Today in Patriots History

[Actual Pats Fan]

March birthdays

Happy Birthday Doug Beaudoin (born May 15, 1954), who played safety here from 1976-79 and therefore deserves a Super Bowl ring.

Do you realize how hard it is to tackle this guy?

And, Michael (Yup, we could have won with this guy) Bishop b. 5/15/76

Also born today, Ryan (Drew might be better than him, maybe) Leaf

And someone else, who killed a guy

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

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

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

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

Boston.com / Sports / Football / Patriots / Catching_up_with_Mark_van

Mark van Eeghen, Raiders Fullback January 2, 1978


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

Longtime Ram Standout Joe Scibelli Is Dead at 52


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





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

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

"I've been so blessed to be a part of this franchise, and finally will someone get that ugly disgusting blue jersey out of my face and give me a real, red, New England Patriots jersey? The Emperor's flying elvis is insulting and gross. There, I said it."

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Patriot DB

Ellis Hue Hobbs III (born May 16, 1983) played very well for us, including being a top kick returner. He had to retire early because of disc injury. Happy he's in one piece today, and can't believe he's only 34.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

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.

Yikes, how many #27's in 3 straight posts? Four...

 

[jmt57]

May 16

Ellis Hobbs, 34 (May 16, 1983)
Patriot CB, 2005-2008
Uniform #27
Pats 3rd round (84th overall) selection in the 2005 draft, out of Iowa State.
Hobbs played in 79 regular season and 8 playoff games with the Patriots. He had ten interceptions, five fumble recoveries and three kickoffs returned for touchdowns. In an early 2007 game I can remember screaming at the tv when Hobbs decided to take a kickoff out from eight yards deep in the end zone versus the Jets... and a few seconds later whooping it up after he ran it back 108 yards for a score. He was also victimized in the 2006 AFCCG loss at Indianapolis when the referee flagged him for face guarding - even though that penalty no longer existed. The 5-9 Hobbs was also inexplicably left alone to cover 6-5 Plaxico Burress at the goal line in the superbowl loss to the Giants a year later. He spent two years with the Eagles but then had to retire due to neck injuries.

Derrick Martin, 32 (May 16, 1985)
Patriot S, 2012
Uniform #26
Martin was let go during roster cuts at the end of training camp, but was re-signed in mid-season when Sterling Moore was released; he appeared in five games for the Pats in 2012. Over eight seasons he played in 73 games, primarily on special teams.

Kamu Grugier-Hill, 23 (May 16, 1994)
Patriot OLB, 2016
Uniform #48
Pats 6th round (208th overall) selection in the 2016 draft, from Eastern Illinois.
KGH was waived on September 3, 2016 as part of final roster cuts, and claimed the next day by Philadelphia. He appeared in twelve games for the Eagles last year.

Randy Sealby, 57 (May 16, 1960)
Patriot LB, 1987
Uniform #59
Replacement player got in to two games, with a fumble recovery on his stat sheet.

Merv Krakau, 66 (May 16, 1951)
Patriot LB, 1978
Uniform #53
Spent five and a half years with the Bills before coming to New England; only played in one game with the Patriots. later played with the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL.


- Mickey Erickson (5/16/05); center for the 1932 Boston Braves.
- Eddie Casey (5/16/1894); born in Natick, went to Natick HS, Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard; only played in one pro game, for the 1920 Buffalo All-Americans.



- RB Thurman Thomas, 5/16/66
- LB Keith Burns, 5/16/72
- OL Jim Langer, 5/16/48
- RB Donnie Anderson, 5/16/43
- RB Sammie Smith, 5/16/67 - who was at the time considered to be the better of the two Smith running backs at big time college Florida Schools. (Emmitt was the other one. The Dolphins took Sammie 9th overall in the 1989 draft.)

 

[jmt57]

May 17:

Matt Cassel, 35 (May 17, 1982)
Patriot QB, 2005-2008
Uniform #16
- Seventh round (230th overall) selection of the 2005 NFL draft, out of USC.
- Thanks to Bernard Pollard, Cassel played in all sixteen 2008 games, with 15 starts.
- Despite having not started at any level of play in eight years, the Pats went 11-5 with Cassel throwing for 3693 yards (8th in the NFL that season), with 21 TDs against 11 interceptions.
- His 3946 passing yards ranks 8th in franchise history.



Others born today with New England ties:

Matt Ryan, 32 (May 17, 1985)
Boston College QB, 2004-2007
Atlanta Falcon QB, 2008--
ACC Offensive Player of the Year in '07, Ryan is the highest (3rd overall) former Eagle to ever be drafted in the NFL.

Lou Kirouac, 77 (May 17, 1940)
Born in Manchester NH, went to Bishop Bradley High School in Manchester and Boston College.
OL and K with Giants, Colts and Falcons 1963-1967.



Other notable NFL players born May 17:
- Earl Morrall (5/17/34); QB won three championship rings.
- Tim Grunhard (5/17/68); 11-year starting center for Chiefs, 1990-2000.
- Jerry Norton (5/17/31); safety named to five straight Pro Bowls, 1957-61.
- Ace Parker (5/17/12); Hall of Fame quarterback and tailback from the late 30s - early 40s who played in Boston in 1945.
- Jim Bob Morris (5/17/61); if we're going to have an 'Ace', we may as well include a 'Jim Bob' too.

 

[jmt57]

May 18:

Bob Dee (5/18/1933-4/18/1979)
Patriot Left Defensive End, 1960-1967
Uniform #89
Why am I a life long fan of the Patriots? It probably has something to do with growing up two blocks from Bob Dee, who would regularly come speak at Little League banquets and Cub Scout meetings. The Holy Cross grad spent a few years with Washington before retiring, to return to his alma mater to coach linemen. That was short lived, as he joined the Pats in the AFL's inaugural season Dee is credited with scoring the first touchdown in AFL history, a fumble recovered in the end zone against the Bills in the first preseason game. He is the only Patriot to ever wear #89 and to the best of my knowledge is the only pro football player from Braintree to appear in a regular season game.

Dee started every game for eight straight seasons, was a five-time AFL All-Star, is a member of the Pats All-Decade team for the 1960s, and was enshrined to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993. He retired due to a business opportunity to run an environmental services company; today Clean Harbors employs nearly 13,000 with $2 billion in annual revenue.

The Boston Patriots' Bob Dee | Tales from the AFL

 

[jmt57]

Not as notable, but also from May 18:

Walter Scott, 44 (5/18/1973)
Patriot DE, 1996
Uniform #94
Scott was acquired in late August '96 as part of a previous trade with Green Bay, and played in two games (Oct 6 at Baltimore and Oct 20 at Indianapolis). Injuries to defensive backs resulted in Bill Parcells releasing Scott in order to replenish the secondary. The Packers re-signed him to their practice squad, which meant Scott was going to be part of a Superbowl winning team regardless of what happened in SB 31. He later signed with Miami before a final cut to end his career in February of 2000.

Greg Rakoczy, 52 (5/18/1965)
Patriot C, 1991-1992
Uniform #71
The Browns selected this Miami Hurricane with the 32nd overall pick in the 1987 draft. Over two seasons he played in 21 games for the Pats with four starts.


Others with New England area ties:

Ray White, 68 (5/18/1949)
Weymouth MA
MLB was a 5th round pick out of Syracuse and played for the Chargers and Cardinals from '71-76. What are the odds of guys from Braintree and Weymouth being born on the same day that were both pro football players?

Sandy Osiecki, 57 (5/18/1960)
Ansonia CT
QB got in to four games for the Chiefs in '84, and also played in NFL Europe.

Franny Garvey (5/18/1901)
Born in Worcester, died in Chelsea and went to Holy Cross.
Left End for the Providence Steamrollers, 1925-1926.

Carroll Hardy, 84 (5/18/1933)
HB was a third round pick by the Niners in '55, but that was his only year in the NFL. Hardy chose baseball over football, bouncing between the minors and the big leagues through 1967. He played for the Red Sox from 1960-62, and is most well known for being the trivia answer to 'who is the only player to ever pinch hit for Ted Williams'? Hardy later went back to football, working for twenty years with the Broncos. He was the player personnel director for Denver during the 'Orange Crush Defense' days in the late 70s when Denver went from a mediocre team to one of the best teams in the league.


Other NFL notables:

Red Smith (5/18/1904), another football/baseball player who happened to play for Knute Rockne, Curly Lambeau and baseball's John McGraw.

Vince Young, 34 (5/18/1983); the third overall pick of the 2006 draft allegedly scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test and is now in the CFL.

Ray Donaldson, 59 (5/18/1958); center spent 17 years in the NFL, mostly with the Colts, and was named to six Pro Bowls.

Will Wolford, 53 (5/18/1964); three-time Pro Bowl LT for Bills, Colts and Steelers.

Flozell Adams, 42 (5/18/1975); five-time Pro Bowl LT for Cowboys.

 

[jmt57]

May 19 is a slow news day.

John Friesz, 50 (May 19, 1967)
Patriot QB, 1999-2000
Uniform #17
Friesz was 32 when he arrived in New England; a career backup with the exception of going 4-12 as the starter for the 1991 Chargers. He got playing time in one 2000 game after Drew Bledsoe jammed his thumb; it didn't go well. An interception on the one-yard line of a 16-13 overtime loss to Buffalo in 2000 brought out the boo-birds, and chants for Michael Bishop. Friesz was 11-21 for 66 yards, no touchdowns and that one pick in what would be his only game with stats for the Patriots. He finished his NFL career with 8699 passing yards, 45 TD and 42 INT. He was released in February of 2001.



Norm Harvey (5/19/1899-12/24/1941); LT/E/C/G for the 1928-29 Providence Steamrollers.


Other pro football players born today:

- Archie 'the enabler' Manning, 5/19/49
- LB London Fletcher (5/19/75), who played an amazing 256 games.
- QB Jack Thompson (5/19/56), the 'Throwin' Samoan'.
- TE Marcedes Lewis (5/19/84)

 

[jmt57]

May 20:

Jim Whalen (5/20/1943-12/18/2012)
Patriot TE, 1965-1969
Uniform #82
Whalen was a local product, a graduate of Cambridge Latin and Boston College. At the time he was the number one pass receiver in BC history with 73 career receptions, and while there he also lettered in hockey and baseball.

The Pats drafted him Whalen in the third round (23rd overall) in the 1965 draft. During his five years with the Pats he led the team in receptions (153) and receiving yards (2,487). In 1968 Whalen was the team's MVP, a consensus all-league selection and led the Patriots in receptions (47), receiving yards (718) and touchdowns (7). That marked the first time a Patriot was a first team All-Pro, sharing the position with Baltimore legend John Mackey. He is a member of the Patriots All-Decade Team for the 1960s, and as a bit of trivia he is the only person to catch three touchdowns in a game at Alumni Stadium at both the college level and pro level.

From Wikipedia:

Despite playing his entire career during the shorter 14-game season and largely for teams that ranked at or near the bottom in passing, Whalen's accomplishments still compare favorably in today's offense-oriented game. He is one of only four Patriot tight ends (Russ Francis, Ben Coates and Rob Gronkowski) to string together three consecutive seasons of 500+ yards receiving (he had another with the Denver Broncos), and one of only three (Coates, Gronkowski) to record 650+ yards in back-to-back seasons. Additionally, Whalen's Patriot career yards per reception average of 16.3 ranks first among all Patriot tight ends and sixth all-time among all Patriot receivers, wide outs included (minimum of 150 career receptions).

His career average of 16.0 per catch (inclusive of his time with the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles) as a tight end is outstanding and ranks in the top ten in the history of professional football (minimum of 150 receptions). Five of Whalen's 20 career touchdowns were for 40 or more yards. Whalen through 2013 still also holds Patriots tight end records for longest reception (87 yards), longest touchdown reception (87 yards) and most touchdown receptions in a single game (3).

Furthermore, Whalen protected the ball exceptionally well, fumbling just twice in his career. Through the end of the 2010 season, only one tight end in history (Andrew Glover) had fewer career fumbles than Whalen while catching as many passes.

Had a career game high of 134 yards receiving (against the Miami Dolphins in 1967), and is one of only five Patriot tight ends (Coates, Hasselbeck, Gronkowski and Hernandez) to record at least four career 100 yard receiving games.

Whalen's accomplishments also compare favorably to those of his peers during his time in professional football. The All AFL Hall-Of-Fame First Team All-1960's Team tight end is Fred Arbanas. Catching passes from Hall-Of-Fame quarterback Len Dawson, Arbanas caught 198 balls for 3,101 yards, a career 15.7 yards per catch average, 34 touchdowns while fumbling 4 times in 118 games. Whalen's career line is 197 catches for 3,155 yards, a career 16.0 yards per catch average, 20 touchdowns while fumbling twice in 89 games. By comparison, during his career Whalen caught touchdown passes from Babe Parilli, Don Trull, Mike Taliferro, Tom Sherman and Pete Liske. He also lined up with Steve Tensi, Alan Pastrana, Steve Ramsey and Don Horn in the quarterback position.​

Jim Whalen, 69: tight end for Boston College and Boston Patriots



John Huarte, 74 (May 20, 1943)
Patriot QB, 1966-1967
Uniform #7
Huarte won the Heisman Trophy in 1964 while at Notre Dame. He was a 2nd round pick by the Jets in '65 and a career backup in the pros. In two seasons backing up Babe Parilli, Huarte completed 8 out of 20 passes with no TDs and two picks.


Other notable pro football players born today include Leroy Kelly, Rick Upchurch and Bud Grant.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

May 20:

Jim Whalen (5/20/1943-12/18/2012)
Patriot TE, 1965-1969
Uniform #82

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Other notable pro football players born today include Leroy Kelly, Rick Upchurch and Bud Grant.

Cullen Bryant (May 20, 1951 – October 13, 2009) played 13 seasons with the Rams and Seahawks. At the behest of Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom, Bryant went to court in 1975 to challenge his transfer to the Detroit Lions under the Pete Rozelle Rule. This came after Rozelle ordered Bryant off the Rams and sent to Detroit as compensation for the Rams signing free agent wide receiver Ron Jessie. After the judge appeared sympathetic to Bryant's case, the NFL backed off and the Rozelle Rule was subsequently modified.

Cullen's namesake:

Besides making it to four Super Bowls, Bud Grant (born May 20, 1927), won four Grey Cups, and an NBA title as a player for the Lakers.

Rick Upchurch (born May 20, 1952) lit it up back when the Broncos didn't suck.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Patriot

John Melvin "Deep" Friesz (pronounced "Freeze") (born May 19, 1967) was one of the Fab Four QB's coach BB kept on board in '00 (along w/TB12).

Friesz, **** Rehbein, Michael Bishop (K-State!), and Drew Bledsoe

 

[jmt57]

A couple of Belichick-era draft busts were born on May 21:

Adrian Klemm, 40 (May 21, 1977)
Patriot OL, 2000-2004
Uniform #70
Pats 2nd round selection (46th overall) in the 2000 draft


Guss Scott, 35 (May 21, 1982)
Patriot S, 2004-2006
Uniform #29
Pats 3rd round selection (95th overall) in the 2004 draft



Also born May 21:
- Ara Parseghian (5/21/1923)
- Floyd Peters (5/21/1936)
- Jim Ritcher (5/21/1958)
- Dorsey Levens (5/21/1970)
- Ricky Williams (5/21/1977)

- Randal Williams (5/21/1978) went to Deerfield Academy and UNH. He was a special teamer who played a bit at WR, TE and FS - and thanks to a slow scoreboard clock operator, is credited with the fastest touchdown in league history: an onside kick recovery for a TD that officially took only three seconds.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Patriot

Q: What's the only Super Bowl the Patriots have participated in where Dante Scarnecchia was not on their coaching staff?

A: Super Bowl XLIX


...although he did help some of our OL guys in workouts in '14...

 

[jmt57]

May 22 is highlighted with the birthday of a QB from Kent State that was drafted in the seventh round, 232nd overall.

Julian Edelman, 31 (May 22, 1986)
Patriot WR/PR/DB, 2009-present
Uniform #11
- Caught the winning touchdown in Super Bowl 49 with 2:06 to play.
- Holds the franchise record for postseason receptions with 89, which ranks third-most in NFL history behind only Jerry Rice (151) and Reggie Wayne (93).
- Is one of only 14 players in NFL history to accumulate 1000+ yards receiving in the post-season.
- Is one of only three players in club history with 100 catches in a single season.
- 39 career rushing attempts is most ever by a Patriot WR.
- 47 yard rush vs Colts in 2012 is longest ever by a Patriot WR.
- Two-time Superbowl champion has been in 15 playoff games.
- Ranks sixth in team history with 425 receptions.
- Ranks 10th in team history with 4,540 receiving yards.
- Ranks 12th in team history with 24 receiving touchdowns.
- Ranks third in team history with 157 punt returns.
- Ranks third in team history with 1,832 punt return yards.
- Ranks first in team history with four punt return touchdowns.
- Ranks first in team history in punt return average (minimum 75) at 11.7 yards per return.

 

[jmt57]

Also born on May 22:

Don Webb, 78 (May 22, 1939)
Patriot CB/S, 1961-1971
Uniform #48 ('61) and #42 ('62-'71)
'Spider' was a 24th round (186th overall) selection out of Iowa State in the 1961 draft. He intercepted five passes as a rookie, and in a 41-0 shutout over the Chargers he scored two touchdowns: one on a blocked punt return and another on a 31-yard pick-six. Webb missed all of 1963 due to a knee injury just prior to the start of the season. In '67 he moved from starting left corner to safety, and was an All-Star in 1969. Overall Webb played in 134 games for the Patriots, with 21 interceptions. He is part of the Pats All-Decade Team for the 1960s at safety.


Corey Croom, 46 (May 22, 1971)
Patriot RB, 1993-1995
Uniform #26
The Patriots signed Croom as an undrafted rookie in 1993 out of Ball State. He was initially cut at the end of training camp and signed to the practice squad, but was signed to the regular roster on September 19. Croom was primarily a special teamer, gaining 293 yards from scrimmage with one TD as a backup to Leonard Russell. In '94 Croom led the Pats in rushing (33 carries, 159 yards, 4.8 ypc) in the preseason, but he did not get a single touch that year, despite the mediocre production at RB from Marion Butts and Leroy Thompson. Croom did play in every game on special teams in '94, and in '95 he appeared in 13 games, getting his hands on the ball in three of those games as a backup to Curtis Martin. Croom finished with 352 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown over three seasons with the Pats. He later signed with Philly but did not make their roster.


Sergio Brown, 29 (May 22, 1988)
Patriot S, 2010-2011
Uniform #38 (2010) and #31 (2011)
The Pats signed Brown as an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame in 2010. He was signed to the practice squad after being waived during final cuts. After six weeks Brown was promoted to the active roster and forced to fill in due to the release of both Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders at safety. Not surprisingly he was in over his head, thrust into that position too soon. Brown was let go during final roster cuts prior to the start of the 2012 season. He is perhaps most well known for being thrown out of the club by Gronk.




Alex Smith, 35 (May 22, 1982)
Patriot TE, 2009
Uniform #80
A third round pick by Tampa Bay in 2005, the Pats acquired Smith from the Bucs in exchange for a 2010 fifth round draft pick a few days after the 2009 draft. Smith was one of two would-be pass catchers acquired in exchange for a draft pick (WR Greg Lewis from Philadelphia being the other) that did not survive final roster cuts. That was the same year several veterans were signed as free agents with very mixed results (Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor, Shawn Springs, Chris Baker, Leigh Bodden, Paris Lenon, Brandon McGowan, Tully Banta-Cain). Smith now works for the Bucs as a pro scout.


Others with New England area ties:
- Tony Holm (5/22/1908); FB for the 1930 Providence Steamrollers.
- George Sergienko (5/22/1918); western Mass native went to Chicopee High School and AIC; he was the LT for the 1945 Boston Yanks.
- Frank Santora (5/22/1926); QB for the 1944 Boston Yanks.


Other notables:
- Mick Tingelhoff (5/22/1940), Viking Hall of Fame center.
- Jeff Bryant (5/22/1960), 12-year starting DE for Seattle.
- Brian Pillman (5/22/1962); after a few years of pro football obscurity he found fame in wrestling as The Loose Cannon.
- Dave 'Hawg" Hanner (5/22/1930) - Green Bay DT from 1952-64 was named to two Pro Bowls and won a pair of NFL championships.
- Bob Shaw (5/22/1921) - All-American at Ohio State was a pro football and basketball player, and coached football for thirty years.


And a few other football names born today, just for fun:
- Spark Clark (5/22/1965), Steeler RB
- Charles 'Can I Buy Another Vowel' Aiu (5/22/1954), Charger OL
- Fair Hooker (5/22/1947), Browns WR

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

May 22 is highlighted with the birthday of a QB from Kent State that was drafted in the seventh round, 232nd overall.

Julian Edelman, 31 (May 22, 1986)
Patriot WR/PR/DB, 2009-present
Uniform #11

Wow, I totally forgot Jules was drafted a round later than Tom in his...with flashy numbers, success and #11 one might have thought then he was Tom's heir apparent

"Hey, I can look cool, too!!"

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Also born on May 22:

Marcus Dupree (born May 22, 1964) was a top prospect running back, whom the old Boston Breakers of the USFL tried to land. They did, but only after they moved to New Orleans; something about having trouble getting an agreement to play in one of the larger local stadiums...never heard that one before...but they were pretty good their one season here ('83)

 

[bormio]

Marcus Dupree (born May 22, 1964) was a top prospect running back, whom the old Boston Breakers of the USFL tried to land. They did, but only after they moved to New Orleans; something about having trouble getting an agreement to play in one of the larger local stadiums...never heard that one before...but they were pretty good their one season here ('83)

Marcus Dupree was quite likely the best high school player to ever come out of the state of Mississippi.