Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 57 jersey number
The New England Patriots are only 57 days away from their regular season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, which means we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has worn the No. 57.
It’s a short list of three when it comes to the number worn by one of the franchise’s all-time greats, Steve Nelson.
The former NFL linebacker played with the Patriots for 13 years and received two All-Pro nods and three Pro Bowl invitations. He was ultimately inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame and had his jersey retired.
There were only a total of three players throughout franchise history that have worn the No. 57.
— College Football Hall of Fame (@cfbhall) June 24, 2021
Kiner played linebacker for Tennessee from 1967-69. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
The former Vol made consensus All-America in 1968 and unanimous All-America during the 1969 season. He was the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1969.
Tennessee won the Southeastern Conference championship in 1967 and 1969 during Kiner’s collegiate career.
Kiner was selected by Dallas in the 1970 NFL draft. He was the 73rd overall pick in the third round.
“I was here three years ago when I walked in the room the first day. I know the people that are on their sideline and I know the people that are on our sideline. I think I’ve got a pretty good idea and have been around some pretty good football teams to know when I see one and know when one is getting closer.” — Jeremy Pruitt on why he believes the gap is closing between Tennessee and Alabama.
Junior defensive back Bryce Thompson also discussed the direction of the program after losing to Alabama, saying that the team is lacking leadership.
Bryce Thompson says on Instagram Live that the team is lacking leadership and they will get things turned around after the BYE week.
College Football Hall of Fame and former Tennessee linebacker Steve Kiner discussed the Vols’ program after five games this season and heading into an open date. He played for the Vols from 1967-69 under head coach Doug Dickey and alongside teammate Phillip Fulmer.
Kiner told Vols Wire that Pruitt’s mentality of Tennessee’s program closing the gap with the likes of Alabama “is a smart way to look at it.”
“Phillip is not used to being a second tier team,” Kiner said of Fulmer who is in his third year as Tennessee’s Director of Athletics. “He is used to at least competing for a championship.”
In order for Tennessee to take the next step in competing for championships, as Pruitt continues to field players from the recruiting trail to close a gap with Alabama from a talent standpoint, Kiner understands leadership needs to be at the forefront.
“It is a team sport and not an individual thing,” Kiner said. “The quarterback is usually one of the team leaders and there is usually someone on the defensive side of the ball, whether it is a defensive back, linebacker or defensive lineman. There is usually someone that sets the bar. They are not playing as a team.
“The thing we did that was a consensus mindset was that the best player on the field is the guy that is lined up next to you. That’s how you play. You always play up to the level of the person lined up next to you. That worked real well. That was one of Dickey’s ideas of how you are supposed to play the game. If the guy is not playing up to the level that you expect him to play, you would tell them to get it together. Dickey has an old adage that he used to say about having to rise to the occasion. When it’s all said and done you have to play up to the level of whoever you are playing if you want to have any kind of chance of having a great season.”
Steve Kiner discusses officials turning ‘blind eye’ in not equally ejecting for chop blocks, targeting.
Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings was suspended for the first half of the Vols’ bowl game last season.
Jennings’ suspension stemmed from an altercation with an opposing player. He committed a flagrant personal foul that was determined by video review by the Southeastern Conference office.
Following Tennessee’s regular-season finale with Vanderbilt last season, the SEC realized the following determination in why Jennings would be suspended during UT’s bowl game.
“If subsequent review of a game by a conference reveals plays involving flagrant personal fouls that game officials did not call, the conference may impose sanctions prior to the next scheduled game,” the SEC announced.
Daniel Hood (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Former Vol defensive lineman Daniel Hood suffered a chop block against him during his playing career.
“I had one against me, and to this day, my patella tendon is still partially torn,” Hood told Vols Wire.
On 2nd and 10 for Georgia on Tennessee’s 15-yard line, with 13 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Bulldogs’ center Trey Hill and right guard Ben Cleveland blocked low, while rolling, against Simmons. Georgia was penalized for a chop block personal foul, however video shows all players involved were not penalized and the SEC could review tape and take further action.
“I do not think chop blocks are bad when they are straight on,” Hood said. “I think they are criminal when they come in at an angle like they did in Georgia’s case against Tennessee. If they roll after the chop, again, what happened at Georgia, they should be banned.
“The coach should be fined for teaching it that way, as a lot of coaches teach to roll, as well.”
Sep 30, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; College Football hall of famers Doug Dickey, Phillip Fulmer, Frank Emmanuel, National Football Foundation Board member Bob Epling, Archie Manning, Peyton Manning, Steve Kiner, Fidelity Personal Investments president Kathy Murphy, Johnny Majors, National Football Foundation president Steve J. Hatchell, and Lela Cooper, daughter of the late John Michaels are present as Tennessee Volunteers former quarterback Peyton Manning receives the College Hall of Fame award during halftime of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Former Vol linebacker and College Football Hall of Famer Steve Kiner also went in depth about Georgia’s chop block against Tennessee.
Kiner discussed if chop blocks should be called equally, and with the same punishment, for offensive players as targeting is against the defense.
“They just turn a blind eye, and recognize the fact that the calls on the defensive side of the ball are a lot stricter than on the offensive side,” Kiner told Vols Wire. “Flagrant fouls are really easy to call.”
In relation to the SEC reviewing Jennings’ flagrant personal foul, and suspending him for the bowl game, Kiner discussed if the conference should do the same for more uncalled offensive penalties such as chop blocks.
“They don’t seem to mind the chop block,” Kiner said. “I can tell you why they do not eject offensive linemen like defensive players do for targeting, because they want to put on an offensive exhibition. That’s what they want.
“They let the offensive linemen use their head and hands a whole lot more than defenders. If you loose your wheels, you’re done. You’re finished. It’s real obvious to me that they allow the offense to do that. They allow the offensive linemen to step off the ball, and the first thing they do, they grab a hold of the defender and hold on to him.”
