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I have no idea how I got there, but started looking at the career of Tom Tupa, former Patriots punter from 1996 to 1998. What a strange, strange career though, and it made me wonder if BB was the reason for it.
As a kid, Tupa competed in the NFL's Punt, Pass and Kick contest, making it to the semi-finals 3 times, and winning once.
He was a QB in high school, went to Ohio State where he was the 3rd-string QB and 1st-string punter, finally got a chance to start at QB as a senior and was an All-American at punter the same year.
He gets drafted as a QB in the 3rd round by the Cardinals, even starts a few games for them, and punts a few times. He's out of football in 1993, having been cut by the Cleveland Browns before the season started. But the head coach, Bill Belichick, thinks enough of him to put him on the team in 1994 and 1995 as a full-time punter. He scores the first 2-point conversion, and does it a few more times to get a nickname of "Two Point Tupa."
After getting fired by Cleveland/Baltimore, BB comes to New England in 1996, the same year as...Tom Tupa. Tupa lasts longer than BB, who moves onto the Jets with Parcells in 1997. And in a few years, the Jets sign...Tom Tupa, who goes to his first Pro Bowl. He even fills in for a game at QB when Testaverde is hurt, throwing 2 TDs.
Considering how much BB values versatility, it seems like Tupa would be a BB guy. And considering he ended up where BB was over the prime of his career, it makes me think BB thought he was a good player, a valuable one.
Very strange career though. I knew none of it, just that he was the punter on the 1996 Super Bowl team. Maybe some of the older fans can chip in more on the guy.
As a kid, Tupa competed in the NFL's Punt, Pass and Kick contest, making it to the semi-finals 3 times, and winning once.
He was a QB in high school, went to Ohio State where he was the 3rd-string QB and 1st-string punter, finally got a chance to start at QB as a senior and was an All-American at punter the same year.
He gets drafted as a QB in the 3rd round by the Cardinals, even starts a few games for them, and punts a few times. He's out of football in 1993, having been cut by the Cleveland Browns before the season started. But the head coach, Bill Belichick, thinks enough of him to put him on the team in 1994 and 1995 as a full-time punter. He scores the first 2-point conversion, and does it a few more times to get a nickname of "Two Point Tupa."
After getting fired by Cleveland/Baltimore, BB comes to New England in 1996, the same year as...Tom Tupa. Tupa lasts longer than BB, who moves onto the Jets with Parcells in 1997. And in a few years, the Jets sign...Tom Tupa, who goes to his first Pro Bowl. He even fills in for a game at QB when Testaverde is hurt, throwing 2 TDs.
Considering how much BB values versatility, it seems like Tupa would be a BB guy. And considering he ended up where BB was over the prime of his career, it makes me think BB thought he was a good player, a valuable one.
Very strange career though. I knew none of it, just that he was the punter on the 1996 Super Bowl team. Maybe some of the older fans can chip in more on the guy.
