long distance
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2015
- Messages
- 10,353
- Reaction score
- 27,375
Remember Joe Vellano?
On September 3rd 2016 he seemed like the most unfortunate guy in the world or in the league at least, being a casualty of the last Patriots roster cuts before the start of the season just days after he learned that his Attleboro, Massachusetts home burned down.
"It was 15 or 20 minutes before we played our last preseason game [for New England]," Vellano said of the fire. "I just got a call that it was kind of caught on fire and burned up. It was nothing I could really do at that point."
He was brought to Foxboro as UDFA in 2013 and became one of those unlikely underdog stories not only making the final roster but earning a starting job after Wilfork was injured. A year later he became a Super Bowl Champion although not playing in the game being one of the inactives. He got the ring and all like every SB champion.
After this unlikely early climax he entered the projected rough NFL ride being first released by the Patriots during final roster cuts before 2015 season, brought back to the PS after a full month wait, released again just a few days later and after two months out of the league signed to Colts PS at the end of Dec 2015 where he finished the season. He was then brought back to Pats on a futures deal until the unfortunate turn of events left him without job and home in a matter of days.
"I lost a lot of my Super Bowl stuff," he said. "My ring was in my other house [in New York], but I had a bunch of helmets that were signed by the team and a bunch of gear and all that stuff. I had a little room for all the football stuff, and that caught on fire. It's been a whirlwind couple of days, but I'm just glad to be here. I'm here now with these guys and just moving forward."
He was signed to the Atlanta Falcons PS soon after where he spend most of the season. On January 17 Falcons promoted the former Maryland DT to their active roster after DE Adrian Clayborn was injured in a divisional playoff game and was placed on injured reserve.
And so .. after this unreal roller coaster .. on February 5th Joe Vellano will play for his second SB ring in three years against the team he won the first one with. And this time there is a good chance he will also be able to taste the Super Bowl field being active in NFCCG (recording one tackle).
PS
In an uncanny turn of events another Maryland Terrapin underdog DT has a chance to get his second SB ring (in two years!): Darius Kilgo. Its unlikely he will see the field next Sunday since he is currently on Pats PS but hopefully can put another one on his fingers .. something most #1 draft picks don't have.
My sympathies cannot be with Joe this time of course .. but if the Falcons end up winning .. Ill probably think of him .. in my sorrow.
Quotes from article:
Gronk helps ex-teammate Vellano after fire
On September 3rd 2016 he seemed like the most unfortunate guy in the world or in the league at least, being a casualty of the last Patriots roster cuts before the start of the season just days after he learned that his Attleboro, Massachusetts home burned down.
"It was 15 or 20 minutes before we played our last preseason game [for New England]," Vellano said of the fire. "I just got a call that it was kind of caught on fire and burned up. It was nothing I could really do at that point."
He was brought to Foxboro as UDFA in 2013 and became one of those unlikely underdog stories not only making the final roster but earning a starting job after Wilfork was injured. A year later he became a Super Bowl Champion although not playing in the game being one of the inactives. He got the ring and all like every SB champion.
After this unlikely early climax he entered the projected rough NFL ride being first released by the Patriots during final roster cuts before 2015 season, brought back to the PS after a full month wait, released again just a few days later and after two months out of the league signed to Colts PS at the end of Dec 2015 where he finished the season. He was then brought back to Pats on a futures deal until the unfortunate turn of events left him without job and home in a matter of days.
"I lost a lot of my Super Bowl stuff," he said. "My ring was in my other house [in New York], but I had a bunch of helmets that were signed by the team and a bunch of gear and all that stuff. I had a little room for all the football stuff, and that caught on fire. It's been a whirlwind couple of days, but I'm just glad to be here. I'm here now with these guys and just moving forward."
He was signed to the Atlanta Falcons PS soon after where he spend most of the season. On January 17 Falcons promoted the former Maryland DT to their active roster after DE Adrian Clayborn was injured in a divisional playoff game and was placed on injured reserve.
And so .. after this unreal roller coaster .. on February 5th Joe Vellano will play for his second SB ring in three years against the team he won the first one with. And this time there is a good chance he will also be able to taste the Super Bowl field being active in NFCCG (recording one tackle).
PS
In an uncanny turn of events another Maryland Terrapin underdog DT has a chance to get his second SB ring (in two years!): Darius Kilgo. Its unlikely he will see the field next Sunday since he is currently on Pats PS but hopefully can put another one on his fingers .. something most #1 draft picks don't have.
My sympathies cannot be with Joe this time of course .. but if the Falcons end up winning .. Ill probably think of him .. in my sorrow.
Quotes from article:
Gronk helps ex-teammate Vellano after fire
