Patriots news
- Thread starter LordSensei1958
- Start date
On December 12, 1982, one of the most memorable events in the NFL took place
That day New England hosted Miami for Week 14 of the campaign, though it was actually game six after the strike that disrupted activity for 62 days. Of course, being the December game, the temperature and conditions were going to be adverse for the visitors, but no one imagined the magnitude.
The winter of ‘82 was exceptionally raw in the Northeast United States, snowfall occurred almost everyday and as the foreign expedition landed at Boston Airport a day early for showdown another tremendous snowfall followed by a severe storm surprised them. Getting used to warmer temperatures of course the Dolphins froze.
On game day things didn't change much, a temperature of 26F caused entry into Schafter Stadium to barely exceed 25,000 people. Also the field completely painted white favored the offenses battled too hard to move the ball, and gusts of wind played a determining factor against the kickers.
With just over five minutes left before the conclusion of the fourth quarter the Patriots had their best drive of the afternoon by coming within the 20-yard rival, but there they got stuck and it was necessary to look for an FG attempt; however no one imagined what was going to happen.
A former convict named Mark Henderson, who did community service work for Foxboro County City Council, entered the field driving a John Dee Model 314 small tractor, specialized in snow plowing and used to fix roads to get through there. Henderson drove the cart to the area where substitute QB Matt Cavanaugh was, who pointed out the area to clear before Dolphin HC Don Shula's surprise and disbelief.
Once the man did his job Cavanaugh was able to hold the blank correctly for John Smith to connect the 33-yard kick giving his colors the lead. Miami responded by arriving immediately deep into patriot territory, as much as the seventh yard but could no longer go any further; then Shula was offered the service of the famous cart.
However the 52-year-old coach declined the offer and decided to play it on a fourth chance, the home defense stopped the lead and though the Patriots still had to clear David Woodley was intercepted securing the home set victory.
At the following spring owners meeting and following protests by Joe Robbie the Competition Committee ruled that what was done by the New England team was illegal and banned the use of extra sporting artifacts from further use. Although over the years that ban relaxed in 2018 it was established that in case the beneficiary team reintroduced it would be charged with unsportsmanlike conduct and fined fifteen yards.
In the year 2007 at the 25th anniversary of the episode and in an interview with the NFL Network Shula already 77 years old confessed "For me what happened in '82 was cheating, the Patriots clearly benefited to take advantage in an an anomalous situation, so I decided not to accept when I was offered if I wanted to use it too; I preferred to win the game by my own means.”
The famous tractor to this day is located inside the Museum of Patriots History at current Gillette Stadium, while the game christened “The Snowplow Game” was ranked 94th in the 100 most representative games in Patriots history.
Holy shit, where did you hear this? I had no idea man thanks for the heads up.
I'm looking forward to seeing his height/weight, his 40 and his 3-cone. I want to see if he can convince me to move off wanting the Patriots to take a tackle in round one.
captain stone
Well-known member
Last edited:
captain stone
Well-known member
captain stone
Well-known member
ItsGonnaBeMaye
Well-known member
With Maye at QB, you can safely go WR in the 1st round. The guy has been special enough to make even this dumpster fire OL look serviceable. He just needs someone to throw the ball to. You can address the OL later.
Kid's only a rookie, and he's coming back from injury, but he wasn't exactly setting the world on fire before. It's early yet (year one) but this Patriots draft class has been terrible, to date, outside of the guy taken #3 in the draft.
