Also born on May 22:
Don Webb, 78 (May 22, 1939)
Patriot CB/S, 1961-1971
Uniform #48 ('61) and #42 ('62-'71)
'Spider' was a 24th round (186th overall) selection out of Iowa State in the 1961 draft. He intercepted five passes as a rookie, and in a 41-0 shutout over the Chargers he scored two touchdowns: one on a blocked punt return and another on a 31-yard pick-six. Webb missed all of 1963 due to a knee injury just prior to the start of the season. In '67 he moved from starting left corner to safety, and was an All-Star in 1969. Overall Webb played in 134 games for the Patriots, with 21 interceptions. He is part of the
Pats All-Decade Team for the 1960s at safety.
Corey Croom, 46 (May 22, 1971)
Patriot RB, 1993-1995
Uniform #26
The Patriots signed Croom as an undrafted rookie in 1993 out of Ball State. He was initially cut at the end of training camp and signed to the practice squad, but was signed to the regular roster on September 19. Croom was primarily a special teamer, gaining 293 yards from scrimmage with one TD as a backup to Leonard Russell. In '94 Croom led the Pats in rushing (33 carries, 159 yards, 4.8 ypc) in the preseason, but he did not get a single touch that year, despite the mediocre production at RB from Marion Butts and Leroy Thompson. Croom did play in every game on special teams in '94, and in '95 he appeared in 13 games, getting his hands on the ball in three of those games as a backup to Curtis Martin. Croom finished with 352 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown over three seasons with the Pats. He later signed with Philly but did not make their roster.
Sergio Brown, 29 (May 22, 1988)
Patriot S, 2010-2011
Uniform #38 (2010) and #31 (2011)
The Pats signed Brown as an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame in 2010. He was signed to the practice squad after being waived during final cuts. After six weeks Brown was promoted to the active roster and forced to fill in due to the release of both Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders at safety. Not surprisingly he was in over his head, thrust into that position too soon. Brown was let go during final roster cuts prior to the start of the 2012 season. He is perhaps most well known for being thrown out of the club by Gronk.
Alex Smith, 35 (May 22, 1982)
Patriot TE, 2009
Uniform #80
A third round pick by Tampa Bay in 2005, the Pats acquired Smith from the Bucs in exchange for a 2010 fifth round draft pick a few days after the 2009 draft. Smith was one of two would-be pass catchers acquired in exchange for a draft pick (WR Greg Lewis from Philadelphia being the other) that did not survive final roster cuts. That was the same year several veterans were signed as free agents with very mixed results (Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor, Shawn Springs, Chris Baker, Leigh Bodden, Paris Lenon, Brandon McGowan, Tully Banta-Cain). Smith now works for the Bucs as a pro scout.
Others with New England area ties:
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Tony Holm (5/22/1908); FB for the 1930 Providence Steamrollers.
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George Sergienko (5/22/1918); western Mass native went to Chicopee High School and AIC; he was the LT for the 1945 Boston Yanks.
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Frank Santora (5/22/1926); QB for the 1944 Boston Yanks.
Other notables:
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Mick Tingelhoff (5/22/1940), Viking Hall of Fame center.
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Jeff Bryant (5/22/1960), 12-year starting DE for Seattle.
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Brian Pillman (5/22/1962); after a few years of pro football obscurity he found fame in wrestling as
The Loose Cannon.
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Dave 'Hawg" Hanner (5/22/1930) - Green Bay DT from 1952-64 was named to two Pro Bowls and won a pair of NFL championships.
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Bob Shaw (5/22/1921) - All-American at Ohio State was a pro football and basketball player, and coached football for thirty years.
And a few other football names born today, just for fun:
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Spark Clark (5/22/1965), Steeler RB
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Charles 'Can I Buy Another Vowel' Aiu (5/22/1954), Charger OL
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Fair Hooker (5/22/1947), Browns WR