Flutie to call it a career
Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - New England fan favorite Doug Flutie has decided to call it a career, announcing his retirement Monday at a news conference.
Flutie, 43, spent the 2005 season with the Patriots and played in just five games, but the native of nearby Natick, Massachusetts will long be remembered in New England for more than just a solid pro career.
The diminutive quarterback gained legendary status in New England when he won the 1984 Heisman Trophy at Boston College. He left college as the NCAA's all- time passing yardage leader with 10,579 yards, then had an up-and-down pro career that featured early struggles, monumental success in the Canadian Football League and a resurgent NFL ledger.
Flutie was an 11th-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1985 draft, but never played for the club and went on to star for the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League for one season.
The Rams traded Flutie in October 1986 and he made his NFL debut later that season for the Chicago Bears, playing four games with one start. After appearing in just one game early the following season, the Patriots acquired Flutie in October of '87 and he began a three-year stint with his hometown team.
Flutie started 13 games during that three-year run, then left the NFL for the Canadian Football League, where he began to flourish.
In eight seasons north of the border, Flutie was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player six times. He led his teams to three Grey Cup titles, including his last two seasons with Toronto.
The Buffalo Bills took a chance on Flutie in 1998 and he responded by earning the league's Comeback Player of the Year award while helping the Bills to the playoffs. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl for the only time in his career.
After two more seasons in Buffalo, leading the team to the playoffs in 1999 before sharing time with Rob Johnson, Flutie signed with San Diego in 2001 and started all 16 games. He was relegated to backup duty in 2002 with the emergence of Drew Brees and also spent most of the next two seasons in that role.
Flutie signed with New England last year and his crowning moment during the 2005 season with the Patriots came in the final regular-season game against Miami when he converted a successful drop kick. It was the first the NFL had seen since 1941.
In all, Flutie played in 92 NFL games with 66 starts and threw for 14,715 yards with 86 touchdowns and 68 interceptions. He was also a dynamic runner from the quarterback position, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt with 10 touchdowns.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft donated a check for $22,000 -- matching Flutie's No. 22 from his days at Boston College -- to the Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism.
Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - New England fan favorite Doug Flutie has decided to call it a career, announcing his retirement Monday at a news conference.
Flutie, 43, spent the 2005 season with the Patriots and played in just five games, but the native of nearby Natick, Massachusetts will long be remembered in New England for more than just a solid pro career.
The diminutive quarterback gained legendary status in New England when he won the 1984 Heisman Trophy at Boston College. He left college as the NCAA's all- time passing yardage leader with 10,579 yards, then had an up-and-down pro career that featured early struggles, monumental success in the Canadian Football League and a resurgent NFL ledger.
Flutie was an 11th-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1985 draft, but never played for the club and went on to star for the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League for one season.
The Rams traded Flutie in October 1986 and he made his NFL debut later that season for the Chicago Bears, playing four games with one start. After appearing in just one game early the following season, the Patriots acquired Flutie in October of '87 and he began a three-year stint with his hometown team.
Flutie started 13 games during that three-year run, then left the NFL for the Canadian Football League, where he began to flourish.
In eight seasons north of the border, Flutie was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player six times. He led his teams to three Grey Cup titles, including his last two seasons with Toronto.
The Buffalo Bills took a chance on Flutie in 1998 and he responded by earning the league's Comeback Player of the Year award while helping the Bills to the playoffs. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl for the only time in his career.
After two more seasons in Buffalo, leading the team to the playoffs in 1999 before sharing time with Rob Johnson, Flutie signed with San Diego in 2001 and started all 16 games. He was relegated to backup duty in 2002 with the emergence of Drew Brees and also spent most of the next two seasons in that role.
Flutie signed with New England last year and his crowning moment during the 2005 season with the Patriots came in the final regular-season game against Miami when he converted a successful drop kick. It was the first the NFL had seen since 1941.
In all, Flutie played in 92 NFL games with 66 starts and threw for 14,715 yards with 86 touchdowns and 68 interceptions. He was also a dynamic runner from the quarterback position, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt with 10 touchdowns.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft donated a check for $22,000 -- matching Flutie's No. 22 from his days at Boston College -- to the Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism.
