Tag: Roger Brown

47 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 47 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 47 jersey number

The New England Patriots have reached the Day 47 mark in the countdown to their regular season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 10.

So we’re continuing our ongoing series by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 47.

Fullback Jakob Johnson was the last player on the team to wear the number. The present-day NFL has nearly done away with the fullback position altogether, but Johnson found success as one of the few remaining throwbacks in the league.

He left the Patriots back in 2022 to reunite with former offensive coordinator and now Las Vegas Raiders coach, Josh McDaniels. There are at least 14 other players that precede Johnson on this list.

Here’s every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 47 throughout franchise history (via Pro Football Reference):

Detroit Lions legend Roger Brown dies at 84

Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams great Roger Brown has died at 84

The Detroit Lions and their fan base are mourning the loss of one of the legends in franchise history. The great defensive lineman Roger Brown died at the age of 84.

“Roger Brown will always hold a special place in our team’s history,” Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp said in a statement. “A member of the Lions’ esteemed ‘Fearsome Foursome’ of the 1960s with Alex Karras, Darris McCord and Sam Williams, Roger’s career accomplishments solidify his legacy alongside some of the all-time greats of our game.

“… We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Kay, and the entire Brown family.”

Brown played for the Lions from 1960-66. He finished his NFL career with three seasons as a Los Angeles Rams.

While sack stats were not officially recorded during the years he played, Profootballreference.com shows Brown with 78.5 in his career.

In 1962, Brown helped the Lions’ defense record a franchise-record 11 sacks against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day. Brown recorded seven of those sacks that day against Packers Hall of Fame QB Bart Starr.

He was chosen by Detroit in the fourth round of the 1960 NFL draft out of Maryland Eastern-Shore.

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Brown was inducted into the Pride of the Lions in 2018, the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2015, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

 

The 8 best Lions not in the Hall of Fame

Not all of these 8 belong in Canton but they deserve respect for their great performances in Detroit

Inspired by my recent trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, I got to thinking about what Lions players could belong in the hallowed halls. There are currently 21 men who spent at least one season with the Lions enshrined in Canton, including Class of 2020 honoree Alex Karras.

Adding Karras crosses the biggest eligible name off the list. The most obvious Detroit standout that deserves enshrinement isn’t quite eligible yet. He’s the headliner here among the eight best retired Lions players not in the Hall of Fame.

This isn’t an argument for any of these players to get into the Hall of Fame, though a couple of them are certainly deserving. It’s honoring some Lions greats who aren’t in and likely never will get enshrinement in Canton.

Calvin Johnson

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The mega-talented Johnson will be eligible in 2021, and he likely won’t wait too long before he joins Karras and the others in Canton.

Johnson’s list of accomplishments ad wide receiver made him one of the NFL’s biggest stars despite making just two postseason games in his nine years (2007-2015):

  • 3-time first-team All-Pro
  • 6 straight Pro Bowls from 2010-2015
  • NFL record 1,964 receiving yards in 2012
  • NFL record 5,137 receiving yards in a 3-year period (2012-2014)
  • 4th in NFL history in receiving yards per game (86.1)
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame Team of the 2010s 1st-team

Johnson will get in sooner than later.

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