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Patriots playoff connections

Email|Link|Comments (4) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff January 11, 2009 10:50 AM

Today’s playoff games – Eagles at Giants, and Chargers at Steelers – include the following players with Patriots ties:

Giants

Jeff Feagles -- Punter, now in his 21st season, spent the first two seasons of his career with the Patriots in 1988 and 1989. Remarkably, he's still going strong.

Grey Ruegamer -- Center/guard, now in his 10th NFL season, played in 33 games with three starts for the Patriots from 2000-2002. He's a backup for the Giants.

Eagles

Kyle Eckel -- Fullback appeared in 12 games for the Patriots in the 2007 season, mostly on special teams, and was with the club in 2008 training camp. In five games this season, he's totaled 24 carries.

Dan Klecko -- Defensive lineman, a fourth-round draft choice of the Patriots in 2003, played in 29 games with three starts from 2003-2005. He's played in all 16 games this season for the first time in his career (three starts), mostly lining up at fullback. On defense, he has totaled four tackles and two sacks.

Asante Samuel -- Cornerback, one of two Patriots fourth-round draft choices in 2003, played in 75 games with 53 starts from 2003-2007. Signed as a marquee free agent by the Eagles this past offseason, he's totaled four interceptions this season and has been a shutdown presence.

Steelers

Fernando Bryant -- Veteran cornerback was with the Patriots in 2008 training camp, playing on the first unit, but was cut before the regular season began. An in-season signing for the Steelers, he has played sparingly in a reserve role.

San Diego
(none)

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4 comments so far...

The only player from this list that is a loss is Mesante Samuel. Good luck to him today and hopefully he won't drop a pick like he did the play before the Tyree miracle catch in the Super Bowl.

Posted by ampats January 11, 09 11:58 AM

ASSante Samuel - single reason the Pat's lost the game last year. BB emphasizes "Do you job." Apparently to ASSante, he didn't want to show up to work that day!

Posted by Anti-22 January 11, 09 01:34 PM

I thought that drop would cost him money and it didn't.

Posted by Chris C January 11, 09 04:58 PM

I was surprised that Eckels went away, given how Steve Belichick felt about him. However, Heath Evans is a much better fullback, IMHO, so I don't really consider Eckels a loss, per se. And, I must add, it seems Evans could have been used a bit more throughout the season. Was he banged up?

Posted by io saturnalia! January 12, 09 12:39 AM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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