Today in Patriots History

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Stephen Gostkowski​

Happy 36th birthday to Stephen Gostkowski
Born January 28, 1984 in Baton Rouge
Patriot kicker, 2006 - present
Pats 4th round (118th overall) selection of the 2006 draft, from Memphis

I can remember wondering why the Patriots wasted a fourth round draft pick on a kicker, and having many fans of opposing teams warn me - and agreeing with them - that the Pats had royally screwed up by letting Adam Vinatieri go for an unproven rookie. Um, well, .... can I get a Mulligan on that?

​

• Three-time Super Bowl Champion
• Two-time First Team All Pro
• Four-Time Pro Bowl selection
• Four-Time AFC Special Teams Player of the Month
• Six-Times AFC Special Teams Player of the Week
• Five-Time NFL Season Leader in Points Scored
• Three-Time NFL Season Leader in Field Goals Made

Patriot Franchise Records
Ghost ranks first in franchise career rankings for field goals, field goal attempts, field goal percentage (minimum 20 attempts), extra points, extra point attempts, extra point percentage (minimum 75 attempts), and points scored.

His 1,775 points scored nearly laps the field: it is 617 more than any other player in Patriot history. Gostkowski's 158 points scored in 2013 is the most ever for the franchise, shattering a seemingly unbreakable team record that had stood for 49 years.


Career NFL Rankings

• 1,775 Points Scored is 12th all-time
• 87.4% Field Goal Accuracy is 5th all-time
• 374 Field Goals is 15th all-time
• 664 Extra Points is 8th all-time

Other Milestones

• Only player in NFL history to score more than 150 points in multiple seasons; Gostkowski has accomplished that feat five times
• Is one of only three players (Don Hutson, Gino Cappelletti) to lead the league in scoring five times
• 158 points scored in 2013 is 5th most for a kicker in NFL history
• Ranks 6th in NFL history with 38 field goals made in a single season (2013)

Playoffs

• 205 career points scored is 2nd all-time
• 28 playoff games is 4th all-time, one behind Jerry Rice
• 88 extra points made is most all-time
• 39 field goals made is 2nd all-time
• 15 extra points made in a single postseason is 4th most (2014)
• 8 field goals made in a single postseason is 7th most (2006)

Stephen Gostkowski Biography - Patriots.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Rod McSwain, Tommy Hodson​

January 28, 1969:
Day One (rounds 1-12) of the 1969 common draft is held at the Belmont Plaza in New York City. USC running back OJ Simpson goes first overall. Boston general manager George Sauer seems to be interested in a high number of small school prospects for the Pats.

The Patriots select Florida State split end Ron Sellers with the sixth overall pick. The Pats then add Colorado guard Mike Montler in the second round, New Mexico Highlands RB Carl Garrett in the third, Alabama A&M QB Onree Jackson in round five, New Mexico State tackle Rick Hackley in the seventh, and Notre Dame RB Bob Gladieux #188 overall in round eight. The Pats also drafted San Jose State guard Steve Alexakos, Albany State DE Joe Walker, Wyoming safety Dennis Develin, Boston College receiver Barry Gallup and Grambling DT Richard Lee in rounds 9-12.

January 28, 1970:
Day two (rounds 8-17) of the 1970 draft saw the Pats select nine players. The only one of note was ninth round defensive end Dennis Wirgowski from Purdue, who played in 37 games with 26 starts with the Pats.

January 28, 1971:
The first seven rounds of the 1971 NFL Draft are held at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York.

With the first overall pick the Boston Patriots select Jim Plunkett, the 1970 Heisman Trophy quarterback from Stanford.

At the top of the second round the Pats select Julius Adams, a defensive tackle from Texas Southern.

Other day one picks are Notre Dame LB Tim Kelly to start the fifth round, and Kentucky TE David Hardt with the first choice of the sixth round. Neither ever made it to the NFL. Kelly did not make the roster as a rookie and then played in the CFL; Hardt was injured in the first preseason game to ever be played at Schaefer Stadium, ending his pro football career.

January 28, 1975:
The first seven rounds of the 1975 NFL Draft are held at the Hilton at Rockefeller Center. Cal QB Steve Bartkowski goes first overall to Atlanta.

Chuck Fairbanks had a nice draft in his third year as head coach and GM. The Pats landed Oregon TE Russ Francis 16th overall, Oklahoma LB Rod Shoate in the second, USC running back Allen Carter in round four, and QB Steve Grogan in the fifth round. Other Day One draftees were Pete Cusick, Steve Burks, Steve Freeman and Lawrence Williams.


January 28, 2020:
Dante Scarnecchia, perhaps the greatest offensive line coach in NFL history, retires after 34 years with the Patriots.




Happy 58th birthday to Rod McSwain
Born January 28, 1962 in Rutherford County, NC
Patriot CB/S, 1984-1990; uniform #23
Acquired in a trade with Atlanta on August 27, 1984 for an 8th round draft pick

Rodney McSwain was a third round draft pick out of Clemson by Atlanta in '84. The Falcons traded the rookie to the Pats on August 27 as they attempted to get down to the 49 man roster limit, in exchange for New England's 8th round 1985 pick. That turned out to be a very good trade for New England.

Over seven seasons McSwain played in 90 regular season games and five playoff games with the Patriots. He was primarily utilized as a special teams ace, occasionally filling in at corner if Raymond Clayborn or Ronnie Lippett were injured or in nickel and dime defenses. The 1990 season was his only year as a starter, at strong safety.

Despite multiple shoulder surgeries and hamstring injuries over his career, McSwain persevered and was a solid player; he was part of the swarming defense that squished the fish and won the AFC Championship in 1986.

McSwain did have some key plays over his career. In '86 he blocked a punt against the Rams and returned it 31 yards for TD; then in the final regular season game at Miami on December 22nd he intercepted a Dan Marino pass with 36 seconds left to play to seal a 34-27 victory. Two weeks later McSwain picked off John Elway, though the Patriots did lose that playoff game at Denver.

After being waived by the Pats in 1991 McSwain spent two seasons in the high point of the Arena Football League in Detroit, winning an AFL championship in 1992 and being named first team All-Arena in 1993.


Statistics

• 90 regular season games played
• 6 interceptions
• 2 fumble recoveries
• 5 playoff games, with one interception

Rod McSwain - Patriots.com

Rodney McSwain | ArenaFan.com


Since 1995 Rod McSwain has been employed by Carolina Container in Hickory NC, where he is the Director of Human Resources.




Happy 53rd birthday to Tommy Hodson
Born January 28, 1967 in LaFourche Parish, LA
Patriot QB 1990-1992; uniform #13
Pats 3rd round (59th overall) selection of the 1990 draft, from LSU

As a newcomer to living in SEC country at that time, I was very excited when the Patriots drafted Tommy Hodson: he was an exciting player to watch that had led his team to multiple victories over top-ten ranked teams. Unfortunately he never lived up to those hopes as a pro quarterback - though to be fair, he was in a no-win situation with the Victor Kiam/Rod Rust-era Patriots.

Hodson appeared in 32 games for the Patriots with 12 starts; the Pats went just 1-11 in those games. To get an idea of how bad those teams were, Hodson was sacked 41 times for a cumulative loss of 300 yards - despite having only 315 pass attempts. He was released near the end of the 1993 training camp when new coach Bill Parcells elected to go with Scott Secules and Scott Zolak as backup quarterbacks behind Drew Bledsoe.

Tommy Hodson Bio - LSU Tigers Athletics

Arguably the best quarterback in LSU history ... One of the most prolific passers in the history of the Southeastern Conference ... Chosen All-SEC for four years in a row by at least one of the major wire services ... Passed for 9,115 yards in his career, becoming the first 9,000-yard passer in SEC history ... Holds the LSU record for total yards with 8,938 (-117 yards rushing, 9,115 yards passing) ... Maintains the LSU record for touchdown passes in a career with 69 ... Averaged the most yards per game passing over a career in LSU history with 203.1 yards per game over 44 contests ... First player in SEC history to throw for over 2,000 yards in four straight seasons ... Threw for over 200 or more yards 26 times ... Started all but one game over his four year career ... Leads all LSU quarterbacks with 31 career victories ...​

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee Tom Hodson still king of LSU QBs | NOLA.com

A Mathews, La. native, his numbers in the aforementioned categories were also the best in the SEC when he finished in 1989. In his first start, he guided the Tigers to a 35-17 upset victory against No. 7-ranked Texas A&M, and later etched his name into LSU lore permanently with the game-winning touchdown pass with 1:47 left in the "Earthquake Game" victory against No. 4 Auburn in 1988.

Hodson was also a two-sport star at Central Lafourche High School, guiding the Trojans to a 13-1 record and passing for 4,361 yards and 36 TDs as a senior. As a basketball player, he averaged 27.4 points a game his senior and had serious recruiting offers in that sport.​

Great article from February of 2005:
Catching Up With Tommy Hodson | Boston.com

Hodson showed signs of what made him legendary at LSU with the Patriots, but never had a consistent opportunity to play an entire season. During his time with New England, Hodson played under Rod Rust in 1990 and **** MacPherson in 1991 and 1992. The team struggled, going 1-15 under Rust and 6-10 and 2-14 under MacPherson, but despite the struggles Hodson enjoyed his time here.

“I loved it there and Boston is a great city,” said Hodson “I grew up in the south and love the south, but it was a great experience to be in the northeast because it’s a different culture, different climate and there is a lot of history. “I had some great teammates and had a great experience. I met a lot of nice people and unfortunately we didn’t have a lot of success when I was there.”

After being released by the Patriots, Hodson was picked up by the Miami Dolphins, where he spent half of the 1993 season and one week in 1994. Hodson then played one more year in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints (1995). “Although I didn’t have great success as a professional I played six years and it was a great honor to play in the NFL,” said Hodson. “I am grateful I was able to play six years.”

As far as the current Patriots, Hodson has enjoyed watching them win two of the last three Super Bowls and feels they are the pick to win the Super Bowl once again this year over the Philadelphia Eagles. “Certainly it would be great if I could be on some of these Patriots teams now,” said Hodson. “I enjoy watching them and pull for them every week. I am a Patriots fan.”
​

Getting in the game: Tommy Hodson - Baton Rouge Business Report

Following his professional football career, a friend guided Hodson into a career in financial services. After six years in wealth management, Hodson felt ready to make a change.

It was then that he and Jamie Howard, a fellow LSU quarterback, teamed up on Howard’s business idea. Howard’s relatives own Howard Industries—the largest manufacturer and distributor of transformers in the country—and needed manufacturer representatives in Louisiana and Arkansas. JTH Agencies was born.

Ten years later the company is growing, now representing 10 different companies and ready to hire more employees.​

Happy 37th birthday to Titus Adams
Born January 28, 1983 in Omaha
Patriot DE, 2008-2009; uniform #62
Signed as a free agent on July 24, 2008

After being released by the Bengals, the Pats signed Titus Adams at the start of the 2008 training camp. He was waived as part of roster cuts on August 30, then signed to the practice squad two days later.

In 2009 Adams was again waived during roster cutdowns, and again re-signed to the practice squad. On December 9 Titus was promoted to the 53-man roster after CB Bret Lockett was placed on injured reserve. Adams played in two games before being waived on December 31. He had two tackles, one solo in victories over Carolina and Buffalo.




Two other pro football players born today with New England connections:

Fred DiRenzo, 59 (1961)
Went to college at New Haven
Was a FB in 1987 with the Giants

Enid Thomas (1897 - 1968)
Was a wingback for the 1926 Hartford Blues

Today in Pro Football History:
Packers Hire Vince Lombardi​

Today in Pro Football History
January 28, 1959: Vince Lombardi Hired as Head Coach/GM of Packers

Lombardi was not the most innovative head coach in pro football history, but he was outstanding at adapting other coaches’ methods and was a great teacher and motivator. When it came to the fundamentals, and performing the basics well, Lombardi’s teams excelled. The power sweep was the signature play of his offense over the years, and the Packers ran it with skill because they practiced it relentlessly and executed with precision.

Over nine seasons, the Packers compiled an 89-29-4 regular season record under Lombardi’s guidance, for a .754 winning percentage, and were 9-1 in the postseason. Considering his significant influence on coaching methods and the game in general, his nine years with Green Bay (he also coached one last year in Washington in 1969) seems surprisingly brief. But he set a standard for pro football coaches that others in the years since have sought to measure up to; it is only fitting that the Super Bowl winner’s trophy is named after him.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
When there was a January draft​

We are scraping the bottom of the barrel in search of any January 29 events. Steve Nelson and Andy Johnson highlight events from this day.

Bill Belichick would have coveted the versatility of Andy Johnson

​

January 29, 1969:
Day two (rounds 13-17) of the 1969 common draft, as the joint draft between the two leagues was referred to back then. Considering how many others were selected before them it is not a surprise that none of those five players from #318 overall to #422 - Alcorn A&M LB Joe Leasy, Clemson LB John Cagle, Tulsa RB Brant Conley, Adams State (Colorado) LB Jim Vuono, and Grambling LB George Muse - ever played in the NFL.


January 29, 1971:
Day Two of the 1971 NFL Draft was not as productive as the previous day, when the Pats selected Jim Plunkett and Julius Adams. The Patriots did select Tulsa fullback Josh Ashton in round nine; he would go on to play in 38 games with 20 starts for the Pats. Florida A&M receiver Alfred Sykes got on the field for four games, but the seven others never played a down in the NFL.


January 29, 1974:
Day One of the 1974 NFL Draft at the Americana Hotel in New York City.
The Patriots did not have a first round pick, having traded that away in 1972 to San Francisco for tight end Bob Windsor. The Pats had two second round picks though. The first, picked up via a trade with Chicago, was used on BC guard Steve Corbett. Four picks later the Patriots selected linebacker Steve Nelson from North Dakota State, who went on to play in 181 games for the Pats.

Due to other trades the Patriots did not make another selection until the fifth round. With the 112th overall pick of the 1974 draft New England selected Andy Johnson, a quarterback from Georgia who would become a very good running back in Foxboro. AJ scored 23 touchdowns for the Patriots, and threw for five more on halfback option passes.

The Pats also had on other fifth round pick, Grambling defensive end Charlie Battle.


January 29, 1975:
Day Two of the 1975 NFL Draft.
There is no noteworthy comment of the eight players drafted by the Pats in rounds 11-17, as none of them ever proceeded to play in the NFL.


January 29, 1991:
Patrick Sullivan resigns from his position as general manager. The move was not unexpected as owner Victor Kiam blamed Sullivan for fallout from the Lisa Olsen incident, and had already hired Sam Jankovich as CEO of the Patriots, with complete control of football operations.


January 29, 2020:
DE Larry Eisenhauer passes away at the age of 79.

Larry Eisenhauer, a standout defensive lineman for Boston College and the Boston Patriots, died Wednesday in Jupiter, Fla., the Patriots said. He was 79.

Nicknamed “Wildman” by his Patriots teammates, Eisenhauer played nine years in the AFL (1961-69), all with Boston. He was a four-time AFL All-Star and was named to the Patriots’ 1960s all-decade team. The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pounder from Hicksville, N.Y., was inducted into the BC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978.

After suffering a knee injury in 1967, Eisenhauer played two more seasons with the Patriots before retiring in 1970. In retirement, he focused on his role as owner and operator of Data Metal Company, a computer hardware business in Boston.
​

Aug 13, 1967: Larry Eisenhauer (72) and Bob Dee stew over a preseason loss to the Baltimore Colts.
The game was the first time the Patriots ever played an NFL team.​

The only New England 1/29 birthday connection is a Cincinnati native:

Alex Albright, 32 (1988)
Boston College
Linebacker played in 30 games for the Cowboys from 2011-2012.


.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Chris Slade​

Happy 49th birthday to Chris Slade
Born January 30, 1971 in Newport News
Patriot OLB, 1993-2000; uniform #53
Pats 2nd round (31st overall) selection of the 1993 draft, from Virginia

- Patriot All-Decade Team LB for the 1990s
- 1997 Pro Bowl
- 127 regular season games (108 starts)
- 666 tackles (452 solo); 16 tackles for a loss
- 16 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions; one touchdown
- 7 playoff games: 3.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery

Farinella: Slade was good guy, but not player | The Sun Chronicle

Parcells was particularly hard on Slade. He once said Slade was “as lost as a ball in tall grass,” and in 1996, as the Patriots were heading toward Super Bowl XXXI, an angry Tuna limited Slade's participation to passing downs only as a means of motivating him.

It worked — Slade was far more effective in the playoffs, but he also became one of the most vocal anti-Parcells voices in the locker room once the Tuna bolted for the Jets. Ironically, the preferred Pete Carroll misused Slade even more, taking him out of pass-rushing situations and dropping him back into coverage.

By the time Bill Belichick got here, and wanted to unleash Slade against quarterbacks again, the linebacker no longer had the quickness or strength to overpower opposing tight ends or tackles.

​

The Last Bad Patriot Team | The Ringer

Slade still remembers the time early in Belichick’s tenure when linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer slipped into a team meeting late. Another head coach might’ve cut the former Ohio State phenom and first-round draft pick some slack. Not Belichick. Journalist and sports radio host Michael Holley recounts the scene in his book War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick and the Art of Building the Perfect Team. “Katzenmoyer!” the coach is quoted as saying. “Who in the hell do you think you are? Get your ass outta here.”

“He called him out in front of the whole team,” Slade said. “Right then I knew things had changed.”

In May 2000, three months after he hired Scott Pioli as New England’s director of pro personnel, Belichick fired Bobby Grier. Since Parcells’s departure, the longtime Patriots executive had served as the team’s vice president of player personnel. “This,” Belichick said in a statement, “is an unpleasant thing for me to do.”

​

Happy 42nd Birthday to Deltha O'Neal
Born January 30, 1977 in Palo Alto
Patriot CB, 2008; uniform #21
Signed as a veteran free agent on September 1, 2008

The Pats signed Deltha O'Neal two days after his release by the Bengals. This transaction came one day after New England releasing safety John Lynch and wide receiver Chad Jackson. O'Neal played in all 16 games for the Pats in 2008, with ten starts. The 31 year old had three interceptions and eight passes defensed, with 32 tackles.

He became a free agent the following February and signed with Houston but was cut at the end of training camp, ending his career. In NFL seasons (mostly with Denver and Cincinnati) O'Neal played in 132 games, with 34 interceptions. He was named to two Pro Bowls and led the league with ten interceptions in 2005.

September 2, 2008:
Patriots bring in playmaking cornerback Deltha O'Neal | The Boston Globe

After cutting 10-year veteran cornerback Fernando Bryant Saturday, the Patriots yesterday made an equally surprising move to shore up a soft spot on the 53-man roster by signing 31-year-old corner Deltha O'Neal, a nine-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler who was released by the Bengals.

The acquisition of O'Neal with just six days remaining before Sunday's opener against the Kansas City Chiefs seemed to raise some questions about whether the Patriots had found a suitable replacement for Asante Samuel, a 2007 Pro Bowler who signed a six-year, $57 million free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles Feb. 29.​

Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown runs for a 62-yard touchdown past New England Patriots’ Deltha O’Neal (21) and Rodney Harrison during the fourth quarter of the Dolphins’ 38-13 win in Foxborough.​

Happy birthday to Bobby Nichols, who would have been 78 today
Born January 30, 1942 in Boston
Patriot TE, 1967-1968; uniform #87
Pats 17th round (440th overall) selection of the 1967 draft

The South Boston native played in fifteen games with the Patriots in a backup role behind Jim Whalen.

Robert P. Nichols Obituary

Robert was Captain of the B.U. Football Team in 1965 and Tight End for the Boston Patriots, 1967-1969. Late Boston Municipal Court employee and Executive Director of the Curley Recreation Center.​

Happy 50th birthday to Mario Johnson
Born January 30, 1970 in St. Louis
Patriot DT, 1993; uniform #98

Mario Johnson was originally a 10th round pick by the Jets in 1992, from Missouri. He was signed by the Patriots as a free agent the following year, playing in six games for the Pats.




Happy 27th birthday to Stephen Anderson
Born January 30, 1993 in San Jose
Patriot TE, 2018; uniform #80
Signed to the practice squad on Sept 6, 2018

Stephen Anderson was originally signed by Houston as an undrafted rookie in 2016. He had been a wide receiver at Cal and converted to tight end, appearing in 28 games with 36 receptions in two seasons with the Texans. Anderson was promoted from the practice squad to New England's 53-man roster on January 8, 2019. He remained there throughout the playoffs but was inactive for each of those three games.

The Pats re-signed Anderson to the practice squad on September 1, 2019 after roster cuts; he was released for good eight days later. Since then he has been with the Chargers.

July 31, 2019: Patriots TE Stephen Anderson hopes versatility pays off | ProJo

Anderson is in the mix in a very uncertain tight end depth chart. With Rob Gronkowski retired, the Patriots have a diverse group of players. They’ve added veterans like Ben Watson and Lance Kendricks. They join newcomer Matt LaCosse, Anderson, Ryan Izzo and Andrew Beck.

Out of all the tight ends, Anderson is probably the most athletic. He’s considered a ‘move tight end,’ which means he could line up in the slot.​

Happy 37th birthday to Kareem Brown
Born January 30, 1983 in Miami
Patriot DT, 2007; uniform #95
Pats 4th round (127th overall) selection of the 2007 draft, from Miami

Kareem Brown made the roster out of training camp, but never got on the field over the course of 11 weeks. The Pats released him and the Jets claimed him on waivers. Brown also spent time with the Giants and Titans but appeared in only one NFL game, retiring in 2010 due to a shoulder injury.

Former NFL Player Living Out His Dream

Brown, who is 36 years old now, is living out his dream at the police academy at Miami Dade College North Campus. He enrolled in the School of Justice’s Florida Law Enforcement Academy last August. Brown is scheduled to graduate on Feb. 20 and will be a school resource officer for the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department. ​

Other pro football players with a New England connection sharing this birth date:

Bill Budness (1943-2018)
Born and raised in Chicopee; Chicopee High School; Boston University
The linebacker was a 4th round pick by the Raiders in '64; he played in 100 games, including Super Bowl II.

Les Maynard (1911-1952)
Born in Torrington CT; High School of Commerce, Springfield MA
End for the Staten Island Stapletons in 1932.

Skip Lane, 60 (1960)
Born in Norwalk, CT; Staples High School in Westport CT
Defensive back from '84-'87 with the Jets, Chiefs and Washington.

Jamaal Branch, 39 (1981)
Born in Hartford; New Hampton (NH) Prep School
Running back for the Saints, 2005-06.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1973: Pats draft Hannah, Cunningham and Stingley​

January 30, 1968:
Day one (rounds 1-6) of the 1968 AFL/NFL draft is held at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York. The first overall pick is Ron Yary, by Minnesota; the USC offensive tackle would go on to become a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Five selections later the Boston Patriots selected Dennis Byrd, a defensive tackle from North Carolina State. Byrd was an exceptional player - until he suffered a knee injury during his senior year. The Patriots ignored that issue and used an early pick on him anyways. Byrd played in all 14 games his rookie season, but then had to retire; medical rehab on a knee in the sixties was not the same as it is today. It was decisions like this that led the Pats to seven consecutive losing seasons.

After that the Patriots selected Tom Funchess in the second round, who would start at left tackle for three seasons before being traded away to Houston. In the next two rounds the Pats added WR Aaron Marsh and RB R.C. Gamble; both only lasted for two insignificant years. Notre Dame CB Jim Smithberger was the fifth round pick; he never played a down in the NFL. The sixth round pick was relinquished to Cincinnati by every AFL team (except the Dolphins) as part of their expansion draft.

The only player drafted in rounds one through six that ever did anything noteworthy for the Patriots was Bill Lenkaitis; he was drafted by the Chargers in round three.


January 30, 1969:
Clive Rush is hired to be head coach. Rush became the third coach in franchise history when Billy Sullivan chose him over Chuck Noll, who proceeded to be hired by the Steelers and coach Pittsburgh to four Super Bowls.


January 30, 1973:
Day One of the 1973 NFL Draft is held at the Americana Hotel in New York City. The Houston Oilers selected defensive end John Matuszak from the University of Tampa with the first overall pick.

Three picks later new head coach and general manager Chuck Fairbanks selected guard John Hannah of Alabama. He was only the fifth guard to be drafted with a top-five pick since WWII, which drew some skepticism at that time. (Insert facepalm here.)

In addition to their own sixth overall pick, the Patriots also had the #11 selection; that was from the previous year when the Pats had traded Fred Dryer (who wanted to be near Hollywood) to the Rams. New England used that pick on fullback Sam Cunningham, from Southern Cal.

With Cunningham now a Patriot, Fairbanks traded RB Carl Garrett to Chicago for a first round pick. At #19 overall the Pats selected Purdue wide receiver Darryl Stingley.

The Patriots did not have a second round pick - that had been traded away in 1972 to the Giants when they acquired Dryer - but so what? After those three first round picks they were playing with house money.

The Patriots added fullback Brad Dusek in the third round, with the intention of transitioning him to linebacker. Unfortunately New England was not patient enough and would soon be deep at that position. The Pats gave up on him too early; he would go on to play eight seasons in Washington. Other draft picks on this day were offensive linemen Doug Dumler and Allen Gallaher, who played in New England for three years and one year respectively; Alcorn State RB Charles Davis never made it in the NFL.


January 30, 1974:
Day Two of the 1974 NFL Draft (rounds 6-17).

The Pats traded their own sixth round pick (#140) to Baltimore for Jack Mildren. He had been a wishbone quarterback at Oklahoma for Fairbanks, and converted to safety in the NFL. There was some speculation that Fairbanks - who had a horrible relationship with Jim Plunkett - brought Mildren in to to replace Plunkett and run a college, running style offense in Foxboro. Mildren started ten games in '74 at strong safety.

The Patriots also owned the very next pick, obtained from Philadelphia a year earlier for Dennis Wirgowski. The Pats used that on punter Chuck Ramsey; he did not make the roster, but did play for eight seasons with the Jets.

In the 15th round the Patriots struck gold, selecting Stephen F Austin State linebacker Sam Hunt with the 374th pick of the 1974 draft. Sam started at inside linebacker for each of the next six seasons. Hunt is a member of the Patriots All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Then they were saved by the controversial call.

What exactly is "controversial"?

There was no controversy when they called it for Testaverde and we lost


Correctly called, period.

Just as there's nothing controversial about the Ben Dreith game. It was clearly and obviously stolen and presented to the home team.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Walter Beach
​

Happy Birthday to @Actual Pats Fan , born on this date in Framingham.


Happy 85th birthday to Walter Beach
Born January 31, 1935 in Pontiac, Michigan
Patriot CB/RB, 1960-1961; uniform #26, #41

Walter Beach was drafted by the Giants in 1960, then signed with the Patriots early in their inaugural season. He played in 18 games for the Pats with one interception. Beach also played a bit on offense (with nine receptions and six carries) and on special teams (seven kickoff returns and one punt return). Beach had one touchdown with the Pats, a 51 yard reception from Butch Songin against the Chargers. Walter Beach also spent four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and was a starting corner on that team's last NFL championship, in 1964.

Beach grew up two houses from a civil rights lawyer named Milton Henry and his family. Fast forward a bit, to a 1962 preseason game in New Orleans that led to the Patriots cutting Beach:

He had been released by the Boston Patriots of the American Football League the previous year, after he organized a protest by the black players on the team against segregated accommodations in New Orleans, where Boston was scheduled to play a preseason game. While the white Patriots were set to stay in a luxury hotel, the black players were to stay with black families.

“I told them we signed up to play football, not to be segregated against,” Beach said. He told Mike Holovak, the Patriots’ coach at the time, that he would fly down the day of the game and then fly back to Boston after the game was over.

Identified as a troublemaker, Beach was cut the next day.​

Paul Brown was not only ahead of his time in as an innovative coach, he also was color blind when it came to his football players. The same was not true for Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell, who decided Beach was a troublemaker and should be cut in training camp. This infuriated Jim Brown, who knew Beach deserved a spot on the roster. Brown left to speak with the owner and coaches. Fifty minutes later Beach was back on the roster. That year Cleveland would win the NFL championship, thanks in part to the shutdown corner play of Walter Beach. The powerful Baltimore Colts offense that featured quarterback Johnny Unitas and wide receivers Raymond Berry and John Mackey - all three all-stars, two future hall of famers - were shutout by Beach and the rest of the Browns, 27-0.

A group of top African American athletes from different sporting disciplines gather to give support and hear the boxer Muhammad Ali give his reasons for rejecting the draft during the Vietnam War, at a meeting of the Negro Industrial and Economic Union, held in Cleveland, June 4, 1967. Seated in the front row, from left to right: Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Standing behind them are: Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten.​

Walter Beach | The Undefeated

Walter Beach Recalls Athletes' Support of Ali | New York Times

Ballots and Bullets, by James Robenalt




Happy 55th birthday to Stan Clayton
Born January 31, 1965 in Philadelphia
Patriot guard, 1990-91; uniform #76
Claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Sept 4, 1990

Stan Clayton played in 11 games with three starts for the Patriots in 1990. He was on and off the roster in '91, but never got on the field that season. Clayton played in a total of 26 NFL games, with 14 starts. He was part of the Penn State team that defeated Miami to win the 1986 NCAA championship.

Clayton has had various roles as a college football coach since 1995. He is currently the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at Stetson.




Happy 45th birthday to Fred Coleman
Born January 31, 1975 in Tyler, Texas
Patriot WR, 2001-02; uniform #84
Signed as a free agent on November 8, 2001

Coleman played in nine regular season games in two stints with the Patriots, with two receptions. He also played in all three 2001 postseason games, with two special teams tackles. His biggest claim to fame is a 46 yard reception on a slant in week 12 against the Jets. The Pats were down 13-0 in the third quarter and the play led to a touchdown run by Antowain Smith. That was the catalyst for a comeback, with the Patriots eventually winning 17-16.

Pats sign WR Fred Coleman | Patriots.com




Happy 84th birthday to Bill Kimber
Born January 31, 1936 in Winter Park, Florida
Patriot DE, 1961; uniform #86

Bill Kimber played in four games for the Patriots in what would be his final season of pro football. He also spent two seasons with the Giants, and training camps with the Chargers (for Al Davis) and the expansion Minnesota Vikings.

Bill Kimber | Tales From The AFL

And then I got injured, pulled a hamstring, and couldn’t really function as far the function to keep my job. I was running first string when I got hurt, but Van Brocklin, I will always remember, came up to me. He was the coach at that time. He said, “Bill, we’re going to shoot that leg so you can get out there and practice.” I said, “Coach, I can’t do that. There’s too much of a possibility of a sustained injury that would probably end my career. It’s not worth it to me.”

So after I got rehabilitated, where I could play, I went out and had a hell of a ball game in the last exhibition game. I had a good outing, and was cut the following day. It meant that they had to see that I was back in shape to play, but I was cut before I even got out there, in their mind. So I came back, stayed for about two or three weeks, and then the Boston Patriots called me up. That’s where I finished out the season.

At that time, when I went to the Boston Patriots, I guess I was so out of shape that I don’t think I really capitalized on the opportunity that I had. But as I was gradually getting back into shape, to play, in the style that I was accustomed to, Lou Saban was fired. But not before he released me on Thursday. He was fired on Friday and Mike Holovak, the coach that came in as head coach then, tried to reinstate me, but I had already been deactivated on Monday or Tuesday of that week, even though I was told later. So it meant sitting out for a period of time and the season was virtually over. I said, “Gentlemen, that’s it. I’m taking off, and I’ll see you later.”

So that was my third year and also my sudden burst of realization that it was time to get serious and go get a job and raise a family like I had, and chalk it up and be thankful that I had the experience and go on about life.​

Happy 58th birthday to Todd Frain
Born January 31, 1962 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Patriot TE, 1987; uniform #44

The former Nebraska Cornhusker played in all three of the 1987 replacement player games for the Patriots, with two receptions for 22 yards.




Happy 28th birthday to Blaine Clausell
Born January 31, 1992 in Mobile, Alabama
Patriot OT, 2015 practice squad; uniform #68
Signed as a free agent on Sept 7, 2015

Clausell was waived as part of final roster cuts by Baltimore after his rookie training camp. He spent most of 2015 on the Patriot practice squad before being released on November 19. Clausell appeared in two NFL games for Arizona; he is now a real estate agent.




Other pro football players born on January 31 with a New England connection:

Kenny McKinley (1987-2010)
Draft pick trades
McKinley was drafted in the 5th round (141st overall) in the 2009 draft. That 5.141 pick had belonged to Philadelphia, who traded it and another fifth round pick to the Patriots in exchange for CB Ellis Hobbs. The Pats then took those same two picks and traded them to Baltimore for a fourth - which was used on OL Rich Ohrnberger - and a sixth, which was used for LS Jake Ingram. McKinley sadly died from suicide at the age of 23.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, 25 (1995)
Draft pick trades
The linebacker was selected in the fourth round (124th overall) in the 2017 draft. That pick was initially traded by Tennessee, along with a third round pick (used on Derek Rivers) for a third and a sixth. The Pats then took that 4.124 pick and packaged it with a third (96th overall) to move up eleven spaces to the 85th overall pick in the third round. Unfortunately the Pats used #3.85 on Antonio Garcia, while Detroit selected WR Kenny Golladay with the #3.96 pick.

Ted Karras (1934-2016)
Grandfather of current Patriot offensive lineman Ted Karras
The Karras patriarch played in the NFL from 1958 to 1966, winning an NFL championship in 1963 as the starting left guard for the Chicago Bears. His two brothers also played in the NFL (Lou and Hall of Famer Alex), as did his son (Ted) and grandson, Ted Karras of the Patriots. Between the five of them the family has played in 368 NFL games.

Wayne Millner (1913-1976)
Born in Boston; Salem High School
The Hall of Fame end and defensive end was drafted by the Redskins in 1936, their final year in Boston. In the 1937 NFL championship game the Salem native had nine receptions for 160 yards and two touchdown for Washington to defeat the Bears in Chicago 28-21.

Walt Slater (1920-2012)
Born in Providence
Drafted by the Eagles in 1946, the tailback/quarterback/defensive back/punt and kickoff returner from the University of Tennessee also played for the Steelers.




January 31, 1968: Day Two of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft
Day Two was better than Day One for the Pats, though there was nowhere to go but up. Five of the eight players selected by the Pats would end playing for the team. CB Daryl Johnson only played for three seasons before bolting for the WFL, but was impactful enough to make the All-Decade Team of the 1960s. LB Jim Cheyunski (12th round) was a five-year starter for the Pats before being traded to Buffalo. CB John Outlaw (10th round) spent four seasons with the Patriots before he too moved on in another bad trade. Art McMahon (15th round) was a Patriot defensive back from 1968 to 1972. LB Ed Koontz (six games) and OT Paul Feldhausen (two games) were also part of that draft.




January 31, 1973: Day Two of the 1973 NFL Draft
By today's standards the second day of the draft was equivalent to the signing of undrafted rookies, as it consisted of rounds 8-17. In the 12th round the Pats added Bruce Barnes from UCLA, who handled the punting duties for two years. In the 14th round with the 342nd pick Chuck Fairbanks selected a player he saw up close at Oklahoma, nose tackle Ray Hamilton. Sugar Bear went on to play in 134 games for the Patriots and is a deserving member of the All-Decade Team of the 1970s.





January 31, 2000:
RLKAG

Remembering the Ray Lewis Controversy | Grantland

But despite his on-field accomplishments, Lewis’s legacy will be tainted by the events of January 31, 2000, for some. Early that morning in Atlanta, a brawl broke out, two were found dead, and Lewis, along with two others, was charged with murder the next day.​

In a bit of ironic tone-deafness, when you google 'January 31 Ray Lewis' you find that tonight the former Raven is hosting something called the Century Celebration, sponsored by the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, with tickets ranging from $500 to $2,750.

 

[italian pat patriot]

the best ever uniforms we ever had imho
i love them

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats win their second Super Bowl​

Sunday February 1, 2004 at 6:25
Super Bowl 38 at Reliant Stadium, Houston
New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Fox
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Jake Delhomme
Odds: Pats favored by 7
Patriots finish the season on a 15-game winning streak, go 17-2
Carolina ends up 14-6

Full Game:



Highlights:



​

Boston Globe Super Bowl 38 Headlines

Texas-sized pain: Panthers’ Super Bowl XXXVIII trip to Houston etched in players’ minds | Charlotte Observer

Super Bowl XXXVIII: Adam Vinatieri makes Patriots’ day | NY Daily News


Plays from Scrimmage:
Patriots 83, Panthers 49

3rd and 4th Down:
Patriots 9-18, Panthers 4-12

Field Goal Attempts:
Adam Vinatieri 1-3, John Kasay 1-1

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Malcolm Butler!!!​

Sunday February 1, 2015 at 6:30
Super Bowl 49 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Russell Wilson
Odds: Pick'em
Pats finish 15-4 after a 2-2 start, and moving on to Cincinnati.
Seattle's 8-game losing streak ends as they finish 14-5; the dull roar of talk about the next dynasty is muted with this failed quest for back-to-back super bowl championships.


MVP: Tom Brady
TB12 completed 74% of his passes for 328 yards, four touchdowns, and a 101.1 passer rating.


Super Bowl XLIX Mic'd Up Second Half Highlights



Butler picks off Wilson to seal Patriots Super Bowl XLIX Victory



Super Bowl XLIX - 4th Quarter



Best Fan Reactions to the Interception [NOTE: Audio NSFW]



Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX beat Seattle on Malcolm Butler interception | Boston Herald

'Worst play-call in Super Bowl history' (or was it greatest defensive preparation and execution?) will forever alter perception of Seahawks, Patriots | Washington Post

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Rob Ninkovich​

Happy 36th birthday to Rob Ninkovich
Born February 1, 1984; from Joliet, Illinois
Patriot LB/DE, 2009-2016; uniform #50
Signed as a veteran free agent on August 2, 2009

After spending parts of three seasons with New Orleans and Miami, the Pats signed Nink as a free agent just after the start of the 2009 training camp. Over eight seasons in New England he played in 123 regular season games, with 101 starts. Ninkovich totaled 469 tackles (279 solo), 55 tackles for a loss, 88 quarterback hits and 46 sacks in those games. In addition he had five interceptions, 12 passes defensed, 12 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries and two touchdowns with the Pats. What does not show up in the stat sheet is how well he did his job of setting the edge and taking away an outside option from opposing offenses.

Ninkovich also performed a vital part in 17 playoff games; the Pats went 11-6 in those contests. He earned two Super Bowl rings for the victories over Seattle and Atlanta. In the postseason Nink had 66 tackles (36 solo), 9 tackles for a loss, six sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and a touchdown.

Do. Your. Job. — The Ninkovich Sack No One Will Remember | Inside The Pylon

Ninkovich, aligned pre-snap in a three-point stance on the outside shoulder of the right tackle, immediately drops back behind his fellow linemen at the snap, mirroring the movements of Wilson in the pocket. Lined up over the right guard, Chris Jones slants toward the B-gap, drawing two blockers. Meanwhile, Chandler Jones ‒ positioned pre-snap between the left tackle and guard ‒ slants into the A-gap, also occupying two blockers.

Taking the cue from Chandler Jones’s rush toward the center, Ninkovich loops around his teammate. Ayers delivers a chip on Lynch at the snap and pushes into the backfield against the left tackle, causing the nearby left guard to shuffle over and help on the block. This seemingly unrelated combination of movements creates an opening for Ninkovich to burst upfield unimpeded and take down the QB for a sack.

After the ensuing punt, New England quarterback Tom Brady and his offense would go on to score a touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-21. The Patriots defense would follow-up by forcing another quick three-and-out, allowing Brady and company to once again drive downfield for what would end up being a game-winning touchdown. And only then did Malcolm Butler step up when the defense needed it most.
​

There’s never been any quit in Rob Ninkovich | The Boston Globe


11 things we learned from Rob Ninkovich’s retirement news conference | Boston.com

2. Ninkovich thought the Patriots would draft him in 2006. They scouted him, but the Saints had pick 135 to the Patriots’ 136, and picked up Ninkovich at that spot. “When I was coming out for the draft, I thought I was coming to the Patriots,’’ Ninkovich said. “That’s what I thought. Pick 135. 136 was you guys, 136 was the Saints. I thought the phone ringing was New England, but it was New Orleans. That was the path that I had to go to to meet my beautiful wife and now I have two beautiful children and I’m grateful for that. That’s a part of my life that really was a true blessing for me to learn those life lessons.’’​

Belichick congratulates 'tough Croatian' Rob Ninkovich on tremendous career | Sporting News

"Rob is one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever coached," Belichick said Sunday. "Like a lot of guys, he came in here very unheralded; [Tom] Brady, Malcolm Butler, guys like that and the guy he replaced, No. 50 Mike Vrabel. [He] didn’t come in with a lot of fanfare but just came in and worked hard and became a very, very versatile player for us."

Ninkovich played every linebacker position and defensive end and was even the backup long snapper. But what Belichick loved the most out of Ninkovich, originally a fifth-round pick from Purdue by the Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft, was his toughness.

"But after New Orleans, Miami, back to New Orleans, we’re sitting there in training camp in 2009 lacking a little depth at the outside linebacker position. Nick [Caserio] said ‘There’s a guy, Rob, he should be on a roster, he should be in a camp and he’s available so let’s get him.’ Really, it’s just history after that."​

Former Patriots star Rob Ninkovich gives pep talk on eve of Lowell game | Chicago Tribune

His final game was the epic 2017 Super Bowl, which the Patriots won 34-28 in overtime. New England trailed the Atlanta Falcons 28-3 in the third quarter. It’s the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Ninkovich said it was an “amazing game. The way the Patriots prepare and practice, there was just no panic. You could feel the momentum switch. Then it was Tom (Brady) making big play after big play. It was surreal.”

Ninkovich walked away after the win because he could still walk.

“Sometimes, I get the itch,” he said. “How many people can say that their last game was an NFL championship? The walk-off was a home run.”​

Patriots.com: Photo Gallery - Best of Rob Ninkovich

Patriots.com: Video - Rob Ninkovich career highlights

Rob Ninkovich Career Highlights:


​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The 1970 Draft​

After two super bowl championships and the birth date of Rob Ninkovich, these February 1 events are a bit underwhelming - other than today's announcement.

February 1, 2020:
Stephon Gilmore is named 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Stephon Gilmore becomes the first New England Patriot to win DPOY, an accolade that has been awarded at the end of every season since 1971.​

Gilmore tied for the NFL lead with a career-high six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns (Week 2 at Miami & Week 15 at Cincinnati) for a defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and points allowed per game (14.1). He also tied for the NFL lead with 20 passes defensed, matching his single-season high from 2018. Gilmore joined Ty Law (27 in 1998 & 23 in 2003) as the only New England Patriots with multiple seasons of 20-plus passes defensed in franchise history. He also posted a career-high 53 tackles and recovered one fumble.​

​

February 1, 1970:
The AFL and NFL announce a merger, forming a combined league with 26 teams. Thirteen will compete in the American Football Conference and 13 in the National Football Conference.

The Patriots would play in the AFC East, which was similar to their AFL East. The AFL's Houston Oilers would no longer be in the East, but the Patriots, Bills, Jets and Dolphins would remain in the same division. Three teams from the NFL would move to the new AFC - including the Baltimore Colts, who would also play in the AFC East.




February 1, 1972:
Day One of the 1972 NFL Draft is held at the Essex House in New York, consisting of rounds one through seven. Buffalo selects Notre Dame defensive end Walt Patulski with the first pick.

As for what transpired with New England's draft picks, be warned - this ride has many twists and turns.

The Patriots had no first round draft pick thanks to trades involving a few bizarre chapters of early franchise history. In 1970 the Patriots signed QB Joe Kapp as a free agent. Free agency then was not what it is now, with the signing team having to compensate the team that lost a player. In this case the Pats sent Minnesota their 1972 first round pick (which turned out to be 10th overall), plus safety John Charles and cash. Not a good value, as Kapp lasted one 1-9 season while throwing 17 interceptions versus three touchdowns.

Similarly the Pats received compensation when due to a front office oversight DT Phil Olsen (the team's fourth overall pick from the 1970 draft) signed with the Rams. The Patriots received LA's 1972 first round pick and more - then traded that pick to the Giants for a player that refused to report to the Pats, Fred Dryer.

New England also traded away their second round pick in the trade that brought RB Duane Thomas to Foxboro for a few strange days in 1971. The Pats were finally able to draft a player near the end of the second round, WR Tom Reynolds; he lasted just one season for the Pats, with eight receptions and two touchdowns.

The Pats original third round pick was also lost in the Duane Thomas trade, but the club did have another third from Los Angeles via the Phil Olsen signing. New England used that selection on Colorado State defensive end Jim White; he too lasted only one year with the Patriots.

New England had traded their own fourth round pick the previous year to Dallas for LB Steve Kiner, and their fifth to Baltimore for PR Ron Gardin. One hit, one miss.

The Pats had also picked up another fifth from Oakland in '71, and used it on Ron Bolton; he would start at corner for the Pats through 1975.

The Patriots own sixth round pick went to the Giants as part of the Fred Dryer trade, and they used their seventh on a tight end named Clark Hoss who was traded to Cleveland at the start of training camp. The Pats had the very next pick via a trade with the Chargers for Eddie Ray; the running back never did anything with the Patriots but he proceeded to play for six more years in the NFL. The Pats used that pick on RB John Tarver, who scored eight touchdowns over the next three seasons for the Patriots.




February 1, 2000:
New head coach Bill Belichick begins assembling his staff. Charlie Weis hired to be the offensive coordinator, and Eric Mangini will be a defensive assistant coach. Two other coaches are re-signed: Ivan Fears as wide receivers coach, and Jeff Davidson as assistant offensive line coach.




February 1, 2001:
Romeo Crennel is hired as defensive coordinator. He and Bill Belichick worked together for the Giants from 1981-90, with the Pats in '96 and with the Jets from 1997-99.




Happy 31st birthday to Travaris Cadet
Born Feb 1, 1989 in Miami
Patriot RB, 2015; uniform #39
Signed as a free agent on March 17, 2015

Many Pats fans had high hopes for the former New Orleans Saint from Appalachian State, but he was waived on Sept 29, 2015. Cadet played in 73 NFL games from 2013-2018, with seven touchdowns.




Happy birthday to Alvin Richardson, who would have been 85 today
Born Feb 1, 1935 in New Orleans
Patriot DE, 1960; uniform #79

A 26th round draft pick by the Eagles in 1957, the Grambling State alum played in three games with two starts for the Patriots in their inaugural 1960 season.




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

Amara Darboh, 26 (1994)
Patriot WR for four days in 2018; he was a third round pick by Seattle in 2017.

Tim Mazzetti, 64 (1956)
Born and raised in Old Greenwich CT
Penn kicker played for the Falcons for three seasons.

Larry Swider, 65 (1955)
Born and raised in Limestone, Maine
Punter from 1977-82 was a Broncos draft pick from Pitt.

Dave Graham, 81 (1939)
Born in Bridgeport, raised in Fairfield CT
Left tackle played in 83 games for the Eagles in the sixties. Graham later became a grade school principal and then his town's executive director of school administration in 2017.

Roger Ellis (1938-2008)
Native of Westwood, Massachusetts; University of Maine
After being drafted by the Giants in 1959 the middle linebacker would play for the Titans/Jets for four seasons in the AFL. He later became a secret service agent for Spiro Agnew.

Johnny Miller, 86 (1934)
Born and raised in Lowell; Keith Academy; Boston College
OT and DT for Washington and Green Bay, 1955-60. He may or may not have passed away in 2015.

Lou Koplow (1904-1988)
Born in Malden; Boston English High School; Boston University
Had a cup of coffee as a tackle for the Providence Steam Roller in the twenties.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

The history entry for today should be the image of a black armband.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Malcom Brown​

February 2, 1972:
The Patriots select ten players on Day Two of the 1972 Draft, from legendary college football programs such as NW Oklahoma State, Angelo State, Colorado Mesa, Eastern Michigan and San Jose State. None of those ten draftees would ever play a single game in the NFL.




February 2, 1980:
The Patriots hire Fritz Shurmur to be their defensive coordinator, and Bill Parcells as linebackers coach.




February 2, 1983:
New England releases running backs Sam Cunningham and Andy Johnson, marking the end of an era.




Happy 26th birthday to Malcom Brown
Born February 2, 1994 in Brenham, Texas
Patriot DT, 2015-2018; uniform #90
Pats 1st round (32nd overall) selection of the 2015 draft, from Texas

Malcom Brown was a solid but not spectacular player for the Patriots, not quite playing up to his draft status. He played in 60 games with 51 starts with the Pats, as well as in all 11 playoff games - and earned two Super Bowl rings. Brown was typically used on first and second downs and was effective against the run. His annual percentage of playing time was 47%, 57%, 51% and 44%.

The Pats declined his fifth year option and did not appear to make an attempt to re-sign him as a free agent. As a rookie he had been signed to a four year contract worth $7.6 million, with $6.1 million guaranteed and a $3.8 million signing bonus. In 2019 the Saints signed Brown to a three year, $15 million deal.

​

Saints sign Malcom Brown | NBC Sports Boston

The 25-year-old didn't record a sack last season for the first time in his career but was a solid run stuffer for the Super Bowl champions.

Brown follows defensive end Trey Flowers and cornerback Eric Rowe among the Patriots' free-agent departures on defense. New England landed Michael Bennett in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles but still has plenty more holes to fill on the defensive line entering free agency.​

Malcom Brown signs with New Orleans | boston.com

Brown had a good sense as free agency approached that there was likely to be more money available if he left New England. The Patriots drafted the 6-2, 320-pounder in the first round in 2015, but declined to pick up his fifth-year option last offseason. Brown was still a big piece of the defensive line, playing 44 percent of the defensive snaps, mostly as a space eater on first and second downs.

Brown does have some pass-rushing ability for a big guy, with 8.5 sacks over his four seasons in the NFL, and may get better production in a different scheme.

His departure isn’t a surprise, but leaves the Patriots with work to do on their defensive line with Danny Shelton still a free agent. Lawrence Guy and Adam Butler are the top defensive tackles currently on the roster, with Ufomba Kamalu, Frank Herron, and David Parry filling out New England’s depth.​

Patriots sign multiple free agents, lose Malcom Brown | 92.9

The 6-2, 320-pounder was a big piece of the Patriots' defensive line, playing 44 percent of the defensive snaps.

The Patriots helped fill the void left by Brown's departure by agreeing on a two-year deal with Mike Pennel, a run-stuffing defensive tackle. The 6-foot-4, 330-pounder spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets. He made 27 tackles while starting 7 of 16 games last season.​

Happy 71st birthday to Ray Jarvis
Born February 2, 1949 in Chesapeake, Virginia
Patriot WR, 1979; uniform #87
Signed as a free agent on April 25, 1979

Leon Raeminton Jarvis was originally a fifth round draft pick by Atlanta in 1971, from NAIA Norfolk State. His best season came in 1976 with Detroit when he had 822 yards receiving and five touchdowns, averaging 21.1 yards per catch.

Jarvis was 30 years old when the Pats signed him, and 1979 would be the final season of his nine year NFL career. He appeared in seven games for the Patriots, with one touchdown.

Happy 58th birthday to Mel Black
Born February 2, 1962 in New Haven
Patriot LB, 1986-1987; uniform #94, #51
Signed as an undrafted rookie on May 10, 1986

After graduating from West Haven High School Melvin Black headed west, going to Eastern Illinois University. He was teammates with a surprisingly high number of EIU football players that made it to the NFL, including future head coaches Sean Payton and Brad Childress.

Black did not make the Patriot roster out of training camp in 1986, but was re-signed late in the season and appeared in three games. He was waived again near the end of the 1987 camp, then re-signed to play in the three replacement player games. Black was with the Raiders the following offseason but was waived early, ending his pro football career.




Happy 46th birthday to J.R. Conrad
Born February 2, 1974 in Fairland, Oklahoma
Patriot tackle and guard, 1974 (practice squad)
Pats 7th round (247th overall) selection of the 1974 draft, from Oklahoma

A crash course at center is just weird for Jets' Conrad | New York Times

Conrad was the last player drafted by the Patriots last year. Playing tackle and guard, Conrad didn't make the team, but hung on with the practice squad.

''I made a mistake last March,'' he admits. ''I should have come here when Coach Parcells came. Instead I went back to New England, went to camp, and then was cut just before the season.''

By then it was too late to return to school. He needs nine credits to graduate. So he just hung out at home in Fairland, Okla. The Jets found him a job, though, and hired him for their practice squad, converting him to center.​

After football, Conrad remains involved in athletics

In 1996, Conrad was selected in the seventh round (247th overall pick) by the New England Patriots as an offensive lineman under legendary coach Bill Parcells, who won two Super Bowls as head coach of the New York Giants.

“It was nice there, but the people were a little different,” Conrad said.

Before the 1997 season started under new coach Pete Carroll, Conrad was cut from New England, but was picked up by New York Jets under Parcells — who had just taken over as head coach.

In Oct. 16, 1997, Conrad made his debut as a starter when he played center against the Miami Dolphins.

“He (Parcells) was awesome,” Conrad said. “It was easy because I am a country boy. Be early, be quiet and do extra.”

Conrad said he remains in contact with Parcells.

Since his days at OU and the NFL, Conrad has coached at several Oklahoma high schools. In 2009, Conrad joined Dibble (and former Sooner) coach Charley North’s staff in 2009.

Conrad later became head coach at Dibble High School in 2011 and coached there until 2014.

Today the 6-foot-5 Conrad makes his home in the Oklahoma City area and works as a senior territory sales representative for Power-Lift, a company that manufactures athletic performance strength training equipment for athletics and sports performance facilities such as high schools, colleges, pro sports teams and athletic performance facilities.​

In addition to Mel Black there are two other pro football players with New England connections born on this date:


James Nixon, 32 (1988)
Born and raised in New Haven; Hyde Leadership High School in New Haven; Bridgton Academy in Maine
Packer CB, 2012-2013


Wayne Fontes, 80 (1940)
Born in New Bedford; Wareham High School
Wayne Fontes was a defensive back for the 1962 New York Titans. He went on to be a defensive coordinator with the Bucs (1982-84) and Lions ('85-'88). Fontes was the Detroit head coach from 1988 to 1996, going to the playoffs four times. He was the head coach the last time the Lions won a postseason game. That happened on January 5, 1992 when the Lions defeated Dallas 38-6 in a divisional round game - beating a Cowboys team that was coached by Jimmy Johnson and included Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Among those on Fontes' staff were Raymond Berry (quarterbacks coach) and Hank Bullough (defensive coordinator).

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
"Tonight A Dynasty Is Born, Baby"​

Those were Ricky Proehl's ironically prophetic words.

I can remember that even after the kick went through the goal posts I thought there was still time left on the clock ... and in historical Patriot fashion the opponent would find a way to run the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown. Then once I was convinced the Pats won I was hopping up and down like a madman. My two kids were extremely happy at first - until I couldn't stop, and they became slightly terrified, looking around for their mother. Good times...


Sunday February 3, 2002 at 6:40
Super Bowl 36 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans
New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Mike Martz
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Kurt Warner
Odds: Rams favored by 14
Patriots finish the season on a nine-game winning streak and a record of 14-5.
Rams also entered this game on an eight-game winning streak; they finish 16-3.

The Final Drive:




Full Game:

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Silence of the Rams, Part II​

Sunday February 3, 2019 at 6:30
Super Bowl 53 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
New England Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Sean McVay
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Jared Goff
Odds: New England favored by 2
Patriots finish 14-5 and win their sixth Super Bowl
Rams finish 15-4

The 2018 Rams were an offensive juggernaut, ranking second in points scored and total yardage. LA had scored over 28 points 14 times with twelve games of more than 400 yards total offense. The Patriot defense forced the Rams to punt on each of their first eight possessions, with five three-and-outs and none of those drives lasting more than five plays.

On the game winning drive Tom Brady went 4-4, completing short passes to the right to Gronk for 18 yards, in the middle to Edelman for 13 yards, then to Burkhead to the left for seven yards. TB12 then went deept to Gronk for 29 yards, and on the next play Sony Michel ran it in from two yards out for the score.

The next possession ended with Stephon Gilmore intercepting a pass intended for Brandin Cooks, then Michel and Burkhead chewed up most of the remaining time before settling for a game clinching 41 yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.

Highlights:



Mic'd Up:



Final Two Minutes:

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
James White​

The hero of the Super Bowl LI comeback victory over Atlanta is one of several Patriots celebrating a birthday today.


Happy 28th birthday to James White
Born February 3, 1992 in Fort Lauderdale
Patriot RB, 2014-present; uniform #28
Pats 4th round (130th overall) selection of the 2014 draft, from Wisconsin

Patriots.com | James White




Super Bowl Records and Milestones

• Owner of three Super Bowl rings
• Holds record for most points in a Super Bowl game (20)
• Holds record for most receptions in a Super Bowl game (14)
• Is one of only two players to score a winning overtime championship touchdown, and is the only player to do so in Super Bowl history (Alan Ameche was the only other, back in pre-Super Bowl 1958)

Patriot Franchise Rankings

• Ranks 11th with 320 career receptions
• Ranks 13th with 24 career receiving touchdowns
• Ranks 16th for most receptions in a single season (87 in 2018)
• Ranks 20th with 32 career total touchdowns
• Ranks 14th with 4.1 yards per carry (over 250 rushes)

Happy 48th birthday to Tyrone Poole
Born February 3, 1972 in LaGrange, Georgia
Patriot CB, 2003-2005; uniform #38
Signed as a veteran free agent on March 4, 2003

Tyrone Poole was originally a first round draft pick by Carolina in 1995, from Fort Valley State. He started all 16 games in 2003, but was played in only five games over the next two seasons due to a knee injury and then an ankle injury. Poole played in all three 2003 postseason games and earned two super bowl rings with the Patriots. He played in 151 games with 118 starts from 1995 to 2008, with 18 interceptions.

Tyrone Poole to compete on 'American Ninja Warrior' | Patriots.com




Happy 30th birthday to Sterling Moore
Born February 3, 1990 in Antioch, California
Patriot CB/S, 2011-2012; uniform #29
Signed to the practice squad on October 5, 2011

Sterling Moore was originally signed by Oakland as an undrafted rookie from SMU in 2011. He played in 14 regular season games with three starts for the Patriots. During that time Moore had two interceptions, one touchdown, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and on fumble recovery. He also played in three playoff games with three pass deflections and seven tackles (six solo).

Moore is most famous for knocking the ball out of the hands of Lee Evans in the 2011 AFC championship game against Baltimore, then following that up with another pass deflection on the very next play. That led to total lack of composure by John Harbaugh and a hurried field goal attempt by Billy Cundiff from the 14 yard line that was wide left by about 20 yards.



Moore later played with Dallas, Tampa and New Orleans, appearing in 75 games with 31 starts, plus seven playoff games.




Happy 40th birthday to Victor Hobson
Born on February 3, 1980 in Englewood, New Jersey
Patriot LB, 2008 offseason; uniform #59
Signed as a veteran free agent on April 7, 2008

Once on the outside, now looking in | Patriots.com

Coincidentally, now that he's a Patriots insider, he's also been moved to inside linebacker. Given the talent of New England's outside 'backers (i.e., Adalius Thomas and Mike Vrabel), Hobson's arrival via free agency gives Belichick and his staff the luxury of inserting an experienced (yet still young) veteran at a position where an infusion of youth and talent is certainly welcome.

"He had played a lot of outside linebacker the last two years down there," said Belichick during the Pats' recent minicamp. "I think he is a smart guy, runs well, he's got some experience in the system and certainly playing inside. I think he has a good combination of experience, toughness and athleticism to the position."

Hobson's most productive season as a Jet came in 2006, when he logged 100 total tackles (66 solo), six sacks, and an interception.​

Victor Hobson was one of 14 players released on August 30, 2008. The former second round pick out of Michigan played in 79 games from 2003-2008 with 57 starts and 354 tackles.




Happy birthday to Junior Robinson, who would have been 52 today
Born February 3, 1968 in High Point, North Carolina
Patriot KR/CB, 1990; uniform #27
Pats 5th round (110th overall) selection of the 1990 draft, from East Carolina

David Lee Robinson Jr. played in all 16 games for the Patriots in 1990, primarily on special teams. He was waived at the end of the 1991 training camp, played on WLAF and CFL teams in Sacramento, and spent one more year in the NFL with Detroit. Robinson died in 1995 at the age of 27 in an automobile accident.




Happy birthday to Tony Discenzo, who would have been 84 today
Born February 3, 1936 in Cleveland (1936-2007)
Patriot tackle, 1960; uniform #76

Anthony Discenzo played in eight games in the American Football league's inaugural season; three starts with the Patriots and five games for the Buffalo Bills.




Happy 54th birthday to Glenn Antrum
Born February 3, 1966 in Derby, Connecticut
Patriot WR, 1989-1990; uniform #10
Signed as an undrafted rookie on May 8, 1989

After graduating from Ansonia High School and the University of Connecticut, the New England native was signed by the Patriots in '89. He spent most of the year on what was then called the developmental squad, but was promoted to the active roster for two games - and made it into the record books with one appearance. He now lives in Bristol and has been with Coca Cola since 1994, now working as a Market Development Manager.




Happy 61st birthday to Cris Crissy
Born February 3, 1959 in Penn Yan, New York
Patriot CB, 1981 offseason
Pats 12th round (323rd overall) selection of the 1981 draft, from Princeton

Crissy was cut before the start of the 1981 season, and spent '81-82. A high school teammate of Tony Collins, Crissy is now an executive director with JP Morgan.






Happy 80th birthday to Fran Tarkenton
Born February 3, 1940 in Richmond, Virginia
Pats 5th round (34th overall) selection of the 1961 AFL draft, from Georgia

The scrambling quarterback signed with the NFL's expansion Minnesota Vikings in 1961, and was never part of Patriots organization. The Hall of Fame QB played for 18 years and later became a television commercial pitchman as well as a software executive.




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

Ed Harrison (1902-1969)
Marshfield, Mass; Boston College
End for the 1926 Brooklyn Lions




February 3, 1997:
The Patriots hire Pete Carroll as head coach.

On the same date Bill Parcells is officially hired as a 'consultant' with the New York Jets. Eight days prior the Patriots lost to Green Bay 35-21 in Super Bowl 31 (1/26/97). Then eight days later on February 11 the charade was dropped and Parcells was named head coach of the Jets. Negotiations between the Jets and Patriots for Parcells - who was still under contract with New England - had been ongoing since January 31, after commissioner Paul Tagliabue ruled that the Patriots still owned the rights to Parcells for the 1997 season.




Sunday February 3, 2008 at 6:30
Super Bowl 42 at University of Phoenix Stadium
New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Super Bowl LII​

Sunday February 4, 2018 at 6:30
Super Bowl LII at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Doug Pederson
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Nick Foles
Odds: New England favored by 4
Patriots finish 15-4 after a 2-2 start
Philadelphia goes 16-3, winning their fourth title (1948, 1949, 1960)


Every Patriot touchdown from the 2017-2018 season (14 min):



Patriots' 2017-2018 regular season highlights (30 min):





February 4, 2000:
Berj Najarian is hired to the Patriot football staff by Bill Belichick as the "executive administrator to the head coach".

I found the article below to be interesting and well worth reading - despite the fact that the author was only able to ask Najarian four questions.

Who is the mysterious Berj Najarian, Bill Belichick's right-hand man? | Boston Globe

When Belichick got the Patriots job, the Hoodie did not want to repeat the media mistakes he made as head coach in Cleveland. He wanted his own guy. He brought Najarian with him to Foxborough.

“I knew him because of the PR connection with the Jets,’’ said Belichick. “We would play other teams and he would get PR material from them. It was a little different then. I would ask him to keep an eye out for articles relevant to our next game, like, ‘what are they saying about this guy’s knee?’ or things like that. That’s how we got started.

“I needed somebody to do the non-football stuff. Somebody who was not a coach. As a head coach, you deal with a lot of non-football things that relate to the job. Berj and I talked about different options and he said, ‘Why don’t I just do that?’ And I said, ‘Well, let’s see how it goes.’ ’’​

Happy birthday to Billy Neighbors, who would have been 80 today
Born February 4, 1940 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (1940-2012)
Patriot RG, 1962-1965; uniform #73
Pats 6th round (46th overall) selection of the 1962 draft, from Alabama

Billy Neighbors was an all-american tackle at Alabama, then converted to guard with the Patriots. He was a two-time AFL All-Star with the Patriots, member of the Pats All-Decade Team of the 1960s, and is in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Alabama football great Billy Neighbors dies at 72 | Tuscaloosa News

Neighbors was a freshman during Bryant’s first season at Alabama in 1958. He went on to become an All-American and to win the Jacobs Award, given annually to the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference. During his three years of varsity eligibility, Alabama was 26-3-4 and was an undefeated national champion in 1961.

He also has an eight-year professional career with the Boston Patriots, who chose him in the sixth round of the American Football League draft, and the Miami Dolphins, twice earning All-Pro recognition.

After he retired from professional football, Neighbors moved to Huntsville, where he became a successful stock broker.​

Billy Neighbors (1940-2012) | Bama OnLine

Neighbors was a key cog in the championship season, when the defense yielded a total of just 25 points, never gave up more than seven points in a game, and shut out six opponents. His career concluded with the Crimson Tide having finished in the top 10 nationally all three years, and he was named both the top lineman in the Southeastern Conference and the most valuable player in the Senior Bowl.​

Happy 83rd birthday to Harry Jacobs
Born February 4, 1937 in Canton, Illinois
Patriot LB, 1960-1962; uniform #83

Harry Jacobs was originally drafted by Detroit in 1959, from Bradley. He failed to make the Lions roster and was signed by the Patriots the following year. He is the only player to have played in the first and the last game of the AFL, and one of only twenty who played in the league in all ten years before it merged with the NFL.

In 1963 the Patriots made the mistake of trading Jacobs to Buffalo for nothing but cash. He became a two-time all star with the Bills, and defensive captain on a team that won two AFL championships.

Harry Jacobs - A Ten Year Man | Tales From The AFL

Former Bradley and AFL football player battles Alzheimer’s with a zest for life




Happy 73rd birthday to Halvor Hagen
Born February 4, 1947 in Oslo, Norway
Patriot LG, 1971-1972; uniform #62
Acquired in trade with Dallas on August 1, 1971


Halvor Hagen was originally a third round draft pick by the Cowboys in 1969, from Weber State. He played 26 games for the Patriots with 15 starts, under John Mazur and Phil Bengtson.

Hagen was part of two infamous Patriot trades. In 1971 the Pats received RB Duane Thomas, safety Honor Jackson and Hagen in exchange for RB Carl Garrett and the Pats first round pick in the 1972 draft.

The disgruntled Thomas was such a headache that Mazur wanted to send him back to Dallas, as if he was returning an unwanted product to the local department store. Even more amazingly, commissioner Pete Rozelle stepped in and approved the refund. Thomas and Garrett went back to their original teams, while Jackson and Hagen stayed with the Patriots, in exchange for the Pats 2nd and 3rd picks in the '72 draft. Dallas got the best of that trade. That 2nd round pick turned out to be #35 overall, and they used it on FB Robert Newhouse, who would go on to become a two-time All-Pro.

In April of 1973 Hagen, Jim Cheyunski and Mike Montler were traded to Buffalo for Wayne Patrick, Edgar Chandler and Jeff Lyman. Cheyunski and Montler were solid starters for a Bills team that went 26-16 over the following three seasons. Chandler lasted one season with the Pats as their starting middle linebacker, while the other two never played a single game for the Patriots.

Halvor Hagen played in 75 NFL games from 1969 to 1975, and has had a very productive post-NFL career.

Hall of Fame - Halvor Hagen - Weber State Athletics

Hagen was drafted into the National Football League in 1969 as the third-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys. While in the NFL, Halvor played with the Cowboys, New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. He retired in 1977 after playing eight seasons in the league after knee surgeries forced his retirement.

Hagen was a member of the Cowboys' Super Bowl-winning team in 1969. During his pro career he switched from defensive line to offensive guard.

After a successful career as a CPA for Price Waterhouse, Hagen worked as a controller for a real estate company. He also served as CFO and contracts manager for New England Insulation, New England Distributions and AF Underhill.

In addition to his career, Hagen serves as CFO for the Brockton Coalition for the Homeless, a post he has held since 1995. The Coalition provides emergency shelter and housing for more than 100 individuals and 60 families on a daily basis.

​

Happy birthday to Fred Whittingham, who would have been 81 today
Born February 4, 1939 in Boston (1939-2003)
Patriot MLB, 1970; uniform #53
Signed as a veteran free agent on Sept 22, 1970

The Pats signed the native of Warwick, Rhode Island at the age of 31 after having played for the Rams, Eagles, Saints and Cowboys. From 1973 to 2000 Whittingham was a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator at both the college level (BYU, Utah) and in the NFL (Rams, Raiders).

Remembering Fred Whittingham




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

Jack Perrin (1898-1969)
Hartford Blues
A starting halfback on Michigan's undefeated 1918 national championship, team, Perrin then fought in World War I before returning to get his degree. He was initially a pro baseball player, playing for the Boston Red Sox in 1921. Perrin was a fullback, quarterback and kicker in 1926 for Hartford.


Paul Kuczo (1903-1970)
Born, raised and died in Stamford, CT
The Kuczos were historic figures in growth of the FCIAC | Stamford Advocate

Paul Kuczo coached at Stamford High School from 1928 through 1958 then moved into the athletic director’s job. In a time before soccer and lacrosse, Paul Kuczo was the head coach in football, basketball and baseball.

The gymnasium at SHS is the Paul Kuczo gym for good reason.

“My dad earned a full scholarship to Villanova University where he played football. He played pro football for the Staten Island Steamrollers until bad knees ended his career,” John Kuczo said. “So many kids he coached considered my dad their second father. Players always came over to our house.”​

Nick DeFelice, 80 (1940)
Born and raised in Derby CT; Southern Connecticut State
Tackle played two seasons with the Jets before being traded to Miami.
Where are they now: Nick DeFelice

DeFelice is the owner and president of Oxford Industries in New Britain, Connecticut.

"My company is three companies. I have Oxford Industries, which is sales and marketing in the aerospace business. We don't build anything; we represent companies and sell their products. I've been in this business now for almost 40 years," DeFelice said. "And my sons are in the business. My son, Scott, we have a 3D printing company, Oxford Performance Materials. We print parts for the human body. We can replace any part in the human body with a plastic part.​

Ron Lamb (1943-2000)
Born in New London, CT
Running back from 1966-1972.


Bill Adams, 70 (1950)
Born in Lynn; Swampscott High School; Holy Cross
Offensive lineman played for Buffalo from 1972-1978.

 

[jmt57]

28-3
Roger That!​

Sunday February 5, 2017 at 6:30
Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston
New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Dan Quinn
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Matt Ryan
Odds: New England favored by 3
Patriots go 17-2, winning their last ten in a row
Atlanta finishes 13-6 after a 7-5 start

Comeback highlights (13 min):



Mic'd Up (33 min):



Condensed Full Game (45 min):




Inside the Patriots' overlooked play that made 28-3 possible | Washington Post

“Tom Brady should be in Hollywood for the acting job he does,” Faulk said.

The performance provided White enough cover to slip behind Andrews and over the goal line. The Patriots had sliced Atlanta’s lead to 28-20, the first time they had come within reach.

Ride 34 Direct had again occupied a unique place in Patriots’ lore, a testament to the Patriots’ attention to detail. They had prepared all year, and over multiple seasons, really, just in case the appropriate situation arose. When it did, they executed flawlessly. It was a small play that explained so much giant success, a couple seconds that illuminated a decade-plus of football excellence.

In the aftermath, the Falcons may have felt one specific regret. They could have identified the play simply by noticing White’s cozy alignment with Brady, the split Faulk had taken against Carolina all those Super Bowls ago. They could have seen what was coming.

“But things are happening fast,” Koppen said. “And we ran it three times in 17 years.”​

5 key plays that made the Patriots' historic comeback possible | boston.com

4th and 3 at NE 46, 6:04, third quarter — Brady to Amendola, 17-yard completion

3rd and 1 at ATL 36, 8:31, fourth quarter — Dont’a Hightower strips Matt Ryan, Alan Branch recovers

2nd and 11 at NE 23, 3:56, fourth quarter — Ryan sacked -12 yards by Trey Flowers

3rd and 10 at NE 9, 3:17, fourth quarter — Brady pass to Chris Hogan for 16 yards

1st and 10 at NE 36, 2:28, fourth quarter — Brady pass to Edelman for 23 yards​

 

[Soul_Survivor88]