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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.
61 Stephen Neal G
Height: 6-4 Weight: 305 Year: 6 Yrs/Pat: 6 Acquired: FA-01 School: Cal State-Bakersfield Major: Physical Education Born: Oct 9, 1976 San Diego CA
Personal
Stephen Matthew Neal was born the son of Jack and Illys Neal on Oct. 9, 1976 in San Diego, Calif. ... A five-sport athlete at San Diego High School, he competed in wrestling, football, swimming, tennis and track and field ... Finished fourth in the state his senior year with a 45-2 record at 189 pounds ... Wrestled against 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams while wrestling at San Diego High ... Wrestled against former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar while at Cal State-Bakersfield ... Would like to become a college wrestling coach following his pro football career ... Steve and his wife Jodee were married in 2002 and celebrated the birth of their daughter Colby in 2003 ... Majored in physical education at CSUB.
Career Transactions
Stephen Neal was originally signed by the Patriots as a free agent (7/23/01) ... Waived by the Patriots (8/26/01) ... Signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad (9/04/01) ... Signed by the Patriots (12/12/01) from the Eagles practice squad ... Placed on injured reserve (10/23/02) ... Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list (8/26/03) ... Placed on injured reserve (11/10/03).
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS: 47/44 (8/8)
Over the last three seasons (2004-06), Neal has started 44 games as part of a Patriots offensive line that for the first time in a decade has allowed fewer than 30 sacks in three straight years.
Neal was a primary starter on an offensive line that anchored the NFL's seventh-ranked offense in both 2004 and 2005.
In 2004, Neal became a regular starter on an offensive line that paved the way for Corey Dillon to set the Patriots' single-season rushing record with 1,635 yards.
Neal was an important part of an offensive line that allowed the team to average more than four yards per carry in 2004, the first time the team had achieved that feat in 19 seasons.
In 2004, Neal was part of an offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks, the fewest by a Patriots squad in 10 years.
College
Neal was a championship wrestler at Cal State Bakersfield … Did not play football in college … Completed his CSUB wrestling career in style, winning his second NCAA Division I title and winning the Dan Hodge Award, known as the Heisman Trophy of wrestling ... Also won the U.S. Freestyle Championship, the Pan-American Games title and the World Championships ... In winning the Pan-Am Games, came from behind to defeat the defending world champion from Cuba ... Was 44-0 for CSUB in 1999...Broke CSUB’s school record for pins in a season (31) and in a career (71) ... He also finished as the school record holder for career wins at CSUB with 156 ...Finished his career with an 88-match win streak, with 49 pins in that stretch ... Under his leadership, the team won its second Pac-10 title in 1999, and placed eighth at the NCAA Division I Championships, the team’s third top eight finish in four years ...Went into the Pac-10 record books in 1999, becoming the conference’s first four-time champion in the same weight class, and just the second four-time champion ever ... He completed his career undefeated in Pac-10 competition with a record of 34-0, also best in conference history ... His career dual-meet record was 61-3, and 37-0 over his last two seasons (1998-99) ... Found success for the third consecutive year at the prestigious National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic, pinning Oklahoma’s John Henry Ward in just 25 seconds ... He also won his third-straight Midlands Championships title, picking up the Dan Gable Outstanding Wrestler Award and the Gorrianran Award for the most falls in the least amount of time ... In 1998, he became just the third Roadrunner wrestler to complete an undefeated and untied season along with Olympians Joe Gonzalez and John Azevedo ... Has compiled a 151-10 record in three seasons at CSUB while earning All-America honors all three years ... Placed second at nationals as a sophomore and fourth as a freshman ... His academics earned accolades as well, as he was a three-time Academic All-American and a three-time Pac-10 Academic All-Conference first team ... His 3.24 grade point average earned him NWCA Student Athlete of the Year honors.
2006 Season
2006 (13/13/0/3): Buffalo (9/10): Started at right guard ... Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 183 rushing yards on 41 carries (4.5 yard avg.) in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Made the start at right guard ... Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 147 yards in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets ... Registered a special teams tackle in the victory. Denver (9/24): Started at right guard and was a member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack despite 55 pass attempts. at Cincinnati (10/1): Made the start at right guard in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals ... Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Patriots' ball carriers to gain 238 rushing yards on 41 carries, marking New England's highest team rushing total in 13 seasons ... Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack for the second consecutive game. vs. Miami (10/8): Started at right guard ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 29 pass attempts in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins. at Buffalo (10/22): Started at right guard in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills. at Minnesota (10/30): Inactive. Indianapolis (11/5): Inactive. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Inactive. at Green Bay (11/19): Made the start at right guard ... Member of an offensive line that protected Tom Brady, allowing him to register a season-best 128.2 quarterback rating in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers. vs. Chicago (11/26): Started at right guard ... Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 33 pass attempts in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears. vs. Detroit (12/3): Made the start at right guard in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions ... Member of an offensive front that allowed Tom Brady to throw for 305 yards in the victory. at Miami (12/10): Started at right guard ... Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' runners to gain 123 rushing yards on 25 carries (4.9 avg.). vs. Houston (12/17): Started at right guard ... Member of an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 27 pass attempts in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans. at Jacksonville (12/24): Made the start at right guard ... Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 117 yards on 30 carries (3.9 avg.) ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 39 pass attempts in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars. at Tennessee (12/31): Started at right guard ... Member of an offensive front that allowed Patriots' ball carriers to gain 171 rushing yards on just 31 carries (5.5 avg.) in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans.
2006 Postseason (3/3/0/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Started at right guard ... Member of an offensive front that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 158 rushing yards on 38 carries (4.2 avg.) in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 34 pass attempts. at San Diego (1/14): Made the start at right guard ... Part of an offensive line that allowed just two sacks despite 51 pass attempts in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers ... San Diego entered the game as the league leader in sacks. at Indianapolis (1/21): Made the start at right guard ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 35 pass attempts.
2005 Season
2005 (16/16/0/0): Oakland (9/8): Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 38 pass attempts in the Patriots’ 30-20 victory over the Raiders. at Carolina (9/18): Part of an offensive line that allowed Tom Brady to pass for 270 yards. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Part of an offensive line that provided enough protection to allow Tom Brady to pass for 372 yards in the Patriots’ 23-20 victory over the Steelers. San Diego (10/2): Started at right guard. at Atlanta (10/9): Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Corey Dillon to rush for 106 yards on 23 carries in the Patriots’ 31-28 win over the Falcons … Provided enough pocket time for Tom Brady to throw for 350 yards and three touchdowns … Executed an excellent block to free Daniel Graham for his 45-yard catch-and-run score in the first quarter. at Denver (10/16): Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack against the Broncos. Buffalo (10/30): Member of an offensive line that allowed New England rushers to gain 4.2-yards per carry in the Patriots’ 21-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football. Indianapolis (11/7): Part of an offensive line that provided protection allowing Tom Brady to throw for 265 yards and three touchdowns. at Miami (11/13): Member of an offensive front that did not allow a sack in the second half of the Patriots’ 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins. New Orleans (11/20): Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots’ rushers to gain 132 yards on 30 carries (4.4 avg.) in the Patriots’ 24-17 win over the Saints. at Kansas City (11/27): Member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots’ rushers to average 4.1 yards per carry. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Part of an offensive front that allowed Patriots’ ball carriers to gain 146 rushing yards in the Patriots’ 16-3 victory over the Jets … Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the second half. at Buffalo (12/11): Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Patriots’ rushers to gain 159 yards on the ground in the Patriots’ commanding 35-7 road victory over the Bills … Part of a unit that did not allow a sack after the opening drive of the game. Tampa Bay (12/17): Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the first half of the Patriots’ 28-0 shutout victory over the Buccaneers … Member of an offensive front that allowed Tom Brady to throw for 258 yards and three touchdowns. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Member of an offensive line that allowed New England rushers to gain 151 yards in the Patriots’ 31-21 victory over the Jets. Miami (1/1): Member of an offensive line that allowed just one sack for one yard.
2005 Postseason (2/2/0/0): Jacksonville (1/7): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 118 yards on the ground in the Patriots' 28-3 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jaguars. at Denver (1/14): Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack and allowed Tom Brady to throw for 341 passing yards.
2004 season
2004 (16/14, 3/3): Played in all 16 games and started the fi nal 14 contests at right guard … Member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain more than 200 rushing yards twice in 2004, 225 rushing yards against Cleveland (12/5) and 208 rushing yards against Buffalo (11/14), marking the fi rst time in six years the team has exceeded 200 net yards rushing in a game … Helped block for Corey Dillon to set the franchise record for single-season rushing yardage. Indianapolis (9/9): Saw significant time in a reserve role at guard and was a member of an offensive front that opened holes for New England rushers to average 4.8 yards per carry in the Patriots' 27-24 victory over the Colts. at Arizona (9/19): Played at both guard spots and was a part of an offensive line that opened holes for Corey Dillon to rush for 158 yards on 32 carries (4.9-yard avg.) in the Patriots' 23-12 victory over the Cardinals. at Buffalo (10/3): Got his first start of the season at right guard ... Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 30 pass attempts in the Patriots' 31-17 victory over the Bills. Miami (10/10): Made his second consecutive start at right guard and was a part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 135 yards on the ground in New England's 24-10 victory over Miami. Seattle (10/17): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to pick up 138 yards in the Patriots' 30-20 victory over the Seahawks. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Part of an offensive line that allowed Corey Dillon to rush for 115 yards on 22 carries (5.2-yard avg.) in the Patriots' 13-7 win over the N.Y. Jets ... Executed a nice lead block to spring Corey Dillon for a 44-yard gain late in the third quarter. at Pittsburgh (10/31): Started at right guard against the Steelers ... Saw action at tackle late in the fourth quarter. at St. Louis (11/7): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for New England rushers to gain 147 yards on the ground in the Patriots' 40-22 road win against the Rams. Buffalo (11/14): Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to amass 208 rushing yards in New England's commanding 29-6 victory over the Bills. at Kansas City (11/22): Member of an offensive line that allowed Tom Brady to throw for 315 yards and Corey Dillon to rush for 98 yards in the Patriots' 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs. Baltimore (11/28): Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 144 yards on the ground in New England's 24-3 victory over the Ravens ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack for two yards on 30 pass attempts against one of the league's stingiest pass rush defenses. at Cleveland (12/5): Member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' ball carriers to amass 225 rushing yards in New England's 42-15 victory over the Browns. Cincinnati (12/12): Part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 26 pass attempts in the Patriots' AFC East clinching 35-28 victory over the Bengals ... Provided a nice lead block on Kevin Faulk's 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. at Miami (12/20): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 166 yards on 38 carries (4.4-yard avg.). at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Part of an offensive front that opened up holes for New England rushers to gain 114 yards on the ground ... Member of a line that allowed only one sack on 32 pass attempts in the Patriots' 23-7 victory over the Jets. San Francisco (1/2): Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 174 yards on the ground on just 28 carries (6.2-yard avg.) in the Patriots' 21-7 victory over the 49ers ... Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the second half.
2004 Postseason (3/3/0/0): Indianapolis (1/16): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 210 yards on the ground on just 39 carries (5.4 avg.) in the Patriots' 20-3 victory over the Colts. at Pittsburgh (1/23): Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots ball carriers to gain 126 yards against one of the stingiest run defenses in the league during New England's 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Steelers. Philadelphia (2/6): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 112 yards on 28 carries in New England’s 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
2003 Season
2003 (0/0): Was placed on the physically unable to perform list during training camp (8/26) and was subsequently moved to injured reserve (11/10) … Did not participate in any games due to injury.
2002 Season
2002 (2/1): Neal made his NFL debut against Miami (10/6) … Started in his first NFL game a week later against Green Bay (10/23) but suffered an injury … Placed on injured reserve (10/23).
2001 Season
2001 (0/0, 0/0 - New England; 0/0 - Philadelphia): Signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent (7/23) but was later waived (8/26) … Signed to the Eagles practice squad (9/4) … Signed to the Patriots active roster (12/12) … Listed among the Patriots day of game inactives for the final three games of the regular season and all three postseason games, including Super Bowl XXXVI.
Extra Points
Steve was a championship wrestler at Cal State- Bakersfield and did not play football in college. He compiled a 151-10 record during his wrestling career at CSUB, including two NCAA Division I titles.
Steve won the Dan Hodge Award, known as the Heisman Trophy of wrestling in 1999.
Steve wrestled against Toronto Argonauts running back Ricky Williams while wrestling for San Diego High, and squared off against former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar while at CSUB.
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