In their first meeting, the Wildcat ran wild. Miami's star running back and New England's head coach tackle the unorthodox formation. Plus, news and notes from Wednesday's practice.
The Patriots head into Sunday's game at Miami tied with the Dolphins for second place in a highly competitive AFC East. The winner of the contest will answer a few questions heading down the stretch toward the postseason. For all the other questions surrounding the Patriots we bring another wide-ranging edition of Ask PFW.
After seeing the Dolphins' Wildcat formation rip it to shreds in Week 3, New England is doing everything it can to prevent a repeat performance this weekend.
Joey Porter's running his mouth again. Read all about that and the other news and notes leading up to this weekend's Patriots-Dolphins game in today's Patriots.com News Blitz.
Gene Vincent Mruczkowski was born June 6, 1980 ... Named second team Academic All-American as a senior and sophomore ... Academic All-Big Ten all four years of his career in Lafayette ... Received the Purdue Kiwanis Citizenship award ... Two-time recipient of the Purdue Noble E. Kizer award for the top grade point average during the last two semesters ... Second team all-state, first team all-district and team co-captain as a senior at Benedictine (Cleveland, Ohio) High School ... Also played defensive tackle as his team finished with a 10-1 record and advanced to the state semifinal ... Gene's brother, Scott, was drafted by San Diego in 2005. Majored in movement and sport sciences at Purdue.
Career Transactions
Gene Mruczkowski was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on May 16, 2003 ... Placed on reserve/ non-football injury list (8/26/03) ... Placed on injured reserve (11/25/03) ... Released by the Patriots (9/3/05) ... Re-signed by the Patriots (9/28/05) ... Released by the Patriots (10/8/05) ... Re-signed by the Patriots (11/15/05).
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS (Playoffs): 18/0 (4/0)
2006 Season
2006 (1/0/0/6): Resigned on Dec. 13, 2006 ... Released on Dec. 9, 2006 ... Resigned as a free agent on Dec. 2, 2006 ... Released on Nov. 18, 2006 ... Signed as a free agent on Nov. 14, 2006 ... Released on Sept. 30, 2006.
Buffalo (9/10): Inactive. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Inactive. Denver (9/24): Inactive. vs. Detroit (12/3): Inactive. vs. Houston (12/17): Saw action in a reserve role on the offensive front in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans. at Jacksonville (12/24): Inactive. at Tennessee (12/31): Inactive.
2006 Postseason (0/0/0/3): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Inactive. at San Diego (1/14): Inactive. at Indianapolis (1/21): Inactive.
2005 Season
2005 (7/0, 1/0): Played in seven regular-season games and one playoff contest on special teams protection units and on the offensive line ... Released during final roster cuts (9/3), but returned to spend two stints with the team during the season (9/28-10/8 and 11/15 to the end of the year). Buffalo (12/11): Saw action at left guard after Logan Mankins left the game briefl y in the first half ... Saw action on extra point protection units. Tampa Bay (12/17): Saw action at left guard in short-yardage situations ... Played on the extra point protection unit. Miami (1/1): Saw action as a reserve at guard and center ... Member of an offensive line that allowed just one sack for one yard. Jacksonville (1/7): Saw action in a reserve role at center.
2004 season
2004 (10/0, 3/0): Played in the final 10 games of the season, seeing reserve action on the offensive line and on field goal protection units … Made his NFL debut (10/31). Indianapolis (9/9): Inactive. at Arizona (9/19): Inactive. at Buffalo (10/3): Inactive. Miami (10/10): Inactive. Seattle (10/17): Inactive. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Inactive. at Pittsburgh (10/31): Made his NFL debut on special teams protection units against the Steelers. at St. Louis (11/7): Saw action as a reserve on special teams in the Patriots' 40-22 road win against the Rams. Buffalo (11/14): Played on special teams protection units in the Patriots' commanding 29-6 victory over the Bills. at Kansas City (11/22): Saw action on special teams protection units in the Patriots' 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs. Baltimore (11/28): Saw action at guard and on special teams protection units in the Patriots' 24-3 victory over the Ravens. at Cleveland (12/5): Played in a reserve role on the offensive line in the Patriots' 42-15 victory over the Browns. Cincinnati (12/12): Saw action on field goal protection units in the Patriots' AFC East clinching 35-28 victory over the Bengals. at Miami (12/20): Saw action on special teams protection units. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Played on field goal protection units in the Patriots' 23-7 victory over the Jets. San Francisco (1/2): Saw action at center in the fourth quarter of the Patriots' 21-7 victory over the 49ers.
2004 Postseason (3/0/0/0): Indianapolis (1/16): Played in a reserve role on the offensive front in the Patriots' 20-3 victory over the Colts. at Pittsburgh (1/23): Saw action on special teams protection units in the Patriots' 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Steelers. Philadelphia (2/6): Participated on special teams protection units in the Patriots’ 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
2003 Season
2003 (0/0): Mruzckowski was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list with a leg injury (8/26) … Was subsequently placed on injured reserve (11/25) and did not play in his rookie season.
College
Started all 49 games in his four-year stay at Purdue … Began his career at left guard before moving to center prior to his junior campaign … As a senior, named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media after starting all 13 games at center … Opened holes for a Boilermaker rushing attack that amassed 2,861 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground … In 2001, started all 12 games at center after moving from left guard during spring practice … Received the team’s Pit Bull award for exemplifying tenacity and intense play during the 2002 spring season … Selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media as a sophomore after starting all 12 games at left guard … Part of an offensive line that allowed Purdue quarterbacks to be sacked just 10 times in 528 pass attempts (one every 52.8 attempts) … As a freshman, started all 12 games at left guard … Selected second team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News … In 1998, redshirted and did not play … Received the team’s Offensive Newcomer Award for the spring season.
Extra Points
Gene's brother, Scott Mruczkowski, was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round (242nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. Scott, a 6-foot-5-inch, 318-pound center, played in six games for the Chargers as a rookie in 2005.
Gene participated in the Children's Hospital Telethon in December, 2004.
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