Today in Patriots History

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The First Training Camp​

July 4, 1960
The Patriots open their first ever training camp at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

350 players were in attendance that summer.

New England Patriots History | New England Historical Society

New England Patriots History, or Why There Are Still Giants Fans in New England - New England Historical Society

The first training camp was held at UMass-Amherst. Fullback Larry Garron remembered,

...the turnover in that camp was like a nightmare. You would wake up in the morning and there was a different guy sleeping in the bed next to you than there had been when you went to bed the night before.
​

There were so many men in training camp Saban couldn’t tell them personally when he cut them. Gino Cappelletti remembered the players would run like hell after practice to the dorm to see if they'd been cut. “A lot of guys who were cut stuck around a few days, eating three square meals and sleeping there."​

Patriots' road to success started in ... Amherst (a long time ago) | MassLive.com

Cappelletti still remembers that first UMass camp and the players' arrivals.

"One by one, we all find a dorm room with a bed, he told the Boston Globe in 2016. "But it's late. No sheets, no pillows, just a mattress.''

Cappelletti remembers the early days at UMass fondly, though. Practices were two-a-days (which are banned today), there were film sessions and all three meals each day were held in the mess hall, he told the Globe.

The spartan existence bonded the team. Rookies got the once-over from the veterans. Not unlike military boot camp, the shared experience with sparse amenities created unity among the men.

Players came from all over North America. Some weren't even players but truck drivers, mechanics and others who might have played high school ball but took a chance to be discovered amid the chaos.

There were fans - not the rooting kind but the big, clunky devices with blades that cooled the air. That was UMass' method of summer air conditioning in 1960, the last summer of the Eisenhower Administration and one year before Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

Cappelletti said those inexperienced adventurers didn't make the cut, but they made an impact. He remembered two wrestlers getting involved in a chair-throwing fight over which channel on the sole black-and-white TV would be watched.

Those days seem so long ago - because they are. The 1960 camp occurred 17 years before Tom Brady was born, and by the time the team left the UMass training site for good in 1975, it would be nearly another 27 years before their first Super Bowl title.

Still, there was a charm to those simpler days that Cappelletti appreciates as a nostalgic contrast to today's world of expensive digs, saturation media coverage and million-dollar salaries.

"If the rookies showed up in a car, we'd hide it in the woods or wheel it down to one of the local lakes,'' he told the Globe. "Asked if the cars were wheeled into the lakes, the Patriots legend said "no, but close. Very close."​

Action from the very first regular season AFL game, September 9, 1960 at Nickerson Field. The Patriots played their home games on Friday nights at that time to avoid going head-to-head with the NFL on Sunday afternoon.

Joe Johnson (#24) carries for an 8-yard gain as the Patriots defeat the New York Titans 38-21 on November 11, 1960 at Nickerson Field. Flanker Jim Colclough had six receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pats to victory.

Patriots vs Dallas Texans, November 18, 1960 at Nickerson Field. Butch Songin threw three touchdown passes, Jim Colclough had nine catches for 85 yards and a TD, and Joe Johnson had two touchdown receptions.

The 1960 Boston Patriots


​

Remember the AFL - Boston Patriots

Billy Sullivan Jr., a Boston businessman with a strong sports promotional background, secured an American Football League franchise on November 22, 1959. In keeping with the New England heritage, the nickname "Patriots" was selected by a panel of Boston sports writers in a contest to name the team. The Boston team was involved in two significance "firsts" in 1960. The Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in the first AFL pre-season game on July 30. On September 9, the Patriots lost to the Denver Broncos 13-10 in the first-ever AFL regular-season game.

During the Patriots' first decade, finding a suitable playing home in the Boston area was almost as urgent as putting a competitive team on the field. The Patriots played at Boston University Field in the 1960 and 1961 and at Harvard in 1962 and again in 1970. From 1963 to 1969, the Patriots played at Fenway Park, the Red Sox baseball stadium.

In spite of their stadium problems, the Patriots were frequent contenders during their AFL days.​

Firsts, Records, and Odds and Ends

• First Regular-Season Game:
  A 13-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, 9/9/60.
• First Regular-Season Win:
  A 28-24 victory over the New York Titans, 9/16/60.
• First Regular-Season Points:
  A 35-yard field goal by Gino Cappelletti vs. the Denver Broncos, 9/9/60.
• First Regular-Season Touchdown:
  A 10-yard pass from Butch Songin to Jim Colclough vs. the Denver Broncos, 9/9/60.
• First Winning Season:
  1961 (9-4-1).
• First Playoff Appearance:
  A 26-8 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFL's Eastern Division Championship game, 12/28/63.
• First All-League Selections:
  LB Tom Addison and DB Russ O'Hanley, 1960.
• First to Rush 100 Yards in a Game:
  Ron Burton, 127 yards vs. the Denver Broncos, 10/23/60.
• First 1,000-Yard Rusher:
  Jim Nance, 1,458 yards (1966).
• First to Pass 400 Yards in a Game:
  Babe Parilli, 400 yards vs. the Oakland Raiders, 10/16/64.
• All-Time Leading Scorer:
  Gino Cappelletti, 1,130 points (1960-70).
• Fewest Yards Rushing Allowed in a Game:
  In a 41-0 win over the San Diego Chargers on 12/17/61, the Patriots allowed just two yards rushing.

​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Happy 4th of July Birthdays​

Happy 31st birthday to Michael Hoomanawanui
Born July 4, 1988 in Bloomington, Illinois
Patriot TE, 2012-2015; uniform #47

Hoo-man was signed as an unrestricted free agent on April 15, 2013 after two seasons with St. Louis. He appeared in 45 regular season games with 28 starts for the Pats, plus seven playoff games. Hoomanawanui is most well known for his efforts in the division round playoff game against Baltimore following the 2014 season. The Illinois alum lined up in what would normally be the left tackle position, but because he was the outside player on the line of scrimmage, he was an eligible receiver. John Harbaugh went ballistic and failed to respond with either a timeout or proper coaching, to what was a perfectly legal play.

Jan 10, 2015: Michael Hoomanawanui had four receptions on four targets in the 35-31 victory over Baltimore. Above is one of the two iconic third quarter plays that gained a total of thirty yards, both good for first downs.​

With the benefit of hindsight it was unfortunate that Tom Brady responded to a question about Harbaugh's whining about "illegal" and "deceptive" plays. Though TB12's response that the Ravens 'should study the rule book' was indeed accurate, it sent Harbaugh over the top - and set the wheels in motion in an attempt to exact revenge by framing the Patriots in the witch hunt that would become known as deflategate.

Jan 27, 2015: Patriots' Real Trick: Knowing the Rules | New York Times

Michael Hoomanawanui was traded to New Orleans on September 30, 2015 for Akiem Hicks. The blocking tight end finished with 20 receptions for 289 yards and one touchdown while with the Patriots. Hoomanawanui was on the field for 1,475 regular season snaps with the Patriots, and another 341 on special teams. He spent 2018 on IR with the Saints due to a neck injury, and has suffered at least five concussions. Hooman is now a free agent; it is possible that he may transition to a coach.

Jan 9, 2019: After latest concussion, tight end Michael Hoomanawanui has been helping Saints as a coach | nola.com




Happy birthday to Bob Lee
Born July 4, 1935 in East Prairie, Missouri
Died March 4, 2017 at the age of 81
Patriot G, 1960; uniform #60

Robert E Lee was 25 years old when he tried out for the newly founded Boston Patriots. Lee played in the first eight games of the 1960 season before being cut on November 9, then spent one season in the CFL. He then returned to his native Missouri and worked as a teacher and coach.

Bob Dee, Bob Lee and Bob Fee of the Boston Patriots​

The Bobs of Boston | Tales from the AFL

Robert Lee Obituary - Columbia, Missouri

Bob was born July 4, 1935 in East Prairie, Missouri to James Leftwich Lee and Esther Louise Ray. He was raised on the family farm in Southeast Missouri before the family moved to Columbia, Missouri in 1949.

In 1951, Bob was a starter for the undefeated Hickman High School football team, a feat that would not be repeated by Hickman until 1973, when Bob was serving as an assistant football coach. Bob graduated from Hickman in 1954 where he played football serving as the team’s co-captain, and he also played basketball and participated in track, where he won the state shot put championship in 1954, forty years after his dad won the same title in 1914.

After graduating from high school, Bob attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he played football on athletic scholarship with the Missouri Football Tigers from 1954 to 1957, attaining a bachelor’s degree in secondary physical education in 1959. In 1957, Bob was named “Columbia’s Best College Athlete” by the Downtown Optimist Club and the Columbia Missourian. After graduating from college, Bob played for the NFL’s Boston Patriots in 1960, followed by a stint with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 1961. Thereafter, Bob then completed his Master’s Degree at MU and married Marilyn Arnold on August 1, 1964.




Happy birthday to Bobby Cross
Born July 4, 1931 in Ranger, Texas
Died June 18, 1989 at the age of 57
Patriot OT/DT, 1960; uniform #77

Robert Joe 'Bobby' Cross spent seven season in the fifties as a starting left tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Cardinals. Cross was also in the CFL, where he was a Grey Cup champion with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1953. Bobby Cross played in four games for the Pats in 1960, in what turned out to be his final season of pro football.

Happy birthday to Will Smith
Born July 4, 1981 in Queens, NY
Died April 9, 2016 at the age of 34
Patriot DE, 2014 off season; uniform #90

Smith was an eight-year starter with New Orleans but missed all of 2013 with a torn ACL. He had 67.5 sacks for New Orleans, including 13 in 2009 and 10.5 in his Pro Bowl 2006 season. Roger Goodell suspended Smith for four games in 2012 in the bounty gate fiasco, a penalty which was overturned on appeal by Paul Tagliabue. The Pats signed Smith in early April of 2014, but he was cut on August 24, unable to unseat Zach Moore or Michael Buchanon for a roster spot. Smith was shot and killed in the aftermath of an argument following a fender bender, dead before his 35th birthday.

Aug 1, 2014: Football Journey: DE Will Smith | Mike Reiss, espn




Happy 33rd birthday to Terrance Knighton
Born July 4, 1986 in Hartford
Patriot DT, 2016 off season; uniform #96

Terrance 'Pot Roast' Knighton is a New England native, having grown up in Windsor CT. He played in 108 games for Jacksonville, Washington and Denver from 2009 to 2015. The Pats signed the free agent to a one-year, $4.5 million contract on March 31, 2016.

At the time it was envisioned that the Patriots would have a powerful rotation of Knighton, Malcom Brown and Alan Branch that could keep all three fresh and productive. Knighton struggled a bit in the Pats second preseason game, and after not playing a single down in the third game the writing was on the wall.

Considering that Anthony Johnson made the initial roster over Knighton, I can't help but wonder if the size of the contract had something to do with the decision, or if it was all about inability to adapt to a two-gap defense. After not playing at all in 2016, Knighton officially retired in 2017.

June 10, 2015: Terrance Knighton sounds off on free agency, Broncos | SI

Aug 29, 2016: Why it didn't work out for Terrance Knighton with New England Patriots | Mike Reiss, espn




Other pro football players with New England area connections:

- Floyd Little, 77 (July 4, 1942); born and raised in New Haven, the Hall of Fame running back went to five Pro Bowls, scored 52 touchdowns and totaled 8,741 yards from scrimmage with Denver from 1967-1975.

- Red O'Neill (1898 - 1955); UConn Huskie grad played center for the Hartford Blues in 1926 and later had a prominent career in medicine. The Red O'Neill Award is given annually to a former UConn student-athlete who has gone on to distinguish him/herself in his/her chosen career.

- Lou Daukas (1921 - 2005); Nashua native was co-captain at Cornell, and played center and linebacker for Brooklyn after returning from WWII.




In addition to Floyd Little, some other notable pro football players born on the 4th:

- La'Roi Glover, 45 (7/4/74); DT went to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 2000 to 2005 with the Saints and Cowboys; he is now the defensive line coach for the Chargers.

- Erich Barnes, 84 (7/4/35); six-time Pro Bowl corner for the Giants and Browns had 45 career interceptions.

- Rick Casares (7/4/31 - 9/13/13); fullback was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons, and led the NFL in rushing in 1956.

- Emerson Boozer, 76 (7/4/43); Jet running back led the AFL in touchdowns in rushing touchdowns in 1967, and the NFL in total touchdowns in 1972.

- Josh McCown, 40 (7/4/79); journeyman QB with a penchant of signing with bad teams (Raiders, Browns, Bucs, Jets) had a 23-53 starting record over 16 NFL seasons.

- Todd Marinovich, 50 (7/4/69); former Raider QB is Exhibit A of what happens to the children of overzealous sports parents.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Today in Patriots History
Bill Lenkaitis​

Happy birthday to Dr. Bill Lenkaitis
Born June 30, 1946 in Strongsville, Ohio
Died in Aug 27, 2016 at the age of 70
Patriot center, 1971-1981; uniform #67

Bill Lenkaitis was a second round pick out of Penn State by the Chargers, where he played left guard for three years. The Pats picked him up off waivers and he was a reserve his first two seasons, playing in all but two games with six starts. In 1973 he was on the Pats list of final roster cuts, but was removed from waivers when longtime starting center Jon Morris hurt his knee. Morris was a seven-time pro bowler but was 33, and had missed almost all of the previous two seasons to injuries.

The Pats traded Morris to Detroit, and Lenkaitis quickly put any concerns about his abilities to rest. For the next eight years he was one of the most consistent and dependable centers in the NFL for the next eight years. Lenkaitis was an anchor on the line that was robbed of a Lombardi Trophy in 1976 and set the NFL record of 3,165 rushing yards in 1978.

“He was a smart player who made the calls for our offensive line and he did that flawlessly,” said Steve Grogan. “Lenk was as tough as they come and wouldn’t back down from anybody, but he also loved to laugh and when he did, we knew where it was coming from.”​

In the off seasons Lenkaitis worked on obtaining his dental degree, and opened up a practice in Foxboro while still playing football. He was named a member of the Patriots All-Decade team for the 70s, and arguably could have been named to the Pats 50th anniversary team over Morris. Bill Lenkaitis played in 151 games with 119 starts over 11 seasons with the Patriots, as well as in a pair of playoff games.

Dec 13, 1976 - Boston Center Bill Lenkaitis Rattles Teeth on Sundays & Fixes Them the Rest of the Week | People Magazine

Aug 29, 2016 - Longtime Patriots center Bill Lenkaitis dies at 70 | Mike Reiss, espn

Sept 1, 2016 - Teammates pay respects to Bill Lenkaitis | Patriots.com

“Bill centered one of the greatest offensive lines, not just in franchise history, but in NFL history,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft in a statement released by the team. “As a season-ticket holder during his playing days, I was a fan of the player he was on the field. But, in my 22 years of ownership, I became an even bigger fan of the person he was off the field. He was a big man with an even bigger personality and a huge heart.”​

Dr. William Edward Lenkaitis Obituary | Boston Globe

Oct 28, 2017 - Big men with broken minds: The largely forgotten faces of the Patriots franchise | Boston Globe

His most impressive feat: While supporting his wife and the first of their three children, Lenkaitis spent his first six NFL offseasons earning a dental degree from the University of Tennessee. He opened a practice in downtown Foxborough in 1974 and became the team’s dentist, excelling at two demanding careers.

“His dental practice meant everything to him,’’ Donna said.

Then the work became too much for him. He had planned to retire at 72.

“All of a sudden, at 68, he was just not with it,’’ she said. “He would get up some days and say, ‘Cancel my patients.’ ”

When Donna was younger, she experienced depression, she said, and Bill failed to appreciate that medication might help. “Why don’t you just go out and smell the roses?’’ he told her.

Then came his depression, and he said to her, “Is this what it feels like? I’m so sorry.’’

Donna said her husband suffered numerous football concussions and was slowed by CTE symptoms before he was diagnosed in 2015 with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.

“I think he knew even before the cancer that he didn’t have much longer to live,’’ she said. “It was very hard for all of us to see him just crumbling away.’’​

.​

​

I remember him as "il dentista"

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Brandon Lloyd, David Thomas and Joe Sweet​

Happy 38th birthday to Brandon Lloyd
Born July 5, 1981 in Kansas City, Missouri
Patriot WR, 2012; uniform #85

I have long felt that the 2011 New England Patriots vastly overachieved. While losing the Superbowl was indeed a disappointment, it was amazing that team advanced as far as they did. The Pats moved the ball well to their tight ends and slot receiver (Wes Welker), but opposing defenses did not fear a deep pass. For example their number one outside wide receiver was 32-year old Deion Branch (51 receptions for 702 yards and 5 TD), who had clearly lost a step; 2012 would be his final year in the NFL. The number two non-slot wide receiver was 33-year old Chad Johnson, who had not only slowed down, but looked completely lost, having never grasped the Patriot offense. It is never good when your number two wideout plays a full season and compiles just 15 receptions for 276 yards and one touchdown. At that point in time Julian Edelman was strictly a punt and kick returner, still making the transition from quarterback to receiver. Edelman, Tiquan Underwood and Matt Slater combined for 8 receptions in 2011. The need for a deep threat on the outside was obvious.

The Pats signed Brandon Lloyd five days into free agency in 2012. In 2010 he had led the NFL with 1,448 yards receiving, while averaging 18.8 yards per catch. That was considered to be a big splash in free agency, though some wondered why Lloyd had played on so many teams (five) over nine seasons. Lloyd caught 74 passes for 911 yards, both second on the team to only Wes Welker that season. However some fans felt Lloyd went down to the ground too quickly, without any contact after making a catch. The following off season Lloyd was released after the Pats signed free agent wide receivers Danny Amendola and Donald Jones.

Brandon Lloyd appeared in 142 NFL games from 2003 to 2014, totaling 5,989 yards receiving and 36 touchdown receptions. He had a bit part (one line, one minute of screen time) in a 2013 zombie movie, and has been recording music since 2008.

Engage - Brandon Lloyd

More inspiring than Brandon’s football talent are his accomplishments away from the gridiron. Gifted with an engaging smile and an intriguing disposition, Brandon began his entertainment career at the University of Illinois choosing attend the U of I because of its prestigious journalism programming. He went on to host segments for FOX Sports Net Midwest and now can often be found gracing the sets of ESPN, NFL Network, and many others. He is known to attend high profile red carpet events such as the ESPY Awards, The Kentucky Derby, The Breeders Cup, Sundance Film Festival and the like.

Even more impressive are his philanthropic endeavors, which include Money X Live and Blessings in a Backpack. Money X Live is the premiere financial literacy program in the country that has support from national banks and top forty celebrities. In fact, Brandon hosted “Brandon Lloyd Financial Day” on November 28th, 2012 to teach children the importance of financial literacy. Blessings in a Backpack partners with America to ensure impoverished elementary school children are fed on the weekends throughout the school year. Brandon specifically provides backpacks to children in Blue Springs, Missouri.

From the football field to the studio, this media savvy leader has accomplished it all and the story is nowhere close to nearing the end. In fact, it is just beginning of a new chapter and a new outlook on what is important.​

Happy 36th birthday to David Thomas
Born July 5, 1983 in Plainview, Texas
Patriot TE, 2006-2008; uniform #86
Pats 3rd round (86th overall) selection of the 2006 draft, from Texas

In the 2006 Rose Bowl when Vince Young led Texas to a last minute national championship over USC, David Thomas had ten receptions for the Longhorns. That clutch performance surely caught the eye of many NFL coaches and scouts, resulting in a favorable draft status.

Thomas never saw much playing time with the Pats though. He spent nearly all of 2007 on IR with a foot injury, and the other two years he was stuck behind Ben Watson on the depth chart. In September of 2009 Bill Belichick gave up, trading Thomas to New Orleans for a 6th round draft pick. Thomas had 21 receptions for 261 yards and one touchdown in 32 games with the Pats. David Thomas played in 80 NFL games from 2006 to 2012 with 102 receptions for 938 yards, and 8 touchdowns.

Dec 20, 2006: Behind the Scenes with TE David Thomas | Patriots.com

Aug 16, 2015: Where are they now: Tight End David Thomas | The Daily Texan




Happy 71st birthday to Joe Sweet
Born July 5, 1948 in Lakeland, Florida
Patriot WR, 1974; uniform #81

The 435th pick of the 1971 draft played in four games with the Patriots, with no stats. Sweet played in 34 NFL games with 10 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown. He then spent 13 years representing NFL and NBA players in contract negotiations. More recently he worked as a mortgage and real estate finance professional, and now donates much of his time to charitable fund raising.

Our Team

After graduating from Tennessee State University in 1971, Joe was drafted by the LA Rams and went on to play with the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers until he retired from the NFL in his sixth year due to injury. While still playing in the NFL, Joe obtained his real estate license and partnered with teammates and businessmen to establish a successful investment group for professional players and coaches. After retiring, Joe became a certified NFL and NBA Contract Advisor. Joe often made his clients the highest paid athletes in their respective leagues.

In addition to his success in sports and business, Joe has appeared in television commercials and feature films. He is a member of the NFLPA, NFL Alumni Association, SAG/AFTRA and the Faithful Central Bible Church Elder Board. Joe enjoys golf, traveling and spending time with his wife and daughter. He spends much of his free time mentoring young people. Joe is currently a Mortgage Banker with Emery Financial, a division of WJB. He has worked in the real estate, mortgage and finance industry for over 40 years.​

Other pro football players with New England area connections born July 5:

- Gerry Cowhig (1921-1995); Dorchester native went to Mechanical Arts High School (better known later as Boston Technical HS, and now called the O'Bryant School of Math and Science). The Notre Dame alum was an NFL LB/FB from 1947 to 1951; he was married to Hollywood actress Jean Willes.

- Dwight Anderson, 38 (7/5/81); went to Bloomfield (CT) High School at the same time Dwight Freeney was there. The cornerback spent a couple years with the Rams, and eight seasons in the CFL where he was a two-time all star and won two Grey Cups.




And some notable pro football players born on this date:

- James Lofton, 63 (7/5/56); Hall of Fame WR has over 14,000 career receiving yards.

- George Kunz, 72 (7/5/47); eight-time Pro Bowl tackle for the Falcons and Colts.

- Billy Howton, 89 (7/5/30); Packer WR twice led the NFL in receiving yards.

- Richie Incognito, 36 (7/5/83); most well known for Miami's bully-gate brouhaha.

- Eggs Manske (1912-2002); the end was the last college player to not wear a helmet; he was also an assistant coach at BU, and on the winning side of the Chicago Bears' 73-0 victory over Washington in the 1940 NFL championship game.

 

[jmt57]

I am not sure where to post this, so I'll just place it here.

It is a graphic from after Super Bowl 51, showing the athletic versatility of the Pats roster.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Matt Bahr​

When one thinks about Patriot kickers, the names Gostkowski, Vinatieri and Cappelletti come to mind. This three-time Superbowl champion held things together for the Pats in their kicking game during final three of his 17 seasons in the NFL, as the Pats improved from 2-14 to 6-10 to 10-6.


Happy 63rd birthday to Matt Bahr
Born July 6, 1956 in Philadelphia
Patriot K, 1993-1995; uniform #3

​

• 25 regular season games with Pats, plus one playoff game.
• 55/72 on field goal attempts; 73/73 on extra points; one punt for 29 yards.
• 55-yard field goal in '95 set a franchise record (broken by Adam Vinatieri in 2002).
• At the age of 37 Matt Bahr reunited with Bill Parcells, to replace Scott 'Missing' Sisson at kicker early in 1993; Bahr was replaced by Vinatieri after the 1996 preseason.
• Ranks 6th in franchise history with 55 successful field goals (was 4th in '95).
• Tied with Jim Colclough as 10th all-time in club history at the time he retired, with 238 points scored (now ranks 15th).
• Kicked 300 field goals and scored 1,422 points over 17 NFL seasons.
• Scored 103 points in 14 playoff games.
• Set an NFCCG record with five field goals on 1/20/91, in New York's 15-13 won over San Fran.
• Three-time Superbowl champion (Pit, '79; SF, '81; NYG, '90) kicked the winning field goal in the Scott Norwood 'wide right' game; Bahr also played professional soccer for three years.
• Later worked as an electrical engineer, and then as a player advisor with the Harvard Football Players Health Study.

Matt Bahr kicked the Giants to Super Bowl 25 with a concussion | PFT

Matt Bahr - Champions 4 Children




Happy 31st birthday to Adrian Clayborn
Born July 6, 1988 in St. Louis
Patriot DE, 2018; uniform #94




Happy 55th birthday to Erroll Tucker
Born July 6, 1964 in Pittsburgh
Patriot KR/PR/CB, 1989-1990; uniform #21

• Five games played with the Patriots.
• Averaged 20.8 yards on 13 kick returns; averaged 7.8 yards on 13 punt returns.
• 122nd overall selection of the 1986 draft by the Steelers, out of Utah.
• Career derailed by multiple surgeries after suffering a broken fibula in a preseason game his rookie year.
• Played in 18 NFL games over four seasons.
• Also played for Orlando in the WLAF in 1991, and spent two seasons in the CFL. Won a Grey Cup with Doug Flutie for the Calgary Stampeders in 1992.

​

Here is a good biography from 2009 on Erroll Tucker:
Comeback Kid - Erroll Tucker

Today, Erroll works as a Physical Therapy Aide for Los Alamitos Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. What’s his advice for other people recovering for injuries? (Okay, it’s too perfect to edit a single word.) “Don’t try to rush it. Don’t question it. Sometimes things happen for a reason and it’s out of our control. But the main focus is to do your rehab, be patient, let your body heal and let nature take its course,” he explained enthusiastically, “You get out of it, what you put into it. You have to work hard to get back on your feet. Whether it’s to get back to work, professional sports, or everyday life. You have to do your rehab right. Don’t rush it. Take your time. Do the things you need to do.”

Erroll seems to have a knack for doing things right. He’s giving back in other ways, too. He returned to his hometown, the City of Lynwood to coach youth sports, including football and track, in his spare time. When he realized the kids had been without any Pop Warner or youth football for eight years, he stepped up with his business partner, Eugene Jackson who works with Nike, to put on several football camps each year.​

Number 34: Utah defensive back/returner Erroll Tucker | Deseret News

As good as he was on defense, he might have been even better on special teams where he was a two-time first-team All-WAC performer and an All-American.

His best season as a returner came in 1985 when he was first-team all-conference and was a first-team All-American by three publications after leading the nation in punt return average (24.3) and kick return average (29.1). That year, he finished with 24 kick returns for 698 yards and two touchdowns to go long with 16 punt returns for 389 yards and two more scores.

For his Utah career, he totaled 118 tackles, 14 pass break-ups, eight interceptions and six tackles for loss. He also averaged 26.6 yards with two touchdowns on 41 kick returns as well as 17 yards and three scores on 38 punt returns.​

Happy birthday to King Corcoran
Born July 6, 1943 in Jersey City, NJ
Died June 19, 2009 at the age of 65
Patriot QB, 1968; uniform #15

• Two games with Pats, with zero starts.
• 3/7 for 33 yards, with two interceptions.

The flamboyant self promoter known as 'the poor man's Joe Namath' spent five years in the Atlantic Coast Football League, one in the CFL and two in the Seaboard Football League. James Sean Patrick 'King' Corcoran also led the World Football League in touchdown passes in 1974.

In 1969 NFL Films produced a documentary on minor league football titled "Pro Football, Pottstown PA". While the focus was on the ACFL team, Corcoran - who drove a Lincoln that was equipped with a bar, copier and car phone (two decades before mobile phones began to become mainstream) - was the star of the film.

QB King Corcoran had a so-so career at the University of Maryland. and a better one in the minors. Off the field, he was quite a success with the ladies.​

Jim Corcoran Dies; 'Poor Man's Joe Namath' Reigned in Minor League Football

The King is Dead - Terrapin Legend King Corcoran Dies of Cardiac Arrest

A journeyman on the field but always a 'King' off it

A jersey, a game, a 1965 Maryland season, and "The King"

King Corcoran and Me [There are only two people I’ve ever wanted to kill – and King Corcoran is one.]




Happy 73rd birthday to Fred Dryer
Born July 6, 1946 in Hawthorne, CA
Patriot DE, 1972 off season

Fred Dryer was a first round pick by the Giants in 1969. After three good seasons he was traded to the Pats in exchange for 1st, 2nd and 6th round draft picks. Problem was that Dryer refused to report to Foxborough. He had wanted more money, to play for a winning team, and preferably to play in his home state. The Pats were forced to trade him, getting a first round pick and backup DE Rick Cash in return. Dryer went on to have a 13-year NFL career, playing in 176 games.

While playing in Los Angeles, Dryer began picking up small roles in television series and made for TV movies. In 1984 Dryer was cast as the lead role in the detective show Hunter; the series would run air 152 episodes over seven years.

College Football Hall of Fame - Fred Dryer (1997)

In 1967 San Diego State went 10-1 and beat San Francisco State in the Camellia Bowl. In 1968 the record was 9-0-1. The head coach was Don Coryell, and Dryer was recruited by the defensive coordinator, John Madden. San Diego State was in Division I-AA at that time; in 1978 the Aztecs moved up to I-A. Dryer played 13 years as a pro with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams. He became a star actor, the main character in the NBC television drama "Hunter." Dryer was Rick Hunter, a homicide detective.​

Fred Dryer holds the NFL record for most safeties in a game — and, oh yeah, he was almost Sam Malone on ‘Cheers’

His first credited role was in 1980 — while he was still in the NFL — as a guest star in an episode of Laverne & Shirley.

He retired from the NFL at the beginning of the 1981 season and took a job as a color commentator for CBS. But that just one season — he was ready for a career away from the football field.

When pilot season rolled around, Dryer auditioned for a show that would eventually become one that everybody knows its name: Cheers.

While Dryer lost out on that role, he did appear a few times on the show as sportscaster Dave Richards, a former teammate of Sam’s.

And eventually, that helped lead to ...

Before the 1984 TV season and with a couple more years experience as an actor, Dryer was still trying to nab a starring role. He auditioned for Miami Vice but the 6’6 Dryer was declared “too tall” to be James Crockett (famously played by Don Johnson, who is 5’11).

However, that year Dryer was cast as the lead in Hunter, one of those ubiquitous “male-female partners, solving crime!” shows of the ‘80s like Moonlighting, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Remington Steele, and Hart to Hart.

Rick Hunter was an LAPD homicide detective who didn’t mind breaking a few rules to get a bad guy off the street. “Nobody could throw a guy off a building like me.”

Each week, Hunter and his partner, Dee Dee McCall (Stepfanie Kramer), chased down the worst of the worst criminals, sometimes in a cherry red Dodge. The show ran for seven seasons and later returned for three made-for-TV movies.​

Other pro football players with New England area connections born on July 6:

- Chandler Fenner, 29 (7/6/90); Holy Cross, class of 2012.
Was in training camp with KC in 2012, on Seattle's practice squad in 2013, and appeared in 11 games with the Giants in 2014; has been in the CFL since 2016.

- Dave Mishel (7/6/05 - 3/11/75); grew up in Lynn and went to Brown.
Running back in the early NFL for Providence and Cleveland.

- Alex Joseph, 31 (7/6/88); Stamford CT
Bounced between four teams over two NFL seasons. The LB then spent a couple years in the CFL and one in the Indoor Football League. He is now with Blue Streak Sports Training in Chelsea Piers CT.




Other pro football player born July 6 include:

- Joe Jacoby, 60 (7/6/59); LT went to four Pro Bowls and won three SB rings while appearing in 170 regular season and 21 playoff games for Washington.

- Nnamdi Asomugha, 38 (7/6/81); after recording eight interceptions and 19 passes defensed in 2006, opposing quarterbacks rarely threw towards the Raider corner.

- Gary Ballman (7/6/40 - 5/20/04); flanker/kick returner went to the Pro Bowl in '64 and '65, and had 5,366 career receiving yards.

- Hugh 'Bones' Taylor (7/6/23 - 10/31/92); Pro Bowl end led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 1949, and in yards per reception in 1950 (21.4).

- Alvin Harper, 51 (7/6/68); playing opposite Michael Irvin he led the NFL with 24.9 yards per catch in 1994, but was a free agent bust the next year in Tampa.

- Brandon Jacobs, 37 (7/6/82); 256 pound RB scored 64 touchdowns with the Giants from 2005 to 2013.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Bull Bramlett​

Happy birthday to John 'Bull' Bramlett
Born July 7, 1941 in Memphis
Died Oct 23, 2014 at the age of 73
Patriot OLB, 1969-1970; uniform #57

Undrafted out of Memphis State, Bramlett was the runner-up to Joe Namath as the rookie of the year in 1965. He was a two-time AFL all-star before being part of one of the most infamous trades in Patriot history. Prior to the 1969 season the Dolphins traded Bramlett and backup QB Kim Hammond to the Pats in exchange for future Hall of Fame LB Nick Buoniconti. Bramlett had a reputation for reckless behavior and disdain for authority, which had already ended his professional baseball career. He played in 24 games with 23 starts in two seasons with the Pats, and was out of football a year later. Two years after he retired his days as a drinker and brawler ended, and he became a minister.

John Bramlett, greatest defensive player in Tiger football history | University of Memphis Athletics

Taming the Bull: The John Bramlett Story

Jan 19, 2014: John Bramlett Living better life | Denver Post

John Bramlett Obituary

After a brief career with the St. Louis Cardinals, John began a career in the NFL in 1965 as “the meanest man in football” that included Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Boston Patriots, Atlanta Falcons and two Pro Bowl appearances (’66, ’68). John was named runner- up AFL Rookie of the Year behind Joe Namath in 1965.

While playing for the Patriots, John was named Most Valuable Player for the team in 1970. John was honored to be inducted into the Tennessee Football and Baseball Hall of Fame, University of Memphis Football and Baseball Hall of Fame, Denver Broncos Wall of Fame, All-Time Denver Broncos Team, All American Football Association Hall of Fame, And Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions.​

Oct 28, 2017: Big men with broken minds: The largely forgotten faces of the Patriots franchise | The Boston Globe

As for Bramlett, who died with Alzheimer’s, the Patriots acquired him in 1969 from the Dolphins in exchange for Nick Buoniconti, then an all-star linebacker who later was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Buoniconti, now 76, also suffers from CTE symptoms. “I feel like a child,’’ he told Sports Illustrated in May.)

Bramlett was a risky acquisition for the Patriots. A hard-drinking renegade who grew up in a tough section of Memphis, he had been making trouble since he played football as a kid with his longtime friend Elvis Presley.

A two-sport star at Memphis State, Bramlett was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played three years in the minors before his recklessness cost him his baseball career.

According to his 1989 book, “Taming the Bull,’’ Bramlett’s misdeeds as a Cardinal included drinking whiskey during a game, then throwing an eight-pound weight that looked like a baseball at an unsuspecting teammate. The projectile knocked out three of the player’s teeth and rendered him unconscious in a bloody heap.

Bramlett then signed to play football for the Denver Broncos. With his singular ferocity, he finished second to Joe Namath on the 1965 Rookie of the Year ballot and earned Pro Bowl honors, as he did again in 1966.

By the time Bramlett arrived in Boston, his future appeared bright. The Patriots, though, were largely luckless vagabonds, mocked as the Patsies while they averaged barely four wins a season for nearly a decade. They lurched from one temporary home to another — Fenway Park, Boston College, Harvard — before they settled in Foxborough in 1971.

Yet Bramlett thrived. In 1970, Schottenheimer described him to the Globe as “the best outside linebacker in the American Conference, probably the best in all pro football.’’

Bramlett’s teammates voted him their most valuable player, and Patriots trainer Bill Bates told the Globe, “Bull Bramlett plays this game with reckless abandon. The man’s body is a total wreck.’’

Bramlett underwent knee and elbow surgeries after the season, as well as an appendectomy, and the Patriots might have given him time to recover had he not continued his wild ways.

During training camp at UMass Amherst, Bramlett wrote in his book, “My constant drinking in the bars near camp and the disturbances I caused gave management the excuses they seemed to be looking for to call me on the carpet.’’

He was shipped to the Green Bay Packers, who waived him after he insulted the coach. The Atlanta Falcons then gave him his final opportunity, which quickly resulted in a career-ending knee injury.

At that, Bramlett returned to Tennessee and embraced religious faith. He spent the rest of his days as a Christian evangelist, until he began to slip away.​

Happy 27th birthday to Cassius Marsh
Born July 7, 1992 in Mission Hills, CA
Patriot DE, 2017; uniform #55

At the end of the 2017 training camp the Patriots made three transactions. The club traded QB Jacoby Brissett to the Colts for WR Phillip Dorsett; CB Johnson Bademosi was acquired from Detroit for a future draft pick; and Marsh was acquired from Seattle for 5th and 7th round draft picks. This came a few days after defensive lineman Kony Ealy was released, as the Pats needed some depth for their pass rush.

Marsh didn't like the Patriot defensive concept, which meant there were times he would have to set the edge and cover a running back, rather than just teeing off on the opposing quarterback. He let Bill Belichick know and nine games into his career as a Patriot, Marsh was gone. Cassius Marsh did gain notoriety by giving an interview soon after about how he had no fun playing in New England.

May 26, 2018: 49ers DE Cassius Marsh feels appreciated, finally | SF Chronicle

May 28, 2018: Cassius Marsh Rips Patriots; Analyzing What He Said About Belichick | Michael Hurley, CBS Boston

9/18/2017: Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt eludes Patriots DE Cassius Marsh as he runs for a touchdown after catching a pass from Alex Smith during the second half of Thursday's game. KC won the week one contest 42-27.​

Two other pro football players born July 7 with New England area connections.

- Victor Heflin, 59 (7/7/60); born in Springfield, the safety played in 24 games over two seasons with the St Louis Cardinals. Since 1995 Heflin has been a senior account executive and GSA at dancker, an office furniture store in Maryland.

- Arnie Horween (7/7/98 - 8/5/85); played and coached at Harvard, and the QB also played and coached for the Chicago Cardinals. The Horween Leather Company to this day still supplies the leather used in NFL footballs, as well as manufacturing high end dress shoes.




A few notable pro football players born on July 7:

- Mike McCrary, 49 (7/7/70); 10-year DE went to two Pro Bowls with the Ravens.

- Jerry Sherk, 71 (7/7/48); four-time Pro Bowl DT for the Browns in the seventies.

- Carl Mauck, 72 (7/7/47); 10-year starting center with San Diego and Houston.

- Darnay Scott, 47 (7/7/72); WR had 6,193 receiving yards, mostly with Cincinnati.

- Robert James, 72 (7/7/47); All Pro corner for Buffalo in the seventies.

- Michael Westbrook, 47 (7/7/72); caught Kordell Stewart's Hail Mary (over Ty Law) for Colorado to beat Michigan, and had 26 touchdowns in the NFL.

- Matt Suhey, 61 (7/7/58); fullback for the Bears from 1980-89 had 25 TD and 5,059 yards from scrimmage.

- Chris Redman, 42 (7/7/77); third round pick by the Ravens in 2000 is one of the 'Brady Six' quarterbacks to be drafted prior to TB12.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
A pair of obscure Pats​

Happy 51st birthday to Mickey Washington
Born July 8, 1968 in Galveston, Texas
Patriot CB, 1990-1991; uniform #21

The speedy 5′9 corner was selected in the 8th round, 199th overall by the Cardinals in 1990, but he did not make their roster. After the Patriots released RB Don Overton on October 31, 1990 they signed Washington, and he appeared in nine games that season. In ’91 Washington appeared in all 16 games with four starts; during his two years with the Pats he had two interceptions and 73 tackles.

The Texas A&M graduate spent eight years in the NFL, also playing for Washington, Buffalo, Jacksonville and New Orleans, with three years as a starter – one with the Bills (when he started in Super Bowl 28), and two with the Jaguars, from ’94-’96. After his NFL career ended Washington earned his law degree, and founded his own practice in Texas, focusing on labor and employment law. Washington also serves on the executive committee for the National Football League Players Association.

Feb 28, 2012: Texas Aggie Bar Association - Are You Ready For Some Football? - Interview with Mickey Washington of Washington & Ernster, PLLC




Happy 48th birthday to Jeff Kopp
Born July 8, 1971 in Danville, California
Patriot LB, 1999; uniform #91

Jeff Kopp was a sixth round draft pick by Miami in 1995, out of USC. He primarily played special teams, appearing in 63 games with three starts over his five year NFL career. After a rash of injuries decimated the Pats linebacking corps to the point that safeties were forced to fill in at linebacker, Pete Carroll signed Kopp in late October of '99. He appeared in six games with the Patriots, with two tackles. In his post-NFL life Kopp worked as an investment advisor, as a steer wrestler on the professional rodeo circuit, and as a bicycle shop owner. Kopp then became a high school football head coach in Jacksonville.

Patriots bring LB Kopp aboard | Mark Farinella, Sun Chronicle

Pats sign Kopp, who might start | Hartford Courant

Patriots Kopp a new linebacker | New Bedford Standard-Times

Jeff Kopp on Twitter

Jeff Kopp on Instagram

Baker Correctional | Church of Eleven22




Others with New England area connections:

- Phil McGeoghan, 40 (7/8/79); born and raised in Agawam, went to Boston University and then Maine after BU stopped playing football. Was with Denver and New Orleans in the NFL, as well as one season with NFL Europe. Has been a position coach for several colleges and NFL teams; is now the WR coach for the Buffalo Bills.

- Charlie Stewart (7/8/90 - 12/18/65); western Mass native was a guard in the early days of the NFL, before figuring out there were better jobs for someone with a degree from Colgate.



Some other pro football players born today:

- Jack Lambert, 67 (7/8/52); Hall of Fame middle linebacker for the Steelers was a six-time All Pro, and won four Super Bowl rings.

- John David Crow (7/8/35 - 6/17/15); RB won the Heisman Trophy in 1957 and played 11 years in the NFL with the Cardinals and 49ers. Named to four Pro Bowls, Crow was a bruising runner who refused to run out of bounds. In 1960 he led the league with 5.9 yards per carry, and 1,533 yards from scrimmage (in a 12-game season).

- Tommy Mason (7/8/39 - 1/22/15); RB was the second overall pick by the Patriots in the 1961 AFL draft, but he signed with the Vikings, who selected him with the first overall pick of the NFL draft. Played 11 years in the NFL and was named to three Pro Bowls; later married Olympic gymnast and Broadway actress Cathy Rigby.

- Ken Lanier, 60 (7/8/59); started 180 games (including 13 playoff games) at right tackle for the Broncos from 1981 to 1994.

- Na'il Diggs, 41 (7/8/78); linebacker played twelve seasons in the NFL, mostly with Green Bay and Carolina.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Two Bud and a couple backup QBs​

Happy 58th birthday to Tom Ramsey
Born July 9, 1961 in Encino, California
Patriot QB, 1985-1988; uniform #12
Pats 10th round (267th overall) selection of the 1983 draft, from UCLA

Ramsey was the 1983 Rose Bowl MVP, and shared the 1983 Pac-10 Player of the Year award with Stanford's John Elway. He did not sign with the Patriots out of college, instead playing in the USFL for two seasons. Ramsey was forced into action in '87 when Tony Eason and Steve Grogan were both sidelined with injuries.

His touchdown pass to Stanley Morgan gave the Pats the lead with less than two minutes to play against Dallas, but the Cowboys came back to win in overtime on a 60-yard touchdown run by Herschel Walker. The following week Ramsey made his first NFL start, with the Pats shutting out the Colts 24-0. A week later Ramsey threw for 402 yards and three touchdowns, rallying the Patriots from a 31-10 fourth quarter deficit with two TD passes and another on the ground to tie the game - only to once again see the Pats lose in OT. The following week Ramsey threw four picks at Denver, and was benched.

The 1988 Patriot team was inept on offense (they finished 24th in scoring, 27th in yards), with far too many turnovers. Raymond Berry had a carousel of ineffective quarterbacks, starting Grogan, Eason, Ramsey and Doug Flutie over the course of the season. Ramsey reportedly had some words to say about Berry and Flutie - allegations he denied - and was promptly waived. He spent one more season in the NFL, as a backup for the Colts. Ramsey played in 21 games with four starts during his time with the Patriots, throwing six touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He later worked as a college football broadcaster.

Patriot QBs Steve Grogan, Tom Ramsey and Tony Eason discuss strategy on the sideline of a 1987 game.​

Nov 25, 1988: Waived by Patriots, Ramsey Waits: Former UCLA Star Is Disappointed, Still Wants To Play | LA Times




Happy 83rd birthday to Bob 'Two Bud' Schmidt
Born July 9, 1936 in Rochester, Minnesota
Patriot RT, 1964; uniform #74

Schmidt was originally drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1958. He was a three-time AFL all-star center with the Houston Oilers, and part of their '61 championship team. On August 25, 1964 the Boston Patriots picked Schmidt up from the Oilers for a "future high draft choice". He started all 14 games for the Patriots, and played in 98 AFL/NFL games over eight seasons. After retirement he worked as a realtor in western New York. Not to be confused with this Bob Schmidt, who played football at USC.

Happy 76th birthday to Ellis Johnson
Born July 9, 1943 in Baton Rouge
Patriot RB/WR, 1965-1966; uniform #38
Pats 4th round (31st overall) selection of the 1965 draft, from SE Louisiana

Ellis Johnson was a 9.7 sprinter and the fastest player on the Patriots' roster. He was tried at halfback as a change of pace from Jim Nance, but couldn't get past Larry Garron or J.D. Garrett for backfield touches. Mike Holovak also tried to exploit Johnson's speed at flanker, but again he could not unseat Gino Cappelletti (or Jim Colclough or Art Graham at split end) for playing time.

Johnson played in all 28 games over two seasons with the Pats but accumulated just 29 yards rushing on 19 carries, and four receptions for 29 yards.

Sept 13, 1965: Boston Patriots Preview | Sports Illustrated




Happy birthday to Bill Hudson
Born July 9, 1935 in Lamar, SC
Died December 13, 2017 at the age of 82
Patriot DT, 1963; uniform #61

Hudson was a third round draft pick by the Chicago Cardinals in 1957, but instead went north to play four years in the CFL. He signed with San Diego in 1961, and was named to the AFL West all star team. Hudson played in four games with the Pats before being 'worn out' and retiring from pro football. After working in the AFL league office, Hudson worked as a building services contractor and then as a banker.




Happy 46th birthday to Damon Huard
Born July 9, 1973 in Yakima, Washington
Patriot QB, 2001-2003; uniform #19

Huard was originally signed as an undrafted rookie by Cincinnati in 1996. He spent four years in the Dolphins' organization (including one in Europe) before the Pats signed him early in the 2000 off season. Huard played in only four games with the Pats, with his largest contribution coming as the QB for the scout team, to help prepare Patriot defenses for their upcoming opponent. These days he teams up with Dan Marino in the winery business.; he is also Chief Administrative Officer for the University of Washington's football program.

Tom Brady and Damon Huard in August, 2003​

Aug 6, 2018: Former Patriots quarterback Damon Huard explained what it’s like to be Tom Brady’s backup | Boston.com




Other pro football players with New England area connections:

- Pete Kendall, 46 (7/9/73); Weymouth native went to Archbishop Williams High School and was a standout at Boston College. Seattle selected him with the 21st overall pick of the 1996 draft, and the offensive lineman played 13 seasons in the NFL.

- John Galvin, 54 (7/9/65); Lowell native and BC grad was a linebacker and exceptional special team player with the Jets and Vikings.

- Al Krevis, 67 (7/9/52); BC alum was a second round pick as a tackle by the Bengals in 1975.

- Paul Walker (7/9/25 - 10/20/72); All American at Yale played briefly for the Giants after WWII ended.




Some notable pro football players born on this date include:

- O.J. Simpson, 72 (7/9/47); Hall of Fame running back slashed his way to 469 yards in two 1973 games against the Pats, en route to becoming the first player to rush for 2000 yards in a single season.

- Clem Daniels, 82 (7/9/37); in 1963 the four-time All Star halfback led the league in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage, and also yards per reception with an average of 22.8 yards on 30 catches.

- Trent Green, 49 (7/9/70); his knee injury on a Rodney Harrison hit made **** Vermeil cry, but it opened the door for Kurt Warner's career. Green threw 162 touchdown passes over 11 seasons.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Sea Bass​

Happy 35th birthday to Sebastian Vollmer
Born July 10, 1984 in Dusseldorf, Germany
Patriot OT, 2009-2016; uniform #76
Pats 2nd round (58th overall) selection of the 2009 draft, from Houston

• 88 regular season games played, with 80 starts
• 10 playoff games, all as a starter
• two Super Bowl rings (49, 51)
• 2nd team All Pro, 2010

​

May 16, 2017: Look: Former Patriots tackle Sebastian Vollmer has lost 75 pounds since last year | CBS Sports

Sebastian Vollmer spent seven years playing tackle for the New England Patriots. When Vollmer was on the team, the Patriots listed him at 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds.

Vollmer dealt with various injuries throughout the 2016 offseason, and toward the end of training camp, the Patriots placed him on the physically unable to perform list. That move mandated that he miss the first six games of the season, but the seriousness of his hip and shoulder issues wound up keeping him out for the entire season anyway. Vollmer was then released in March.

He surfaced again on Tuesday for an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio, and well, he's down from 320 pounds to 245 pounds. Check it:​

March 18, 2019: Former Patriots' 320-Pound Offensive Lineman Sebastian Vollmer is Now Completely Ripped | Fan Duel

​

July 21, 2018: Sebastian Vollmer, Wes Welker, Rob Ninkovich and what life's been like after football | The Boston Globe

Vollmer, like Ninkovich, has remained in the New England area and is just starting to find his post-football life. He works out first thing each morning, spends lots of time with his wife and young kids, and works with a few charities and local businesses. Vollmer also moonlights as an NFL broadcaster for German-language TV back in his home country.

“We all played for a long time, assumed a risk to a certain degree, but I can’t worry about it. I can’t worry today what might happen tomorrow in 10, 20, 50 years,” he said. “Yeah, you probably try to stay active. But I think even if you didn’t play, you shouldn’t give up on reading and Sudoku.”

He carries plenty of pain from his eight NFL seasons — lingering back, shoulder and hip injuries, a broken leg, arthritis. But he is also fit and trim — he lost so much weight right after retirement, 75 pounds, that he has put about 15 back on.

“Certain things I won’t be able to do and I’m in pain every day, but there’s also a lot of things I can do, so I try to concentrate on the good things, and that’s the way I’m doing it,” he said. Football “worked for me, and I don’t regret it one bit.”​

Happy 30th birthday to Akeem Ayers
Born July 10, 1989 in Los Angeles
Patriot LB, 2014; uniform #52

After Jerod Mayo was placed on injured reserve the Patriots acquired Ayers and a seventh round draft pick on October 21, 2014, in exchange for just a sixth round draft pick. Ayers played in nine games with four starts; he had four sacks, 22 total tackles, one interception and one pass defensed. He played 382 defensive snaps in those nine games with the Patriots, including a high of 74 in a 43-21 victory over Denver. Ayers also played in all three playoff games, earning a ring for the Super Bowl victory over Seattle with his stop on Marshawn Lynch at the one yard line.

Early in 2015 free agency Ayers signed with the Rams; he last played with the Giants late in 2017. The Pats had brought Ayers in for a workout early in the 2017 season, but did not sign him. Akeem Ayers played in 100 NFL games over seven NFL seasons, recording 320 tackles and 15½ sacks.

Check out Ayers' autobiography here: Proving Myself | The Players' Tribune

March 12, 2015: Akeem Ayers, New England Patriots boosted each other in time together | Mike Reiss, espn



Happy 27th birthday to David Andrews
Born July 10, 1992 in Jones Creek, Georgia
Patriot C, 2015-present; uniform #60
Acquired as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015, from Georgia

Andrews has played in 60 regular season games with 57 starts in his first four seasons with the Patriots. He is also played in all eleven playoff game, with the Pats going 9-2 in those contests. In 2016 Andrews was on the field for all but four snaps the entire season, and has already been on the field for 3,970 offensive snaps. The Patriots signed Andrews to a three year $9 million contract extension in May of 2016 that expires after the 2020 season.




Happy 57th birthday to Mike Saxon
Born July 10, 1962 in Whittier, CA
Patriot P, 1993; uniform #7

The Patriots signed Saxon after eight seasons with Dallas. He punted 73 times at an average of 42.4 yards for Bill Parcells' 5-11 team. Saxon returned to training camp with the Pats in 1994, but was beat out for the job by rookie 5th round draft pick Pat O'Neill. Saxon played in 172 regular season games and seven playoff games in his 11-year NFL career, averaging 41.7 yards per punt. He also played in seven playoff games, including Dallas' 52-17 victory over Buffalo in Super Bowl 27.

Mike Saxon Roofing & Construction




Happy 28th birthday to Caylin Hauptmann
Born July 10, 1991 in Los Angeles
Patriot OT, 2014-2015; uniform #68

The Pats signed Hauptmann to the practice squad in mid-September of 2014, where he remained for all but one week of the rest of the season. The Pats brought him back to training camp in 2015, but he was released as part of the final roster cuts - ten days after being removed from the NFI list. Hauptmann has also been with the Browns, Seahawks and Bucs, but has only one game played on his official NFL stat line. Despite that he owns two Super Bowl rings: one with Seattle in 2013, where he was a healthy scratch for most of the season, and one with the Patriots for Super Bowl 49. Hauptmann's last appearance in the NFL was in Tampa's 2016 training camp.

Jan 23, 2014: Catching Up with Super Bowl-Bound Caylin Hauptmann | FIU Athletics




Happy 35th birthday to Marcus Harrison
Born July 10, 1984 in Little Rock
Patriot DT, 2011; uniform #94

After Mike Wright was placed on IR in October of 2011, the Patriots signed the former Chicago Bear. He lasted all of one day on the roster, replaced the next day by Sterling Moore. He was re-signed the following March, but was released at the end of training camp. Harrison played in 37 NFL games from 2008-10 for Chicago, with nine starts.

Bears DT Marcus Harrison finally passes physical | National Football Post

July 10, 1976: first day the Pats trained at Bryant College (1976-2002)​

One other local New England area player with a great story:

- Mark Roopenian, 61 (July 10, 1958); grew up in Watertown and then played a different position (TE, C, ILB and DT) in each of his four years at Boston College. As an undrafted rookie in 1982 he improbably impressed the Bills' coaches to land a roster spot - helped out in part by standing toe to toe and holding his own in one-on-one drills against the infamous Conrad Dobler. Roopenian played nose tackle, some defensive end and special teams for Buffalo.

Unfortunately on the opening kickoff of the third game of the '83 season he suffered a severe neck injury which ended his pro football playing days. In his post-football life Roopenian has had a very successful business career, directing the leasing, marketing and asset management of buildings such as the John Hancock Tower and International Place.




From the wayback machine:
- Harry Wynne (1920-1989); end and defensive end played a couple years of pro football. In 1944 he had ten receptions for 205 yards with the Boston Yanks, third most on the club that year.


Some other pro football players who were born on July 10:
- Roger Craig, 59 (7/10/60); four-time Pro Bowl running back won three rings with the Niners. He led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage in 1988, and in receptions with 92 in 1985.
- Darryl Talley, 61 (7/10/60); two-time Pro Bowl OLB played in 216 NFL games, mostly with Buffalo. Had 38½ career sacks and also played in 18 playoff games, but is now another victim of health issues many former players face.
- Antonio Brown, 31 (7/10/88); 195th pick of the 2010 draft has been a four-time All-Pro and named to seven Pro Bowls. Brown ranks fourth among active players and 34th all time with 11,207 career yards receiving.
- Brent Alexander, 48 (7/10/71); safety played in 192 NFL games and once had a streak of 133 consecutive starts.
- Toni Fritsch (1945-2005); was a soccer player in Austria before joining the NFL and leading the league in field goal percentage three times with the Houston Oilers.
- Bill Gramatica, 41 (7/10/78); Martin's younger brother is most well known for an over the top celebration gone bad, following a field goal attempt that was good in the first quarter.

​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Helicopter-Shooting Steel Curtain DT​

There is not much to report for the Pats on July 11 - though I have to admit that I had completely forgotten that Ernie Holmes ever played for the Patriots.


Happy 72nd birthday to Ezell Jones
Born July 11, 1947 in Collierville, Tennessee
Patriot OT, 1969-170; uniform #74

Ezell Jones was the 104th overall pick by the Jets in 1969, out of Minnesota. He played in 18 games over two seasons with the Patriots, with one fumble recovery, plus a safety in the Pats November 16 25-14 victory at Cincinnati. Jones returned to Minneapolis where he became a Vice President of Business Development and Relationship Manager for an insurance company in Minnesota.

Fifth Quarter Integrated Solutions

Executive Advisory Committee | University of Minnesota

Ezell Jones, sales executive | Prabook




Happy 59th birthday to Larry Cowan
Born July 11, 1960 in Mobile, Alabama
Patriot RB, 1982; uniform #44

Larry Cowan was drafted by Miami in the 7th round in '82, but only played in two games for the Fins. After the strike ended the Pats signed the Jackson State alum, who played almost exclusively on special teams. Cowan appeared in a total of seven games for the Patriots, including their 28-13 playoff loss at Miami. He then averaged 5.5 yards per carry and caught 101 passes playing for the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL from 1983 to 1985.

Larry Cowan (31) was just a backup and special teamer in the NFL, but he gained 2,321 yards in three CFL seasons.​

Happy birthday to Ernie Holmes
Born July 11, 1948 in Jamestown, Texas
Died January 17, 2008 at the age of 59
Patriot DT, 1978; uniform #63

Ernie Holmes played for Pittsburgh for six seasons. He was a critical part of the famed Steel Curtain defense, where he earned a pair of Super Bowl rings. Due to weight issues he was traded to Tampa Bay, but was cut at the end of their training camp. The fearsome (and unstable) Holmes played in three games with the Patriots, finishing his NFL career in Foxboro.

Jan 18, 2008: Dr. Z: Steelers' Holmes was as misunderstood as he was underappreciated | SI

Ernie Holmes once told a reporter from Time magazine that he was attracted to the violence of football and that he didn't "mind knocking somebody out." QB Dan Pastorini described Holmes as the defender that he feared the most.​

Other pro football players with New England area connections:

- B.J. Raji, 33 (7/11/86); 9th overall pick of the 2009 draft by Green Bay, by way of Boston College. Raji took an unexpected hiatus in 2017 that turned into a retirement just when a contract extension had been worked out, in order to help his father care for his mother and aunt.

- Jeff Kemp, 60 (7/11/59); son of Jack Kemp, the AFL QB and congressman. The younger Kemp is a Dartmouth grad who had an 11-year NFL career and went 9-4 with the Rams in his only season as a starter.

- John Jenkins, 30 (7/11/89); born and raised in Meriden CT, Jenkins spent five years in the NFL as a NT for the Saints and Seahawks.

- Tony Brown (7/11/64 - 6/19/10); Stamford CT native played for Buffalo during the '87 strike, and was later blacklisted for a case he took to the Supreme Court against the NFL.




And a few notable pro football players born on this date:

- Andre Johnson, 38 (7/11/81); WR had seven seasons with over 1100 yards receiving.

- Patrick Peterson, 29 (7/11/90); Arizona CB from LSU has been named to the Pro Bowl eight times.

- Willie Anderson, 44 (7/11/75); Cincinnati Bengal All-Pro tackle started 184 NFL games from 1996 to 2008.

- Len Hauss, 77 (7/11/42); five-time Pro Bowl center for Washington started 192 consecutive games.

- Cecil Isbell (1915-1985); 7th overall pick of the 1938 draft set NFL single season records for passing yards and touchdown passes in 1941, and then broke both those records the following year.

- Chris Cooley, 37 (7/11/82); Washington TE went to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2008.

- Jacoby Jones, 35 (7/11/84); WR returned four punts and five kickoffs for NFL touchdowns, and later returned another kickoff for a TD - in Arena Football.

- Dale Hellestrae, 57 (7/11/62); long snapper played in 205 games over 15 seasons, winning three super bowl rings with the Cowboys.

 

[jmt57]

Today In Patriots History
The Pynes: First Family of the NFL​

Sorry Archie, the first pro football family comes from Milford, Mass, not New Orleans.

Happy birthday to George Pyne
Born July 12, 1941 in Marlboro, MA
Died November 26, 2015 at the age of 74
Patriot DT, 1965; uniform #75
Pats 16th round (127th overall) pick of the 1965 draft, from Olivet College

The Milford native played in all 14 games for the Pats in '65. As a backup to Jim Lee Hunt and Houston Antwine he didn't get on the field much defensively, and was used primarily on special teams. His father played in the NFL briefly in the early thirties, and his son Jim played for the Bucs and a few other teams from 1994-2001. That made the Pynes the first to have three generations of family members play in the NFL. Another son, George Pyne IV, was captain of the Brown University football team and all-Ivy League, and then went on to become NASCAR's chief operating officer and President of Sports and Entertainment for IMG.

George Pyne Obituary

Mr. Pyne was a graduate of Milford High School, Class of 1959 and also a graduate of Olivet College in Michigan, where he was a standout football player, named as All Conference and an All American. Mr. Pyne was drafted by and played as a rookie for the Boston Patriots.

Following his career in the NFL, he was a Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company sales executive. In the 1980’s he founded Hillview Equipment & Real Estate Development Company of Milford MA.

Mr. Pyne was a lifelong resident of Milford and summered with his family in Falmouth MA. He was a longtime communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Milford and St. Anthony’s Church in Falmouth. He was a longtime member if the Milford Lions Club and had served as a member of the Milford School Committee for nine years, as well as a longtime town meeting member. He was also an avid fisherman, hunter and skier. He was also a member of the Million Dollar Round Table in the insurance industry.

Mr. Pyne was a member of the Milford High School Sports Hall of Fame; the Olivet College Sports Hall of Fame and had served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Olivet College. He also had the honor of having the Pyne Pavilion at Olivet College named in his honor.​

Happy 29th birthday to Chris Jones
Born July 12, 1990 in Brownsburg, Indiana
Patriot DT, 2013-2015; uniform #94

The Pats picked Chris Jones up off waivers from Tampa Bay in October of 2013. He was once involved in a bizarre penalty for pushing a teammate into the line on a field goal attempt, something that had never been called previously in the history of the NFL. With the benefit of the extra 15 yards, on the next play Nick Folk made the kick to win the game in overtime for the Jets. In an incredible twist of irony, Jones blocked a Folk field goal a year later to secure a victory for the Pats against the Jets.

Jones reportedly played with a torn calf in the Super Bowl 49 victory over Seattle, and spent all of 2015 on the PUP list. The Pats released him in April of 2016. Jones played in 28 games with 22 starts with the Patriots, plus four playoff games. During that time he had 88 tackles (46 solo), nine sacks and a fumble recovery.

Bill Belichick congratulates Chris Jones after his blocked field goal attempt helped the Patriots to a 27-25 week 7 victory over the Jets. Jones was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
​

Miami claimed Jones off waivers from the Patriots in 2016, and he played in seven games for the Dolphins before again being released. San Francisco then claimed him, and he started six games for the Niners. Jones spent 2017 on IR, and was in the 2018 off season was with the Jets, then San Francisco a second time. Since the end of training camp in 2018 Jones has been a free agent.

Patriots lose on ridiculous unsportsmanlike conduct penalty | Larry Brown Sports

Blocked Field Goal A Bit Of Redemption For Patriots' Chris Jones | CBS Boston




Happy 49th birthday to Chad Brown
Born July 12, 1970 in Pasadena, California
Patriot LB, 2005 and 2007; uniform #98

Chadwick Brown was a 35 year old veteran of 12 NFL seasons when the Patriots signed him in 2005. He played in 15 games with five starts, recording 39 combined tackles; he also played in both playoff games that postseason. The Pats re-signed him in 2007 and he bounced on and off the roster, appearing in two games for what turned out to be his final NFL season. The two-time All Pro from Colorado had 79 sacks over 188 games in his NFL career.

LB Chad Brown (center, #98)​

Former Steeler Chad Brown says he learned from the best - Bill Belichick | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette





Happy 56th birthday to Bill Lewis
Born July 12, 1963 in Sioux City, Iowa
Patriot C, 1993; uniform #75

An All American at Nebraska in 1985, Bill Lewis spent the final season of his seven year NFL career with the Patriots. He played in seven games with five starts, and is somehow credited with having two fumbles for a loss of 43 yards. Since retiring from pro football Lewis has worked as the manager of alumni relations with the Arizona Cardinals, an assistant high school football coach, and on the Cardinals' football broadcasts.

Sept 16, 2009: What's up with former Cardinal Bill Lewis | Arizona Central

Happy 53rd birthday to Peter Shorts
Born July 12, 1966 in Janesville, Wisconsin
Patriot DT, 1989; uniform #90

Peter Shorts grew up in a small town (Clinton, Wisconsin; population 2,154) and went to a small football school (Illinois State, of the Missouri Valley Conference). He appeared in the final game of the 1989 season, in what was Raymond Berry's final game as head coach. He was then with the Packers and Rams for the next two two seasons, but never saw any playing time. Shorts then played for San Antonio in an early rendition of the WLAF, when there were six teams in the US, one in Montreal and only three in Europe. After that he played for four seasons in the Canadian Football League.

Happy 33rd birthday to Lavelle Hawkins
Born July 12, 1986 in Stockton, California
Patriot WR, 2013 offseason; uniform #83

The Patriots signed Hawkins as a veteran free agent at the age of 27, on May 9 2013. Hawkins had played in 52 games with four starts for Tennessee over five seasons; his only year of note was in 2011 when he had 47 receptions for 470 yards. After he dropped a few balls in camp and miscommunicated with Tom Brady on routes and adjustments, the Pats released Hawkins just after the start of training camp, on July 31.

May 9, 2013: Patriots Sign WR Lavelle Hawkins | CBS Boston

July 30, 2013: Lavelle Hawkins, Michael Jenkins, Kamar Aiken Among Patriots' Wide Receivers Battling for Final Roster Spots | NESN




One other former NFL player with a New England area connection:

- Paul Zukauskas, 40 (July 12, 1979); born in Weymouth, Paul went to BC High and Boston College. He spent four seasons at right guard for the Browns, appearing in 43 games with 18 starts. Zukauskas was a very successful head coach and associate director of admissions at Lawrence Academy. After seven seasons at the Groton prep school he left coaching in 2018 and co-founded one of several sports-related startups at the Sports Innovation Lab, across from TD Garden.

April 4, 2018: Paul Zukauskas steps down as Lawrence Academy football coach | Boston Globe


From the way-back machine:
- Bob McChesney (1912-1986); Bob was an offensive and defensive end with the Boston Redskins, and went to two Pro Bowls after the team moved to Washington.
- Bill Ward (1895-1973); born in Cambridge, he was an offensive lineman for the 1921 Buffalo All-Americans.




Some other pro football players who were born on July 12:

- LeSean McCoy, 31 (7/12/88); five-time Pro Bowl RB led the NFL in rushing (1607 yards) and yards from scrimmage (2146) in 2013.

- Frank Ryan, 83 (7/12/36); life is good when you are a QB on a team first with Jim Brown, and then Paul Warfield and Leroy Kelly.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Veteran Free Agent Wide Receivers​

There is a very long list of veteran free agent wide receiver acquisitions by the Patriots over the last two decades. A few pan out; many do not.


Happy 44th birthday to Tim Dwight
Born July 13, 1975 in Iowa City
Patriot WR, 2005; uniform #86

The 5-8 speedster played football and track at Iowa, where he was a Big 10 champion in the 100 meter dash, the 4x100 meter relay, and the 4x400 meter relay. Originally drafted by Atlanta, Dwight returned six punts and kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 94 yard kick return in Super Bowl 33.

After seven seasons with the Falcons and Chargers, the Pats signed Tim Dwight early in free agency in 2005. Dwight led the '05 team with 32 punt returns, averaging 8.5 yards per return; he also averaged 25.0 yards on ten kickoff returns. Dwight was the number four wide receiver on the Patriots that season, catching 19 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns, and totaled 866 all purpose yards.

Tim Dwight played ten years in the NFL, with 22 touchdowns and 9,854 all purpose yards. In his post-NFL career he has worked as a solar energy advocate.

From the Patriots.com archives:
March 14, 2005: Patriots officially sign Dwight

Dwight, 29, visited the Patriots at Gillette Stadium last week. He was released by San Diego on Feb. 22, several weeks before he was scheduled to receive a $100,000 roster bonus, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The 5-foot-8, 180-pound wideout had been hampered by injuries in three of his four seasons in San Diego, forcing him to miss 17 games for the Chargers from 2001-04. He has played in all 16 games only once in his career, in 2002.

Dwight missed four games last season with toe and hamstring injuries and was used almost exclusively as a return specialist. He finished the season ranked sixth in the AFC with a 24.4-yard per return average, returning 50 kickoffs for 1,222 yards, both career highs. His 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the New York Jets on Sept. 19 was his second career return for a score. It was also the second-highest kickoff return average of his career, trailing only his 27.0-yard average as a rookie in 1998. He was slowed by a collapsed lung in 2003 that limited him to nine games.​

March 15, 2005: Patriots patient in free agency

April 6, 2005: News Blitz

Eric McHugh of the Patriot Ledger analyzes the Patriots moves and says the roster redesign basically comes down to replacing Troy Brown and David Patten with Tim Dwight and now David Terrell.​

Aug 19, 2005: Patriots vs Saints: Postgame Notes and Quotes

TIM DWIGHT: GOING DEEP
Tom Brady connected with Tim Dwight on a 45-yard bomb in the first quarter, marking Dwight's first reception of the preseason. Dwight was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on March 13, 2005, and has a long history of long plays, often resulting in touchdowns. He has recorded seven career touchdown plays of more than 50 yards and five touchdowns of more than 70 yards. The long scores have come via receptions (52 yards, 60 yards), punt returns (70, 70, 84) and kickoff returns (87, 93). The eighth-year veteran enters the 2005 campaign as the only active NFL player to have scored multiple touchdowns in each of the following four categories: receiving (14), rushing (3), punt returns (3) and kickoff returns (2).​

Oct 2, 2005: Pats vs Chargers: Game Notes

THE DWIGHT STUFF
Tim Dwight scored his second touchdown of the season on a 30-yard scoring reception in the second quarter, giving the Patriots a 14-10 lead. Dwight, who joined the Patriots as a free agent prior to the 2005 season after spending four years in San Diego, scored his second touchdown in as many games in Foxborough, having also scored in the season opener against the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 8. Dwight has now grabbed 16 career touchdown passes, and his two receiving scores so far this year are his most since 2002, when he also had two touchdown catches.​

Nov 13, 2005: Analysis: Patriots reserves fill the breach

After a 29-yard kickoff return by Bethel Johnson, Brady atoned quickly for his interception by hitting WR Tim Dwight for a 59-yard gainer on first down. Dolphins CB Reggie Howard got his hands on the ball and could have made an interception, but Dwight took it away. That play put New England at the Miami 17-yard line. Brady hit Watson in the end zone for a touchdown on the next play.​

Jan 1, 2006: Patriots - Dolphins: Game Notes

CASSEL SCORES
Rookie quarterback Matt Cassel threw his first touchdown of his NFL career when he completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Tim Dwight with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

DROP KICK FLUTIE
Quarterback Doug Flutie dug into his bag of tricks when he used the drop kick technique to convert an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter. The kick came after Cassel's 9-yard touchdown pass to Dwight, and brought the Patriots within five points of the Dolphins, making the score 25-20. According to the NFL Hall of Fame website, Ray McLean of the Chicago Bears was the last player to successfully convert a drop kick in the NFL. He converted an extra point following Ken Kavanaugh's 42-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown during the Bears' 37-9 win over the New York Giants in the 1941 NFL Championship Game. The drop kick came in the fourth quarter of the title game played on December 21, 1941.

In the NFL's official rule book. Rule 3, Section 8 defines the dropkick as, "a kick by a kicker who drops the ball and kicks it as, or immediately after, it touches the ground."​

Happy 44th birthday to Donald Jones
Born July 13, 1975 in Century, Florida
Patriot WR, 2002; uniform #81

The Patriots were impressed with Hayes' 2000 and 2001 seasons, when he caught 118 passes for 1,523 yards with the Panthers. Carolina wanted to re-sign him, but he opted instead to join the defending super bowl champions rather than the 1-15 Panthers.

The Pats signed the 6-4, 220 lb, 26 year old free agent to a two-year, $2.4 million contract. At the time it was projected that Hayes would start opposite Troy Brown at WR, filling the void due to the departure of Terry Glenn, with David Patten in the slot. Problem was the Hayes became the poster child for what happens to a player that cannot pickup Bill Belichick's offense.

From Management Secrets of the New England Patriots:

New England saw Hayes as a starting receiver, but Hayes had a learning disability, flailed around in early practices and never established himself in Tom Brady's mind as a reliable receiver who would run the right routes (i.e., appropriate to the defensive coverage and run them with decision. Even Hayes admits it took him a long time to pick up the Patriots' system:​

"the coaches were expecting me to perform at this high level-which I was myself, too-and then I found out that the way I knew how to learn things was totally different from how they were teaching it. ... Once I got to a point where I knew the offense and everything, they already had a couple of guys in front of me who were having success. They weren't going to make any changes.​

In his first game with the Pats he got the start and had three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown, but the QB-WR trust and chemistry just wasn't there. Hayes played in 12 games for the Patriots in 2002, with only that one start. He finished the season with only 12 receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and is still considered to be one of the biggest free agent busts in New England Patriots history. He was released the following February, but never played in another regular season NFL game again.

June 3, 2013: Hall of Fame bound, Hayes happy to return home | Wisconsin Athletics




Happy 26th birthday to Anthony Fabiano
Born July 13, 1993 in Wakefield
Patriot center, 2017 (practice squad)

The Wakefield native and Harvard grad missed out on a chance to play in the Senior Bowl and participate in the Combine due to a torn toe tendon and fractured foot. Use of an 'Accelerated Recovery Process' (ARP) Wave machine cut his rehab time dramatically, and he was able to participate in the Crimson's Pro Day. Fabiano's first NFL action came in week 5 of 2016 for the Cleveland Browns - against his favorite team, the Patriots. He played in four games with one start with Cleveland that year, and in five games with one start for Indy in 2017.

The Game: Anthony Fabiano '15 | Stories | Harvard Alumni

Fabiano is currently on the Philadelphia roster, once again competing for a roster spot. He was on the Pats practice squad for about 48 hours in November of 2017. Fabiano joined the PS when WR Jake Kumerow was cut, and was released two days later when the Pats re-signed Geneo Grissom.

Nov 9, 2017: Patriots Claim TE Martellus Bennett Off Waivers from Green Bay; Release DL Geneo Grissom; Make Changes to the Practice Squad

Fabiano, 24, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Baltimore Ravens out of Harvard on May 6, 2016. The 6-foot-1, 303-pounder, was released by the Ravens at the end of training camp last season and had two separate stints on the Cleveland Browns practice squad before being added to the 53-man roster on Dec. 5, 2016. The Wakefield, Mass., native appeared in the final four regular season games with one start at center in the finale at Pittsburgh. Fabiano went to training camp with Cleveland this year and was released prior to the start of the regular season. Since then he has had stints on the Washington Redskins and N.Y. Giants practice squads.​

Nov 11, 2017: Patriots Sign DL Geneo Grissom to the Practice Squad; Release OL Anthony Fabiano from the Practice Squad





Some other pro football players born on this date include:

- Jack Kemp (1935-2009); AFL all star QB went on to serve nine terms in Congress.

- Danny Abramowicz, 74 (7/13/45); All-Pro WR led the NFL in receptions in 1969, and was the first legitimate star in New Orleans Saints franchise history.

- Michael Koenen, 37 (7/13/82); will probably be the last player in NFL history to handle punts, kickoffs and long field goals simultaneously for a team.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Patriot QBs Steve Grogan, Tom Ramsey and Tony Eason discuss strategy on the sideline of a 1987 game.​

i have to admit i love this photo

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pete Brock​

Happy 65th birthday to Pete Brock
Born July 14, 1954 in Portland, Oregon
Patriot C, 1976-1987; uniform #58
Pats 1st round (12th overall) pick in the 1976 draft, from Colorado

Brock played in 154 games with 88 starts with the Pats, and also appeared in eight playoff games. At the time those 154 games played ranked as the sixth most in franchise history. Among the honors Brock received were the 1979 Unsung Hero Award; 1984 Jim Lee Hunt Award; 1985 Ed Block Memorial Courage Award (NFL); 1986 Miller Lite NFL Lineman of the Year; and center for the Patriots All-Decade Team for the 1990s. Pete Brock was a solid, resilient player who persevered through multiple injuries and surgeries.

This is a good biography on the lineman:

Nov 12, 2013: Pete Brock still the team player | Patriots.com

​

Happy 34th birthday to Darrelle Revis
Born July 14, 1985 in Aliquippa, PA
Patriot CB, 2014; uniform #24

The Patriots signed Revis on March 12, 2014, less than 24 hours after he had been released by Tampa Bay - and (not so) coincidentally, a day after Aqib Talib left to sign with Denver. The contract was technically for two years, but in reality it was a one-year, $12 million deal; the second year was there just to spread the cap numbers over two seasons. He lived up to the name of Revis Island, blanketing opposing receivers all year long. Revis was named an All Pro for the fourth time in his career in 2014 - and earned a ring that the 7-time Pro Bowler was never going to get with the Jets. Love him or hate him, Darrelle Revis was a vital component to the Patriots fourth Lombardi Trophy.

​

Happy 49th birthday to Todd Rucci
Born July 14, 1970 in Upper Darby, PA
Patriot RG, 1993-1999; uniform #71
Pats 2nd round (51st overall) pick of the 1993 draft, from Penn State

1995: Todd Rucci talks with QB Drew Bledsoe in the Patriot locker room​

Rucci played in 85 games with 75 starts for Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll, and was named to the Patriots all decade team for the 1990s. In his post-football career Rucci has held a variety of positions, including executive director of Pennsylvania Lottery and member of the Penn State Board of Trustees.

June 19, 2011: Blast from the Pats: Todd Rucci | Mike Reiss, espn

Feb 2, 2018: Former player who grew up in Lititz shares Super Bowl memories | WGAL

July 30, 2018: NFL Retirees' Attitude To Successors' Contract Negotiations: Get What You Can While You Can | Forbes




Happy 49th birthday to Josh Miller
Born July 14, 1970 in Queens, NY
Patriot punter, 2004-2006; uniform #8

After Ken Walter had struggled mightily with punting duties, the Patriots signed the 33 year old Miller to a five year, $5 million contract with a $1 million bonus in 2004. Miller had been a surprise cut by the Steelers, where he had played the previous eight seasons.

March 15, 2004: Cut by Steelers, Miller joins Patriots | espn

He appeared in 42 consecutive games (plus five playoff games) with the Pats. In 2006 Miller suffered a shoulder injury in a 35-0 win over Green Bay, and was placed on IR; he was released early in training camp in 2007.

Josh Miller averaged 43.6 yards on 175 punts during his three seasons with the Patriots. Over twelve years Josh Miller played in 165 games, averaging 43.1 yards on 750 punts. He also appeared in 11 playoff games, averaging 40.9 yards on 59 punts. In the Super Bowl 39 victory over Philadelphia he averaged 45.1 yards on 7 punts. In the playoffs his teams went 7-4; 6-1 while with the Pats and 3-3 with Pittsburgh - with all three of those losses to New England.




Happy 54th birthday to David Viaene
Born July 14, 1965 in Appleton, Wisconsin
Patriot OL, 1989-1991; uniform #70

David Viaene played in 20 games with eight starts for the Patriots. He had originally been an 8th round draft pick by the Oilers in 1988; in 1992 he signed as a free agent with the Packers. He is now the owner-operator of a property management company in Wisconsin.




Others with New England area connections born on this date:

- Ed Lawrence (1905-1961); born and raised in Fitchburg, the back played a couple seasons in the early NFL, including for the Boston Bulldogs in 1929.

- Lou Ghecas (1918-1997); the Danbury High School Hall of Famer was a halfback for the 1941 Philadelphia Eagles, but WWII interrupted his NFL career. He also played minor league baseball and after the war worked in the FBI for 26 years, until his retirement.

- Riley Smith (1911-1999); second overall pick by the Redskins - in what was the first ever NFL draft in 1936 - in their final season playing in Boston.




Some of the other pro football players born on 7/14:

- Rosey Grier, 87 (7/14/32); All Pro DT played 11 seasons in the NFL. After retirement he worked as Bobby Kennedy's bodyguard, and was the person who subdued and took the gun away from Sirhan Sirhan when RFK was shot and killed. He was also one of the first former football players to transition to television acting, with 37 credits to his name.

- Ken Burrough, 71 (7/14/48); Double Zero was a Pro Bowl WR for the Houston Oilers, and led the NFL in receiving in 1975 - even though he was a college quarterback.

- Ken Willard, 76 (7/14/43); 49er RB scored 62 touchdowns in his career, and ranked 8th in NFL all time career rushing yardage when he retired in 1974.

- W.K. Hicks, 77 (7/14/42); CB had 40 career interceptions, including an AFL best nine in 1965.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Only Ten Days Until 1st Open Training Camp​

Happy 45th birthday to Tony Gaiter
Born July 15, 1974 in Miami
Patriot PR/KR/WR, 1997 - 2000
Uniform #17 ('97) and #14 (2000)
Pats 6th round (192nd overall) selection of the 1997 draft, from Miami

Gaiter (shouldn't he have gone to Florida rather than the U?) was only 5'8 and 169 pounds. He ran track and was a tailback with the Hurricanes, then switched to receiver his senior year. The Pats cut Gaiter near the end of training camp his rookie year, then signed him to the practice squad. He was activated in late November and played in a week 14 victory over the Colts. Gaiter was again waived at the end of the 1998 camp. He was re-signed prior to a week 8 game at Miami but did not play, and was once again released.

After two seasons in San Diego he came back for a third Pats training camp in 2000 - perhaps hoping for better luck with a new head coach - but again did not survive roster cuts. His career NFL stat line reads 11.9 yards per return on 13 punts and 18.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns, all with the Chargers.




Other pro football players with New England area connections:

- Tim Riordan, 59 (7/15/60); New London native was a quarterback at Temple when Bruce Arians was head coach for the Owls. He was drafted by the St Louis Cardinals in '84, and was later a backup QB for the Saints. Riordan also played in the USFL for two seasons.

- John Bunting, 69 (7/15/50); born in Maine, but grew up in Maryland. Spent 11 seasons in the NFL as an OLB for the Philadelphia Eagles. Was also head coach at the University of North Carolina from 2001 to 2006.

- Steve Bartalo, 55 (7/15/64); born in Maine but raised in Colorado. RB was a 6th round pick by Tampa Bay in '87. He spent one season with the Bucs, one with SF and two in NFL Europe.

- **** Rauch (1893 - 1970); was an offensive lineman and head coach for five seasons in the early days of the NFL, including in 1929 when the Pottsville Maroons moved and became the Boston Bulldogs. Home games were played at Braves Field, later known as Nickerson Field - the same site the Patriots played their home games for the first three years of their existence.




Some other pro football player born on July 15 include:

- John Stallworth, 67 (7/15/52); Hall of Fame WR played on four Pittsburgh Steeler championship teams.

- Alex Karras (1935-2012); All Pro DT for the Lions from 1958 to 1970 was at the wrong end of the power of the NFL commissioner in 1963, when he was suspended for a year. He became known by another generation as an actor: as Mongo in Blazing Saddles, Sheriff Wallace in Porky's, Squash Bernstein in Victor Victoria, and George Papadopoulos on Webster. Alex karras is also the great uncle to Patriot OL Ted Karras.

- Carnell Lake, 52 (7/15/67); the safety was named to the NFL's all-decade team for the 1990s, and was the Pittsburgh Steeler defensive backs coach from 2011-2017.

- Joe Phillips, 56 (7/15/63); DT from 1986-99; one of only 58 defensive lineman in the history of the NFL to play in at least 200 games.

- Sammy Winder, 60 (7/15/59); Pro Bowl RB for Denver in the eighties.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Trivia Tuesday​

Today is another slow day for Patriot birthdays: we have four players that combined to play just twelve games played with the Pats.


Happy 78th birthday to Ken Herock
Born July 16, 1941 in Munhall, PA
Patriot TE, 1969; uniform #36

Ken Herock played in six games with no stats for the Patriots in his sixth and final year as a pro football player. He became a scout and director of player personnel for the Raiders in 1975 (when Oakland was winning super bowls), and then took the same position with Tampa Bay (miraculously turning the Bucs into a playoff team, despite their owner's infamous frugality).

Herock then moved on to Atlanta, where he drafted both Deion Sanders and Brett Favre, among others; he was also the one NFL scout who believed in Tim Tebow. In 2010 Herock caused a bit of an uproar when he was quoted as saying that he didn't feel there are any topics off limits in pre-draft interviews. He now operates a company that prepares NFL prospects for that very same interview process.

Side note: while looking up information on Herock I came across these two articles, which I found pretty interesting. If you enjoy NFL history these may be of interest, both of which involved Ken Herock:

No. 1 Pick Headed to Falcons : Ismail: Patriots trade top choice to Cowboys, who are expected to trade it again.

The Most Botched NFL Draft Pick Ever




Happy 70th birthday to Bill Atessis
Born July 16, 1949 in Houston
Patriot DE, 1971; uniform #73

Bill Atessis was a second round pick by the Colts in '71, but he was injured in training camp and released in mid-season. The Pats signed the Texas Longhorn and he played in five games for them that year. The following year he was asked to lose weight in order to transition to outside linebacker, and ended up walking out of training camp. The Pats traded him to the Cardinals, but he ended up on IR again. In '73 the Jets signed him with the idea of going back to the defensive line, but he was cut in early August to end his NFL career. Atessis now works as a project manager in the construction industry in his native Texas for Faithful + Gould.




Happy 35th birthday to Louis Leonard
Born July 16, 1984 in Los Angeles
Patriot DT, 2010; uniform #94

In his fourth and final year in the NFL, Leonard was signed by the Patriots on December 15, 2010 - and waived six days later. In between he played in the week fifteen 31-27 victory against Green Bay in the same game that caused Matt Flynn to become a very sought after commodity - when Flynn threw three touchdowns while subbing for an injured Aaron Rodgers.




Happy 27th birthday to Jordan Matthews
Born July 16, 1992 in Madison, Alabama
Patriot WR, 2018 offseason; uniform #80

Jordan Matthews was a two-time first team All-SEC at Vanderbilt and Biletnikoff semifinalist. The Eagles grabbed him in the second round of the 2014 draft, and he caught 225 passes for 2,473 yards and 19 touchdowns in his first three seasons.

Matthews had a revolving door of quarterbacks in Philly: Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez in 2014, Sam Bradford (and Sanchez again for two games) in '15, then Carson Wentz in '16. For whatever reason Matthews' productivity dropped in 2016, and he was traded to Buffalo the following offseason. 2017 was a lost cause due to a thumb injury that required surgery and then a knee injury; he had just 282 yards with the Bills.

The Pats signed Matthews as a free agent to a one-year contract worth $1 million, with $300k guaranteed. At the time it seemed as if he would be a major factor in the 2018 season after the departure of Brandin Cooks, and Julian Edelman suspended for the first four games. However, Matthews was released with an injury settlement just after the start of training camp. He is now with the San Francisco 49ers.

Aug 1, 2008: Patriots release injured WR Jordan Matthews | Mike Reiss, espn




Four other deceased players with interesting life stories and varying connections to the New England area:

- Harry Connolly (1920-2006); Norwalk native went to Boston College, and the tailback was the 37th overall pick in the 1943 NFL draft.

- Al Cornsweet (1906-1991): Brown grad was a fullback and coach of the 1931 NFL Cleveland Indians.

- Herman Gundlach (1913-2005); went to Worcester Academy and Harvard, and was a guard for the 1935 Boston Redskins.

- Grenny Lansdell (1918-1984); born in Great Barrington, he went on to become one of the great triple threats in college football history. After the war Lansdell proceeded to become a pilot for Trans World Airways for 30 years.




Other pro football players born on this date include:

- Barry Sanders, 51 (7/16/68); my condolences if you never saw him play.

- Max McGee (1932-2007); the unlikely (and hungover) hero of Super Bowl I.

- Gary Anderson, 60 (7/16/59); one of only two kickers to have a 'perfect' season.

- Aaron Glenn, 47 (7/16/72); CB was named to three Pro Bowls, with 41 career interceptions and eight career touchdowns.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Pride of Peabody​

Happy birthday to Jerry DeLucca
Born July 17, 1936 in Peabody
Patriot OT/DT 1960-61, 1963-64
Uniform #74 ('60-'63), #70 ('64)

Jerry DeLucca was originally a seventh round (84th overall) selection by the Bears in the 1957 draft. He joined the Pats on September 23, 1960 for their inaugural season and started at right tackle for the club's first two years. After Mike Holovak replaced Lou Saban as head coach, he opted for Milt Graham over DeLucca at RT and DT Jesse Richardson, and traded DeLucca to Buffalo just before the start of the 1963 season. DeLucca rejoined the Pats in '63 for depth. Jerry DeLucca played in 31 games for the Patriots with 25 starts over four seasons.

​

Gerald J 'Jerry' DeLucca obituary | The Salem News

Born in Beverly, he was the son of the late Anthony and Stella (Koziski) DeLucca. He was raised and educated in Peabody and graduated from Peabody High School in 1953. He continued his education at Middle Tennessee State where he excelled as a lineman on the football team.

Following his college football career, Jerry played six seasons of professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots before retiring in 1964. After retiring from football, Jerry embarked on career selling insurance for All State Insurance and later owned his own insurance agency, Jerry DeLucca Insurance Agency in Peabody before he finally retired many years ago.​

Happy birthday to Brandon Gorin
Born July 17, 1978 in Muncie, Indiana
Patriot OT, 2003-2005; uniform #76

Brandon Gorin played in 32 regular season games for the Patriots, with 18 starts. The Pats went 6-1 in Gorin's seven playoff games, including the Super Bowl 39 victory over Philadelphia. Gorin played in a career-high 14 games with ten starts in that 2004 season, when Corey Dillon set the Patriots' single-season rushing record with 1,635 yards.

2005 New England Patriots offensive line​

From the PatsFans message board on June 3, 2006:
No way that Brandon Gorin makes this team ...

Brandon Gorin vs. Wesley Britt


Aug 21, 2006 - Patriots Trade OT Brandon Gorin to Arizona | Patriots.com

Gorin, 28, is in his fifth NFL season and was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-6-inch, 308-pound offensive lineman was listed as a game-day inactive for all 16 games as a rookie with the Chargers in 2001. He was released by the Chargers following their 2002 training camp and was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 5, 2002.

The Muncie, Ind. native spent the remainder of the 2002 season on New England’s practice squad and was signed to the Patriots’ active roster on Jan. 6, 2003. He made his NFL debut in 2003 for the Patriots and played in six regular season games and two playoff contests that season. In 2004, the Purdue product broke into the starting lineup at right tackle, starting 10 of 14 games and all three playoff contests as New England allowed just 26 sacks and averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry for the first time in 19 years.

Last season, he played in 12 games at right tackle and started the final eight contests of the regular season in addition to both of New England’s playoff games. He has played in played in 32 career games with 18 starts.​

July 28, 2016 - Super Bowl Champion Celebrates Failure | Inside Indiana Business

Brandon Gorin, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, is area developer for Marco's Pizza in the Indianapolis market. During a presentation at FailFest today in Fishers, Gorin said the only secret to success he has found as an entrepreneur is "intentional work over time."

Gorin was born and raised in Muncie. He attended Purdue University before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001. He opened his first Marco's Pizza store in 2011. Since then, he says, while some of his stores have been successful and some have not, "all have taught me lessons." He is area developer for the Indy market, which includes 23 stores, with an additional four in development.​

Brandon Gorin - Owner - MP Indy llc | LinkedIn

Area Representative for Central Indiana Marco's Pizza
​

Happy birthday to Justin Kurpeikis
Born July 17, 1977 in Allison Park, PA
Patriot LB, 2004-05; uniform #47

​

Justin Kurpeikis was undrafted out of Penn State, where he had been a 2000 All Big 10 Conference first teamer. He spent three years with the Steelers, appearing in nine games. From 2004-05 Kurpeikis was with the Patriots, spending more time on the practice squad than on the 53 man roster. In five games with the Pats he had three tackles (one solo). Kurpeikis also spent time with Cleveland, Detroit, and Hamburg in NFL Europe.

8/27/2004: Dan Klecko, left, stretches with teammate Justin Kurpeikis​

Post-NFL Kurpeikis owns a physical therapy clinic, and has worked in sales of medical devices.

Our Team | Atlas Therapy

Justin Kurpeikis | LinkedIn




Other pro football players born July 17 with New England connections include:

- Stalin Colinet, born 7/17/1974; Boston College.
The defensive lineman was a third round draft pick by Minnesota, and played in 68 games with 42 starts over six NFL seasons.

- Clyde Smith, born 7/17/1904; Providence Steam Roller.
A three-time all-pro center, Smith was part of the 1928 championship team from Providence that lost only one game and outscored their opponents by a 3:1 margin.

- Ed Brawley, born 7/17/1884; born in Boston, Medford High School, Holy Cross.
After a brief time in the NFL (where he played with Jim Thorpe), Brawley coached football, basketball, and baseball at Allen Military School in Waltham and Hillhouse High School in New Haven. From 1922 to 1926 he was the head football coach at Peabody High School as well as the University of Peabody, a semi-pro football team. Ed Brawley was the chair of Peabody High's history department until his death on May 1, 1956.




Some other notable pro football players born on this date:

- Daryle Lamonica (7/17/41); the Mad Bomber had a career record of 66-16-6 and may have been the league's best player over the final three years of the AFL. In '69 Lamonica led the league in passing yards, touchdowns, TD percentage, lowest sack percentage, and had three 4th quarter game winning comebacks, leading the Raiders to a 12-1-1 record.

- Eric Moulds (7/17/73); 3-time Buffalo Bill Pro Bowler was one of the NFL's premier wide receivers from 1998 to 2002. Had 764 receptions and 49 TD, with 12,310 all purpose yards.

- Mike Thomas (7/17/53); RB was the 1975 offensive rookie of the year for Washington, but overuse (813 touches in first three seasons) shortened his career.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Deion Branch​

Happy 40th birthday to Deion Branch
Born July 18, 1979 in Albany Georgia
Patriot WR, 2002-2005; uniform #83
Patriot WR, 2010-2012; uniform #84
Pats 2nd round (65th overall) selection of the 2002 draft, from Louisville

Franchise Stats and Rankings:

• 328 receptions ranks 10th in franchise history
• 4,297 yards receiving (11th)
• 24 touchdown receptions (13th)
• 13.1 yards per reception ranks 10th [minimum 200 catches]
• 30 points in 14 playoff games (10-4 record)
• Super Bowl 38 champion
• Super Bowl 39 champion
• Super Bowl 39 MVP

Career Stats:

• 518 receptions for 6,644 yards and 39 TD
• 64 playoff receptions for 948 yards, 4 TD
• 3 playoff rushes for 41 yards, 1 TD
• Albany GA Sports Hall of Fame, 2005
• Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, 2005

Relive Deion Branch's record performance in Super Bowl 39 (video) | Patriots.com

​

 

[jmt57]

Today In Patriots History
His Parents Named Him What?!​

Happy 77th birthday to **** Shiner
Born July 18, 1942 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Patriot QB, 1973-1974; uniform #11

Richard Earl '****' Shiner was a legend for one game while at the University of Maryland. The quarterback led the Terrapins to an upset over Joe Paterno and Penn State, in what would be the only Maryland victory over the Nittany Lions during a series between the two schools that ran from 1960 through 1993.

As a pro football player Shiner was mostly a career backup, on the bench behind Sonny Jurgensen, Frank Ryan, Fran Tarkenton and Jim Plunkett. His only time as a starter included Chuck Noll's first season in 1969 as head coach for the Steelers. Pittsburgh went 1-13 that year, with Shiner 3-16-1 as the starting QB, though to be fair that record was primarily due to an impotent defense.

In 1973 the NFL implemented the Passer Rating statistic, which is still utilized today. Shiner had the honor being the first quarterback to record a perfect passer rating when he went 13-15 with three touchdowns in week one for Atlanta against the Saints. Ironically he also become the first to have a 0.0 passer rating the very next week, going 2-9 for 17 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

**** Shiner's final NFL game is also noteworthy. Jim Plunkett had thrown three touchdowns and the Pats were beating the Baltimore Colts 35-3 while the game was still in the third quarter. Shiner took over, and led the Patriots on an 80-yard drive. He then surprised everyone by taking himself out of the game. Shiner later explained:

"I wanted [third-string QB] Neil Graff to get experience. Neil was a good kid, and I knew my time in the NFL was coming to an end."​

In his post-football career Shiner worked for a beer distributor, and then retired after spending twenty years in the copier business. He later passed time as an assistant high school football coach.

2007 ACC Football Legend: Maryland's **** Shiner | University of Maryland Athletics

But in 1959 along came one Lee Corso, an assistant coach for Tom Nugent at Maryland and a man on the young end of a career that would lead to collegiate head coaching jobs and his present work as a college football analyst on national television.

"Coach Corso had come up to Pennsylvania to look at some great running back on a team we were playing," Shiner said. "I come from a town (Lebanon, Pa.) that in the late 1950s numbered, maybe, 12,000 people, and 10,000 of them would show up on Friday night for the high school football game.

"And coach Corso was in the crowd and when he got there, he maybe didn't know who I was. But I threw four touchdown passes that night.

"He came to my school a few days later to talk to me. Coaches didn't do that as much as they do now, and that impressed me. That's how I wound up at Maryland."​

Catching up with ... former Terp QB **** Shiner | Baltimore Sun

Against Air Force, a national power in 1963, Shiner led a comeback that rocked College Park. Trailing 14-0 at halftime, Maryland won the game on a 36-yard pass from Shiner to Darryl Hill as time expired.

The crowd of 31,000 went nuts.

"See, we were 0-4 and Air Force had just beaten Nebraska," which would win the Orange Bowl that year, Shiner said. "So when I hit Darryl with a bullet on a deep cross, and he hit the end zone, the whole place exploded. They had to clear all of the fans off the field for us to kick the extra point."

To celebrate, he said, "we all went to Howard Johnson's, on Route 1, where they served hot dogs on toasted buns. They were great."​

Maryland's **** Shiner: A legend in his first start is a legend once again | CSTV

He starred as a throwing quarterback in an era when many head coaches still subscribed to the old theory that two of three things that can happen to a forward pass are bad. "We were throwing the ball 20, 22 times a game, sometimes a few more," Shiner said. "You'd look in the paper on Sunday morning and you'd read that some other ACC team was 4-for-7 passing. We were conservative compared to today's offenses, but we threw the ball a lot for the time."

Like all those people who show up at Steve Smear's office, Shiner still treasures the victory over Penn State in his first collegiate start. But the memories of a handful of other games remain precious to the man who went on to spend 11 seasons in the National Football League. Among them is a victory over one of Syracuse's legendary teams.

"It was a great Syracuse team," Shiner said. "The great Ernie Davis was on that team along with a lot of other great players, players like John Mackey, Art Baker at fullback, Roger Brown.

"Through the first two games, against a really good SMU team and Clemson, I'd been running with the second team and Coach Nugent would put us in for a quarter or two. Then the Syracuse game came up and they were one of the national powerhouses. They were ranked in the Top 10 (seventh).

"Coach Nugent called those of us on the second team the `Go' team and against Syracuse he sent the `Go' team in in the third quarter. I ran 29 yards, which is an awfully long way for me, and we scored a touchdown and beat that great Syracuse team (22-21)."



​

Happy birthday to Stephen Spach
Born July 18, 1982 in Fresno, CA
Patriot TE, 2007-2008; uniform #82

Stephen Spach was originally signed by Philadelphia in 2005, and was out of football in 2006. The Pats signed him on December 13, 2007 when Mike Wright was placed on IR with a foot injury. Spach played in the last three games as well as the AFCCG versus San Diego, as a blocking tight end and special teamer.

Spach was cut out of training camp in 2008, immediately re-signed, then cut for good after two games. He was waived on Sept 15 when the Pats added Kyle Eckel to the roster. Spach moved on to Arizona, playing in 31 games with 22 starts from '08-'10. From 2005 to 2012 Stephen Spach played in 60 games, with 22 receptions for 137 yards.

This column is a fairly decent read:

Alumni Spotlight: Stephen Spach's journey from football to finance | Fresno State College

Stephen Spach, Associate & LPL Financial Consultant

Stephen grew up in Clovis, CA and graduated from Fresno State in 2005 where he played tight end for the Bulldogs. He then spent time with six different NFL teams from 2005-2012. He had the opportunity to be a part of an AFC Championship New England Patriots team in 2007, and an NFC Championship Arizona Cardinals team in 2008. His hobbies and interests outside of work include sports, health, music and most importantly, his family.
​

Happy birthday to Bruce Walker
Born July 18, 1972 in Compton, CA
Died Nov 7, 2014 at the age of 42
Patriot NT, 1994-1995; uniform #91

Aug 17, 1993 - Bruins Suspend Two for Criminal Activity : UCLA : Bruce Walker cannot play until next season | LA Times

Bruce Walker, a UCLA nose guard, was suspended for a year, and linebacker Jamir Miller must skip the Bruins' season-opener Sept. 4 against California because of recent criminal problems, school officials announced Monday.

Walker, who has one year of eligibility remaining, will be allowed to redshirt and return for the 1994 football season if he stays out of trouble, UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said. Miller, who led the team in sacks last season and tied for the lead in 1991, is expected to begin practicing today.

Walker was sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service last week in Superior Court in Santa Monica after pleading no contest to one felony count of receiving stolen property.

Miller, Walker and Raul Martinez, a UCLA student, were arrested last April and charged with possession of $15,000 worth of stereo and computer equipment that was stolen from a UCLA dormitory last winter.​

Bruce Walker was a second round draft pick by Philadelphia in 1994, but was cut at the end of his rookie training camp. He was with the Pats for 11 games the following year, starting five games and finishing the season with 18 tackles (16 solo).

July 17, 1996 - Medium Rare Injury: Patriots' Lineman Walker Stabbed While Playing Catch With Steak Knife | LA Times

Bruce Walker, a defensive lineman for the New England Patriots, incurred a stab wound in his chest while he and a friend were throwing a steak knife at each other in a grocery store parking lot.

Police said that Walker, who played at UCLA, suffered the wound when he missed a catch. He was treated at Southwood Community Hospital in Norfolk and required several stitches, police said.​

Not surprisingly, Walker did not make the roster following the mysterious knife throwing injury. He spent two years playing for Frankfort in the World League, including their 1998 championship. Walker was part of the San Diego Charger organization for the next two years, but never got on the field due to injuries.




Other pro football players born on this date with New England connections:
- John Wetzel (1991; Boston College)
OT has played in 40 games with 24 starts for the Arizona Cardinals.
- Mike Pyle (1939; Yale)
The starting center for the Bears missed just five games from 1961 to 1969. He is the great uncle of San Diego Charger Joey Bosa. Pyle passed away in 2015 after suffering from CTE and dementia.




Some notable pro football players born on this date:
- Jerome Barkum (1950); TE had 40 touchdowns with the Jets from 1972-83.
- George Starke (1948); Columbia grad was Washington's starting RT from 1973-84.
- Terry Taylor (1961); CB had 25 interceptions over 13 seasons with Seattle and other teams.
- Lonnie Young (1963); FS played in 147 games from 1985-96, primarily with the Cardinals.
- Jeff Lageman (1967); DE played in 122 games for the Jets and Jags from 1989-98.
- Dan Edwards (1926); the all-pro end had 234 receptions and 16 touchdowns from 1948-1954.
- Ray Ramsey (1921); as a rookie with the Chicago Rockets in 1947 he scored ten touchdowns, leading the AAFC in yards per catch (21.9) and yards per touch (11.4).
- Bernard Williams (1972); the 14th overall pick of the 1994 draft played only one NFL season. An off season incident led to a disorderly conduct arrest, and a couple weeks later a failed drug test resulted in a six game suspension for marijuana. He didn't fulfill any requirements for reinstatement and instead spent the next seven years in the CFL, XFL and Arena League.