Leon Gray was a Third Round Pick by the Miami Dolphins in 1973, but Gray did not make the team, and he was waived.  Miami might have been loaded at the Offensive Line, but the New England Patriots were not, and they claimed the former Jackson State star.   It was a win-win for both parties.

When you play for a two-time National Champion in college like Don’t’a Hightower did at Alabama, how sweet is it to get drafted to another power like the New England Patriots?

It took until the 19^thRound in 1965 before the Boston Patriots before Jim Nance was drafted, and the former two-sport star at Syracuse had to have a chip on his shoulder considering his collegiate accomplishments.

How do you replace a legend like Adam Vinatieri?

There are many who only think of Tom Brady when they think about New England Quarterbacks, but for fans of the team in the 70s and 80s, Steve Grogan is one of the names that come up.

After the Chicago Bears drafted Jim Lee Hunt in the 16^thRound, he elected to sign instead with the Boston Patriots for the inaugural season of the American Football League.  As it would turn out, Hunt would become one of a handful of players to play in all ten years of the league’s existence, all of which were with the Patriots.

Wes Welker was an All-Rookie Returner as an undrafted player with Miami in 2004.  Welker would begin to see more time at Wide Receiver, but the Patriots saw something more special in him, and they traded for him in 2007.

One of the most debated careers in recent memory is Julian Edelman.  Edelman was never been a Pro Bowl Selection but has had multiple articles praising him as a potential Hall of Famer.

Willie McGinest was the Fourth Overall Pick in 1994, and when you are drafted that high, the pro club certainly hopes that you will have a long and fruitful career.  It is safe to say that the New England Patriots got that in McGinest.

Before the Patriots had Tom Brady, there was Drew Bledsoe, who New England took with the First Overall Pick in 1993.

After two seasons with the Washington Redskins, Bob Dee left the NFL to join the Boston Patriots for the inaugural season of the American Football League.

One of the most popular players in the history of the New England Patriots is Tedy Bruschi, and when you look at his career, how could he not be?

Dan Koppen didn't have to move too far when he was drafted from Boston College in 2003 to the New England Patriots, and it didn't take him long to be a fixture in the Pats lineup.

Steve Nelson was one of the players that came from North Dakota State, where the Linebacker played his entire pro career with the Patriots (1974-87).

One of the few players who played more than 200 Games for the New England Patriots, Bruce Armstrong would play all of his 212 Games in the National Football League with the Pats.

Raymond Clayborn was drafted to be a star Cornerback, which he became, but not before he had a stellar rookie season as a Kick Returner, where he had three Return Touchdowns.

Undrafted from South Dakota State, Adam Vinatieri latched on with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League before joining the New England Patriots in 1996.

Special Teams never gets the respect it deserves.  For that matter, it never will!

While we would not say that Houston Antwine was the greatest Patriot while the franchise was in the AFL, he was undoubtedly in the conversation.

Gino Cappelletti’s path to the Patriots looked more like a series of dead ends than a professional career. After leaving Minnesota in 1955, he bounced through semi-pro ball, a stint in the military, a failed tryout in Canada, and more semi-pro work. By the time the AFL launched in 1960, he was already in his mid-twenties and essentially starting over. The Boston Patriots took a chance on him as an original member, and somehow the guy who had been out of real football for years became the most versatile weapon the franchise has ever had.

He lined up everywhere. One week he caught passes as a wide receiver; the next he kicked field goals, and on occasion he even dropped back into the defensive secondary. The production showed up immediately. In 1961, he caught 45 passes for 768 yards and eight touchdowns while also leading the AFL in scoring with 147 points. That combination of receiving and kicking set the tone for the rest of the decade. Defenses never quite knew what to prepare for, because Cappelletti could hurt them in multiple ways on the same drive.

The peak arrived in 1964. Cappelletti led the AFL in scoring again with 155 points, caught 49 passes for 865 yards and seven scores, and earned Player of the Year honors from both the AP and UPI. He led the league in field goals multiple times and posted several seasons with more than 600 receiving yards. Five AFL All-Star selections followed. The Swiss Army knife description was not marketing; it was simply accurate. When the Patriots needed points, Cappelletti usually put them on the board, whether through the air or off the tee.

He stayed with the team through the 1970 season, retiring in 1971 after eleven years. With the Patriots, he finished with 4,589 receiving yards, 42 touchdowns, 176 field goals, and 1,130 total points. He did so while also recording four interceptions and serving as a reliable two-way contributor in an era when roster spots were limited. The AFL’s all-time leading scorer at the time of his retirement had somehow resurrected a career that looked finished half a decade earlier.

The Patriots retired his number 20. In 1992, fans elected him to the franchise Hall of Fame. The player who arrived after years of semi-pro and military service left as the ultimate utility weapon in team history, a reminder that the right opportunity at the right time can turn a wandering career into something lasting.