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Today in Patriots History
Hero to Liar to Hero
Hero to Liar to Hero
Happy birthday to Darius Fleming
Born July 19, 1989 in Chicago
Patriot OLB, 2014-2015; uniform #58, #44, #53, #48
- 11 games played for Patriots, plus five playoff games (Pats went 4-1)
- 65 defensive snaps, 182 special team snaps in those 11 games
- Super Bowl 49 champion (28-24 vs Seattle)
The January 20, 2016 headlines themselves tell most of the story for today's title from above:
Patriots LB Darius Fleming rescues woman after car accident
"Trollin" Ben Volin And TMZ Insinuate that Darius Fleming Made Up the Story About Him Saving A Woman From A Burning Car….Walpole Police Slap Em In the Face With Police Report
Rate Trollin Volin's Apology To Darius Fleming For Insinuating That He Made Up the Story About the Car Crash
More from actual on-field here:
March 4, 2016: Patriots release LB Darius Fleming
Fleming, 26, was originally signed by New England as a free agent on May 16, 2014, and rotated between the practice squad and the 53-man roster over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder, was drafted by San Francisco in the fifth round (165th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons on injured reserve with a knee injury and was released by the 49ers on May 12, 2014.
Fleming played in five games and three postseason games for the Patriots in 2014. He was released by the Patriots on Sept. 5, 2015, signed to the practice squad on Sept. 7, 2015, before being signed to the 53-man roster on Nov. 28. Fleming played in six regular-season games and both postseason games last season, finishing with two total tackles and three special teams tackles in the regular season and one tackle on defense and one special teams tackle in the playoffs.
Fleming played in five games and three postseason games for the Patriots in 2014. He was released by the Patriots on Sept. 5, 2015, signed to the practice squad on Sept. 7, 2015, before being signed to the 53-man roster on Nov. 28. Fleming played in six regular-season games and both postseason games last season, finishing with two total tackles and three special teams tackles in the regular season and one tackle on defense and one special teams tackle in the playoffs.
April 23, 2019: Fleming brings message of hard work to students
Fleming, a cousin of Vanderpoel student Donnevia Nelson, admitted he quit football in elementary school, then tried it again at St. Rita, where he became one of the top players in the nation in the high school class of 2008.
He earned a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, and he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2012.
Fleming won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in February 2015, recovering a dropped punt in the AFC championship game.
In January 2016, he rescued a woman trapped in a smoke-filled car after a three-vehicle collision. He kicked open the window, cutting his right leg so severely that he needed 22 stitches.
Fleming, who now works for LinkedIn, said that playing at St. Rita required him to sacrifice his social life in order to be prepared to play his best. The night before a game, his father would massage his son’s back to assist in the preparations, as both knew college coaches would be watching the athlete’s performance.
He encouraged students to take a similar approach in everything they do. The work begins, he said, as early as kindergarten.
“If we have a dream of accomplishing something, and we don’t do the necessary steps to make it happen, why should we get the results that we want to see?” Fleming asked the students.
He expressed his confidence that Vanderpoel students wouldn’t be just dreamers—but doers.
“We’re going to make things happen,” Fleming said. “You all are a bunch of go-getters in here—some bright, intelligent individuals. You all are beautiful. You can do whatever you want in this world. … But, we can’t wait.”
He earned a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, and he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2012.
Fleming won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in February 2015, recovering a dropped punt in the AFC championship game.
In January 2016, he rescued a woman trapped in a smoke-filled car after a three-vehicle collision. He kicked open the window, cutting his right leg so severely that he needed 22 stitches.
Fleming, who now works for LinkedIn, said that playing at St. Rita required him to sacrifice his social life in order to be prepared to play his best. The night before a game, his father would massage his son’s back to assist in the preparations, as both knew college coaches would be watching the athlete’s performance.
He encouraged students to take a similar approach in everything they do. The work begins, he said, as early as kindergarten.
“If we have a dream of accomplishing something, and we don’t do the necessary steps to make it happen, why should we get the results that we want to see?” Fleming asked the students.
He expressed his confidence that Vanderpoel students wouldn’t be just dreamers—but doers.
“We’re going to make things happen,” Fleming said. “You all are a bunch of go-getters in here—some bright, intelligent individuals. You all are beautiful. You can do whatever you want in this world. … But, we can’t wait.”
Happy birthday to Ryan O'Callaghan
Born July 19, 1983 in Susanville, CA
Patriot RT, 2006-2008; uniform #68
Pats 5th round (136th overall) selection of the 2006 draft, from Cal
- 26 games played for Patriots (with 7 starts), plus 3 playoff games
- 51 NFL games played from 2006-10, with 20 starts
'Life's great now' for Ryan O'Callaghan, the ex-NFL player who came out as gay
Other pro football players with New England connections born on this date:
Frank Maznicki
Born, raised and died in West Warwick; Boston College
Played HB before and after the war, 1942-47 for Chicago Bears and Boston Yanks.
Eddie Britt
Born and raised in Lexington MA; Holy Cross
Tailback for Boston Redskins, Washington Redskins and Brooklyn Dodgers, 1936-38.
George Brickley
Born, raised and died in Everett; Trinity College (Hartford)
Tailback for 1920 Cleveland Tigers and 1921 New York Brickley Giants (owned by his brother).
Athletic Director and Head Coach at Everett High School; HC at Woburn High.
Grandfather of former Boston Bruins LW and hockey analyst Andy Brickley.
Julius Williams
UConn
Defensive End played 11 games for Jacksonville in 2009.
Other pro football players born on this date:
- Trent Williams; 7-time Pro Bowl LT for Washington
- LeRoy Butler; 4-time All-Pro safety for Green Bay
- Jerry Smith; All-Pro Washington TE caught 60 touchdowns from 1965-77
- J.D. Smith; 49er and Cowboy fullback scored 46 touchdowns from 1958-1966
- Norm Standlee; FB/LB scored 23 touchdowns despite missing four seasons for WWII