In tonight's Sunday Night Football game between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots, Dan Connolly ran back a kick return for 71 yards, putting the Pats at GB's 7-yard line. Pretty cool, huh? It's more interesting when you realize that Dan Connolly is an offensive lineman.
Connolly hails from Southeast Missouri State, and is a 28-year old right guard that came from St. Louis. These types of plays are exactly what New England fans live for: a fat white guy hustling down the field and both stiff-arming and juking around Green Bay defenders. This is honestly stuff of Patriots lore, and I can already see the movie rights being purchased by Warner Brothers.
71 Yards: Based on a true story
Dan Connolly was a young man who was raised in the backwoods of Missouri. But one hazy summer day, he was discovered by the New England Patriots while mowing the long grass at the summer practice facility. Soon thereafter, he was Tom Brady's most trusted advisor, guiding him to multiple Super Bowls while serving as the team's main kickoff returner. Starring Mark Wahlberg.
Here's the video, in case you haven't seen it: