days with sports podcasts out of Los Angeles.

 

[jmt57]

Today: a slow day in Patriots History​

With zero games ever played on this date and only one January 17 birthday, here is a longer biography on a relatively obscure former Patriot.

Happy 33rd birthday to Trevor Reilly
Born January 17, 1988 in Valley Center, California
Patriot OLB 2016-2017; uniform #51
Signed to the practice squad on October 20, 2016

As a 16 year old youth Reilly set the Guinness World Record for fastest time eating a 7.5-ounce white onion at 1 minute and 35 seconds, shattering the former mark of 2:45. Reilly earned a football scholarship to Texas Tech, but instead accepted a two-year Latter Day Saints mission to Sweden. After returning he was a walk-on at the University of Utah: a 22-year old redshirt freshman. By the time he was a senior he was married with two kids.

During that senior year his wife discovered a lump on their 9-month old daughter. Two days later she had her kidney removed, and had to undergo chemotherapy for a year; it has been in remission since. The next year Reilly was selected by the Jets in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft.

After two seasons with the Jets - and some interesting moonlighting as an Uber driver - Reilly went on IR. After reaching an injury settlement with the Jete, Reilly was a free agent. Two days later the Patriots signed him to their practice squad on October 20, 2016.

Miami signed Reilly to their full roster off the Pats PS on December 19. The next season Reilly did not survive final cuts, and the Dolphins re-signed him to their practice squad. He was released October 10, 2017 and two days later the Pats again signed Reilly to the PS. A few weeks later he was promoted to the 53-man roster after Harvey Langi was injured in an automobile accident. Then in late December Reilly returned to the practice squad, to make room for James Harrison. He was released on February 12, 2018 and has not been with an NFL organization since.

In 2018 Reilly returned to Salt Lake City, working as a grad assistant and part time scout player with the Utes while taking one last class to earn his degree. He also signed to play for Dennis Erickson with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football. That minor league operation folded before its first season was completed. At least Reilly fared better than some teammates who suffered injuries during play, left to pay their own medical and rehab expenses when the AAF declared bankruptcy.

Trevor Reilly appeared in six games with the Patriots, from week eight to week 15 of the 2017 season. He logged 57 defensive snaps and 94 special team snaps with the Pats.

Trevor Reilly followed unique path to Patriots | Providence Journal

 

[Tony2046]

Today: a slow day in Patriots History​

With zero games ever played on this date and only one January 17 birthday, here is a longer biography on a relatively obscure former Patriot.

Happy 33rd birthday to Trevor Reilly
Born January 17, 1988 in Valley Center, California
Patriot OLB 2016-2017; uniform #51
Signed to the practice squad on October 20, 2016

As a 16 year old youth Reilly set the Guinness World Record for fastest time eating a 7.5-ounce white onion at 1 minute and 35 seconds, shattering the former mark of 2:45. Reilly earned a football scholarship to Texas Tech, but instead accepted a two-year Latter Day Saints mission to Sweden. After returning he was a walk-on at the University of Utah: a 22-year old redshirt freshman. By the time he was a senior he was married with two kids.

During that senior year his wife discovered a lump on their 9-month old daughter. Two days later she had her kidney removed, and had to undergo chemotherapy for a year; it has been in remission since. The next year Reilly was selected by the Jets in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft.

After two seasons with the Jets - and some interesting moonlighting as an Uber driver - Reilly went on IR. After reaching an injury settlement with the Jete, Reilly was a free agent. Two days later the Patriots signed him to their practice squad on October 20, 2016.

Miami signed Reilly to their full roster off the Pats PS on December 19. The next season Reilly did not survive final cuts, and the Dolphins re-signed him to their practice squad. He was released October 10, 2017 and two days later the Pats again signed Reilly to the PS. A few weeks later he was promoted to the 53-man roster after Harvey Langi was injured in an automobile accident. Then in late December Reilly returned to the practice squad, to make room for James Harrison. He was released on February 12, 2018 and has not been with an NFL organization since.

In 2018 Reilly returned to Salt Lake City, working as a grad assistant and part time scout player with the Utes while taking one last class to earn his degree. He also signed to play for Dennis Erickson with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football. That minor league operation folded before its first season was completed. At least Reilly fared better than some teammates who suffered injuries during play, left to pay their own medical and rehab expenses when the AAF declared bankruptcy.

Trevor Reilly appeared in six games with the Patriots, from week eight to week 15 of the 2017 season. He logged 57 defensive snaps and 94 special team snaps with the Pats.

Trevor Reilly followed unique path to Patriots | Providence Journal

I love these seemingly obscure stories about a player's brief stint in the NFL. I wonder how they perceive it. To me it's one hell of an accomplishment to even suit up for one game at the NFL level. Hell, even making it to a practice squad is special.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats defeat Colts in AFCCG (twice)
​

Sunday January 18, 2004 at 3:00
2003 AFC Championship Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 24, Indianapolis Colts 14
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Odds: Pats favored by 3½
Pats improve to 16-2; advance to Super Bowl 38 vs Carolina
Colts finish 14-5

Key Stat I : The Colts turn the ball over five times, including four interceptions by Peyton Manning. Ty Law had an amazing day with three picks, and Rodney Harrison had another.

Key Stat II: Marvin Harrison was limited to just three receptions for 19 yards, plus had one turnover on a fumble (Rodney Harrison once again. He too had a great game, with ten tackles (7 solo), an interception, a forced fumble and a deflected pass).

Key Patriot Stats:
- Manning was sacked four times; Brady sacked zero times
- Antowain Smith: 22 carries for 100 yards
- Troy Brown: 7 receptions for 88 yards
- David Givens: 8 receptions (on 9 targets) for 68 yards and a touchdown


Below is an excellent post-game article from Sports Illustrated:
Cold Blooded: Patriots 24, Colts 14

Having heard about Colts tight end Marcus Pollard's proclamation that if the Colts kept playing well, the league "might as well just hand us the rings," Belichick disdainfully told his players, "Nobody hands you a ring. I don't care how much money you have, you can't f------ buy one. You have to play, and you have to earn it." Then, pulling out his 2001 Super Bowl ring and raising it high above his head, Belichick continued, "This has to be earned, and there's only one way to do that. Either they kick your ass, or you kick theirs."​

2003 AFC Championship: Patriots vs Colts Highlights (3 min)



2003 AFC Championship Game: Patriots vs Colts - Full Game
​

Sunday January 18, 2015 at 6:50
2014 AFC Championship Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 45, Indianapolis Colts 7
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Chuck Pagano
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Andrew Luck
Odds: Pats favored by 7
Pats improve to 14-4; move on to Super Bowl 49 vs Seattle
Colts finish 13-6

Key Stat I : Andrew Luck
The Indy quarterback was completely neutralized, completing just 12 of 33 passes for 126 yards, with no touchdowns, two interceptions - and a 23.0 passer rating.

Key Stat II: Colt drives
First half: punt; muffed punt (turnover); missed FG; punt; TD; kneel down (halftime)
Second half: punt; interception; punt; interception; punt; end of game

Key Patriot Stats:
- LeGarrette Blount: 30 carries, 148 yards, 3 TD
- Julian Edelman: 10 touches, 110 yards
- Nate Solder and James Develin each with more touchdowns than any Colt not named Zurlon Tipton
- 3rd Quarter Drives: Touchdown, Touchdown, Touchdown, Touchdown


Patriots stomp Colts with Brady in high gear | AP/ESPN

​

"I only have one thing to say. We're on to Seattle," Belichick said, echoing the statement he repeated several times, "We're on to Cincinnati," after a 41-14 loss at Kansas City dropped the Patriots to 2-2.​

​

The list of milestones is long:​

​

• Brady surpassed John Elway for most Super Bowls for a quarterback and tied defensive lineman Mike Lodish for most by any player.​

​

• Belichick tied Don Shula for most Super Bowls for a coach and broke a tie with Tom Landry with his 21st postseason win.​

​

• New England tied Dallas and Pittsburgh for most appearances in the big game with eight.​

​

Brady passed Peyton Manning (6,800 yards) for most yards passing in the postseason with 7,017. ... In four games against the Pats, Luck has thrown six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. ... Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri set an NFL record with his 30th postseason game, one more than Jerry Rice, but missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. ... The Patriots improved to 17-4 in home playoff games.​

Colts vs. Patriots AFC Championship Game highlights
​

This of course was also the game that Ryan Grigson, Bob Kravitz and others conspired to attempt to frame the Patriots - while forgetting about grade school science and the Ideal Gas Law.

Pats Fans: How Strong is the Curse of Deflategate?

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Tony McGee, Jermaine Wiggins & more​

Happy 72nd birthday to Tony McGee
Born Jan 18, 1949 in Battle Creek, Michigan
Patriot DE, 1974-1981; uniform #78
Acquired on Sept 10, 1974 from Chicago for a 1975 8th and 1976 3rd round draft pick

Tony McGee played in 121 games with the Patriots. Consisting of Julius Adams, Ray Hamilton, Mel Lunsford and McGee, the New England defensive line was a formidable group in the late seventies. McGee also spent three NFL seasons each with Chicago and Washington, and is unofficially credited with 106.5 sacks in his career. (Sacks did not become an official statistic until 1982; as a frame of reference, Patriot Hall of Famer Andre Tippett had 100 career sacks.)

​

McGee was a player at the University of Wyoming when an ugly and mostly forgotten incident took place. The Cowboys played Brigham Young every year, and in 1968 BYU's all-white squad had hurled racial slurs and cheap shots at black Wyoming players during their game. Just prior to playing BYU again a year later, 14 players approached the Wyoming head coach about wearing black armbands as a form of protest. That group not only did not get the support from the head coach they were seeking - they were all immediately kicked off the team. Wyoming had been ranked #16, but lost its final four games without those 14 men; a year later they fell to 1-9.

The defensive end transferred to now defunct Bishop College in Texas. The situation in Wyoming caused him to fall from a first round draft pick to the third round, due to gossip and assumptions that McGee must have been a troublemaker. He went on to play in 212 NFL games, and in two Super Bowls. In his post-NFL career he started a physical therapy business in the Virginia suburbs of DC, which he ran for 13 years before selling to a health care firm.

Tony McGee Still Stands With Black 14: 'It Had To Be Done'

University of Wyoming apologizes to Black 14 nearly 50 years after their dismissal

The Black 14 Video | Wyoming PBS




Happy 46th birthday to Jermaine Wiggins
Born Jan 18, 1975 in East Boston
Patriot TE, 2000-2001; uniform #85
Claimed off waivers from Jets on Nov 28, 2000

The graduate of East Boston High School and Bridgton Academy in Maine is remembered not for his 20 regular season games with the Patriots, but for the 2001 postseason. In the divisional round Snow Bowl game against Oakland he had ten receptions, four of which came on the fourth quarter drive that ended with Tom Brady scoring on a six yard run, to cut the deficit to three points. Wiggins then had three more catches on the game winning drive that culminated with Adam Vinatieri's improbable field goal, including a clutch six-yard reception on 3rd-and-five. Wiggins then came up big on the final drive of Super Bowl 36, making a catch with 21 seconds remaining to set up another iconic Vinatieri game winning field goal.

Happy 36th birthday to Matthew Mulligan
Born Jan 18, 1985 in West Enfield, Maine
Patriot TE, 2013; uniform #88
Signed as a free agent on Sept 2, 2013

The former University of Maine Black Bear had spent time on practice squads and active rosters with the Dolphins, Titans, Jets and Rams over five years, playing in 50 games before being signed by New England. Mulligan played in 15 games with four starts as a pretty decent blocking tight end, scoring a week four touchdown at Atlanta. He bounced around a bit more from 2014-2016, with Chicago, Arizona, Tennessee, Buffalo and Detroit. Mulligan played in 89 games over his NFL career from 2009-2016.




Happy birthday to Kenyatta Jones (1979-2018)
Born Jan 18, 1979 in Gainesville, Florida
Patriot OL, 2001-2002; uniform #74
Pats 4th round (96th overall) selection of the 2001 draft, from South Florida

The Pats thought enough of Jones to move up 16 spots in the draft to select him, trading their own fourth (#112) and a fifth (#139) to San Diego for the #96 pick. I can remember Jones as being a very athletic run blocker in college, though it was not against top competition. He played in 18 games for the Patriots with 11 starts.

Jones was waived by the Patriots on Oct 26, 2003, three days after pleading not guilty to multiple charges stemming from a bizarre incident where he doused a roommate with scalding water, causing second and third degree burns.

Kenyatta Jones, USF's first NFL draft pick, dies at 39

Patriot player pleads not guilty to scalding aide | boston.com

On the day he was to return to the team after a long medical absence, Jones pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with intent to maim, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and mayhem, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.​

​

Police said the injuries suffered at Jones's Walpole home Monday night by Mark Paul, 33, were enough to warrant the mayhem charge, which involves a crime where there is "intent to maim or disfigure," according to state criminal law.​

Happy 26th birthday to Chad Hansen
Born Jan 18, 1995 in Fillmore, California
Patriot WR, 2018; uniform #16
Claimed off waivers from Jets on Sept 2, 2018

Chad Hansen was only with the Patriots for a week. A day after being on the week one inactive list versus Houston the Pats released the 6'2, 202 lb receiver from Cal. Hansen played in 15 games for the Jets in 2017; then spent most of the last two years on the practice squad for the Texans. He appeared in the final five games of the 2020 season for Houston, with 17 receptions and one touchdown.




Happy 29th birthday to Jonathan Krause
Born Jan 18, 1992 in San Bernardino, California
Patriot WR/PR, 2014-2015; uniform #16
Signed as a free agent to the practice squad on Oct 24, 2014

Jonathan Krause spent almost all of the 2014 season from week seven forward on the New England practice squad, earning a ring for Super Bowl 49 in the process. He was waived/injured at the end of 2015 training camp and was placed on injured reserve, then released with an injury settlement on Sept 19.

From 2014 to 2017 Krause was with the Browns, Patriots, Eagles, Bucs, Chargers, Bucs again, and Titans, on practice squads and in training camps. He made it to the field for two NFL games with Philly in 2015, with two receptions.




Other football players born on this date with a New England connection include:

Chris Snee, 39 (1982)
Boston College
The four-time Pro Bowl right guard played ten seasons with the Giants, winning two rings.

 

[jmt57]

Since this is already April 19 where @italian pat patriot lives, we can post this entry now.

Today In Patriots History
The Snow Bowl Game
aka the Tuck Rule Game​

​

The final game to ever be played at Foxboro Stadium was a case of saving the best for last.

Saturday January 19, 2002 at 8:00
2001 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game
New England Patriots 16, Oakland Raiders 13 in OT
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Jon Gruden
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Rich Gannon
Odds: New England favored by 3
Pats improve to 12-5; move on to AFCCG at Pittsburgh
Oakland finishes 11-7

Key Stat I: plus-135 yards in total offense
Patriots had 365 total yards (312 passing), Raiders were at only 230 total yards (159 passing).
The Pats ran 22 more offensive plays (84-62) and held the ball for 11:41 more than Oakland (40:05-28:24). The Patriot defense forced Oakland to punt on nine of their twelve possessions (not including two kneel downs at the end of each half). The Raiders had only four drives that consisted of more than four plays.

Key Stat II: Special Teams
Adam Vinatieri went 3-3 on field goal attempts in extremely unfavorable conditions.
Troy Brown added 49 yards on punt returns; Charles Woodson had minus-3.

Key Stat III: Making plays in the clutch
From the fourth quarter on, Oakland's drives consisted of three punts and a knee.
New England finished with 13 points on a touchdown, punt, field goal, field goal.


Patriots storm to AFC title game after snowy comeback
Eliminate Raiders, helped by controversial call - The Boston Globe

The Patriots’ defense made two key stops in the fourth quarter, and then got the ball back with 2:06 remaining after Troy Brown’s punt return of 27 yards to the 46.​

​

Helped by the two-minute warning, the Patriots had no timeouts left, and the ball was on the 42.​

​

Then they were saved by the controversial call.​

​

According to Coleman, “Obviously, what I saw on the field, I thought the ball came out before his arm was going forward. Then, when I got to the replay monitor and looked at it, it was obvious his arm was coming forward. He touched the ball. And they just hooked it out of his hand. His arm was coming forward, which makes it an incomplete pass.”​

​

Many Patriots fans could only think it was revenge for what happened in the teams’ 1976 playoff game.​

​

Brady completed nine straight passes, four to Jermaine Wiggins (who had 10 catches), three to David Patten, and one to Kevin Faulk before Brady scrambled in from the 6 with 7:52 remaining to pull to within 13-10.​

​

Belichick said he and his staff watched tapes of the Buffalo blizzard game last season, and at the last minute included plays that were successful in that game. Wiggins caught a couple of big balls in that game.​

​

“Jermaine had a couple of big catches in that game. He’s kind of a snow plow for us,” said Belichick.​

Patriots Persevere With a Late Blizzard of Their Own | The New York Times

All that was missing from tonight's playoff game at Foxboro Stadium was a snowplow, a prisoner on work release and a coach looking to clear a swath for a winning field goal.​

​

In an American Football Conference divisional playoff game that looked as if it were played inside a snow globe, the New England Patriots left the snowplow on the sideline but still got a 45-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri with 27 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime and a 23-yarder at 8 minutes 29 seconds of overtime to beat the Oakland Raiders, 16-13, and advance to the A.F.C. championship game next Sunday.​

. . . ​

​

''I can't say enough about this group,'' said Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, whose team trailed, 13-3, heading into the fourth quarter. ''They will not quit. To pull our way back we had a lot of big plays, big throws, big blocks. It can't get much closer than that.''​

​

If this was to be the final game at Foxboro Stadium -- it will be razed as soon as the Patriots play their final game here this season -- it was a fitting way to go.​

​

Snow began falling heavily at least two hours before kickoff and continued throughout. Snow accumulated in a small drift on the bill of Raiders Coach Jon Gruden's visor.​

. . . ​

​

Quarterback Tom Brady scored on a 6-yard scramble that drew the Patriots to 13-10 with 7:52 remaining and then directed the eight-play drive that resulted in Vinatieri's tying field goal with 27 seconds left in regulation.​

​

That drive included a controversial play on which the initial ruling -- that Brady fumbled and the Raiders recovered -- was overturned. After a review, the officials ruled that Brady was in the act of throwing, so it was an incomplete pass and New England kept the ball at Oakland's 42.​

​

''His interpretation is the only one that matters,'' Gruden said. ''The Raiders have to live with it.''​

​

The Patriots moved to the Oakland 29, and after three consecutive incompletions, Vinatieri tied the game.​

​

''You can't get any tougher than that kick in four inches of snow,'' Belichick said. ''We didn't have a choice. It was our only shot.''​

​

In the overtime drive, Brady, who completed 26 of 39 passes for 238 yards after halftime, completed six passes in a row and moved the Patriots to the 5. The entire offense acted as a human plow, chipping at the snow with cleats to clear a spot for Vinatieri's winning kick.​

Photo Gallery: The Snow Bowl | Patriots.com

Patriots Snow Bowl Highlights




2001 AFC Divisional Round: Raiders vs Patriots | NFL Full Game
​

 

[jmt57]

Today In Patriots History
Johnny, Junior and more

​

Happy 60th birthday to Johnny Rembert
Born Jan 19, 1961 in Hollandale, Mississippi
Patriot ILB, 1983-1992; uniform #52
Pats 4th round (101st overall) selection of the 1983 draft, from Clemson

John Lee Rembert played in 126 regular season games and five playoff games in his NFL career, all with the Patriots. He had 16 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries and seven interceptions.

Rembert was named to the 1988 and 1989 Pro Bowl, and is a member of the Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1980s.

Catching up with Johnny Rembert | Boston Globe

He was as dependable as they come playing linebacker for the New England Patriots. A steady player, Johnny Rembert enjoyed ten seasons (1983-92) with the Patriots. His best seasons came in 1988 and 1989 when he earned Pro Bowl Honors. “My experience there (New England) was great,” said Rembert. “When I first got there it was a team full of veterans. We had a wonderful group and learned a whole lot from Steve Nelson and Don Blackmon – the linebackers crop.”​

​

Rembert was an integral part of the 1985 Patriots team, which was the first Patriots team to win the AFC Championship and play in the Super Bowl. However, in the end, New England fell hard to the Chicago Bears 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. Still, it was a season Rembert will never forget. “The Super Bowl year was a very special year and have dreams about it,” said Rembert. “I knew we had a really good football team. It was a wonderful feeling, a wonderful journey and it was a wonderful ride. Going down to Miami and even though we hadn’t won there in a long time, we just knew. We were ready and prepared for that game. Going down there and beating them to go to the Super Bowl is a memory I will never forget and being a part of carrying Raymond Berry off the field.”​

Johnny Rembert sacks Steeler QB Bubby Brister on October 19, 1986.
The Patriots shut Pittsburgh out by the score of 34-0 at Three Rivers Stadium.

​

Happy birthday to Junior Seau (1969-2012), who would have been 52 today
Born Jan 19, 1969 in San Diego
Patriot LB, 2006-2009; uniform #55
Signed by the Patriots as a free agent on August 18, 2006

Junior Seau played in 38 regular season and four playoff games with Patriots. He was named to the Pro Bowl 12 times, and was a six-time All Pro. Seau was the 1994 Walter Payton Man of the Year. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Reflections on Junior Seau from Robert Kraft

Junior Seau Highlights
​

Happy 56th birthday to Ricky Reynolds
Born January 19, 1965 in Sacramento
Patriot CB, 1994-1996; uniform #21
Signed by the Patriots as a free agent on April 11, 1994

Reynolds played in 42 regular season games and one playoff game with Pats. During that time had six interceptions, four fumble recoveries, 4.5 sacks and one touchdown. Overall Reynolds played in 147 NFL games, with 23 interceptions.

Reynolds loses bet but makes history | Sun Sentinel

Patriots Lure Bucs' Reynolds | Orlando Sentinel

Ricky Reynolds | Orlando Sentinel

Happy birthday to Lester Williams (1959-2017), who would have been 62 today
Born Jan 19, 1959 in Miami
Patriot NT, 1982-1985; uniform #72
Pats first round (27th overall) selection of the 1982 draft, from Miami

Lester Williams played in 40 regular season games plus five playoff games for New England, with 39 solo tackles, 60 assists, five sacks, three fumble recoveries and five passes defensed.

Rookie Dan Marino scrambles to get away from Lester Williams on November 13, 1983. The Patriot defense limited the Miami QB to 141 yards and 14-37 passing to upset the Dolphins at Foxboro Stadium, winning 17-6.

Former Patriot NT Lester Williams Passed away | Patriots.com

​

The second of the Patriots' two first-round draft picks (27th overall) in the 1982 NFL Draft, Williams quickly established himself as a mainstay on the defensive front, starting all nine games during his NFL strike-shortened rookie year. The University of Miami product was a part of an impactful Patriots draft class that included the No. 1 overall pick, defensive end Kenneth Sims, running back Robert Weathers (second round), Patriots and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett (second round), guard Darryl Haley (second round), wide receiver Cedric Jones (third round), linebacker Clayton Weishuhn (third round) and free safety Fred Marion (fifth round), a fellow All-American with Williams at Miami.​

​

"I am very proud to be part of the 1982 draft class, and having Lester Williams as a part of that class made playing defense a lot more fun," said Tippett. "As a nose tackle, Lester was a key to our success in the 3-4 defense. I remember how frustrated opposing centers became playing against him. He anchored the line for us and was a great teammate to play alongside.​

Happy 76th birthday to Bobby Leo
Born Jan 19, 1945 in Everett
Patriot RB/KR/PR 1967-1968; uniform #24
Pats 7th round (180th overall) selection of the 1967 draft, from Harvard


Alumni Bio - Bobby Leo | Patriots.com

​

In his first game against the Buffalo Bills at Fenway Park on national television, Bobby returned a punt for 70 yards and caught a pass from Vito “Babe” Parilli for a 26-yard touchdown.​

​

In 1993 Bobby was selected to the Harvard College Football Hall of Fame, and in 1999 he was named 3rd out of the Boston Globe’s top ten all-time schoolboy football players from Massachusetts.​

Pats at Fenway 1967


Bobby Leo High School Reunion


1966 Harvard Highlights
​

Happy 31st birthday to Jonathan Cooper
Born January 19, 1990 in Wilmington NC
Pats guard, 2016; uniform #65
Acquired March 15, 2016 from Arizona

The Pats received Cooper and the 61st overall pick in exchange for Chandler Jones, who was close to becoming a free agent - and had a bizarre shirtless incident at Foxboro police station days before a playoff game two months earlier. New England then traded 2.61 to the Saints for a third (#78 overall, Joe Thuney) and fourth (#112, Malcolm Mitchell).

The Patriots waived Cooper on October 8, 2016; he never played a single down with the Pats.

Jonathan Cooper Cut By Patriots Before Making New England Debut - NESN

​

The Jonathan Cooper era in New England has ended before it truly could begin. ​

​

The Patriots on Saturday released Cooper, a source told ESPN’s Field Yates. The 26-year-old guard had yet to appear in a game for New England as he continued to recover from a foot injury suffered during the first week of training camp. ​

​

In a corresponding move, the Patriots signed defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton off their practice squad, a source told NESN.com’s Doug Kyed. Hamilton will shore up the team’s defensive front, which lacked depth entering Sunday’s matchup with the Cleveland Browns. ​

​

Cooper’s reported release came three days after he was removed from the Patriots’ injury report for the first time this season. He had been listed as a limited participant in practice until Wednesday.​

Two other pro football players with New England connections born on this date:

Frank Hubbell (1922 - 2005)
Born and raised in Bridgeport CT
Played end and defensive end for the Rams in the 1940s.

Frank Trigilio (1919 - 1992)
University of Vermont
Was a fullback for the Los Angeles Dons and Miami Seahawks in the AAFC.




January 19, 1990:
Patriots release former number one draft pick Kenneth Sims.




Sunday January 19, 2014 at 3:00
2013 AFC Championship at Sports Authority Field
Denver Broncos 26, New England Patriots 16
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Fox
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Odds: Broncos favored by 5
Patriots finish 13-5
Denver improves to 15-3; faces Seattle in Super Bowl 48

The Patriots were without Gronk for most of the 2013 season. He had multiple issues following surgery on a broken arm and subsequent infection, then tore his ACL and MCL on a cheap shot by TJ Ward in December. This was also the first season without Wes Welker, and missing those two for this game was a major factor. The Denver defense shut down the Patriot running game; LeGarrette Blount had five carries for six yards and Stevan Ridley had 17 yards on five attempts. Those two were rarely on the field after the first couple of drives, logging just 18 snaps between the two of them.

With Gronk and Welker gone the cupboard was bare for weapons in the passing game. Other than Julius Edelman and Shane Vereen, the passing options consisted of Austin Collie and Aaron Dobson at receiver and Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan at tight end. Danny Amendola was on the field for 41 snaps, but had the same number of pass targets (1) and receptions (0) as Matthew Slater.

The primary issue was not the Patriot offense though; the Denver offense dominated the Pats defense. On their first possession the Broncos went 37 yards in seven plays before having to punt. They scored on every possession thereafter, other than running out the clock to end the game. The New England defense was unable to come up with a turnover or a sack, with only three tackles for a loss. Denver was rarely faced with third and long (or third down of any length), rolling up 507 yards of total offense. The Broncos took a page from Bill Belichick's playbook, kicking a field goal to end the first half and then receiving the ball and scoring a touchdown to start the second half. That gave Denver a 20-3 lead.

On the ensuing drive a 2nd-and-2 at the Denver 28 turned into a 4th-and-3. It was apparent New England needed touchdowns, not field goals - but with his receivers unable to get open Brady was sacked. The Pats finally scored touchdowns on their next two possessions but Denver added two more field goals for the final score.


Key Stat I: First Downs
Broncos 27, Patriots 19

Key Stat II: Plays from scrimmage / Time of Possession
Broncos: 71 plays from scrimmage, 35:44 ToP
Patriots: 54 plays from scrimmage, 24:16 ToP

AFC Championship Final: Broncos 26, Patriots 16

Photo Gallery and Game Recap - boston.com

Broncos 26, Patriots 16 - Chicago Tribune

 

[Steve102]

Since this is already April 19 where @italian pat patriot lives, we can post this entry now.

Today In Patriots History
The Snow Bowl Game
aka the Tuck Rule Game​

​

The final game to ever be played at Foxboro Stadium was a case of saving the best for last.

Saturday January 19, 2002 at 8:00
2001 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game
New England Patriots 16, Oakland Raiders 13 in OT
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Jon Gruden
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Rich Gannon
Odds: New England favored by 3
Pats improve to 12-5; move on to AFCCG at Pittsburgh
Oakland finishes 11-7

Key Stat I: plus-135 yards in total offense
Patriots had 365 total yards (312 passing), Raiders were at only 230 total yards (159 passing).
The Pats ran 22 more offensive plays (84-62) and held the ball for 11:41 more than Oakland (40:05-28:24). The Patriot defense forced Oakland to punt on nine of their twelve possessions (not including two kneel downs at the end of each half). The Raiders had only four drives that consisted of more than four plays.

Key Stat II: Special Teams
Adam Vinatieri went 3-3 on field goal attempts in extremely unfavorable conditions.
Troy Brown added 49 yards on punt returns; Charles Woodson had minus-3.

Key Stat III: Making plays in the clutch
From the fourth quarter on, Oakland's drives consisted of three punts and a knee.
New England finished with 13 points on a touchdown, punt, field goal, field goal.


Patriots storm to AFC title game after snowy comeback
Eliminate Raiders, helped by controversial call - The Boston Globe

The Patriots’ defense made two key stops in the fourth quarter, and then got the ball back with 2:06 remaining after Troy Brown’s punt return of 27 yards to the 46.​

​

Helped by the two-minute warning, the Patriots had no timeouts left, and the ball was on the 42.​

​

Then they were saved by the controversial call.​

​

According to Coleman, “Obviously, what I saw on the field, I thought the ball came out before his arm was going forward. Then, when I got to the replay monitor and looked at it, it was obvious his arm was coming forward. He touched the ball. And they just hooked it out of his hand. His arm was coming forward, which makes it an incomplete pass.”​

​

Many Patriots fans could only think it was revenge for what happened in the teams’ 1976 playoff game.​

​

Brady completed nine straight passes, four to Jermaine Wiggins (who had 10 catches), three to David Patten, and one to Kevin Faulk before Brady scrambled in from the 6 with 7:52 remaining to pull to within 13-10.​

​

Belichick said he and his staff watched tapes of the Buffalo blizzard game last season, and at the last minute included plays that were successful in that game. Wiggins caught a couple of big balls in that game.​

​

“Jermaine had a couple of big catches in that game. He’s kind of a snow plow for us,” said Belichick.​

Patriots Persevere With a Late Blizzard of Their Own | The New York Times

All that was missing from tonight's playoff game at Foxboro Stadium was a snowplow, a prisoner on work release and a coach looking to clear a swath for a winning field goal.​

​

In an American Football Conference divisional playoff game that looked as if it were played inside a snow globe, the New England Patriots left the snowplow on the sideline but still got a 45-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri with 27 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime and a 23-yarder at 8 minutes 29 seconds of overtime to beat the Oakland Raiders, 16-13, and advance to the A.F.C. championship game next Sunday.​

. . . ​

​

''I can't say enough about this group,'' said Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, whose team trailed, 13-3, heading into the fourth quarter. ''They will not quit. To pull our way back we had a lot of big plays, big throws, big blocks. It can't get much closer than that.''​

​

If this was to be the final game at Foxboro Stadium -- it will be razed as soon as the Patriots play their final game here this season -- it was a fitting way to go.​

​

Snow began falling heavily at least two hours before kickoff and continued throughout. Snow accumulated in a small drift on the bill of Raiders Coach Jon Gruden's visor.​

. . . ​

​

Quarterback Tom Brady scored on a 6-yard scramble that drew the Patriots to 13-10 with 7:52 remaining and then directed the eight-play drive that resulted in Vinatieri's tying field goal with 27 seconds left in regulation.​

​

That drive included a controversial play on which the initial ruling -- that Brady fumbled and the Raiders recovered -- was overturned. After a review, the officials ruled that Brady was in the act of throwing, so it was an incomplete pass and New England kept the ball at Oakland's 42.​

​

''His interpretation is the only one that matters,'' Gruden said. ''The Raiders have to live with it.''​

​

The Patriots moved to the Oakland 29, and after three consecutive incompletions, Vinatieri tied the game.​

​

''You can't get any tougher than that kick in four inches of snow,'' Belichick said. ''We didn't have a choice. It was our only shot.''​

​

In the overtime drive, Brady, who completed 26 of 39 passes for 238 yards after halftime, completed six passes in a row and moved the Patriots to the 5. The entire offense acted as a human plow, chipping at the snow with cleats to clear a spot for Vinatieri's winning kick.​

Photo Gallery: The Snow Bowl | Patriots.com

Patriots Snow Bowl Highlights




2001 AFC Divisional Round: Raiders vs Patriots | NFL Full Game
​

where it all began. great memory!

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Tomlinson Pouts on Bench in AFCCG​

Sunday January 20, 2008 at 3:00
2007 AFC Championship Game at Gillette
New England Patriots 21, San Diego Chargers 12
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Norv Turner
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Philip Rivers
Odds: New England favored by 14
Pats improve to 18-0; advance to Super Bowl 42
Chargers finish 13-6

Key Stats:
Third Down: Patriots 7-13; Chargers 3-12
Laurence Maroney: 25 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD
Kevin Faulk: 9 touches for 90 yards; 8 receptions on 8 targets for 82 yards
Wes Welker: 7 receptions on 9 targets, 56 yards, 1 TD
Ellis Hobbs: Team-high 8 tackles (7 solo) and one interception

The game began slowly, with five short drives ending in a punt for the two offenses. On the first play of the third Patriot possession Quentin Jammer intercepted a deep pass on the right intended for Donté Stallworth. Four plays later San Diego had a first-and-goal at the nine, but the defense stiffened and held the Chargers to a field goal.

On the next drive Tom Brady completed five of six passes, using quick, short routes and screens to neutralize edge pass rushers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips. Randy Moss ran for 14 yards on an end around and Kevin Faulk had three catches for 25 yards in the drive. Laurence Maroney's one-yard run gave the Patriots a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.

San Diego moved the ball quickly on the next possession, with 6'5 Vincent Jackson catching passes of 15, 16 and 21 yards. Again the Patriot red zone defense held their ground, limiting the Chargers to a field goal after another first-and-goal at the nine yard line.

The Patriots were forced to punt again, with San Diego taking over on their own four yard line. Asante Samuel intercepted a pass and Pats took over on the Charger 24 yard line. Brady completed a pair of 12 yards passes, to Kevin Faulk and Jabar Gaffney, and New England led 14-6.

Ellis Hobbs ended the next Charger possession with an interception, but the Patriots went three and out. With 1:46 left in the half the Patriots focused on defending deep passes and the sideline; Darren Sproles ran up the middle twice for 34 yards to put the Chargers in position for their third field goal just before time expired.

The first possession of the second half ended with another pass intended for Stallworth being intercepted. Passes from Philip Rivers to Jackson put the Chargers in the red zone again, but on third-and-one from the four Junior Seau stood up Michael Turner for a loss of two. A fourth field goal by Nate Kaeding made the score 14-12.

Laurence Maroney ran for 18, 11, six and four yards on the next drive to give the Patriots a first and goal. On third and two Brady was picked off again. Rather than go down in the end zone to give San Diego the ball at the 20, Antonio Cromartie attempted to run the ball out, despite being in the middle of the end zone and surrounded by bodies.

For the second time the Chargers were forced to start a drive from their own four yard line. Five plays later San Diego was forced to punt, and the Pats had the ball in good field position. Laurence Maroney's 20 yard run set up a six yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker, and the Pats led 21-12 with 12:16 left to play in the fourth quarter.

San Diego moved into Patriot territory on the ensuing drive, but was again forced to punt. From there it was all Maroney and Faulk as the Pats held the ball for the final nine minutes and 13 seconds. The Patriots simply kept the San Diego offense on the bench in the second half, with their final three drives going for 65 yards, 67 yards and 65 yards - and consuming a combined 19:10 off the clock. The Chargers had the ball just three times in the second half - a field goal and two punts - for a mere eight minutes and 22 seconds.

Perfect Patriots beat San Diego 21-12 in AFCCG - NY Daily News

Tomlinson carried on the first two San Diego plays, and did not touch the ball again because of a bad knee. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers hung in despite a bum knee and star tight end Antonio Gates did his best with a dislocated toe.​

​

The Chargers (13-6) gave a better performance than early this season, when they were routed 38-14 at New England. They trailed just 14-12 midway in the third quarter this time, but Brady's 6-yard TD pass to Wes Welker was enough for New England.​

​

Maroney ran for 122 yards to help hold the lead.​

In stark comparison to Tomlinson, Philip Rivers played this game on a torn ACL.

​

Chargers vs Patriots Game Summary - ESPN

NFL Playoffs - 2007 AFC Championship - ESPN Archives

Patriots 21, Chargers 12 (Live Blog) - The Fifth Down

Looking Back: Hurt of '07 Championship Immense for Lady T, Chargers, San Diego - The San Diego Union-Tribune

NFL Films Encore: 2007 AFC Championship Game - NFL Videos

Remember that Game When Philip Rivers Played on a Torn ACL? [2:26]



2007 Chargers at Patriots AFC Championship Highlights [8:31]
​

Sunday January 20, 2013 at 6:40
2012 AFC Championship Game at Gillette
Baltimore Ravens 28, New England Patriots 13
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Joe Flacco
Odds: New England favored by 7
Patriots finish 13-5
Ravens improve to 13-6, advance to Super Bowl 47 vs SF

The Patriots led 13-7 at halftime but were unable to score again. Baltimore's first drive of the second half stalled after only one first down, and after a punt New England took possession at their own 9-yard line. The Pats drove to the Raven 36 yard line, but could only pick up two more yards. Rather than attempt a 52 yard field goal on a windy day, the Patriots punted.

Baltimore drove 87 yards on ten plays to take a 14-13 lead. The Pats went 3-and-out, and the Ravens scored again - on another ten play drive, this one finishing on the first play of the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing drive old nemesis Bernard Pollard forced a Stevan Ridley fumble, and Baltimore recovered. Four plays later the Ravens were in the end zone to make the score 28-13. The Patriots responded, advancing to a first down at the Baltimore 25 on a pass to Deion Branch. The Pats were faced with a 4th-and-4 from the 19 yard line and down by 15 with 8:35 to play. A field goal would not help; the Patriots would be down by 12, and therefore still need to score two touchdowns. Brady's pass to Branch fell incomplete, and for all intents and purposes the game was over.

The Patriots were without Rob Gronkowski after he reportedly broke his forearm the previous week against Houston, blocking on an extra point when up by 35 points. The Pats were led offensively by Wes Welker (8 receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown) and Aaron Hernandez (9 receptions for 83 yards). Anquan Boldin had two fourth quarter touchdown receptions for Baltimore.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats beat Chiefs in Overtime Thriller​

Sunday January 20, 2019 at 6:40
2018 AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium
New England Patriots 37, Kansas City Chiefs 31 in OT
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Andy Reid
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes
Odds: Kansas City favored by 3
Patriots improve to 13-5, advance to Super Bowl 53
Chiefs finish 13-5

44 points were scored from the start of the fourth quarter on, in what was one of the most exciting games in franchise history. As part of the league's 100th anniversary, this game was ranked as the 36th greatest game in NFL history, dubbed The Frozen Shootout.

​

Patriots win in overtime classic to set up repeat of SB 36 with Rams | Metro West

​

By the time the fourth quarter came, the Patriots looked like they were in control.​

​

Then all hell broke loose.​

​

The Patriots entered the final quarter up 17-7. By the time there was 1:57 left on the clock, the lead had changed three times – and not in the Pats favor in this wild AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs. Tom Brady took the field down 28-24 with the seconds ticking away in Sunday’s title game.​

​

Like he’s done time and time again, Brady orchestrated another fourth-quarter comeback, but this day was different. Rex Burkhead ran in for a 4-yard touchdown to give the Patriots a 31-28 lead with 39 seconds remaining. It took the Chiefs 31 seconds to get a 39-yard game-tying field goal from Harrison Butker.​

This time it took overtime, but the Pats are back in the Super Bowl | New York Times

As Tom Brady led the New England Patriots down the field in the crucible of overtime, there was a familiar sense of inevitability, an atmosphere that was both tense and predictable. These were only the latest minutes in a cavalcade of triumphant overtime postseason Patriots moments that stretch from a snowy game in 2002 to the one played in frigid conditions here Sunday night.​

​

More of Brady’s passes failed than succeeded in the overtime period against the Kansas City Chiefs, but all the ones that mattered most were reliably rifled into the arms of his receivers. As the Patriots neared the Chiefs’ goal line, a winning touchdown and a ninth Patriots Super Bowl appearance this century seemed preordained.​

Chiefs come up just short vs Patriots in AFC title game | Sports Illustrated

The Lamar Hunt Trophy was supposed to finally come back home. It was to be won by Kansas City in their stadium, with their MVP quarterback, in what was unquestionably the biggest home game in team history.​

​

But this game ended like so many of the postseason contests of the last generation for the Patriots—and for the last two generations for Kansas City.​

​

That the Chiefs were even in position to make their first Super Bowl in 49 years after four quarters against the Patriots was a feat within itself. New England almost doubled Kansas City in time of possession during regulation, had 12 more first downs than the Chiefs and totaled 161 more yards of total offense. The Kansas City offense was shut out in the first half for this first time this season.​

​

By the time Patriots’ Matthew Slater called heads on the coin toss for overtime, the Chiefs’ defense had been on the field for 39:07 of the 60 minutes, and had to go back onto the field for three minutes and 50 more seconds. First and second downs weren’t an issue, but third downs went like this: Julian Edelman for 20 yards on third-and-10 from the New England 35. Edelman for 15 yards on third-and-10 from the Kansas City 45. Rob Gronkowski—the same Gronk who has one foot in Hollywood and who hadn’t been targeted more than eight times this season—for 15 yards on his 11th target on the day to get inside the red zone.​

​

“The defense played great but it’s hard to play 50 minutes of football,” All-Pro guard Mitchell Schwartz said. “And we kind of left them on the field the entire day.”​

Chiefs-Patriots OT game decided by coin toss, and that stings | Kansas City Star

Chiefs' OT rule change proposal inspired by Patriots falls flat | NBC Sports Boston

​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Sugar Bear Hamilton​

Happy 70th birthday to Ray Hamilton
Born January 20, 1951 in Omaha, Nebraska
Patriot NT, 1973-1981; uniform #71
Pats 14th round (342nd overall) selection of the 1973 draft, from Oklahoma

Ray Hamilton played in 134 NFL games, all for the New England Patriots. He also worked as an assistant defensive line coach with the Pats from 1985 to 1989 for Raymond Berry, and was the defensive line coach for the 1998 and 1989 seasons under Pete Carroll. Sugar Bear was also employed as a defensive line coach with other NFL teams from 1991 to 2013.

Hamilton is a member of the New England Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1970s, but he is most well known for being on the wrong end of one of the worst calls by a referee in NFL sports history. He was incorrectly flagged by Ben Dreith in a 1976 playoff game at Oakland for roughing the passer on a fourth down incomplete pass. Ken Stabler himself later stated that it was the incorrect call.

The next opponent was Pittsburgh, and at that point the Steelers were dealing with so many injuries they posed no threat in the AFC championship game. That was also a down year for the NFC; there were at least three teams in the AFC that would have beaten any NFC team in the Super Bowl. The winner of the Patriots-Raiders game would be a heavy favorite to become the next champion of the NFL.

Top 10 Controversial Calls: Sugar Bear Penalty | NFL.com Video




Happy 55th birthday to Chris Gannon
Born January 20, 1966 in Brandon, Florida
Patriot DE, 1990-1993; uniform #91
Pats 3rd round (73rd overall) selection of the 1989 draft, from SW Louisiana

Chris Gannon did not make the Patriot roster in 1989, and was claimed off waivers by the Chargers. The Pats re-signed him on April 1, 1990 and he played in thirty games with two starts over the next four seasons. He later went back to UL as an assistant coach from 1995-2000.




Happy 49th birthday to Alcides Catanho
Born January 20, 1972 in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Patriot LB, 1995; uniform #54
Signed as an undrafted rookie on May 1, 1995

Alcides Catanho began the 1995 season on the practice squad, and was then promoted to the active roster on September 13. He played in twelve games for the Patriots with one fumble recovery to his credit.




Two others born on this date have a New England connection:

Frank Mattiace, 60 (1961)
Holy Cross
The defensive lineman is one of nine Crusaders to make it to the NFL since 1987.

Tom Rodgers (1923-1992)
Tackle was drafted by the Boston Yanks in 1947, and played in nine games for that team.




January 20, 2006:
The Patriots name Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator, while retaining the title of quarterbacks coach. He had unofficially filled the role of OC in 2005 after Charlie Weiss departed to become head coach at Notre Dame.

On the same date Matt Caracciolo was promoted to Director of Football Operations, handling the daily logistical travel and training camp operations.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Bob Kraft buys the New England Patriots
Bill Parcells hired as Head Coach​

January 21, 1994
Robert Kraft purchases the New England Patriots from James Orthwein.

A Breakdown of How Robert Kraft Pays the Patriots (column with 24 minute video)

Kraft Anniversary Historic Event For Patriots | PatsFans

Monday, January 21st marks the 25th anniversary of Robert Kraft, who at the time owned Schaefer/Sullivan/Foxborough Stadium, purchasing the Patriots from James Busch Orthwein. Fearful that Orthwein would move the Patriots to his hometown of St. Louis, Kraft used his ownership of the stadium and the lease he made the Patriots sign as leverage to buy the team. He paid $172 million for the team, stupid money at the time which sent his late wife Myra into a fit of anger.​

What pro tennis taught Robert Kraft about owning the Patriots | boston.com

“I’d rather finish first with no superstars than finish last [with them],” Kraft told the Globe after the 1976 season. “Big names are necessary to the gate, but a winning team is more important than a superstar. … We have a tremendous product to sell. It’s just a matter of having people taste it.”​

​

And it was likely with that in mind when Kraft made his next big moves. Kraft hired 12-time Grand Slam singles winner Roy Emerson as the Lobsters’ player-coach for 1977, giving the Australian full control to choose his team, then paid $50,000 to acquire the rights to Martina Navratilova, then just 20 but already the No. 2 women’s player in the world.​

​

“She made a big difference. When we switched to Roy Emerson as a coach, he knew how to bring out the best in her. She won a Wimbledon championship while she was part of the Boston Lobsters,” Kraft told Howe. “To enhance our gate in the summertime, we used to play a few matches down in Cape Cod because our family was there. It was pretty cool. I remember her coming from Wimbledon on global TV to the Cape Cod Coliseum. I had a chance to get close to her, and I realized how important it is to have a marquee star. The combination of the business aspect, the coaching and the star, I learned from World Team Tennis.”​

Assessing Robert Kraft's quarter-century as Patriots owner | Sports Illustrated

Robert and Jonathan completed the sale in a conference room in St. Louis in 1994, before hustling to the airport. They had to fly home to tell Myra that they’d spent $172 million, or more than anyone had paid for a team in NFL history, before the news broke. Kraft, his son says, had to bribe airline officials to get them on the next flight back to Boston, and they had to slide some extra cash to their fellow passengers to obtain two seats next to each other. When they got home, the phone rang. It was a lawyer offering Kraft three times the money that he had paid six years earlier for the stadium lease; they wanted to move the team out of Massachusetts. Kraft thought back to the heartbreak he felt as a kid when the Boston Braves were uprooted to Milwaukee, and he refused. Myra was livid.​

Robert Kraft's Gutsy Investment In The New England Patriots Has Paid Off Big Time | Business Insider

In 2000, the Patriots were considered just a slightly above average team with a value of $464 million compared to the average NFL team ($423 million). Since then, the value of the Patriots has increased 460% while the average NFL team has increased 237%.​

January 21, 1993
Bill Parcells is hired as Head Coach of the New England Patriots.


Jan 22, 1993: ProJo Patriots Moments: Bill Parcells hired as head coach | Providence Journal

“I started my coaching career here in New England (linebacker coach in 1980) and I am going to end it here. This will be my last coaching job,” Parcells said.​

​

Although he doesn’t have the title of general manager, Parcells figures to have strong input on personnel matters, while others handle financial and administrative duties.​

​

“But this isn’t about control. This is a team. We’re a team, from top to bottom. Anyone that has their own agenda won’t be around long,” Parcells said.​

​

“The Patriots have convinced me they are willing and able to bring a championship-caliber team to New England. That was my only concern during our discussions. I have no reservations on that now. If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here today.”​

Jan 22, 1993: Patriot brass is super excited to land Parcells | Baltimore Sun

In the market glut of big-name NFL coaches, none comes with the credentials Parcells has -- two Super Bowl championships.​

​

The announcement Parcells will be coming to New England was made at a news conference at the upscale Westin Hotel-Copley Place by team owner James B. Orthwein, the St. Louis multimillionaire who purchased the Patriots in May.​

​

Parcells agreed to become the Patriots' new leader -- he has sweeping powers in all personnel areas, including the draft and the broadening spectrum of the free-agent marketplace -- for a contract, according to a source, worth $1.5 million a season for four years. He made about $1 million his final year with the New York Giants.​

​

According to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula will make $1.4 million in 1993, $1.6 million in '94.​

​

Parcells is the first coach the Patriots (2-14 last season) have had who had previous success as an NFL head coach. The 11 previous coaches were either former college coaches or NFL assistants.​

​

The Patriots also interviewed former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Philadelphia Eagles coach Buddy Ryan.​

Kraft Anniversary Historic Event For Patriots | PatsFans

From 1990 to 1992, the Patriots won a grand total of 9 games, an average of three per season. And unlike the previous seven-year dark age era which was based on a 14-game season, this dark ages era was played with 16-game schedules. The Patriot win percentage in these three years was .188. One year of former defensive coordinator Rod Rust, then two years of former UMass head coach **** MacPherson. Patriot football was simply putrid. Awful. Ugly. Make that dawg-ugly.​

​

Then, as if out of the blue, comes this two-time Super Bowl champion head coach, back from a three-year hiatus for health reasons. Orthwein hired Parcells and gave him the keys to the car. All football decisions were his and his alone. He wouldn’t have coached here if he didn’t have that power. We’ll get back to that power in a bit.​

​

Parcells lasted four seasons, took his team to the playoffs twice, and wound up taking them to Super Bowl XXXI. But most of all, he put the Patriots on the NFL map. The Patriots became a somebody after three decades of being a nobody (save for perhaps the 1976 and 1985 seasons). Even after Pete Carroll succeeded him, the Patriots have been a somebody. The riches would wait just a few more years. But it all started with The Tuna. From that moment on, being a Patriot fan was permanently different.​

 

[everlong]

If you look close enough the figurine is crying.

 

[Pape]

If you look close enough the figurine is crying.

Is the title of this wonderful piece "A Cup of Tears" ?

 

[everlong]

Is the title of this wonderful piece "A Cup of Tears" ?

Yes from the Lights Out series.