Houston Antwine- Patriots hall of fame snub

American Football League All-Time team consists of 13 players who would reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. They are: QB Len Dawson (Chiefs), QB Joe Namath (Jets), C Jim Otto (Raiders), Lance Alworth, WR (Chargers), Don Maynard, WR (Jets), Ron Mix, OT (Chargers), OG Billy Shaw (Bills), K George Blanda (Raiders), CB Willie Brown (Raiders), LB Bobby Bell (Chiefs), LB Nick Buoniconti (Patriots) and DT Buck Buchanan (Chiefs) . If you include head coaches: Weeb Ewbank (Jets) and Sid Gillman (Chargers), there are 15.

Two of those players who reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame were not on the 1st team, All AFL Team of the Decade. QB Len Dawson was a second team selection on offense to Joe Namath. DT Buck Buchanan was a second team selection to Houston Antwine of the Patriots.

Houston was a six time All AFL first team selection from 1963-1968. The pass rushing specialist had 39 career sacks, and was as a member of the Patriots 50th Anniversary team. He was an 8th round selection of the Houston Oilers. Following a trade to the Patriots prior to training camp in 1961, Houston became part of the 1-2 punch on the defensive line with Jim Lee Hunt who terrorized ball carriers, and quarterbacks. In a statement released by the Patriots, “Houston was one of the pioneers of the AFL”.

Training camp is all about analyzing what you have and fixing what is broken. It is about trying new formations, alignments, coverages and cadences to create new opportunities. A good start to camp would be in honoring those who have served. One must remember the past to build the future.

In 2009, the New England Patriots Hall of Fame nomination committee selected Antwine as one of three Patriots alumni most deserving for the team’s Hall of Fame induction. Limiting worthy recipients to one selection per year is not “forward progress”.

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is an exciting, innovative and interactive, modern museum experience for all ages. It honors the greatest Patriots of all time while simultaneously preserving Patriots history. Highlights from the 2015 game in Glendale, AZ will be on display as well.

Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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