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A late evening July 3rd entry that is nowhere near as noteworthy as the last few days.
Larry Williams, 54 (July 3, 1963)
Patriot RG, 1992
Uniform #75
The 6-5, 292 lb lineman was a 10th round pick by the Browns in '85 out of Notre Dame, and he was Cleveland's starting left guard from 1986-88. At the age of 29 Williams appeared in 13 games with nine starts for the Pats, on that abysmal 2-14 **** MacPherson team that didn't win until Dante Scarnecchia took over on an interim basis. He retired in 1993 as a member of the Patriots and then after six years as a lawyer the two-time All-American returned to the collegiate scene. In 2011 Williams became the athletic director at Marquette University, and in 2016 he took over the same position at Akron University.
Elmo Wright, 68 (July 3, 1949)
Patriot WR, 1975
Uniform #17
The 16th overall pick of the 1971 draft appeared in four games for the Pats in '75, with the final four receptions of his career for 46 yards. Although he had just 1,116 yards in his NFL career, he left and indelible mark for all future wide receivers in the game of football. While at the University of Houston, Wright became the first player to high step his way to the end zone, and is considered to be the godfather of the end zone dance.
Todd Jones, 50 (July 3, 1967)
Patriot OT, 1963
Uniform #63
I really don't know much of anything about this guy. Searches for Todd Jones are cluttered with a former ATF employee by the same name that went to work for the NFL league offices. Our Todd Jones was an All-American in 1991 at Henderson State, and played in four games for Bill Parcells and the Patriots in 1993 - in a season in which the Pats had two bye weeks.
Claxton Welch, 70 (July 3, 1947)
Patriot RB, 1973
Uniform #43
Welch appeared in a pair of November 1973 games for the Pats, and had six receptions against the Jets in his only NFL start. He had previously been with Dallas and played on special teams in seven post season games with the Cowboys, earning a ring from Super Bowl VI.
Chuck Sieminski, 77 (July 3, 1940)
Pats 14th round (110th overall) pick of the 1962 AFL draft, from Penn State.
The Pats took a flyer on the DT, who was also drafted by the 49ers in the 4th round of the '62 NFL draft. Sieminski chose the Niners, and played six years in the NFL with SF, Atlanta and Detroit.
Others with New England area connections:
- Jack Hagerty (1903-1982); native Bostonian went to Dorchester High School. He was a RB/QB/PR with the Giants from 1926-32, then became head coach at Georgetown, winning 23 straight games. After coaching for 16 years he became the Hoyas' athletic director until retiring in 1969.
- Jordan Reed, 27 (7/3/90); graduate of New London High School in CT. Tight end had 11 TD in 2011, and has 248 receptions over four NFL seasons.
- Cameron Brate, 26 (7/3/91); Harvard grad had 57 receptions and 8 touchdowns at tight end in 2016 for Tampa Bay.
- Ray MacMurray (1889-1996); guard from Dartmouth class of 1917 played for the 1921 Muncie Flyers.
A few notable July 3 pro football players:
- Jethro Pugh (1944-2015); fearsome Dallas Cowboy DT from 1965 to 1978 played in 23 playoff games.
- Neil O'Donnell, 51 (7/3/66); despite throwing three picks in Pittsburgh's super bowl loss, the Jets immediately signed the QB to a mega-contract a month later in 1996 - and went 0-6 in his first season with Gang Green.
- Manny Fernandez, 71 (7/3/46); DT went to three super bowl games with the Dolphins.
- Grant Wistrom, 41 (7/3/76); Rams DE may have been on the losing end in Super Bowl 36, but he did get three rings with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and one with St. Louis in SB 34.
- Paul Naumoff, 72 (7/3/45); linebacker once played in 142 consecutive games for the Lions and missed only two games in 12 years with Detroit.
- Manny Lawson, 33 (7/3/84); OLB had 24.5 sacks with the 49ers, Bengals and Bills.
Larry Williams, 54 (July 3, 1963)
Patriot RG, 1992
Uniform #75
The 6-5, 292 lb lineman was a 10th round pick by the Browns in '85 out of Notre Dame, and he was Cleveland's starting left guard from 1986-88. At the age of 29 Williams appeared in 13 games with nine starts for the Pats, on that abysmal 2-14 **** MacPherson team that didn't win until Dante Scarnecchia took over on an interim basis. He retired in 1993 as a member of the Patriots and then after six years as a lawyer the two-time All-American returned to the collegiate scene. In 2011 Williams became the athletic director at Marquette University, and in 2016 he took over the same position at Akron University.
Elmo Wright, 68 (July 3, 1949)
Patriot WR, 1975
Uniform #17
The 16th overall pick of the 1971 draft appeared in four games for the Pats in '75, with the final four receptions of his career for 46 yards. Although he had just 1,116 yards in his NFL career, he left and indelible mark for all future wide receivers in the game of football. While at the University of Houston, Wright became the first player to high step his way to the end zone, and is considered to be the godfather of the end zone dance.
Todd Jones, 50 (July 3, 1967)
Patriot OT, 1963
Uniform #63
I really don't know much of anything about this guy. Searches for Todd Jones are cluttered with a former ATF employee by the same name that went to work for the NFL league offices. Our Todd Jones was an All-American in 1991 at Henderson State, and played in four games for Bill Parcells and the Patriots in 1993 - in a season in which the Pats had two bye weeks.
Claxton Welch, 70 (July 3, 1947)
Patriot RB, 1973
Uniform #43
Welch appeared in a pair of November 1973 games for the Pats, and had six receptions against the Jets in his only NFL start. He had previously been with Dallas and played on special teams in seven post season games with the Cowboys, earning a ring from Super Bowl VI.
Chuck Sieminski, 77 (July 3, 1940)
Pats 14th round (110th overall) pick of the 1962 AFL draft, from Penn State.
The Pats took a flyer on the DT, who was also drafted by the 49ers in the 4th round of the '62 NFL draft. Sieminski chose the Niners, and played six years in the NFL with SF, Atlanta and Detroit.
Others with New England area connections:
- Jack Hagerty (1903-1982); native Bostonian went to Dorchester High School. He was a RB/QB/PR with the Giants from 1926-32, then became head coach at Georgetown, winning 23 straight games. After coaching for 16 years he became the Hoyas' athletic director until retiring in 1969.
- Jordan Reed, 27 (7/3/90); graduate of New London High School in CT. Tight end had 11 TD in 2011, and has 248 receptions over four NFL seasons.
- Cameron Brate, 26 (7/3/91); Harvard grad had 57 receptions and 8 touchdowns at tight end in 2016 for Tampa Bay.
- Ray MacMurray (1889-1996); guard from Dartmouth class of 1917 played for the 1921 Muncie Flyers.
A few notable July 3 pro football players:
- Jethro Pugh (1944-2015); fearsome Dallas Cowboy DT from 1965 to 1978 played in 23 playoff games.
- Neil O'Donnell, 51 (7/3/66); despite throwing three picks in Pittsburgh's super bowl loss, the Jets immediately signed the QB to a mega-contract a month later in 1996 - and went 0-6 in his first season with Gang Green.
- Manny Fernandez, 71 (7/3/46); DT went to three super bowl games with the Dolphins.
- Grant Wistrom, 41 (7/3/76); Rams DE may have been on the losing end in Super Bowl 36, but he did get three rings with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and one with St. Louis in SB 34.
- Paul Naumoff, 72 (7/3/45); linebacker once played in 142 consecutive games for the Lions and missed only two games in 12 years with Detroit.
- Manny Lawson, 33 (7/3/84); OLB had 24.5 sacks with the 49ers, Bengals and Bills.