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Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, January 3, 2020 The best cornerback ever for the Patriots By The Old Sachem, Bill Stewart H e played for the Patriots for 11 seasons, 1995 to 2005, the Jets in 2005 & 2008, the Chiefs in 2006 & 2007 and the Broncos in 2009 and is still the best cornerback I have seen play the game. Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 www.eight10barandgrille.com Kitchen Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12-10pm Fri-Sat: 12-11pm Sunday: 1pm-10pm Come in & Enjoy our Famous... $12 LUNCH Menu! Choose from 16 Items! Served Monday thru Thursday until 3:30 PM Grilled Rib Eye Steak! Only $22.00 includes Two Sides Every Friday FRESH HADDOCK DINNER Prepared Your Way! Includes two sides Catch the NFL on our 10 TV’s! Bill Stewart The Old Sachem Tajuan E. “Ty” Law was born February 10, 1974, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and he followed his uncle, Tony Dorsett, a Hall of Fame NFL player, spending summers in Dallas with Dorsett while a youngster. He played football for Aliquippa High School as a cornerback, safety, wide receiver and running back. He was the team MVP in basketball and also ran track in the spring. In 1992 Law began a threeyear stint at the University of Michigan, and he was a firstteam All-American chosen by the Walter Camp Foundation during his junior year. He was a two-time unanimous choice as an All-Big Ten Conference cornerback during his sophomore and junior seasons and made the cover of Sports Illustrated on October 3, 1994. Law left Michigan to enter the 1995 draft due to financial hardship because his grandfather declared bankruptcy. During his years at Michigan he had 154 tackles, six interceptions and 17 passes defended. He was then drafted by the Patriots in the first-round, as 23rd player overall. His first game for the Patriots was ironically against Bill Belichick, coach of the Cleveland Browns at that time. Ty became a starting cornerback in week 12 when the Patriots released Maurice Hurst. Law made six combined tackles, deflected a pass and made his first professional interception against Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Bills. His week 15 game was even better as he had eight combined tackles, a pass deflection and an interception against “Boomer” Esiason. Ty had three consecutive games with an interception after taking over the starting position. In week 17 he got his first sack, drilling Jim Harbaugh for a six-yard loss. During his rookie season he had 47 combined tackles – 40 of them solo shots – nine pass deflections and a single sack. In 1996 Belichick became an assistant head coach of the Patriots. In week 15, Law intercepted a pass from Jets quarterback Glenn Foley and returned it for a 38-yard touchdown, his first as a pro. He intercepted two passes off Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys during a 12-6 loss. As a rookie, Ty Law had 62 combined tackles – 56 were solo tackles – nine pass deflections, three interceptions and a touchdown for a glorious start. The Patriots finished first in the AFC East, and Ty had three combined tackles in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the playoffs, as the Pats had a bye week to start. He recorded four tackles as the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he had three combined tackles in a losing battle with the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. In 1997 head coach Bill Parcells resigned and Pete Carroll became the head coach. Ty started all 16 games and made 77 combined tackles – 69 solo – one pass deflection and three interceptions and was credited with a half-sack. In 1998 he had 70 tackles – 60 solo – 32 pass deflections, nine interceptions and a single touchdown. Law became the first Patriot to lead the league in interceptions and was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time. In 1999 he signed a six-year, $50 million contract extension that included a $14 million signing bonus. Against Dan Marino, Law intercepted a pass and raced 27 yards for a TD. His season totals were 57 combined tackles – 48 solo – nine pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a touchdown. In 2000 the Pats fired Pete Carroll after an 8-8 season and made Bill Belichick the head coach. On December 18, Law was stopped by U.S. Customs officials while returning to New York after a trip to Canada with teammates Terry Glenn and Troy Brown. Law was suspended by Belichick after it was disclosed that he had three whole ecstasy pills and four more crushed pills in his possession. Because of the small amount he was not prosecuted; the officials seized the pills and fined him $700 for the violations. Belichick suspended Law for the final game of the season. Law’s season totals were 74 combined tackles – 58 solo – 11 pass deflections and two interceptions. In 2001 he earned his first Super-Bowl ring (XXXVI) intercepting a Kurt Warner pass dashing 47 yards for the first touchdown of the game. The Patriots went on to win 20-17. In 2003 Law was selected for the Pro-Bowl for the second consecutive year, and for the fourth time in his career. In the AFC Championship game, he intercepted three passes from the Colts quarterback, helping the Pats to a 24-14 win. The team went on to win the Super Bowl over the Carolina Panthers, 32-29. In 2094 he earned his third Super Bowl ring with the Pats, but missed the final nine games due to a foot injury. The Patriots released Law in February – due to his $12.5 million contract – to save money. Law signed to the New York Jets as a free agent for $28 million over three years and had options for $50 million over seven years. He had one of his best years there with a careerhigh of 10 interceptions. He was the only Jet selected to the Pro Bowl that year. He was released on February 22, 2006, because the Jets were projected to be $26 million over the salary cap for the year and had to cut salaries. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on July 25, 2006, on a five-year deal worth $30 million. Released in 2008, he signed with the Jets again on November 10, 2006, on a oneyear contract. He was released in February of 2009 and signed with the Denver Broncos on November 7, 2009. He finished the season with 10 tackles and one interception. He was released on February 24, 2010. Ty Law had professional career totals of 203 games, 839 combined tackles of which 703 were solos, five sacks, 53 interceptions and seven touchdowns. After retiring from football, he founded Launch Trampoline Park, a chain of entertainment facilities with large areas of connected trampolines. The company has franchised facilities around New England and a park in Delaware. He often visits the Rhode Island facility to participate in games of trampoline dodgeball with customers. Ty Law was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2014 and into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2019. Also among the honors he received were three Super Bowl rings, five Pro Bowl selections, two NFL First-team All-Pro selections, twice the NFL interception leader, NFL 2000s AllDecade Team. You can look up the statistics of Ty Law and other NFL players on www.nfl.com/ players. After retiring from football, he declared “I am a Patriot for life” and I remember him that way. Advocate Newspapers Free Every Week Everett, Malden, Revere and Saugus Call for Great Advertising Rates 781-233-4446

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