Today in Patriots History

[jmt57]

May 4:

Ed Weisacosky, 73 (May 4, 1944)
Patriot OLB, 1971-1972
Uniform #66
Weisacosky was an All-American at the University of Miami and then a sixth round (42nd overall) pick by the Dolphins in 1966. He appeared in all 28 games in two seasons for the Patriots, with 23 starts at left linebacker. Weisacosky became a sheriff in Missouri, retiring in 2008. He was inducted to the Miami Hurricane Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. He still has a disdain for the Jets, and says that 'he enjoyed his years with the Patriots most because management was considerate of the players' and that they are still his favorite team.


Others with New England area ties:
- Montell Owens, 33; University of Maine Black Bear was a Pro Bowl fullback for Jacksonville in 2010 and 2011.
- Tim Sherwin, 59; Boston College grad was a 4th round pick in '81 by the Colts, and spent eight years in the NFL.
- Sid Watson: Andover native averaged over 100 yards per game and 7.1 yards per carry at Northeastern. He was an NFL halfback from 1955-58 with Pittsburgh and Washington, and led the league in kickoff returns in '55.
- Ab Wimberly: drafted by the Boston Yanks in 1948, Wimberly was a Pro Bowl defensive end for Green Bay in 1952.
- Honolulu Hughes: Hawaii's first professional football and baseball player was a running back for the 1931-32 Boston Braves.
- Pop Williams: born in Jewett City and raised in Killingly CT. For more, check APF's mini-bio seven posts above.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Joseph Addai, 34 (May 3, 1983)
Patriot RB, 2012
Uniform #29
One of the running backs to go in the first round of the 2006 draft that the Patriots should have selected rather than Laurence Maroney

We made a boo-boo. Shows we're human. Still, it wasn't THAT bad a goof.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

He still has a disdain for the Jets, and says that 'he enjoyed his years with the Patriots most because management was considerate of the players' and that they are still his favorite team.

Hey Ed,

We love you.

Yours Truly,

Patriots fans

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

- Bernard Buzyniski: the Holy Cross grad was a linebacker who appeared in all 14 games for Buffalo in the AFL's inaugural 1960 season.

Buzz played for the Dallas Texans too, and retired in Winterhaven, FL

As for Saturday, we've got Marcus Darell Cannon (born May 6, 1988) an OT whom today, we're happy is "on the case"

That's right I got a car phone in the 70's, yeah

Easy.

"Missed it by that much..."

 

[jmt57]

May 5 Patriot birthdays:

Clarence Scott, 73 (5/05/1944)
Patriot SS, 1969-1972
Uniform #26
Acquired as a free agent, Scott played in all 14 games in his rookie season and became a starter in 1970. Injuries however limited him to 15 games and ten starts over his next/final two NFL seasons. Scott then worked for IBM for twenty years, and was inducted to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Overall Scott played in 43 games with 24 starts for the Pats, collecting six fumble recoveries. He had this to say about his playing days at Morgan State and with the Pats.:

“I played with Leroy Kelly, Willie Lanier, George Nock and (John) ‘Frenchy’ Fuqua. I was Leroy’s fullback. I played both ways from my freshman year to my senior year. I played fullback and left linebacker on defense.”

Scott played pro football with the great Jim Nance who was a big, hard running fullback.

“He was a good running back,” Scott said. “I’m glad he was on my team. He wasn’t the kind of guy you could tackle. He was a good friend of mine.”​

Randall Gay, 35 (5/05/1982)
Patriot CB/S, 2004-2007
Uniform #21
The Pats signed Gay as an undrafted rookie out of LSU in 2004. With injuries to Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, Gay started nine games that year as well as all three playoff games; in the SB 39 victory over Philly he had 11 solo tackles. He played only eight games the next two years, going on IR both seasons. In 2007 Gay played in all 16 games with three starts, used primarily as a nickel back. In the following offseason he signed as a free agent with New Orleans, and earned a second SB ring with the Saints in 2009. A concussion landed him on IR for a third time in 2010, and he retired after failing a physical for training camp in 2010. Gay appeared in 39 games with 14 starts over four seasons with the Pats, with five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.


Jon Bostic, 26 (5/05/1991)
Patriot LB, 2015
Uniform #58
The Pats acquired Bostic after Week 3 of 2015 from Chicago, in exchange for a 6th round draft pick. Bostic appeared in 11 games for the Pats with one start, playing primarily on special teams. After the 2016 draft the Patriots traded Bostic - who was unlikely to make the final roster and had close to a $1 million cap number - to Detroit for a 7th round pick. Bostic spent all of 2016 on IR with a foot injury.


Terrance Wheatley, 32 (5/05/1985)
Patriot CB, 2008-09
Uniform #22
The second round (62nd overall) selection in 2008 draft from Colorado played in only 11 games for the Patriots, with one start. His rookie season was derailed by a wrist injury that put him on IR, and he was unable to play or practice for the first five weeks of 2009 due to a foot injury. After being a healthy scratch in week 8 he was waived, ending a disappointing tenure in Foxboro. Jacksonville signed Wheatley but he got in to only one game for the Jags, again finishing the season IR. Wheatley was later signed to Buffalo's practice squad for a brief time, and his NFL career was over.


Michael LeBlanc, 55 (5/05/1962)
Patriot RB, 1987
Uniform #27
No relation to the bad actor named Matt, this LeBlanc was a replacement player from the CFL in '87. He carried the ball 35 times for 146 yards in a victory over Buffalo, and stuck around for one extra game after the strike ended.


May 5, 2012: Patriots sign free agent RB Joseph Addai. See the May 3rd entry for more details on the former Indianapolis Colt.


Other pro football players with New England connections:
- Matt Lawrence, 32: born in Hartford, Lawrence grew up in Bloomfield and went to UMass. The RB got five touches in eight games for the Ravens in 2009, then spent all of the next two seasons on IR with knee injuries.
- Darvell Huffman, 50: born in Boston, Huffman went to Newton South High School and Boston University. The wide receiver was a late (232nd overall) pick by the Colts in 1990, and appeared in three games for Indy in 1991 with 3 receptions. Huffman also played in the CFL and Arena league, and coached high school football for 13 years.
- Bob Davis (5/5/1914): HB/FB/PR/KR for the Boston Yanks 1944-46, he led the NFL in punt returns (22) and PR yardage (271) in 1944.
- Pug Manders (5/5/1913): aside from having a great football name, Manders was a FB for the 1945 Boston Yanks. The 11th overall pick in the 1939 draft, he was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. He played nine NFL seasons and led the league in his 1941 All-Pro season with 486 yards rushing. Manders scored touchdowns rushing (35), receiving, passing, and on one of his 11 interceptions.
- Jim Musick (5/5/1910): fullback for the Boston Braves/Redskins led the NFL in 1939 with 173 carries and 809 yards rushing (67.4 yards per game). After a knee injury ended his football career he joined the Marines and later served as Orange County (CA) sheriff, elected to office seven times from 1946-1975.
- Oscar Johnson (5/5/1901): born and raised in Lynn, Johnson went to Lynn English and the University of Vermont. He was a fullback for the 1924 Chicago Bears.
- Bruno Haas (5/5/1891): Haas grew up in Worcester and depending on which website you believe he either went to Worcester Boys Trade High School (now known as Worcester Tech) or Worcester Academy. He spent two years as a tailback with the Akron Pros, Cleveland Indians and Dayton Triangles in the early '20s. Haas was also a minor league baseball player who, in his brief time in the big leagues, tied an American League record with most walks in a game (15).


Also born on May 5:
- Tony Canadeo (5/5/1919): "The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga" was a QB/HB/TB/KR/DB for Green Bay from 1941-1952. He threw 16 touchdown passes, caught five TDs. and rushed for 26 more. Canadeo - who was only the third player in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards - was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974 (unlike Houston Antwine or Jim Nance with the Pats HoF, while Canadeo was still able to enjoy it before his death).

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

birthdays

May 7:

Babe Parilli (b. 5/7/1930) really tore it up in '64, throwing for 31 TD's - a record broken by Tom Brady in '07.

I saw Pat McInally (b. 5/7/1953) play at Harvard, and he was a huge weapon-kicking, receiving, and throwing.

McInally scored the only verified perfect score (among NFL players) on the Wonderlic Test, an intelligence test developed in the 1930s and given to prospective players by the NFL to judge their aptitude for adapting to certain situations. According to Pat, "It really did seem like an easy test at the time. One of the reasons I did so well is because I didn't think it mattered. So I think I didn't feel any pressure at all. It was more of a lark, and that's when you do your best. If I took it 100 times I'd probably never do that again." McInally claims it hurt, rather than enhanced, his position in the draft because "coaches and front-office guys don't like extremes one way or the other, but particularly not on the high side. I think they think guys who are intelligent will challenge authority too much." He took the test again in 2007 when Wonderlic hired him to manage its marketing of the exam. When told he missed one correct answer, McInally quipped, "Missed one. Not a bad score after six concussions." With his name, too bad he didn't play for us.

Johnny Unitas (5/7/1933-9/11/2002)
Anybody tougher than "The Golden Arm"? Um, well, no, probably not.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Patriot birthday

BONUS TRIVIA QUESTION:
What parking lot is Tom posing in? And what's the make/model of the car behind him?
-Super Bowl tickets to the winner

Tom Yewcic (born May 9, 1932) played quarterback and punter. He attended Michigan State University, and played from 1961 to 1966 with the Boston Patriots.

Yewcic, Tom Brady and Actual Pats Fan are the only Patriots players who have punted, thrown a touchdown pass, caught a pass, and run for a touchdown.

OK that third guy might have been in his dreams...

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

still able to enjoy it before his death

Today, Oscar-winning American composer and conductor Jerry Goldsmith (February 10, 1929 – July 21, 2004), was honored with a posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jerry Goldsmith - Wikipedia

Jerry Goldsmith Receives a Star on the Walk of Fame

Oscar-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith honored with posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame – Orange County Register



Recognizing this man today, thirteen years after his passing, is as ignorant, stupid, insulting, offensive and unforgivable as Julius Adams not being honored in his lifetime for his inevitable enshrinement into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

playing primarily on special teams

Yes, prior to 1993 we did in fact have important role players picked up as free agents, like Guy Morriss (born May 13, 1951). Guy was our long snapper from 1984-87, and he filled in on the O-line too when called upon.

I've seen too many snaps sail way over the punter's head to underestimate the importance of that job. Guy was interviewed on that subject, and he said, "You develop a certain timin' when you practice it enough."

Morriss told FOX Sports that when his future wife Jackie, with whom he has five daughters and five grandchildren, asked him what nationality he was, he replied, "I'm a Texan."

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

New England

Besides having a really cool football name, Robert Gronkowski (born May 14, 1989), or "Gronk" is a guy who could be considered for G.O.A.T. status if he can stay healthy for the next few years, and we want those to be right here at Foxborough. Hopefully, it will all work out, and he'll be able to play in more Super Bowls.

He only played in seven games for us in '94, but Sylvester Stanley Jr. (Born: May 14, 1970) has a cool name, too.

"Buster" went to Michigan.

 

[jmt57]

May 6:

Josh Boyce, 26 (May 6, 1991)
Patriot WR, 2013-2014
Uniform #82
Boyce was a 4th-round 2013 draft pick (102nd overall) out of TCU. The draft picks used on Boyce, Jamie Collins and Logan Ryan were obtained from Minnesota in exchange for New England's first round pick, which the Vikings used on Cordarrelle Patterson. As a rookie Boyce played in nine games, returning 21 kickoffs and catching nine passes on 19 targets for 121 yards. He spent most of 2014 on the practice squad, activated for the final regular season game with no stats; he was a healthy inactive for all three playoff games. Boyce was IR-waived at the end of the 2015 training camp. He spent most of the 2016 off-season with Indy before being cut after the first preseason game. Boyce spent 2016 on Cleveland's practice squad and is still currently on their roster.

Marcus Cannon, 29 (May 6, 1988)
Patriot OL, 2011-2016
Uniform #61
Fifth round (138th overall) selection in the 2011 draft. Pick used for Cannon and Stevan Ridley were acquired in draft trade with Houston in exchange for second round (60th overall) pick used on DB Brandan Harris (42 games, no starts). Cannon has appeared in 80 games with 34 starts, and has also been in 15 playoff games while earning two rings.

Markus Kuhn, 31 (May 6, 1986)
Patriot DT, 2016
Uniform #94
Kuhn was with the Pats in the 2016 off season, but was let go as part of final roster cuts in early September.

Rob Holmberg, 46 (May 6, 1971)
Patriot LB, 2000-2001
Uniform #47
Holmberg appeared in all 16 games for the Pats in 2000 with five starts, and two more games in October of 2001.

Howard Feggins, 52 (May 6, 1965)
Patriot DB, 1988-1989
Uniform #27
Feggins appeared in eleven games with the Pats in '89. He also played in NFL Europe and the CFL, and later worked as a college assistant coach.


Mike "Scooter' McGruder, 53 (May 6, 1964)
Patriot CB, 1996-1997
Uniform #27
The final two of his nine NFL seasons were in Foxboro, where McGruder played in 17 games.

Derwin Williams, 56 (May 6, 1961)
Patriot WR, 1984-1987
Uniform #82
A seventh round pick out of New Mexico, Williams appeared in 42 regular season games plus two playoff games with the Pats. He had 14 receptions for 228 yards, and then went on to become an official in Conference USA.

Also:

George Tarasovic, 87 (May 6, 1930)
Boston College
NFL DE, 1952-1966

Kid Hill (May 6, 1904)
Brighton MA, Portland (Maine) Prep, Amherst College
OT, 1926

 

[jmt57]

May 7:

Babe Parilli, 87 (May 7, 1930)
Patriot QB, 1961-67
Uniform #15
After playing for Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky, Parilli was the 4th overall pick in the 1952 draft by Green Bay. In the fifties he bounced back and forth between the Packers and Ottawa in the CFL, and then was a backup for the Raiders in 1960. At the age of 31 his career took off with the Patriots as a three-time AFL All-Star. His 31 touchdown passes in 1965 was a team record that would stand for an amazing 42 years. In seven seasons with the Pats he threw 132 touchdown passes, and ran for 14 TD and 949 yards. Parilli was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982, and the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993.

A.J. Francis, 27 (May 7, 1990)
Patriot DT, 2013
Uniform #69
A day after final roster cuts in 2013 the Patriots acquired four players off waivers, one of whom was Francis (from Miami). He was released on September 7 to make room for Josh Kline, and then signed to the practice squad. In late November the Dolphins signed Francis to their 53-man roster, ending his stint in New England. Francis has also been part of the Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington organizations, appearing in three NFL games.

Leonard Hankerson, 29 (May 7, 1988)
Patriot WR, 2015
Uniform #15
Hankerson was a third round selection by Washington in the 2011 draft, but he suffered a bad hip injury in his third start and was never really the same. In 2013 he blew out his knee and spent most of 2014 on PUP. Atlanta signed him in 2015 but he again landed on IR, this time due to a hamstring injury. After being waived-injured the Pats signed him for depth due to injuries to Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, and he appeared in one game for ten snaps with no stats - and was let go just ten days after being signed.

Chris Hayes, 45 (May 7, 1972)
Patriot FS, 2002
Uniform #29
Hayes was signed as a veteran free agent in March of 2002, but released at the end of training camp. The Pats re-signed him in early December and he played in the final four games of the 2002 season. Hayes also played for Green Bay in their Superbowl 31 victory over the Patriots.

Mike Arthur, 49 (May 7, 1968)
Patriot C, 1993-1994
Uniform #65
Arthur started 24 games at center in his two seasons with the Patriots. Similar to Hayes, he also earned a ring with the Packers in SB 31.

Tim Gordon, 52 (May 7, 1965)
Patriot FS, 1991-1992
Uniform #41
After four years in Atlanta, Gordon played in 21 games for the Patriots with 15 starts. In '92 he had 39 tackles (25 solo) with two passes defensed.

Ben Reed, 54 (May 7, 1963)
Patriot DE, 1987
Uniform #71
A 10th round pick out of Ole Miss in 1986 by Tampa Bay, Reed appeared in the three replacement games in the '87 season.


May 7, 2012: Matt Light officially retires after 11 seasons with the Patriots.


Others with New England area ties:

Rondell Jones (May 7, 1971) - born in Sunderland MA, the free safety spent five seasons in the NFL with the Broncos and Ravens.

Pat McInally (May 7, 1953) - the Harvard graduate was Cincinnati's punter and wide receiver for ten seasons, earning All-Pro honors in 1981. McInally was enshrined to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016 and scored a perfect 50 on the Wonderlic test.

Algy Clark (May 7, 1904) - a single wing blocking back and offensive tackle in the thirties, Clark scored one touchdown in 1932 for the Boston Braves.

Dolph Eckstein (May 7, 1902) - Brown University
The Providence Steamroller was an All-Pro center in 1925.

Belf West (May 7, 1896) - Philips Andover Academy
All-American tackle at Colgate could also pass the ball 70 yards and once kicked a 52 yard field goal - in 1919! West was a first-team All-Pro in 1921 for the Canton Bulldogs.



Notable NFL players:

Johnny Unitas (May 7, 1933) - one of the greatest players in NFL history.

Earl Thomas, 28 (May 7, 1989), Seattle Seahawk safety.

Leslie O'Neal, 53 (May 7, 1964), 6-time Pro Bowl OLB/DE for San Diego.

Alex Smith, 33 (May 7, 1984), QB for the Chiefs.

 

[jmt57]

May 8 is highlighted by one that got away, and a few pro football notables.


Steve Freeman, 64 (May 8, 1953)
Patriot S, 1975
Pats 5th round (117th overall) pick in the 1975 draft, out of Mississippi State
Freeman did not survive roster cuts, and never played in a real game for the Patriots. Buffalo signed him and he went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL, 12 with the Bills. He appeared in 190 games with 23 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries. Freeman then worked as college official and has worked as an NFL official since 2001, as a back judge on Jeff Triplette's officiating crew.


Others with New England area connections:

Booth Lusteg (5/8/39-7/12/12) Born and raised in New Haven, Lusteg went to UConn but did not play football there. He was a baseball player in college and 1B/OF in the minor leagues for two seasons. The Bills had open auditions for a kicker when Pete Gogolak was injured. Lusteg was a frustrated actor who was playing for the New Bedford Sweepers in the old Atlantic Coast Football League. In an attempt to appear younger, Lusteg used his younger brother's identity. He won the job over a variety of miscreants, including an Austrian count who lived in the Alps and a guy with one arm and one eye.

The fib about his age almost caught up to him. His brother went to BC and when Buffalo's bus driver got lost on the way to Alumni Stadium to play the Patriots, Lusteg was asked for directions. Acting like he knew where he was going, the team bus miraculously arrived at the destination. Lusteg finished second to Gino Cappelletti in scoring in that 1966 season. He spent two seasons in the American Football League, two in the NFL and one in the World Football League.

Ryan Purvis, 31 (5/8/86); Boston College, class of 2009
The TE had 113 receptions for 1,122 yards and six TD at BC from 2005-08. He went undrafted and signed with Tampa Bay, spending most of 2009 on the practice squad. When Jeramy Stevans was released after an arrest, the Purvis was promoted to the active roster. He appeared in ten games with five catches on six targets for 38 yards in 2010, but did not survive roster cuts in 2011.

Bill Godwin (5/8/19-3/26/98); C/LB for the 1947-48 Boston Yanks.



Notable pro football players born May 8:

- Doug Atkins (5/8/30-12/30/15); 8-time Pro Bowl DE for the Bears played in 205 games from 1953-69 and was enshrined to the Hall of Fame in 1982.

- Keith Lincoln, 78 (5/8/39); five-time AFL All-Star RB single handily demolished the Patriots in the 1963 AFL championship game. His 206 yards rushing (on just 13 carries), 123 receiving yards and a 20 yard pass completion led the way to San Diego's 51-10 victory. Over fifty years later his 329 yards from scrimmage is still a single-game post season record, one that may never be broken. Over his career he scored touchdowns rushing (19), receiving (19), passing (5), kick return (1), punt return (1), plus five field goals and 16 extra points.

- Ronnie Lott, 58 (5/8/59) - 49er Hall of Fame safety.

- Bill Cowher, 60 (5/8/57); before he was a tv analyst and before he was a coach, Cowher spent four seasons as a linebacker for the Browns and Eagles.

- Brad Culpepper, 48 (5/8/69); DT on '90s Bucs defense alongside Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch; now a tort lawyer in Tampa.

- Korey Stringer (5/8/74-8/1/01), RIP

- Lou Brock, 53 (5/8/64); son of the baseball Hall of Famer was a 2nd round pick by the Chargers in 1987.

 

[jmt57]

May 9 is the birth date of five former Patriots:

John Charles, 73 (May 9, 1944)
Patriot CB/S, 1967-1969
Uniform #25
Pats 1st round (21st overall) selection out of Purdue in the 1967 NFL draft.
Charles played CB in '67 before moving to safety. He appeared in 39 games for the Pats with six interceptions, with two returned for touchdowns. He played five more years in the NFL, finishing his career with 16 interceptions.

Tom Yewcic, 85 (May 9, 1932)
Patriot P/QB/HB/FL, 1961-1966
Uniform #14
Yewcic was a late (319th) draft pick by the Steelers in 1954 but chose to play baseball. He was the MVP of the 1954 college world series and signed with the Tigers. He was in Detroit's minor league system through 1959, only making it to the big leagues for three innings of one game in 1957 before switching to football. He is the only person to appear in two professional sports at Fenway Park: his one MLB game against the Red Sox, and with the Pats from '63-'66.

For six seasons Yewcic was a punter and backup QB for the Pats. He was also used at halfback at times, and at flanker in 1961. Over his career he ran (72 times for 424 yards, 4 TD, 5.9 ypc) almost as often as he passed (87 completions, 12 TD). His 377 punts ranks second in franchise history. Yewcic is also the only Patriot besides Tom Brady to have punted, thrown a TD pass, rushed for a TD, caught a pass and punted. Yewcic had a 46 yard reception in a 46-17 1961 victory over Denver, and his 90 yards rushing helped down the Jets/Titans at BU Field in '62.

Willie Germany, 69 (May 9, 1948)
Patriot S, 1976
Uniform #29
Germany appeared in ten games as a backup and special teamer. He had started the previous season for Houston and scored the only touchdown in the season opener at Foxboro, on a fumble return in a torrential downpour to defeat the Pats 7-0. Germany teamed with **** Conn to defend a desperation pass by Ken Stabler that momentarily appeared to clinch a victory over Oakland in the '76 playoff game - and then Ben Dreith threw his flag on Ray Hamilton for a bogus roughing the passer penalty...

Ras-I-Dowling, 29 (May 9, 1988)
Patriot S, 2011-2012
Uniform #21
Pats 2nd round (33rd overall) selection out of Virginia in the 2011 draft.
Many eyebrows were raised when the Patriots drafted Dowling so early, and in this case the armchair gm's were correct. Dowling injured his hip in week 2 of his rookie season and landed on IR, and then was placed on IR again in October of 2012 with a torn thigh muscle. He was part of roster cuts in August of 2013; his final stat line with the Patriots reads 9 games, 2 starts, 1 pass defensed, 11 combined tackles (8 plus 3 assists). Since then he has been on the practice squads of the Jets (of course), Raiders and Panthers, but has not been with any team since the end of 2015.

Wilbert Brown, 40 (May 9, 1977)
Patriot G, 2003-2004
Uniform #60
The Patriots claimed the former Skin off waivers heading up to the Pats week 4 game at Washington, leading some to conclude it was for espionage. If that was the purpose it didn't work, though the loss to Steve Spurrier's club was the final loss for the Patriots that season. Brown was usually a game day inactive and only appeared in one game for the Pats in 2003. Brown was excused from the start of training camp in 2004 for personal reasons, and then placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report List on August 4. He was part of a group of players that was released in February 2005 just prior to the start of free agency.

Chy Davidson, 58 (May 9, 1959)
Patriot WR, 1981 (off season)
University of Rhode Island
Pats 11th round (2nd overall) selection in the 1981 supplemental draft.
The Pats took a flyer on Davidson, but he was cut at the end of training camp. He appeared in four games for the Jets in '84-'85, and prior to that spent time with both the NFL and USFL teams in Washington.

Others with New England area connections:
- Art Dorfman (5/9/1908): Everett HS, Boston University; C for 1929 Buffalo Bisons.
- Doc Haggerty (5/9/1895); Nashua HS, Tufts; APFA guard, 1920-21.
- Rob Porter (5/9/1962); Holy Cross; Giants safety during '87 strike/replacement games.


Other pro football players born May 9:
- Jake Long
- Bob Jeter
- Jesse Whittenton

 

[jmt57]

Only two Patriots born on May 10.

Grant Williams, 43 (May 10, 1974)
Patriot T/G, 2000-2010
Uniform #76
After four seasons in Seattle, Bill Belichick signed Williams in March of 2000. Williams played in 29 games with nine starts over two seasons with the Pats. In two of his four 2001 starts RB Antowain Smith rushed for over 100 yards.

Jabaal Sheard, 28 (May 10, 1989)
Patriot DE, 2015-2016
Uniform #93
Sheard was signed to a 2-year, $11 mil contract early in 2015 free agency. That season he played in 13 games with one start, registering 37 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 passes defensed. He also played in both playoff games, with 9 tackles. Sheard took on a bigger role in 2016, playing in 15 games with 8 starts. In the playoffs Sheard had 2 tackles vs Houston, 3 vs Pittsburgh, and two tackles and a clutch pressure on Matt Ryan in Superbowl 51. Sheard smartly cashed in with a 3-year, 25 million contract with the Colts in 2017.


May 10, 2012: The Patriots announce 2012 coaching staff responsibilities and additions. Most notably Matt Patricia becomes the Defensive Coordinator; in addition Josh Boyer will coach cornerbacks, Brian Flores will coach safeties, Patrick Graham will coach the defensive line and Pepper Johnson will coach the linebackers. On offense, George Godsey will coach the tight ends. In addition, Joe Judge is named special teams assistant and Steve Belichick is hired as a coaching assistant.


Others born May 10 with New England connections:

Curly Oden (5/10/1899); grew up in Providence and went to Classical HS and Brown.
Blocking Back for the Providence Steamrollers and Boston Braves, 1925-1932. In 1926 he scored ten touchdowns: 6 rushing, 1 receiving and 3 on punt returns.

Jeremy Trueblood, 34 (5/10/83); Boston College class of 2006
RT started 94 games from 2006-13, mostly for Tampa Bay.

'Chuckin' Charlie' O'Rourke (5/10/17); went to Malden HS and Boston College.
Montreal born QB/P was the 39th pick in the 1941 draft by the Bears. In '46 with the Los Angeles Dons he led the league in pass completion percentage (57.7%).

Dameon Reilly, 54 (5/10/63); University of Rhode Island, class of 1986.
The WR appeared in three games as a replacement player for Miami in 1987, with five receptions for 70 yards.


Also born May 10:
- Pat Summerall (5/10/30-4/16/13)
- Randy Rasmussen (207 games at LG for Jets from 1967-1981)
- Jim Zorn (Seahawks QB played in 140 games from 1976-1987)

 

[jmt57]

May 11:

Butch Songin (5/11/24-5/26/76)
Patriot QB, 1960-1961
Uniform #11
Like many early Patriots, Songin was a local guy; he graduated from Walpole High School and Boston College. He was captain and two-time All-American of BC's Hockey team, who were national champions in 1949. Songin threw 30 touchdowns for the Eagles from '47-'49, but an injury in a college all star game resulted in a drop in his draft status (247th overall by the Browns in the 1950 draft). He played minor league football for Erie in the last year of the American Association, but was unable to finish the season due to injury and missed the championship game. Over the decade Songin played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in what would later become the CFL, as well as some minor league hockey.

At age 36 Songin was the starting QB for the Pats in the first ever AFL game. He appeared in all 28 games over two seasons for the Pats, starting 18 games until Babe Parilli arrived and took over. During that time he threw 26 touchdown passes, and ran for two more. Songin was also coaching football and hockey at Marian High School in Framingham at the same time that he was playing for the Patriots. He passed away at age 52 in Foxborough from cancer.


Andrew Walter, 35 (May 11, 1982)
Patriot QB, 2009 (off season)
Uniform #16
The Patriots signed the former Raider as a veteran free agent on August 9, 2009 after they released Matt Gutierrez. There was some speculation at the time that the move was made because Tom Brady would not be ready to start the season, that he was still recovering from the Bernard Pollard knee injury. He was released a month later during final roster cuts, electing to go with only two quarterbacks on the roster - with undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer as the backup over Walter, Gutierrez and Kevin O'Connell. Frustrated over not getting a chance to play, Walter retired from the NFL. He went and got his MBA, became managing partner of a commercial business lending firm, and is now a VP of corporate development at MGM.


Others with New England area connections:

Ed King (5/11/25-9/18/06); BC High and Boston College grad.
Played G/DE/DG/LB from 1948-50 for Buffalo in the AAFC, and Baltimore after the league merged with the NFL.

Tom Lomasney (5/11/06-12/29/76); Salem High School class of 1924.
Lifelong resident of Salem was an end for the 1929 Staten Island Stapletons.

Bob Goodridge, 71 (5/1146); born in Boston.
WR was a 6th round pick by Minnesota, playing in 11 games for the Vikings in 1968. At Vanderbilt in '67 Goodridge had 79 receptions for 1,114 yards.

Ben Roderick (5/11/66-11/30/74); Boston College.
Tailback for Buffalo and Canton in the twenties.

Darryl Pollard, 53 (5/11/64); born in Ellsworth Maine.
CB won two superbowl rings with the 49ers.

Al Dekdebrun (5/11/21-3/29/05)
QB for the Boston Yanks in the forties.


Other notable pro football players born May 11:
- QB Cam Newton
- WR Jeremy Maclin
- P Chris Mohr
- QB Steve Bono

 

[jmt57]

Just one Patriot for May 12.

Andre Carter, 38 (May 12, 1979)
Patriot DE, 2011 and 2013
Uniform#68 and #96
The 7th overall pick of the 2001 draft spent most of his playing days with San Francisco and Washington before catching on with the Patriots at the tail end of his career. Carter had 10 sacks in 2011 before missing the final two games with a torn quadriceps tendon, and was named to his first Pro Bowl. After season ending injuries to Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork, the Pats re-signed Carter for the last nine games of the 2013 season. Overall he had 12 sacks and 55 tackles with the Patriots, playing in 23 games with 14 starts, plus two playoff games. He finished his NFL career with 80.5 sacks, and in February was hired by the Dolphins as an assistant defensive line coach.


Chris Hovan, 39 (5/12/78); Boston College class of '99.
An All-American at BC, the DT spent ten years in the NFL with the Vikings and Bucs. He has since worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the University of South Florida, and defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League.

Tim Walker, 59 (5/12/58); born in Hartford.
The linebacker played all 16 games for Seattle in 1980 before a neck injury forced him to retire.

Don McCauley, 68 (5/12/49); born in Worcester.
RB was a 1st round pick by the Colts in 1971 and scored 57 touchdowns over 11 seasons.

Fred Dugan, 84 (5/12/33); born and raised in Stamford.
TE/SE had 153 receptions and 13 TD from 1958-63.



Also:

- Max Montoya, 61 (5/12/56); guard played 223 games with 195 starts for Bengals and Raiders from 1979-94.

- Steve Smith, 38 (5/12/79); WR was named to five pro bowls when he wasn't getting into a fight.

 

[jmt57]

May 13:

Bill Rademacher, 75 (May 13, 1942)
Patriot WR, 1969-1970
Uniform #33
Rademacher played the final two years of his football career with the Pats after five seasons with the Jets. He played in 27 games with five starts for Boston, with 21 receptions for 268 yards, 12.8 yards per catch and three touchdowns. He later became assistant coach and then head coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan.

Guy Morris, 66 (May 13, 1951)
Patriot LS/C, 1984-1987
Uniform #75
Played in 59 games with 22 starts, occasionally filling in at center due to injuries. Was one of the first players to strictly be a long snapper. Morriss was the Pats assistant offensive line coach in 1988 and 1989, and was part of the first Patriot team to play in a superbowl. Morriss was also head coach at Kentucky for two years and Baylor for five seasons; unfortunately he is now battling Alzheimer's.

Josh Taves, 45 (May 13, 1972)
Patriot DE, 1997
Taves went to Dennis-Yarmouth High School and then Northeastern from 1991-94. He did not appear in any games for the Pats in his one year with the club. Taves did play in 29 games for Carolina and Oakland, and also spent a year in NFL Europe with Barcelona.


Tom Nalen, 46 (May 13, 1971); Foxborough High School and Boston College.
Five-time Pro Bowl center played 198 games for Denver from 1994-2007.


Also born today:
- DE Shaun Phillips
- CB Tyrann Mathieu

 

[jmt57]

May 14:

Rob Gronkowski, 28 (May 14, 1989)
Patriot TE, 2010 - present
Uniform #87
Pats 2nd round (42nd overall) selection in 2010, out of Arizona.
- 4 Pro Bowls, 3 time All Pro, 2 time Super Bowl champion.
- Only TE in NFL history with five 10-plus touchdown seasons.
- (23) 100-yard games, 3rd most by a TE in NFL history.
- one of five TE in NFL history to have 90-plus receptions, 1000-plus yards and 10-plus touchdowns in a single season.
- only TE to have three seasons with 1000-plus yards and 10-plus touchdowns.
- youngest player to have 3 TD in a regular season game, and also in the playoffs.
- most touchdowns by a TE in a season (18) and most receiving TD in a season (17).
- most receiving yards by a TE in a season (1327).
- team record for most career TD receptions (68).

Don Jones, 27 (May 14, 1990)
Patriot S, 2014
Uniform #29 and #31
The Pats claimed Jones off waivers from Miami on September 1, 2014. He appeared in nine out of 11 games before being released in late November, almost exclusively on special teams. Jones has also played for the Saints, Browns, Texans and 49ers, appearing in 56 regular season and two playoff games.

Sylvester 'Buster' Stanley, 47 (May 14, 1970)
Patriot NT, 1994
Uniform #63
Undrafted out of Michigan, Stanley appeared in seven games for the Patriots as a rookie. He then played in NFL Europe for two years, and two seasons of Arena football.

Darren Twombly, 52 (May 14, 1965)
Patriot C, 1987
Uniform #64
It may have been a replacement game, but in week four the BC alum became the first and only native of well-heeled Manchester (oh, excuse me; Manchester-by-the-sea) MA (class of '83) to play in an NFL game.


Also:

Kelvin Martin, 52 (5/14/65); Boston College, 83-86.
Before 50 cent, this WR/PR played ten years in the NFL, mostly for Dallas.

Dave Widell, 52 (5/14/65); South Catholic HS (Hartford), Boston College.
OL played in 156 games with Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville and Atlanta.

Rob Francois, 32 (5/14/85); Governor Dummer Academy, Boston College.
LB played in 39 games for the Packers from 2010-13.

John Kissell (5/14/23-4/9/92); Nashua HS and Boston College.
DT was a 4-time league champion with the Browns.

Earl Audet (5/14/21-12/18/02); Lockwood HS (Warwick RI)
OT played in 51 games from 1945-48 for Washington and the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC.


Also born today:
- RB Frank Gore
- LB Clay Matthews
- LB Lawrence Timmons
- OT Carl Nicks
- WR Mike Quick
- DT Tony Siragusa

 

[jmt57]

Plenty of famous (and infamous) pro football players born May 15.

Doug Beaudoin, 63 (May 15, 1954)
Patriot S, 1976-1979
Uniform #27
Pats 9th round (243rd overall) pick in the 1976 draft, out of Minnesota.
Beadoin played 45 games with 20 starts for the oh-so-close Patriots of the late seventies. In week 8 of '78 he intercepted two Bob Griese passes that led to touchdowns in a 33-24 win that put the Patriots in a first place tie with the Dolphins at 6-2. Injuries limited his playing time the following year, and he ended up playing with the Dolphins in '80, San Diego in '81, and then spent three seasons in the USFL.

Michael Bishop, 41 (May 15, 1976)
Patriot QB, 1999-2000
Uniform #7
Pats 7th round (227th overall) pick in the 1999 draft, out of Kansas State.
Bishop was a healthy scratch for all but one game his rookie season. Because of his strong arm and mobility, Bishop came in for the final play of the half in week 6 vs the Colts, and completed a 44 yard Hail Mary touchdown. The concept of fans loving the backup on a losing team was in full force, and it hit a crescendo when Bishop was released during 2001 training camp. Thankfully Bill Belichick wasn't listening, and kept Tom Brady on the roster instead. Bishop finished his Patriot career with 8 games played, going 3/9 for 80 yards and one TD.

Bishop went to NFL Europe for a year and after being cut by the Packers before the start of the 2001 season, went on to spend the next ten years mostly in the CFL, with a couple of seasons of Arena football as well.

Rickie Harris, 74 (May 15, 1943)
Patriot S/PR, 1971-1972
Uniform #25
After six seasons in Washington, Harris played 28 games with 21 starts over two seasons with the Pats. He had three interceptions with New England and then spent two seasons in the WFL.



Cliff Olander, 62 (5/15/55); born in Hartford.
QB played in 15 games over three seasons with the Chargers.

Pete Lamana (5/15/21-8/7/07); born in Bristol, went to Springfield Cathedral and BU.
LB/C/FB played 35 games for the Chicago Rockets in the forties.

Swede Ellstrom (5/15/06-4/25/94); WB for the 1934 Boston Redskins and 1936 Boston Shamrocks.

Joe Murphy (5/15/97-5/22/40); born in Concord NH, went to Worcester Academy, Hebron Academy, Harvard and Dartmouth. Played eight games at guard in 1920-21.

Butch Spagna (5/15/97-12/11/48); Avon (MA) High School, Brown University.
OL played 32 games in the twenties.



Others born today:
- LB Ray Lewis
- QB Ryan Leaf
- RB Emmitt Smith
- WR Rod Smith
- S Joey Browner
- LB Don Shinnick
- WR Desmond Howard: killed the Patriots with his returns in Superbowl 31. I had the pleasure of meeting with him once and we spoke at length. Howard is a super nice guy who, on a side note, was extremely positive and complimentary of Bill Belichick and the Patriots.