3
Sep
2009
JOHN M. STEPHENS – MY FAVORITE PATRIOTS RB: 2/23/1966- 9/1/2009
Stephens was the 1988 Offensive Rookie of the Year
My favorite player on the Patriots as a kid was John Stephens. This was before I knew that players left teams, got traded, got hurt, or that things would ever change. John Stephens went to Northwestern State, was the 17th pick in the draft in 1988, was the Offensive Rookie of the year, and represented the Patriots in the Pro-Bowl.
I have two favorite memories of Stephens, both faded with time and perhaps faulty. In one, either Steve Grogan, Doug Flutie, or Tony Eason (they all had time that year under center) threw the ball straight to the other team, and the opposing player took off toward the end zone, zipping through the Patriots offense, until he ran into Stephens, who upended him with a WWF-style clothesline that sent him up into the air and straight onto his back. It was marvelous. I think at the time I had no idea it was a penalty until the refs threw about 1,000 flags and awarded the other team like 250 yards. My other favorite memory was a Sports Illustrated picture of him when he was with the Green Bay Packers. It was one of those Green Bay training camp pictures where the players ride kids bikes to the field. John Stephens looked huge on this BMX bike, one hand holding his helmet, the other on the handlebar with a concentrated grin on his face, while smiling kids—happy as kids can get—chased him down the road.
John Stephens is my favorite running back who ever played for the Patriots. He was a beast. I thought as a kid he would be the Patriot’s running back forever. He died Tuesday night in a car accident at 43. He will be missed, and for me when I retreat back to my childhood I will see him as he was, a perfect combination of effort and talent, gracefully running off tackle and into the maw, as I see myself back in my parent’s living room, the autumn leaves falling from the trees, and I cheer as I am still cheering now.
