Rookie Defensive Back Marcus Jones shocked everyone inside Gillette Stadium last Thursday with his electrifying 48 yard touchdown reception on offense.
JONES TO JONES FOR THE TD!
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) December 2, 2022
🏈: @BuffaloBills vs. @Patriots#TNFonPrime | Watch NOW on @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/95YeGIQfvE
The reality is nobody should have been surprised as Marcus Jones is just the latest in a long line of two-way players for the Belichick Era Patriots.
HERE'S THE LIST:
Troy Brown – WR/CB
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
After amassing over 450 receptions in his 11 year NFL career Troy Brown was pressed into defensive action in 2004 after a flurry of injuries in the patriots secondary. Brown proceeded to finish 2nd on the team with 3 interceptions, including one off his former quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
Thinking I might put a pause on the majority of my collection and just go full super PC mode on Troy Brown. (Yes he's a WR making an interception) pic.twitter.com/Hgn1ZpiU82
— Hobby Connection(Colton) (@Hobby_Connect) March 8, 2022Mike Vrabel – LB/TE
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Vrabel might have the most amazing stat line in NFL history with 12 career catches, all 12 for touchdowns. The All-Pro linebacker had 10 of those touchdowns in a Patriots uniform while playing for Belichick, including a memorable celebration after catching one in Super Bowl 39 against the Eagles.
FLASHBACK: When the #Patriots played the #Eagles in the 2005 Super Bowl, Tom Brady threw a touchdown pass to ... Mike Vrabel. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/fRSdSGx0tN
— Liam Martin (@LiamFromBoston) January 22, 2018Julian Edelman – WR/CB
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
While Edelman was still developing as a young Wide Receiver in 2011 Bill Belichick used him as an occasional defensive back. He was given the assignment of shutting down Anquan Boldin in the 2011 AFC Championship Game. He made some plays during the regular season too…
Edelman can play every position on the field. 🔥 #HBD @Edelman11 pic.twitter.com/h8ex77GHmt
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) May 22, 2019Matthew Slater – WR/S
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 18: Willis McGahee #23 of the Denver Broncos is tackled by Matthew Slater #18 of the New England Patriots and Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Patriots defeated the Broncos 41-23. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Matthew Slater is known for his All-Pro career as a Special Teamer with over 200 games played. Slater did dabble on both offense and defense early in his career. In 2011 Slater started 3 games at Safety on defense and also caught a pass as a Wide Receiver.
Richard Seymour – DE/FB
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Seymour has a Hall-of-Fame career as a Defensive End and won 3 Super Bowls as a Patriot. He also played some Fullback in short yardage situations early in his career, including a few snaps in Super Bowl 38 against the Carolina Panthers.
Elandon Roberts – LB/FB
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 29: Elandon Roberts #52 of the New England Patriots runs the ball for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Roberts was a heat seaking missile as a run stopping Linebacker in his time on the Patriots defense. The Pats offensive coaches turned him into a Fullback halfway through the 2019 season after James Develin and Jakob Johnson were placed on Injured Reserve. He had one very memorable play against the Dolphins.
The @Patriots lost James Develin and Jakob Johnson to season-ending injuries.
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 29, 2019
Instead of signing another fullback, Bill Belichick converted LB Elandon Roberts to FB.
Roberts just caught his first career touchdown. pic.twitter.com/LIzuJisHcaHONORABLE MENTION:
Randy Moss – WR/Safety
Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports
Moss played defense as a situational Safety at times on occasion for Bill Belichick. He picked off a pass in 2009 against Josh McDaniels’ Broncos on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
Rob Gronkowski – TE/Safety
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 09: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball for the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Gronk was used as an emergency situational Safety like Moss. He took a bad angle and couldn’t contain Kenyan Drake during the Miami Miracle play in 2018.
4 years ago today, the @MiamiDolphins pulled off a miracle 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0i8WGVUIUA
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 9, 2022Dan Klecko – DT/FB
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
