‘Old guys’ lead charge in Pats’ playoff victory McGinest sets record for sacks

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Seems those “old guys” on the New England Patriots roster aren’t being kept around just for their distinguished looks, mentoring abilities, and senior discounts.

Saturday night’s AFC wild-card round game at Gillette Stadium was literally one for the ages as some veteran players showed the young whippersnappers they’ve got more than a little game left.

Just seven days after Father Time introduced Baby New Year 2006, grizzled veterans Willie McGinest, Troy Brown, linebacker Mike Vrabel – who together account for 34 NFL seasons – were out front leading the Patriots’ record-setting 28-3 victory over Jacksonville.

McGinest, who has played all 12 of his NFL seasons for the Patriots, had a night that any player would envy and admittedly many in attendance – on and off the field – couldn’t believe: An NFL record 41/2 of New England’s six sacks plus six solo tackles and two assists.

“I was very impressed, particularly in the playoffs when teams find a way to take away your best weapons. I’ve had a couple of multi-sack playoff games, but nothing like that,” said fellow linebacker Chad Brown. “I figured after awhile, they’d find a way to stop him, but he still managed to get in there and make plays.”

The 34-year-old linebacker broke a 22-year-old single-game playoff record held jointly by Washington’s Rich Milot (1984) and Chicago’s Richard Dent (1985) as well as a career playoff record for sacks with 16, which surpasses the previous mark of 141/2 set by Buffalo and Atlanta linebacker Bruce Smith.

“Mac was off the chain today,” said Rosevelt Colvin, who was New England’s sack leader before Saturday night with seven, but is now 21/2 behind McGinest with eight. “He showed today why he has been in the league for 12 years and why he has been so successful.”

Not bad for a 1994 first-round draft pick out of USC who was maligned early in his career for being injury-prone.

“You know, I am one of those guys that a couple years ago people counted me out and I am just one of those guys that worked hard,” McGinest said. “You know, I am dedicated.

“I’ve got a commitment to this game like no other and I have – Just, this is my life.”

While McGinest was shredding blockers like tackling dummies and making Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich wish he’d picked another game to come back from his fractured left ankle, Troy Brown was shining on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Brown caught an 11-yard pass from Tom Brady to put New England up 7-0 in a game he was supposed to be primarily a cornerback. Then he made his first four tackles this season in his first game on defense since the 2004-05 season.

“It’s good to go out there and still make some plays. The old man can still play a little bit,” the 34-year-old Brown said with a wide grin.

Vrabel, a linebacker who is known for having all seven of his career receptions go for touchdowns, showed he still has plenty of rev in his engine as a 30-year-old veteran of nine seasons with six solo tackles and three assists.

On a team as in flux as the Patriots have been in recent years due to roster moves, retirements, youth movements, and injuries, it’s a task in itself to stick around. New England’s elders are doing that and excelling at the same time.

Record pace

McGinest’s sack production wasn’t the only thing rewriting the record books Saturday as the Patriots either broke or extended a few other team and individual marks, the most important of which was their consecutive playoff victory streak, which is now the longest in NFL history at 10.

New England’s 10 straight postseason wins eclipses the previous mark of nine set by the Green Bay Packers from 1961 through 1967. New England has not lost a playoff game since Jan. 3, 1999, and avenged that loss (25-10) by beating Jacksonville Saturday.

Wide receiver David Givens’ 3-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter gives him at least one TD catch in six consecutive playoff games. This is the second-longest streak of its kind in NFL history and is just two behind that of Pittsburgh Steelers’ great John Stallworth from 1978 to 1983. Saturday’s game was Givens’ seventh career playoff game.

Quarterback Tom Brady is now 10-0 in playoff starts and owns the longest playoff winning streak by any quarterback in NFL history. Green Bay legend Bart Starr won nine straight (1961-67) to establish the old mark.

Tight end Ben Watson’s catch of a third-down pass from Brady in the third quarter, which he turned into a 63-yard touchdown reception after breaking tackles and managing to stay in bounds, is now the longest TD pass play in Patriots postseason history. It breaks the previous mark of 60 yards set on a pass from Brady to Deion Branch in last season’s AFC title game against Pittsburgh.

Tippett of the helmet

Former New England linebacker and defensive star Andre Tippett was on hand in the press box for Saturday’s game.

Tippett, who now serves as the team’s community affairs director, was reflecting on the similarities and differences between the Patriots’ current successful playoff team and the one he helped lead to the AFC championship and a Super Bowl berth in 1985 as a wild- card team.

“I was fortunate. Our team was a lot like these teams that have gone on to such great success for the organization,” Tippett said. “Every time I played here, our goal was to win, but that year was a special year where we had some great guys with great personalities and guys who didn’t mind working hard. That was the key.”

Tippett said as ground-breaking as the 1985 team was, its success wasn’t built on and extended like the current team’s has been.

“We thought that we could have a run like this when I was playing, but it never panned out,” he said.

Tippett has served in a variety of front office capacities since retiring as a player in 1994. He has been the player development director, a player mentor, pro personnel director, college and professional talent evaluator, and merchandising/promotions manager.

Many of his former teammates are still involved in pro football as well.

“I still have a special relationship with most of the guys I played with, and I usually try to stay in touch with everybody once a month,” he said. “[Former linebacker] Don Blackmon was up in Buffalo, but he just got let go with a couple other coaches [Friday]. He’s such a great coach, he shouldn’t have a problem getting hired, though.”

Tippett says his role fits him like the red, white and blue jersey he wore for his entire 11-year pro playing career.

“Now being involved with community affairs is really a no-brainer for me. I don’t mind speaking in front of 300 or 20,” he explained. “We’re involved with a lot of nonprofit organizations and that’s probably the best part of it all. It makes a big difference, whether its players or myself, for someone from the organization just being there.”

Tippett also remains involved in the NFL Youth Development Program, encouraging the growth and development of youth football programs nationwide.

The once-imposing and menacing defensive specialist with a black belt in karate is still widely recognized by fans from all walks of life.

“I’ve been able to share a lot of things with young players that no one should take an NFL career for granted.”