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.
24 Mel Mitchell S
Height: 6-1 Weight: 225 Year: 6 Yrs/Pat: 2 Acquired: UFA (NO)-06 School: Western Kentucky Born: Feb 10, 1979
Personal
Mel Mitchell was born on Feb. 10, 1979 in Rockledge, Fla. ... Attended Rockledge (Fla.) High School, where he was a two-time All-State selection (first team as a senior after making the second team his junior season) ... Was the first athlete in conference history to be named to the all-conference team on both offense and defense ... Lettered four times in football and three times in both basketball and track ... Majored in physical education at Western Kentucky.
Career Transactions
Mel Mitchell was signed by the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on April 4, 2006 ... Originally selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Saints (7/25/02) ... Placed on injured reserve (8/31/03) ... Re-signed by the Saints (3/21/05).
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS (Playoffs): 44/0 (0/0)
Mitchell has recorded 64 special teams tackles in 44 career NFL games, all with New Orleans from 2002-05.
Mitchell led the Saints with a career-high 29 special teams tackles in 2004, a season during which he also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown (10/03/04). That season, he recorded at least one special teams tackle in all 15 games in which he played.
In 2004, Mitchell was selected to the Sports Illustrated All-Pro team as its special teams player.
As a rookie in 2002, Mitchell finished second on the Saints with 25 special teams tackles and added a forced fumble on special teams, a fumble recovery on special teams and also a blocked punt.
2005 Season
Played in 12 games and recorded 10 special teams tackles for New Orleans.
2004 Season
Led the Saints with a career-high 29 special teams tackles and was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Pro team as a special teamer. On Oct. 3 of that season, he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown, becoming the first Saints player in 27 years to accomplish the feat.
2003 Season
Missed entire 2003 season due to knee injury...Placed on Injured Reserve list on August 31.
2002 Season
Appeared in all 16 games, making the biggest impact during extensive special teams action...Finished second on the team with 25 tackles (19 solo), a special teams forced fumble, a special teams fumble recovery and a blocked punt.
College
Attended Western Kentucky, starting all 36 games in which he played ... Totaled 288 tackles (177 solo), seven interceptions, 0.5 sacks and 21 passes defensed ... Also returned 20 kickoffs for a 28.5-yard average, ranking second on the school's career-record list. ... As a senior in 2001, ranked second on team with a career-high 116 tackles (71 solo), three interceptions for 29 yards, nine passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and 10 kickoff returns for 295 yards and a touchdown ... As a junior in 2000, was All-Ohio Valley Conference second team pick with 98 tackles (54 solo), three interceptions for 43 yards, eight passes defensed, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, three blocked kickoffs and 10 kick returns for 275 yards (27.5 avg.) and a touchdown ... Was an All-Ohio Valley secondteam selection at cornerback as a sophomore in 1999.
Extra Points
In 2004, Mel was named to Sports Illustrated's All-Pro team as a special teams representative.
Mel, a consensus All-America pick at Western Kentucky, and Colts safety Joseph Jefferson were both selected in the 2002 NFL Draft, the first time since 1990 that two Western players were picked in the same year.
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