In week three of his rookie season Goad got his first start when Brent Williams moved to defensive end due to an injury to Ken Sims. Goad remained a fixture at nose tackle for the next seven seasons with the Patriots.
Berry was the New England wide receivers coach for four seasons under Chuck Fairbanks and Ron Erhardt. He returned three years later as head coach, replacing Ron Meyer mid season. 1985 was Berry’s first full season as head coach. It would turn out to be the best year to be a fan of the Patriots in the first four decades of the franchise.
February 26 marks the eleventh wedding anniversary for Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen. The lovebirds married on this date in 2009 in Santa Monica. Certainly a good choice over Tara Reid.
Jack Concannon highlights today in Patriots history. The Dorchester native was the Pats first selection in the 1964 AFL draft.
For a few years Marv Cook was considered to be the best tight end in Patriots history. Cook thrived in spite of his quarterbacks being Marc Wilson, Hugh Millen, Tommy Hodson, Scott Zolak and Jeff Carlson. He set franchise records despite playing for head coaches Rod Rust and Dick MacPherson, and GMs Pat Sullivan, Joe Mendes and Tom Bass, not exactly known for filling a team with a quality complimentary roster
Jerod Mayo was team captain for seven consecutive seasons. The defensive play caller appeared in 111 games, all with the Patriots. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 and an All Pro two years later when he led the NFL in tackles.
Larry Eisenhauer was one of the greatest players in Boston Patriots history, and also one of the greatest characters in the history of pro football. The Wild Man and Shawn Jefferson headline February 22 in Pats history.
Walt Cudzik joined the Patriots in their inaugural season and played in every game from 1960 to 1963. That includes the Pats first postseason game when the team defeated Buffalo for the AFL East title as well as the 1963 AFL Championship Game versus San Diego. Walt was named to the UPI 1st Team All-AFL in 1960 and was the Pats offensive team captain in 1963.
February 20 marks the 60th anniversary of the then newly formed Boston professional football team being officially named the Patriots. Team colors were appropriately decided to be red, white and blue.
Billy Johnson is a player unfamiliar to most fans of the Patriots. That obscurity is unfortunately better than his side of the story. Johnson is one of many former players who are unfamiliar with their daily surroundings. Alzheimer’s robbed him of his memory.
On February 18, 2002 the demolition of Foxboro Stadium commenced. One month earlier the last game at the old stadium occured. Clutch field goals by Adam Vinatieri in a blinding snowstorm resulted in the Patriots defeating Oakland. That historic playoff game is known as the Snow Bowl in New England; to everybody else it is the Tuck Rule Game.
February 17 is highlighted by the birth dates of Stanley Morgan, Sony Michel, Bryan Cox and Ron Meyer. ‘Stanley Steamer’ is one of the greatest players in NFL history that is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He holds the career record with 19.2 yards per reception.
Ross O’Hanley was an original Boston Patriot. He quickly rose from being an undrafted rookie to the starting safety on opening day, and was named to the 1960 All-AFL Team.
Art Modell fired not one, but two of the greatest coaches in football history: Belichick and Paul Brown. That alone should permanently exclude him from any consideration for the Hall of Fame.
Happy birthday to Drew Bledsoe. The Patriots Hall of Fame quarterback was the face of the franchise from 1993 to 2000. His strong arm resulted in clutch plays and 17 fourth quarter comebacks. Bledsoe led the Pats to the playoffs four times in his first six seasons and their first super bowl appearance in eleven years. More importantly he gave fans hope and excitement after the dark period between those two AFC championships.