New England Patriots

The Patriots re-signed Troy Brown, who they released earlier in the Offseason. Even if Pacino could voice the game, his voice would probably have changed too much. On April 29, the Patriots surprised many by bringing Doug Flutie, the former Boston College and Patriots quarterback most recently with the San Diego Chargers, back to the team as a veteran backup to Brady. Al Pacino refused to reprise the role of Michael Corleone because rival publisher VU Games is still trying to hire Pacino to voice Tony Montana in its upcoming Scarface game. During the 2005 NFL Draft, the Patriots used their first round pick on Logan Mankins, an offensive guard out of Fresno State. The Godfather: The Game features the voices of Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Robert Duvall. The offseason turned around however, with Tom Brady signing a new contract that would keep him in New England through the 2010 season, and the addition of Seattle linebacker Chad Brown. However, this image bears little resemblance to the more sordid reality of a Mafia "family", which is depicted in the film Goodfellas.

Still, wanting to be a part of the team, Bruschi remarked that he would reevalute his condition for playing football at the end of the 2005 season. For example, in John Grisham's novel The Firm, the Mafia is depicted as having an organisation wherein the top mobsters marry into the "royal family". Troy Brown, the long-time Patriots receiver, was released for salary cap reasons, surprising many after he had contributed on defense, offense, and special teams to help fill in for injured players (but understandable given that he was entering a "dummy year" with an inflated cap number, Troy Brown was re-signed on May 23). Other players who left include Joe Andruzzi, Keith Traylor, and Roman Phifer.
The most devastating aspect of the offseason came just days after the Pro Bowl, with linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffering a stroke. The image of the Mafia as being a medieval-style organisation with a "royal family" doing favours for underlings is very popular. The Patriots, coming off two consecutive Super Bowl wins, started an offseason in which their team looked to be falling apart. Ty Law a longtime Patriot, who tied the Patriots all-time career interception record in the 2004 season, was released by New England after he took a hardline stance on renegotiating his contract or signing an extension. Reports from Mafia trials and confessions have suggested that Mafia families began a "real life" tradition of paying respect to the family don by kissing his ring, in imitation of the opening scene of The Godfather. The Patriots went on to defeat the Eagles 24-21 to become the first team in six years to repeat as World Champions, and only the second team ever to win three out of four consecutive Super Bowls (the first was the Dallas Cowboys, winning Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX.). The scene where Don Vito in a deep voice says "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" is often parodied.

In the Conference Championship on January 23, they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-27, advancing to Super Bowl XXXIX to face the Philadelphia Eagles. The movies have powerfully influenced the image of the Mafia among the public. On January 16, 2005, the Patriots advanced to the AFC Conference Championship game by beating the Indianapolis Colts, 20-3. Francis Ford Coppola said in April 2005 that he was not informed of Paramount's decision to allow the game to be made and he did not approve of it. On December 12, the Patriots clinched the AFC East division championship for the third time in the past four years. Prior to his death, Marlon Brando provided the voice for Vito. The streak finally came to an end on October 31 when the Patriots were beaten by the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-20. The video game company Electronic Arts is currently working on a video game version of The 'Godfather.

They also extended their overall winning streak to 21. It has been almost universally maligned. On October 24 they broke the record for the most consecutive regular season victories at 18 after beating the New York Jets 13-7. In 2004, Random House published a new sequel to the Godfather saga, The Godfather Returns (http://www.markwinegardner.com/godfather) by Mark Winegardner (http://www.markwinegardner.com). On October 10 they set the record for the number of consecutive wins (regular and post-season) in NFL history, at 19, after beating the 0-4 Miami Dolphins 24-10. However, after the death of Mario Puzo in 1999, a new sequel appears very unlikely. These moves paid off, as the Patriots finished the regular season at 14-2. In the late 1990s, rumors circulated regarding another installment of the series, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Andy Garcia apparently expressing interest.

Their biggest move was obtaining superstar running back Corey Dillon from the Cincinnati Bengals. Parts of the film were loosely based on real historical events, including the death of Pope Paul VI, the election of John Paul I, and his subsequent death. The Patriots made more big moves in the 2004 offseason to make sure a repeat of the disappointing 2002 season did not happen. The movie was set in 1979, and focused on an aging Michael Corleone. The victory also made the 2003 Patriots the first team ever to win - or for that matter, even reach - the Super Bowl after having been shut out on opening day. The film is notable for the key role played, though ineffectually, by Coppola's daughter, the future Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sofia Coppola, who was forced to play Mary Corleone on short notice after Winona Ryder became ill. The Patriots won their second Super Bowl in three years, 32-29; and Brady was named MVP again. However, the movie still received seven Academy Award nominations, among them "Best Motion Picture" and "Best Cinematography".

A trick pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel in the end zone with just over 2:00 to play put the Patriots back in the lead, but Ricky Proehl tied it up with another touchdown to tie it 29-29. Brady then repeated his role from two years ago, moving the Patriots quickly downfield to force another Adam Vinatieri field goal with four seconds left. This film was successful financially, but critical and fan response was mixed. The third quarter was scoreless, but Antowain Smith scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 21-10. Carolina scored two more touchdowns (neither of which were converted) to make it 22-21. In 1990, Coppola released a belated third film, The Godfather Part III. After a defensive battle for most of the first half, the teams traded touchdowns late in the second quarter, then more quick strikes by both teams made the score 14-10 Patriots at halftime. Both The Godfather and The Godfather Part II have been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Super Bowl XXXVIII was one of the closest championship games ever played. While easier to understand, this version is not as interesting from a critical and artistic standpoint as the originals.

The Patriots were back in the Super Bowl, this time to face the Carolina Panthers. Coppola re-edited the two movies together, in chronological order (adding some previously unseen footage but also toning down the violence), into one long saga for TV broadcast, entitled The Godfather Saga (aka "The Godfather: The Complete Novel For Television" and "The Godfather: 1901-1959--The Complete Epic"). Despite only one offensive touchdown by the Patriots, they held on to win 24-14. Many critics consider the sequel to be equal to (if not superior to) the original film in quality. The New England defense frustrated Colts quarterback Peyton Manning all day, forcing him to throw four interceptions (three to Ty Law) and sacking him three times. This version of Vito is played by different actors at different ages, but the adult Vito is played by Robert DeNiro, who won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for a role in which, interestingly, he speaks almost no English-language dialogue. The Patriots then faced the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship. One storyline is the continuing story involving Michael Corleone in the 1950s; the other is a flashback sequence following his father, Vito, from his youth in Sicily up through the founding of the Corleone crime family in New York and the births of Michael and his siblings.

An incomplete Steve McNair pass on 4th down with 1:40 left won the game 17-14 for New England. It consists of two parallel storylines, and the film switches back and forth between them. Played in a temperature of 5 degrees F, (making it the second-coldest game in NFL history) the Patriots and Titans kept it close until Vinatieri kicked the go-ahead field goal with 4 minutes left. A sequel, The Godfather Part II, was released in 1974. The first opponent was the Tennessee Titans. Additionally, The Godfather won five Golden Globes, one Grammy, and numerous other awards. The Patriots had the NFL's best record at 14-2 and had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. As its sequel The Godfather Part II also won the Academy Award for Best Picture, the Godfather trilogy remains the only series ever to win multiple "Best Picture" Oscars.

The Patriots also shut out 3 opponents: the Dallas Cowboys (led by Bill Parcells), the Dolphins (in a snowy Gillette Stadium), and a revenge 31-0 win over Buffalo in the final game of the regular season. It was nominated for eight additional Academy Awards. Several big plays marked the team's season: an 82-yard touchdown from Brady to Troy Brown in overtime in Miami, a 4th-quarter comeback in Denver known for an intentional safety, and a goal-line stand in Indianapolis where Edgerrin James was stopped by Willie McGinest on 4th and goal by from the 2 yard line in the dying seconds. The Godfather won three Academy Awards:. The Patriots only lost one game the rest of the season, despite several injuries. It is currently ranked #1 on IMDB's Top 250. The following week the Patriots traveled to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles, who had also been shut out in their opener (17-0 at home by Tampa Bay), thus setting up the first NFL game matching two teams that had been shut out the week before since 1991, and the first game in the second week of a season between two teams that had been shut out in the first week since 1932 (the Patriots won this game 31-10). It was voted greatest film of all time by Entertainment Weekly, and #3 of all time by the American Film Institute.

But the surprise release of Lawyer Milloy days before the season opener (immediately dubbed "Lawyergate" by the press) shocked observers, and he ended up with the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Patriots 31-0 in Week 1. The film is greatly respected among critics and the public. In the 2003 offseason the Patriots picked up several big-name players in free agency such as linebacker Roosevelt Colvin (Colvin was placed on the injured reserve due to an injury early on in the season), safety Rodney Harrison and defensive lineman Ted Washington. Vito Corleone was portrayed by Brando as a Mafia Don whom people could actually respect (although the actions of Don Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II worked to tear down this image). The Patriots started the 2002 season on a high note too, winning their first 3 games. However, injuries and problems with the offensive and defensive lines cost the team down the stretch, and the team finished 9-7. They missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Since its release on March 15, 1972, The Godfather has been accused of glorifying the image of the Mafia. Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the 2002 off-season. Al Pacino and Robert Duvall, in particular, went on to enjoy long, successful, highly acclaimed careers.

Brady was selected Super Bowl MVP. Many of the actors playing the supporting roles were largely unknown or minor actors; however, they rocketed into the limelight with the success of The Godfather. After 42 years, the Patriots were Super Bowl champions. The role of Don Vito Corleone was memorably acted by Marlon Brando, and Brando won an Academy Award (which he did not accept) for his portrayal of the aging Don. Brady calmly led New England's offense downfield, missing only one pass, when Adam Vinatieri won it with a 48-yard field goal as time expired.
Puzo helped in the making of the movie and its sequels and co-wrote screenplay. The movie was an enormous box-office hit, smashing previous records to become the highest-grossing film of all time (until that record was surpassed by Jaws in 1975, and a number of other movies afterwards). Louis scored two touchdowns to tie it at 17-17 with 1:30 to go. Pacino was only granted the role after Coppola threatened to quit the production.

After trailing 17-3 early in the fourth quarter, St. Pacino was not well known at the time, and was not considered right for the part. Belichick's defense held the Rams high-powered offense in check until the fourth quarter, forcing three turnovers (one returned by Ty Law for a touchdown and the other two leading to scores as well). The producers originally wanted Robert Redford to play Michael Corleone, but Coppola wanted Al Pacino. Louis Rams, who had beaten the Patriots in the regular season. The film spans ten years from late 1945 to 1955 (after Don Vito Corleone's death in 1954). Brady was back to face the heavily-favored St. Interestingly, this obliged the crew to use regular lights, instead of the production/set lights, lending a realistic look to the film.

With two special teams touchdowns and two Kordell Stewart interceptions in the fourth quarter, the Patriots stunned Pittsburgh 24-17 to advance to Super Bowl XXXVI. The producers of the movie did not believe that The Godfather would be very successful; hence, there was an extremely low budget for the film. After Brady was injured in the second quarter, Bledsoe (in his last appearance as a Patriot) came off the sideline and immediately threw a touchdown. Shooting began on March 29, 1971 and was completed on August 6, 1971. The team then went to Pittsburgh to face the favored Steelers in the AFC Championship. Coppola had directed several films prior to this, but none of them had had a significant impact on the public. Kicker Adam Vinatieri tied the game with a 45-yard field goal in the final 30 seconds, and then won it 16-13 in overtime. The motion picture adaptation of The Godfather (1972) was directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

In what Patriots fans saw as justice for Ben Dreith's controversial call in 1976, a Brady fumble was ruled an incomplete pass using the little-known "tuck rule". However, in the book, this fact is made explicit, with the 12-year-old Vito adopting the Corleone name by choice, instead of having it given to him in error. The Patriots opened the playoffs in a snowstorm against the Oakland Raiders in the last game ever played at Foxboro Stadium. This was a common occurrence which still occurs even today. Even after Bledsoe was healthy again, Brady continued as the starting quarterback. It should be noted that in the movie sequel, The Godfather II, it was revealed that the Godfather's real name was Vito Andolini and he was given the surname Corleone as a result of a mistake during his registration at Ellis Island. The Patriots continued to pick up momentum through the season, and won 6 games in a row to capture the AFC East with an 11-5 record. Similarly, the surname of Don Vito's mother is Corigliano, coming from the town of Corigliano Calabro, Calabria, which is well known for ndrangheta activity.

But the big story was quarterback Tom Brady, who went his first four games (three of them wins) without throwing an interception. (See godparent for the origins of the term.) In the novel, this character was Don Vito Corleone, whose surname recalls the town of Corleone, Sicily. Receivers Troy Brown and David Patten had career seasons, first-round draft pick Richard Seymour revitalized the defensive line, and Antowain Smith (a free agent signed from Buffalo) ran for 1000 yards. "The Godfather" (in Italian, Il Padrino) is a term used to identify the boss of a Mafia clan, the eldest or the most representative member of a family. Few could have predicted what happened during the rest of the season. The film spawned two sequels. Chris Slade had left for the Carolina Panthers, and Coates was long gone as well. The novel was adapted into a film of the same name directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Al Pacino as Michael Corleone.

It looked like a similar result was in the cards for the 2001 season, with Bledsoe injured in Week 2 and Glenn with a drug suspension and contract holdout. The Godfather is a novel written by Mario Puzo about a fictitious Italian Mafia family. After a tough season with lots of close losses, the Patriots finished 5-11. ISBN 0451205766. Luckily for the Patriots, Bill Belichick, hand-picked to be Parcells' successor with the Jets, quit after one day to join New England. The Godfather. New York: Penguin. The team started 6-2 but finished 8-8, and Carroll was fired. Mario Puzo (paperback, 2002).

With no running game and tough competition in the division the 1999 season was tough for the Patriots. ISBN 0451208447. It opened in 2002. The Godfather. New York: Penguin. After the Hartford plan was scuttled by delays, he eventually built Gillette Stadium next to the old stadium in Foxboro. Mario Puzo (hardcover, 2002). After not getting a deal from the city of Boston to replace the aging and inadequate Foxboro Stadium, Kraft announced in 1999 he was moving the team to Hartford, Connecticut. ISBN 0451167716.

Backup quarterback Scott Zolak proved to be no match for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first playoff game. The Godfather. New York: Penguin. Bledsoe and Glenn were later both knocked out for the season, and the Patriots backed into the last playoff seed with a 9-7 record. Mario Puzo (mass market paperback, 1978). After stumbling through the first half of the season (5-6 after the first 11 games), Bledsoe, playing with a broken finger, engineered late 4th-quarter comebacks against the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills to save the season. ISBN 0399103422. The game was an officially-sponsored activity that took place during Pro Bowl weekend. The Godfather. New York: Putnam.

Robert Edwards, a rookie draft pick, was his replacement but his career was over after a breakout rookie season by an injury he suffered in Hawaii while playing a game of flag football on the beach. Mario Puzo (hardcover, 1969). Parcells convinced several players, including Curtis Martin, to join the Jets in time for the 1998 season. Best Writing (adapted screenplay) (Francis Coppola, Mario Puzo). A late fumble (recovered by future Patriot Mike Vrabel) won the game for Pittsburgh, 7-6. Best Actor in a Leading Role (Marlon Brando refused the award). After having an easy time with the Miami Dolphins in Foxboro, the injury-plagued Patriots met the Steelers in Pittsburgh for a rematch in the divisional playoff. Best Picture.

In 1997 the Patriots still won the AFC East with a 10-6 record, but some key losses (including a loss to Parcells' Jets and a 4th-quarter collapse against the Pittsburgh Steelers) meant the team had to play in the wild card round. The new regime was immediately derided for botching draft picks, and the Patriots slipped back further in the standings during each of Carroll's years. Parcells did take the Jets job in the offseason, and Pete Carroll was named the new coach. The Packers won 35-21.

In the days leading up to the game, rumors that Parcells was going to take the vacant head coaching job with the New York Jets were running rampant. The Patriots played the Packers close in the first half, but two long Brett Favre touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown by Desmond Howard sealed New England's fate. But relations between Kraft and Parcells were strained, and may have cost the team a championship. The Patriots blew out the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-3 in the divisional playoff, and held off the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-6 in the AFC Championship. The team advanced to Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots finished 11-5, first in the AFC East, and gained a first-round bye.

Linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson arrived on the scene to help McGinest and Slade. On defense, rookie safety Lawyer Milloy made an impact, as did Willie Clay (signed from the Detroit Lions) and second-year cornerback Ty Law. In 1996 the team added wide receiver Terry Glenn, who did the same work to the passing game that Martin did to the running game. Bledsoe went down with injuries though, and the Patriots finished a lackluster 6-10.

Curtis Martin joined the team for the 1995 season, giving the team a much-needed boost to the running game. The team finished 10-6 and won a wild card playoff spot. The Patriots were quickly turned away in the first round by the Cleveland Browns - the last team to beat New England in the regular season, and coached by future Pats hero Bill Belichick. The Patriots won the game 26-20 in overtime, and did not lose a game for the rest of the regular season. Bledsoe set single-game records for pass attempts and completions.

The Patriots looked flat in the 1994 season until Drew Bledsoe sparked a second-half comeback against the Minnesota Vikings by switching to the no-huddle offense. Louis after the season looked imminent, but Orthwein ended up selling the team to Boston businessman Robert Kraft instead. A move to St. Bledsoe came back later in the season and won four in a row to end the season at 5-11, including a dramatic overtime win in the final week to knock the Dolphins out of the playoffs.

After losing the first four games, Bledsoe was injured and replaced with former Dolphins backup Scott Secules, who won one of his two games. Other draft picks such as tight end Ben Coates and linebackers Willie McGinest and Chris Slade, helped the team immediately. This was only part of a major season of change in New England. Bill Parcells was hired as head coach, and even the logo and uniforms changed. With the first pick in the 1993 draft, the Patriots selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

Louis were circulating and the team finished 2-14. Optimism was high entering the 1992 season, but rumors of a move to St. Hugh Millen took over at quarterback partway through the season, and the Patriots improved to 6-10 with several upsets over playoff teams. Louis businessman James Orthwein, who had thoughts of moving the team to his hometown.

The new owner was St. First-year coach Rod Rust was fired and replaced by Dick MacPherson. The Colts win was the only one of the season, with the team finishing 1-15. Kiam's handling of the situation was called into question, and he ended up selling the team.

Newspaper reporter Lisa Olson was sexually harassed by players Zeke Mowatt, Michael Timpson and Robert Perryman following a win over the Indianapolis Colts. 1990 became the most tumultuous season in Patriots history. Eason, Flutie and Grogan rotated the starting quarterback job as the Patriots finished 5-11. The season was over before it began - three of the team's biggest stars on defense (Andre Tippett, Garin Veris and Ronnie Lippett) were injured in one preseason game.

In 1989 founder Billy Sullivan sold the team to Remington shaver magnate Victor Kiam. Neither quarterback could get New England to take the final step to the playoffs, and the Patriots finished 9-7. In 1988 Flutie played five games again before he was replaced by Eason. Late-season injuries put the Patriots out of playoff contention at 8-7.

Many defensive stars for New England crossed the picket line. Doug Flutie, the future Canadian Football League and Buffalo Bills star, played one game for the Patriots during a players' strike in 1987. The team did not return to the playoffs for eight years. A late fourth-quarter touchdown pass from John Elway to Vance Johnson won it for Denver, and the Patriots' fate was sealed.

Eason stepped up the passing game (with Stanley Morgan getting nearly 1500 yards receiving) as New England won the AFC East with an 11-5 record, and traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos in the first round playoff game. Indeed, the team had the worst rushing offense in the league that season. When John Hannah, still widely considered to be the greatest offensive lineman of all-time, retired before the 1986 season, a lot of people thought the Patriots' offense would collapse. The final score was 46-10 Chicago.

But the Bears scored the next 46, including one touchdown by William "Refrigerator" Perry. The Bears had not allowed a point in the playoffs, but the Patriots took an early 3-0 lead after a Walter Payton fumble in the first quarter. Unfortunately for New England, the Bears had one of the greatest defenses of all time according to most experts. The Patriots made an improbable run to Super Bowl XX, where they faced the Chicago Bears.

The Patriots had lost 20 straight games in Miami at the time, but won this one, dominating the Dolphins defensively again en route to a 30-14 win. In the divisional playoff against the Los Angeles Raiders the Patriots forced six turnovers and won 27-20, to set up an AFC Championship showdown against the rival Miami Dolphins. In the first round the Patriots beat the New York Jets to win their first playoff game since 1963. New England won six straight games and finished 11-5, with a wild card playoff berth.

But Grogan broke his leg late in the season, and Eason got the starting job again. After struggling to start the 1985 season, new coach Raymond Berry replaced Eason with Grogan. In 1984 the Patriots lost three straight games in December, and again missed the playoffs at 9-7. The team again lost some key games, and finished out of the playoffs at 8-8.

Rookie Tony Eason became the new quarterback for the 1983 season, but split duties for much of the mid-1980s with Grogan. In 1982, a snowplow-aided 3-0 late-season win over the Miami Dolphins put the Patriots in the playoffs, but the first-round rematch in Miami was easily won by the Dolphins. Coach Erhardt was fired and replaced by Ron Meyer. With these performances in mind, a local sportswriter intimated that the team suffered from the "Bozo Syndrome," meaning that they played "like clowns in the clutch." The Patriots completely collapsed in 1981, finishing 2-14, including two losses to the Baltimore Colts which were the only two games the Colts won that year.

In 1980, with star running back Sam Cunningham holding out all season, the Patriots started 6-1 but finished 10-6, again out of the playoffs. In 1979 the team lost three games in December to finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs. The Patriots became poster children for late-season failure through the late 1970s. The stunned team lost its first round playoff game to the Houston Oilers.

Owner Billy Sullivan suspended Fairbanks and hired Ron Erhardt on the spot to coach the final game. Coach Chuck Fairbanks announced he would be leaving the team to take a job at the University of Colorado. In a preseason game against the Raiders, wide receiver Darryl Stingley was paralyzed by Oakland's Jack Tatum, who has never apologized for the incident. The Patriots rebounded and finished 11-5, tops in the AFC East, but a bizarre incident hours before the last game of the season shocked the team. 1978 almost became an even bigger disappointment.

The Patriots finished 9-5, one game out of first place, and out of the playoffs. 1977 was a disappointing season, aided by contract holdouts by offensive linemen John Hannah and Leon Gray. The referee, Ben Dreith, was not allowed to officiate Patriots games again. Many Patriots fans to this day think that touchdown should never have happened, blaming a roughing-the-passer penalty earlier in the drive that should not have been called.

The game was close and was settled in the final seconds with a touchdown run by Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler. The opponent was the Oakland Raiders, whose only regular season loss had come at the hands of New England. The Patriots finished 11-3 and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1963. Steve Grogan became New England's quarterback for the 1976 season.

The draft picks acquired in the Plunkett trade, used to select defensive backs Mike Haynes and Tim Fox set the stage for the team's first winning season in the NFL. Plunkett was traded to the San Francisco 49ers after the season, and eventually won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders. The Patriots finished 7-7 in 1974, but with injuries to Plunkett in 1975, slumped to 3-11 that season. Through the mid-1970s, the team showed signs of life, if only briefly.

In 1973 the team hired Chuck Fairbanks to lead it. During this time the Patriots consistently had losing records, and went through three coaches in four seasons. Also new in 1971 was a new quarterback, first-round pick Jim Plunkett, taken with the draft's first overall selection, which the Patriots received for having finished worst overall in 1970. Since it was located several miles outside Boston, the team was renamed the New England Patriots.

The following season, after bouncing around between four different stadiums in their first 11 years, Foxboro Stadium (originally called Schaefer Stadium) opened. In 1970 the Patriots became a member of the NFL pursuant to the merger of the AFL and NFL that had been agreed to three years earlier, but their first experience therein was anything but pleasant as they finished 2-12 and in sole possession of the newly-merged league's worst record. In the late 1960's, fullback Jim Nance became a powerful offensive weapon for the Patriots, gaining 1,458 yards in 1966 and 1,216 in 1967, when he was the American Football League's MVP. In 1963, eleven Patriots made the AFL All-star team, including Gino Cappelletti, Nick Buoniconti, and Babe Parilli.

Although the team made only two AFL playoff appearances, it had numerous stars. The Boston Patriots played in the first-ever game in the American Football League, against the Denver Broncos on September 9, 1960. The New England Patriots are a National Football League team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Ted Washington.

Mosi Tatupu. Andre Tippett. Irving Fryar. Jim Plunkett.

Babe Parilli (born 1930). Ross O'Hanley. Jim Nance. Jon Morris (born 1942).

Lawyer Milloy. Pete Carroll. Harry Jacobs. Jim Lee Hunt.

Steve Grogan. Larry Eisenhauer. Bob Dee. Jim Colclough (1936 - 2004).

Gino Cappelletti (born 1934). Ron Burton (1936-2003). Drew Bledsoe. Houston Antwine (born 1939).

Julius Adams. 89 Bob Dee. 79 Jim Lee Hunt. 78 Bruce Armstrong.

73 John Hannah. 57 Steve Nelson. 56 Andre Tippett. 40 Mike Haynes.

20 Gino Cappelletti. Lonie Paxton. Adam Vinatieri. Richard Seymour.

Rodney Harrison. David Givens. Corey Dillon. Tedy Bruschi.

Tim Dwight. Deion Branch. Josh Miller. Bethel Johnson.

Asante Samuel. Randall Gay. Eugene Wilson. Ted Johnson.

Mike Vrabel. Willie McGinest. Vince Wilfork. Chad Brown.

Ty Warren. Kevin Faulk. Daniel Graham. Christian Fauria.

Matt Light. Brandon Gorin. Stephen Neal. Russ Hochstein.

Dan Koppen. Patrick Pass. Doug Flutie. Tom Brady.

Mike Haynes. John Hannah. Nick Buoniconti.