document_title: Honda Civic Si

question_text: when was the first honda civic si made

question_tokens: when was the first honda civic si made

text: Honda Civic Si

text: Honda first adopted the Si badge for the Japanese domestic market (JDM) third-generation Civic in November 1984. Mainly offered in hatchback form, the main aesthetic difference for the Si was a slight bulge in the hood, which accommodated the taller DOHC engine. A four-door sedan variant also existed in Japan, but was only produced in small numbers and is rare. Designated as ZC1 in Japan and D16A1 in Europe, the new engine put out 118 hp (88 kW), enabling the car to hit 122 mph (196 km/h) and go from 0–60 mph in 8.9 seconds. Since compact cars at the time typically made less than 100 hp (75 kW), the Si proved popular amongst enthusiasts. In 1986, the Si trim was extended to the Civic hatchback, offering the same powertrain of the CRX Si but with four-seats. Added improvements for the Civic Si hatchback included a removable glass sunroof, a five-speed manual gearbox, tilt steering wheel, a full-width taillight panel, a color-keyed front airdam, sedan-style disk wheel covers, and a roof spoiler. Like the CRX Si, the Si hatchback was powered by a 91 hp (68 kW), 12-valve SOHC engine designated EW4/D15A4 (the latter code was used for the 1987 model year but with the same specs). The Civic Si also saw a release in New Zealand and Australia in 1987, sharing specifications similar to those of the American-market Si.

text: Initially, the Civic Si hatchback was absent from the lineup, with only the CRX Si offered for the 1988 model year. That changed, however, for 1989, and the Civic Si hatchback was reintroduced, along with a 3-hp upgrade for the D16 engine across all Si trims (making 108 hp, 1988 CR-X Si 105 hp). This was the sportiest US market Civic, only available as a hatchback. The engine fitted was the D16A6 16-valve SOHC with 4-point injection and output of 108 hp (81 kW). It weighed in at 2,286 lb (1,037 kg), achieving a factory 0–60 mph of 8.1 seconds; and a quarter-mile time of 16.2 seconds at 82 mph (132 km/h).

text: The main standard features of the Si trim were the power sun roof/moon roof, tachometer, passenger door mirror, color matched bumpers, dash clock, larger exhaust, front and rear anti-roll bars, 14" steel wheels with covers, and slightly deeper bucket sport seats. There was no power steering and no automatic transmission available (except in Canada). Additional options were air conditioning and fog lights, as well as the different Honda Genuine Accessory alloy wheels.[3] In other markets, more powerful D16A7 and D16A9 engines were used instead, which made 122 hp (91 kW) and 132 hp (98 kW) respectively.

text: Compared to the previous generation, the Civic Si saw an improvement in handling, in part due to the double-wishbone suspension at all four corners and lower wind drag due to the sleeker body shape. As with all other trims, the Civic Si received a slight visual upgrade in late 1989, featuring revised bumpers and tail lights.

text: Due to the difference in engine output and modification potential between the American and JDM models, the second-generation Si sparked a popular trend of engine swapping, where tuners would replace the D-series power plant with a more powerful B-series motor.[4]

text: The Honda Civic Si was not sold in the US during model years 1996-1998. It started production again for the 1999 and 2000 model years.

text: The EP3 Civic Si of the U.S. and Civic SiR of Canada were marketed as North American versions of European/Japanese EP3 Honda Civic Type R.

text:
Eighth generation Si(FA5/FG2)
OverviewProduction
2006–2011Assembly
Alliston, Ontario, Canada (HCM)Sumaré, São Paulo, Brazil (Honda Brazil) (from January 2008–present)Body and chassisBody style
2-door coupe (FG2)4-door sedan (FA5)PowertrainEngine
2.0L 197 hp (147 kW; 200 PS) I42.0L 192 hp (143 kW; 195 PS) (Brazil)Transmission
6-speed manual with a helical limited slip differentialDimensionsWheelbase
104.3 in (2,649 mm) (coupe)106.3 in (2,700 mm) (sedan)Length
174.8 in (4,440 mm) (2006–08 coupe)175.5 in (4,458 mm) (2009–11 coupe)176.7 in (4,488 mm) (sedan)177.3 in (4,503 mm) (2009–11 sedan)Width
68.9 in (1720 mm) (coupe)69.0 in (1750 mm) (sedan)Height
53.5 in (1340 mm) (2006-08 coupe)56.5 in (1420 mm) (sedan)Curb weight
2,877 lb (1,305 kg) (2006 coupe)2,886 lb (1,309 kg) (2007-08 coupe) 2,899 lb (1,315 kg) (2009 coupe)2,895 lb (1,313 kg) (2010-11 coupe)2,945 lb (1,336 kg) (2007-08 sedan)2,954 lb (1,340 kg) (2009-11 sedan)

text: The Si was redesigned for the 2006 model year along with all other Civic trims, bringing about significant changes from the previous generation. The car comes with a 2.0-liter K20Z3 i-VTEC engine that produces 197 hp (147 kW; 200 PS) and 139 lbf⋅ft (188 N⋅m) of torque, while also including a 6-speed manual transmission with a helical limited slip differential. Forty percent stiffer spring and dampening rates from the non-Si trims and stiffer sway bars have bolstered the Civic Si's handling,[5] with the car achieving 0.90g (8.8 m/s2) of lateral acceleration on the skidpad. It is also the quickest Civic Si off the line, with a factory 0–60 time of 6.7 seconds according to Honda.[6] Some new features include a moonroof, a seven-speaker 360-watt sound system, 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45R17 Michelin all-season tires, and key-less trunk access.

text: In Canada, the Acura CSX Type-S was offered in 2007, borrowing the engine and drivetrain from the Civic Si but offering additional luxury options such as leather seating. The CSX features similar front and rear fascias to the JDM Civic, but with slight differences—the CSX has a crease running along the center of the hood and front bumper, whereas the JDM does not.[7]

text: In Europe the Si and the Type-S models were offered, with the Type-S in the 3 door configuration the Type-R is based on and the Si in the 5 door, but bother going without the 198bhp 2.0L engine. No saloon version was offered in Europe.

text: The 2007 model changes for the Civic Si include the addition of the Si trim for sedans, vehicle stability assist (VSA) (not available on Canadian models until the 2010 and 2011 model years), darker silver wheels, body-color grille, a deck lid spoiler, reversed red/black coloring on the odometer, and Si-embroidered front floor mats. The introductory price of the Si Coupe increased by $800 to the MSRP of $21,090. In 2017, 10 years after its original release, the 2007 model was recalled due to a defect in the vehicle's airbags, where it could potentially explode in front of the driver and its occupants when activated in both minor and major accidents, posing a threat to passangers.[citation needed]

text: For the 2008 model year, the Civic Si received minor tweaks that include even darker wheels than the 2007 model and a new shift boot with red stitching.  Mechanical changes included a new tire pressure monitor system, a new rear upper arm that decreases the amount of rear camber, and a lowered spring rate for the coupe to match the sedan. This was also the first year Canada sold the Civic Si Sedan.

text: Vehicle color selections:

text:
Fiji Blue Pearl (Si-exclusive color, replaced by Dyno Blue Pearl in 09)
Galaxy Grey Metallic (replaced by Polished Metal Metallic in 09)
Habanero Red Pearl (Si-exclusive color, replaced by Redline Orange Pearl in 09)
Nighthawk Black pearl (replaced by Crystal Black Pearl in 09)
Rally Red
Taffeta White
Alabaster Silver Metallic

text: Civic Si Sedan[edit]

text: Honda introduced the Civic Si Sedan for North America in 2007; previously, only the Japanese market had been offered Si Sedans.[8] Debuted at the Chicago Auto Show, the Si sedan concept featured larger 18-inch alloy wheels than its coupe counterpart, along with 4-piston Brembo brakes, and large cross drilled brake rotors. The production version lacked such concept accoutrements, and the Si Sedan is mechanically almost identical to the coupe. Performance of the Si sedan is roughly equivalent to the Si coupe; the sedan's 60-pound (27 kg) weight increase is offset by a slightly more balanced front/rear weight distribution (60/40 for the sedan versus 61/39 for the coupe).[9]

text: Civic Mugen Si Sedan[edit]

text: The 2008 model year also brought into production the limited-edition 2008 Civic Mugen Si Sedan, which was announced at the 2007 SEMA Show.[10] The Mugen sedan came only in Fiji Blue Pearl, and featured a higher-flowing cat-back exhaust, track-tested sport suspension, an exclusive Mugen grille, an exclusive shift knob, Mugen Si badges on the exterior and interior, Mugen forged GP wheels, and a Mugen body kit custom designed for the American trim. Production was limited to only 1000 units, and the car carried an MSRP of $29,500.[11] Testing by Car and Driver magazine determined that the acceleration of the Mugen Si was roughly equivalent to that of the standard Civic Si coupe.[12]

text: 2009 refresh[edit]

text: Changes for the 2009 Si included a revised front bumper and grille, turn signals with clear-lenses and amber bulbs for the front and rear, a clear instead of red third brake light in the rear spoiler, and chrome trunk trim for the sedan.  Several new colors were also introduced, such as Redline Orange Pearl, Dyno Blue, Polished Metal Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl, replacing the previously similar colors.

text: The 2010 Civic Si saw no significant changes, save for a black engine cover (instead of silver).

text:
2009 Honda Civic Si Sedan (FA5 (US); facelift)

2009 Honda Civic Si Coupe (FG2 (US); facelift)

text:
Ninth generation Si (FB6/FG4)
2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan (FB6 (US); pre-facelift)OverviewProduction
2011–2015Assembly
Alliston, Ontario, Canada (HCM)Body and chassisBody style
4-door sedan (FB6)2-door coupe (FG4)PowertrainEngine
2.4L 205 hp (153 kW; 208 PS) K24Z7 I4Transmission
6-speed manual with Helical Limited-Slip DifferentialDimensionsWheelbase
Coupe: 103.1 in (2,619 mm)Sedan: 103.1 in (2,619 mm)Length
Coupe: 176.1 in (4,473 mm)Sedan: 177.3 in (4,503 mm)Width
69.0 in (1,753 mm)Height
Coupe: 55.0 in (1,397 mm)Sedan: 56.5 in (1,435 mm)Curb weight
2,877 lb (1,305 kg) (2012 Coupe)2,895 lb (1,313 kg) (2012 Sedan)

text: The 9th generation was the first generation to use a different engine than other models of the Honda Civic. The 9th generation Civic Si is available as a Coupe and as a Sedan. Honda uses a new 2.4L K-Series (K24Z7) which has increased displacement through longer piston stroke than the K20Z3 from the 8th generation Civic Si, yet the K24Z7 retains the 11.0:1 compression used in the K20Z3. The K24Z7 produces 201 hp and 170 lb⋅ft (230 N⋅m) of torque. Honda retuned the exhaust system in early 2014, increasing the output to 205 hp and 174 lb⋅ft (236 N⋅m) of torque.[13] The K24Z7 is different than the K24Z7 found in the Honda CR-V; the CR-V has lower compression and a different, efficiency-oriented VTEC design.

text: The redline of the K24Z7 is 7,000 rpm with a fuel cut at 7,200 rpm. A 6 speed manual transmission with a helical LSD (Limited Slip Differential) is still offered as the only available transmission option for the Civic Si.[14] The wing spoilers are different from the 8th generation, and the interior of the car received slight updates with the addition of a rev limit indicator and a power meter displayed in the new i-MID (intelligent Multi-Information Display). Sway bars have been changed to F18mm/R15mm from the F28mm/R17mm in 8th generation. The chassis is more rigid, and the curb weight is slightly lower than the 8th generation.

text: Announced at the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas a HFP (Honda Factory Performance) Version of the Civic was made available in a limited production of dealer installed performance parts which included:

text:
Lowered Suspension
18" HFP Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels
Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires sized in 215/40-18
Full body Kit including front, rear and side skirts
HFP Badging
HFP Branded Floor mats

text: In Canada the production was limited to 400 (200 Black Coupes, 200 White Coupes). In the USA the production was limited to 500 available in all of the colors Honda Offered the Civic Si Coupe in. After the 2015 model year Honda did not produce the Civic Si for 2016, citing poor sales.[15]

text:
Tenth generation SiOverviewProduction
2017–presentAssembly
Honda of Canada Manufacturing, Alliston, Ontario, CanadaBody and chassisBody style
4-door sedan2-door coupePowertrainEngine
1.5L 205 hp (153 kW; 208 PS) I4 (turbo)Transmission
6-speed manual

text: The 2017 Honda Civic Si was revealed in a live YouTube broadcast on April 6, 2017. It is powered by a more powerful version of the turbocharged 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine used in other Civics.

text: The 2017 Honda Civic Si is based on the EX-T sedan and coupe with the following differences: engine output increased to 205 HP at 5,700 rpm (SAE net) and 192 lb-ft torque at 2,100-5,000 rpm (SAE net)

text: Media coverage[edit]

text: In Insurance Bureau of Canada's report on top 10 most stolen vehicles in 2005, 2000 Honda Civic Si 2-door, 1999 Honda Civic Si coupe, 1994 Honda Civic Si 2-door Hatchback, 1995 Honda Civic Si 2-door Hatchback are listed as ranks #1, #2, #5, #8 respectively.[16] The sixth and seventh generation Civic Si was badged as a Civic SiR in Canada while the Canadian Si was equivalent to a US market EX. The Honda Civic is also the most popular passenger vehicle in Canada.


document_title: New England Patriots

question_text: who did the new england patriots play this year

question_tokens: who did the new england patriots play this year

root

text: New England Patriots

text: Franchise history

text: On November 16, 1959, Boston business executive Billy Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developing American Football League (AFL). The following winter, locals were allowed to submit ideas for the Boston football team's official name. The most popular choice – and the one that Sullivan selected – was the "Boston Patriots," with "Patriots" referring to those colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution and in July 1776 declared the United States of America an independent nation. Immediately thereafter, artist Phil Bissell of The Boston Globe developed the "Pat Patriot" logo.[6]

tag: p

text: The Patriots struggled for most of their years in the AFL, and they never had a regular home stadium. Nickerson Field, Harvard Stadium, Fenway Park, and Alumni Stadium all served as home fields during their time in the American Football League. They played in only one AFL championship game, following the 1963 season, in which they lost to the San Diego Chargers 51–10. They did not appear again in an AFL or NFL post-season game for another 13 years.[6]

text: When the NFL and AFL merged in 1970, the Patriots were placed in the American Football Conference (AFC) East division, where they still play today.[6] The following year, the Patriots moved to a new stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which would serve as their home for the next 30 years. As a result of the move, they announced they would change their name from the Boston Patriots to the Bay State Patriots.[5] The name was rejected by the NFL and on March 22, 1971, the team officially announced they would change its geographic name to New England.[6]

text: During the 1970s, the Patriots had some success, earning a berth to the playoffs in 1976—as a wild card team—and in 1978—as AFC East champions. They lost in the first round both times. In 1985, they returned to the playoffs, and made it all the way to Super Bowl XX, which they lost to the Chicago Bears 46–10. Following their Super Bowl loss, they returned to the playoffs in 1986, but lost in the first round. The team would not make the playoffs again for eight more years. During the 1990 season, the Patriots went 1–15. They changed ownership three times in the ensuing 14 years, being purchased from the Sullivan family first by Victor Kiam in 1988, who sold the team to James Orthwein in 1992. Orthwein intended to move the team to his native St. Louis, Missouri (where it would have been renamed as the St. Louis Stallions), but instead sold the team in 1994 to its current owner Robert Kraft.[6]

text: Though Orthwein's period as owner was short and controversial, he did oversee major changes to the team, first with the hiring of former New York Giants coach Bill Parcells in 1993. Orthwein and his marketing team also commissioned the NFL to develop a new visual identity and logo, and changed their primary colors from the traditional red, white and blue to blue and silver for the team uniforms.[7] Parcells would bring the Patriots to two playoff appearances, including Super Bowl XXXI, which they lost to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 35–21. Pete Carroll, Parcells's successor, would also take the team to the playoffs twice in 1997 & 1998 before being dismissed as head coach after the 1999 season.[6]

text: The Patriots' current coach, Bill Belichick, was hired in 2000, and a new home field, Gillette Stadium, was opened in 2002. Under Belichick, the team won three Super Bowls in four years (2001, 2003, and 2004). The Patriots finished the 2007 regular season with a perfect 16–0 record, becoming only the fourth team in league history to go undefeated in the regular season, and the only one since the league expanded its regular season schedule to 16 games.[6] After advancing to Super Bowl XLII, the team's fourth Super Bowl in seven years, the Patriots were defeated by the Giants to end their bid for a 19–0 season. With the loss, the Patriots ended the year at 18–1, becoming only one of three teams to go 18–1 along with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears. The Patriots' returned to the Super Bowl in 2012 but lost again to the Giants, 21–17.[8] In 2015, they won Super Bowl XLIX, defeating the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 28–24.[9] The Patriots became the first team to reach nine Super Bowls in the 2016–17 playoffs and faced the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI,[10] which ended up paving the way for their fifth Super Bowl victory,[11] tying them with the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers for the second-most in NFL history, 1 behind the Pittsburgh Steelers with 6; the game was also the first Super Bowl to go into overtime.[12]

text: The Patriots became the first team to reach ten Super Bowls in the 2017–18 playoffs but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, on February 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[13]

text: Season-by-season records

text: Records

text:
All-time Patriots leaders

Leader
Player
Record number
Years played for Patriots

Passing[14]
Tom Brady
66,159 passing yards
2000–present

Rushing[15]
Sam Cunningham
5,453 rushing yards
1973–1982

Receiving[16]
Stanley Morgan
10,352 receiving yards
1977–1989

Scoring[17]
Stephen Gostkowski
1,537 points
2006–present

Coaching wins[18]
Bill Belichick
280 wins
2000–present

tag: table

text: Rivalries

text: In terms of number of games played, the Patriots have competed most against teams either currently or formerly from the AFC East division. This includes the current teams, the New York Jets, the Miami Dolphins, and the Buffalo Bills, as well as former divisional opponents the Indianapolis Colts. Among those, however, a few run deeper than others.[citation needed]

text: New York Jets

text: The closest geographically has been the rivalry with the New York Jets.[20] The Patriots and Jets have been in the same division (what is now the AFC East) since both teams' foundings in 1960, and have played each other at least twice a year since then.[21] The rivalry between the Jets and Patriots has escalated since 1996, when Patriots head coach Bill Parcells left the Patriots under controversy to become the head coach of the Jets; he was replaced by former Jets coach Pete Carroll.[21] Four years later Carroll was fired, and Parcells's assistant, Bill Belichick, resigned the day he was named the Jets' head coach to become the head coach of the Patriots.[22] Six years after that, Eric Mangini, an assistant under Belichick, became the head coach of the Jets.[23]

text: Bill Belichick achieved his 200th career head coaching win (regular season and playoffs) on November 22, 2012, defeating the Jets 49–19; it was his 163rd such win as Patriots coach.[24] The Patriots defeated the Jets in Week seven of the 2015 season by a score of 30–23, to give them a 6–0 record to date. [25]

text: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts

text: The Patriots rivalry with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts ran through the two clubs' tenure together in the AFC East (1970–2001). The two clubs clashed in several close games, such as on December 19, 1971, as a late Patriots touchdown decided a 21–17 New England win; on September 18, 1978, the Colts rallied to defeat the Patriots 34–27 on Monday Night Football on a virtual one-man scoring rampage by running back Joe Washington; on September 4, 1983, the Colts defeated the Patriots in overtime 29–23 in their final season in Baltimore.[26] The Patriots defeated the Colts in back-to-back overtime games, 23–17 on December 8, 1991, and 37–34 on November 15, 1992.[26]

text: Even though the two clubs were placed in separate divisions in the NFL's 2002 divisional realignment, their rivalry did not diminish. At that time, both teams were among the best in the AFC, and both were led by likely Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Peyton Manning (for the Colts) and Tom Brady (for the Patriots) The teams met three times in four years (2003, 2004, 2006) in the playoffs, with the winner going on to win that season's Super Bowl each time. The Manning portion of the rivalry began in Manning's rookie season, 1998; in 1999 Manning suffered a bitter 31–28 loss in September as the Patriots behind Drew Bledsoe erased a 28–7 Colts lead, then defeated the Patriots 20–15 in Indianapolis on December 12. The Brady–Manning portion of the rivalry began on September 30, 2001, as Brady made his first NFL start in a 44–13 Patriots win at Foxboro; on October 21 the Patriots defeated the Colts at the RCA Dome 38–17.[26]

text: After the Colts left the AFC East in 2002, they first met on November 30, 2003, in a 38–34 Patriots win decided on a last-second goal line stand by the Patriots.[26] The Colts broke a six-game Patriot winning streak in the rivalry in November 2005,[26] then won twice in 2006;[26] in the AFC Championship Game the Colts erased a 21–6 halftime lead; the game lead tied or changed seven times in the second half before a late touchdown led to a 38–34 Colts win. The November 4, 2007, meeting involved both teams being unbeaten to that point; the 8–0 Patriots and the 7–0 Colts. The Patriots rallied to win 24–20.[27] The Colts won again in 2008 and then erased a large Patriots lead in 2009's 4th and 2 game. Manning's final meeting with the Patriots as a Colt came in November 2010; a late interception sealed a 31–28 Patriots win.[28] In 2012, the Patriots faced the Colts, quarterbacked now by Andrew Luck, on November 18; the Patriots defeated the Colts 59–24.[29] The Patriots also beat the Colts on January 12, 2014, 43–22.[30] The Patriots played the Colts in the playoffs again on January 18, 2015, in the AFC title game, winning 45–7.[31]

text: Buffalo Bills

text: The Patriots and the Bills were both charter members of the AFL, and even competed with each other in an AFL playoff game. They have remained divisional rivals since the NFL-AFL merger. Prior to the rise of Tom Brady, the two teams shared a mellow, yet occasionally competitive rivalry, featuring highlights from players such as O.J. Simpson, Steve Grogan, Joe Ferguson, Jim Kelly, and Drew Bledsoe. However, Brady has dominated the Bills ever since taking over as the Patriots' franchise quarterback, holding a 26-3 regular season record over them.[32] Though Patriots fans usually feel apathetic towards the Bills, Bills fans have come to despise the Patriots more than any other rival.[33] The rivalry has remained somewhat intense in recent years with multiple players having played for both teams, the Bills usually giving their all when playing the Patriots, and the presence of Rex Ryan, who coached both the Bills and Jets and was known for his trash-talk.[34]

text: Miami Dolphins

text: The Patriots first played the Miami Dolphins in 1966 in the AFL, when Miami was one of two expansion teams to debut that year in that league. The Dolphins dominated the Patriots in the 1970s and 1990s, but the two teams remained competitive with each other for years before the rise of Tom Brady. Brady, however, struggled occasionally against the Dolphins in the 2000s before reasserting dominance in the 2010s. The Patriots and Dolphins are the only two teams in the Super Bowl era to post undefeated regular season records, with Miami going 14-0 in 1972 and the Patriots going 16-0 in 2007.[35] Notable moments between the clubs include the Snowplow Game, three playoff matchups, and the Dolphins revealing their Wildcat offense against the Patriots.[36]

text: Baltimore Ravens

text: The Ravens first met the New England Patriots in 1996,[37] but the rivalry truly started in 2007 when the Ravens suffered a bitter 27–24 loss in the Patriots' quest for perfection.[38] The rivalry began to escalate in 2009 when the Ravens lost to the Patriots 27–21 in a game that involved a confrontation between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.[39] Both players would go on to take verbal shots at each other through the media after the game. The Ravens defeated the Patriots in the 2009 AFC Wild Card playoff game, 33–14.[40] This was the first time the Ravens had ever defeated the Patriots. The Ravens faced the Patriots in week six of the 2010 season. The Patriots ended up winning 23–20 in overtime; the game caused controversy from a hit to the helmet of tight end Todd Heap by Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather.[41]

text: The Ravens played the Patriots for the third consecutive season in the 2012 AFC championship game, which the Ravens lost 23–20.[42] The rivalry reached a new level of friction with this, the second career playoff game between the two clubs. The Ravens clawed to a 20–16 lead in the fourth quarter, but Patriots quarterback Tom Brady dove into the end zone to make the score 23–20 with around 11 minutes remaining; this proved to be the winning touchdown.[42] On the Ravens' last possession of the game, quarterback Joe Flacco threw a pass to wide receiver Lee Evans in the corner of the end zone which looked to be the game-winning touchdown, before a last-second strip by Sterling Moore forced the ball from the hands of Evans, forcing the game to be decided on a last-minute field goal by Ravens placekicker Billy Cundiff.[42] With 11 seconds remaining on the clock, the kicker missed the 32-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Patriots to kill the clock on their way to Super Bowl XLVI for a rematch with the New York Giants.[42]

text: The Ravens' first regular-season win over the Patriots came on September 23, 2012. The game was emotional as receiver Torrey Smith was competing following the death of his brother in a motorcycle accident just the night before.[43] Smith caught two touchdowns in a back and forth game; the Ravens erased a 13–0 lead in the first half and led 14–13, but the Patriots scored at the end of the second quarter for a 20–14 lead. The lead changed twice in the third quarter and the Patriots led 30–21 in the fourth, but the Ravens scored on Smith's second touchdown catch. The Ravens were stopped on fourth down but the Patriots had to punt; in the final two minutes a pass interference penalty on Devin McCourty put the ball at the Patriots 7-yard line; new Ravens kicker Justin Tucker booted a 27-yard field goal on the final play; the ball sailed directly over the upright and was ruled good; the quality of officiating by replacement referees caused controversy as Bill Belichick angrily reached for one of the referees as they were leaving the field, leading to a $50,000 fine later that week.[44][45]

text: The two teams met again on January 20, 2013, in the AFC Championship, where the Ravens won 28–13.[46] The Patriots led at halftime, 13–7, but the Ravens defense gave up no points in the 2nd half.[46] It was the first time ever that Tom Brady lost a game at home after leading at halftime, and the first time a road team beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship.[46]

text: The two teams met once again at Gillette Stadium in the playoffs on January 10, 2015. The Patriots trailed by as much as 14 twice, before beating the Ravens 35–31 to advance to the AFC Championship.[47]

text: Controversies

text: This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2017)

text: "Spygate"

text: "Deflategate"

text: During the 2015 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts, allegations arose that the Patriots were utilizing under-inflated footballs. It was even suggested that the Patriots' staff themselves deliberately deflated the footballs to give their team an unfair advantage during the playoffs. [48][49] A lengthy investigation and heated debate commenced shortly afterwards, with a full report being published in May 2015.[50][51] The Wells Report found that balls provided by the Patriots, who were the home team, indeed had less pressure on average than the balls provided by the Colts. Also notable was the findings of some suggestions of communication between Tom Brady and two Patriots locker room attendants, indicating Brady was likely "generally aware" of the situation and that the Patriots staff intentionally deflated the footballs.[51] A later study by the American Enterprise Institute called the evidence and methodology of the Wells report "deeply flawed" and "unreliable".[52]

text: In the aftermath of the incident, the NFL suspended Brady without pay for the first four games of the 2015 season, fined the Patriots $1 million, and forced them to forfeit their 2016 first round draft pick and 2017 fourth round draft pick. Brady appealed his suspension, which was eventually vacated by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, only for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to reinstate it a year later for the 2016 NFL season.[53] Brady eventually agreed to serve the suspension in 2016, but led the Patriots to win Super Bowl LI in spite of it.[54]

text: Strategy

text: Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots have employed specific on-field and off-field strategies. On the field, the Patriots have typically utilized an "Erhardt–Perkins" offense and a "Fairbanks–Bullough" 3–4 defense, referred to commonly as a two-gap 3–4 defensive system.[55] Their philosophy in making personnel decisions and in game planning has focused on the "team" concept,[56] stressing preparation, strong work ethic, versatility,[57] and lack of individual ego.[58] This approach, which has led to five Super Bowl victories under Belichick, was analyzed in the 2004 book Patriot Reign.

text: When owner Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, he did so for $175 million. Since then, the Patriots have sold out every home game in both Foxboro Stadium and Gillette Stadium.[6] By 2009, the value of the franchise had increased by over $1 billion, to a Forbes magazine estimated value of $1.361 billion, third highest in the NFL only behind the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.[59][60][61] As of July 2015[update], the Patriots are the seventh most valuable sports franchise in the world according to Forbes magazine.[62]

text: Stadium

text: Since 2002, the Patriots' home stadium has been Gillette Stadium, a $350 million facility privately financed by Kraft. It houses all administrative offices for the team and its owning entity, The Kraft Group, as well as the Kraft-owned Major League Soccer team, the New England Revolution.[63] The field, which was originally natural grass, was replaced with a FieldTurf surface during the 2006 season.[64] The area around the stadium was developed, beginning in 2007, into a $375 million "lifestyle and entertainment center" called Patriot Place; among its largest structures is a multi-floor restaurant and bar called CBS Scene.[65]

text: Prior to 2002, the Patriots played in Foxboro Stadium dating back to 1971, the team's second year in the NFL after the AFL–NFL merger.[63] During the team's days in the American Football League, the Boston Patriots were hosted by a number of fields in or around Boston—they played at Braves Field, Harvard Stadium, Fenway Park, and Alumni Stadium.[63]

text: Logos and uniforms

text: Logos

text: The Patriots original helmet logo was a simple tricorne hat, used only for the 1960 season. From 1961 to 1992, the Patriots used a logo of a Revolutionary War minuteman hiking a football. The Patriots script logo during this time consisted of a western-style font. The minuteman logo became known as the "Pat Patriot" logo, which later became the name of the team's mascot.[67]

text: In 1979, the Patriots worked with NFL Properties to design a new, streamlined logo, to replace the complex Pat Patriot logo. The new logo featured the blue and white profile of a minuteman in a tricorne hat set against a flag showing three red stripes separated by two white stripes. Team owner Billy Sullivan decided to put the new logo up to a vote against Pat Patriot with the fans at the September 23rd home game against the San Diego Chargers, using a sound level meter to judge the crowd's reaction. The new logo was decidedly rejected by the crowd in favor of Pat, and the concept was shelved.[68]

text: In 1993, a new logo was unveiled involving the gray face of a minuteman wearing a red, white and blue hat that begins as a tricorne and transitions into a flowing banner-like design. The logo bears some superficial resemblance to the aborted 1979 logo. It became popularly known as the "Flying Elvis" due to many observing its resemblance to the profile of a young Elvis Presley.[67] In 2000, the blue color was darkened.[67]

text: On July 3, 2013, the Patriots unveiled a new wordmark logo.[66]

text: Uniforms

text: The Patriots originally wore red jerseys with white block numbering at home, and white jerseys with red block numbering on the road. Both uniforms used white pants and white helmets, first with the hat logo over the player's number, then with the "Pat Patriot" logo starting in 1961.[69] A blue stripe was added to the two red helmet stripes in 1964.[69] The numbers on both the home and away jerseys gained a blue outline in 1973.[69] In 1979, the Patriots began the first of many sporadic runs of wearing red pants with the white jerseys.[69] The red pants were dropped in 1981, but returned in 1984. After being dropped again in 1988, they were used again from 1990 to 1992.[69]

text: The Patriots underwent a complete identity overhaul before the 1993 season, starting with the introduction of the aforementioned "Flying Elvis" logo. The new uniforms consisted of a royal blue home jersey and a white away jersey.[67] The helmet was silver with the Flying Elvis logo and no additional striping.[67] Both uniforms used silver pants, originally with stripes designed to look like those flowing from the Flying Elvis, but these were changed to simple red and blue stripes after one season. When they debuted, both the home and away jerseys used red block numbers with a blue and white outline, but after one season the home uniforms switched to the now-familiar white with a red outline.[70]

text: In 1995, the Patriots switched the block numbers to a more modern rounded number font with a dropshadow.[70] The Patriots were one of the first adopters of custom numbers, a trend that would grow drastically over the next 20 years.[70]

text: However, in 2000, the Patriots also became one of the only teams to drop the rounded numbers and switched back to block numbers.[70] Also that year, the shade of blue was darkened from royal to nautical blue.[70] The Patriots, unsatisfied with the white-on-silver road look, also took the opportunity to introduce blue pants to be worn with the white jersey, offering a better contrast. To better match the blue pants, the number on the white jersey was switched from red to blue.[70]

text: Alternate uniforms

text: In 1994, the Patriots wore the "Pat Patriot" helmets and plain white striped pants from two seasons prior as alternates as part of the NFL's 75th anniversary celebration. In 2002, NFL teams were allowed to add a permanent third jersey to be worn in a maximum of two games. The Patriots reintroduced a red jersey as their alternate, complimented with the old-style "Pat Patriot" helmet.[67] In 2003, the Patriots changed their alternate to a silver jersey with blue pants. For this uniform, the "Flying Elvis" helmet was utilized.[67] The uniform was identical to the white jersey with any areas of white replaced by silver. These uniforms were dropped after 2007. No alternate uniform was used in 2008. In 2009, the red alternate was reintroduced, again accompanied by the "Pat Patriot" helmet. An alternate white road jersey was also worn with the older helmet for one game, using red numbers, in tribute to the 50th anniversary of the AFL. The red alternate gained a blue outline around the numbers in 2010 and this was worn through 2012. The Patriots retired their alternate red uniforms in 2013, thanks to a new NFL rule outlawing throwback alternate helmets.[71]

text: In 2016, the Patriots took part in the NFL Color Rush program, wearing monochrome navy uniforms on September 22 against the Houston Texans.[72]

text: Players

text: Current roster

text:
New England Patriots roster

view
talk
edit

Quarterbacks

12 Tom Brady
 2 Brian Hoyer

Running backs

38 Brandon Bolden
46 James Develin FB
35 Mike Gillislee
28 James White

Wide receivers

85 Kenny Britt
14 Brandin Cooks
13 Phillip Dorsett
11 Julian Edelman
15 Chris Hogan
19 Malcolm Mitchell
17 Bernard Reedy

Tight ends

83 Dwayne Allen
88 Martellus Bennett
87 Rob Gronkowski
47 Jacob Hollister

Offensive linemen

60 David Andrews C
61 Marcus Cannon T
74 Cole Croston G
66 Chase Farris G
63 Antonio Garcia T
76 Andrew Jelks T
75 Ted Karras G
69 Shaq Mason G
62 Joe Thuney G

Defensive linemen

97 Alan Branch DT
90 Malcom Brown DT
70 Adam Butler DT
42 Keionta Davis DE
98 Trey Flowers DE
96 Geneo Grissom DE
93 Lawrence Guy DE
55 Eric Lee DE
95 Derek Rivers DE
99 Vincent Valentine DT
91 Deatrich Wise Jr. DE

Linebackers

50 Nicholas Grigsby MLB
54 Dont'a Hightower MLB
48 Harvey Langi OLB
58 Shea McClellin OLB
52 Elandon Roberts MLB
53 Kyle Van Noy OLB

Defensive backs

23 Patrick Chung SS
24 Stephon Gilmore CB
30 Duron Harmon FS
41 Cyrus Jones CB
31 Jonathan Jones CB
32 Devin McCourty FS
37 Jordan Richards SS
25 Eric Rowe CB

Special teams

 6 Ryan Allen P
49 Joe Cardona LS
 3 Stephen Gostkowski K

Reserve lists

64 James Ferentz C (Future)
81 Cody Hollister WR (Future)
26 David Jones FS (Future)
72 Jason King G (Future)
27 Ryan Lewis CB (Future)
84 Riley McCarron WR (Future)
39 Damarius Travis SS (Future)
82 Will Tye TE (Future)
22 Jomal Wiltz CB (Future)

Unrestricted FAs

80 Danny Amendola WR
29 Johnson Bademosi CB
34 Rex Burkhead RB
21 Malcolm Butler CB
43 Nate Ebner SS
71 Cameron Fleming OT
59 Marquis Flowers OLB
92 James Harrison OLB
94 Ricky Jean Francois DT
33 Dion Lewis RB
18 Matthew Slater WR
77 Nate Solder OT
68 LaAdrian Waddle OT

Restricted FAs

36 Brandon King SS

Exclusive-Rights FAs

64 Caleb Kidder DE

Rookies in italics
Roster updated February 24, 2018
Depth chart • Transactions
52 Active, 9 Inactive, 15 FAs
→ AFC rosters → NFC rosters

AFC East
BUF
MIA
NE
NYJ
North
BAL
CIN
CLE
PIT
South
HOU
IND
JAX
TEN
West
DEN
KC
LAC
OAK

NFC East
DAL
NYG
PHI
WAS
North
CHI
DET
GB
MIN
South
ATL
CAR
NO
TB
West
ARI
LAR
SF
SEA

text: Retired numbers

text:
New England Patriots retired numbers

No.
Player
Position
Tenure

20
Gino Cappelletti
WR, K
1960–1970

40
Mike Haynes
CB
1976–1982

57
Steve Nelson
LB
1974–1987

73
John Hannah
G
1973–1985

78
Bruce Armstrong
T
1987–2000

79
Jim Lee Hunt
DL
1960–1971

89
Bob Dee
DL
1960–1967

text: New England Patriots Hall of Fame members

text: The New England Patriots feature 22 former players and two contributors in their team hall of fame, established in 1991.[73] A committee of media and staff selected 11 players for enshrinement between 1991 and 2001, before a six-year span of no selections. In 2007, in advance of the 2008 opening of The Hall at Patriot Place, the Patriots introduced a new nomination committee to select three candidates, with the winner of an Internet fan vote being enshrined in the hall of fame.[74] In order to be eligible, players and coaches must be retired for at least four years.[75] Beginning in 2011, and meeting every five years, a senior selection committee has the option of voting a player who has been retired for at least 25 seasons into the hall of fame.[76]

text: Former owner Billy Sullivan was inducted by owner Robert Kraft in March 2009, the Patriots' 50th season, as a contributor.[77]

text: Additionally, four of these Patriots players have also been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Patriots have officially retired seven uniform numbers.

text:
New England Patriots Hall of Fame

Players

No.
Name
Positions
Seasons
Inducted
No.
Name
Positions
Seasons
Inducted

73
John Hannah
G
1973–1985
1991 (Pro: 1991)
87
Ben Coates
TE
1991–1999
2008

85
Nick Buoniconti
LB
1962–1968
1992 (Pro: 2001)
35
Jim Nance
FB
1965–1971
2009

20
Gino Cappelletti
WR/K
1960–1970
1992
39
Sam Cunningham
RB
1973–1982
2010

89
Bob Dee
DL
1960–1967
1993
11
Drew Bledsoe
QB
1993–2001
2011

79
Jim Lee Hunt
DT
1960–1971
1993
56
Jon Morris
C
1964–1974
2011

57
Steve Nelson
LB
1974–1987
1993
80
Troy Brown
WR/PR/CB
1993–2007
2012

15
Vito "Babe" Parilli
QB
1961–1967
1993
54
Tedy Bruschi
LB
1996–2008
2013

40
Mike Haynes
CB
1976–1982
1994 (Pro: 1997)
24
Ty Law
CB
1995–2004
2014

14
Steve Grogan
QB
1975–1990
1995
55
Willie McGinest
LB/DE
1994–2005
2015

56
Andre Tippett
LB
1982–1993
1999 (Pro: 2008)
65
Houston Antwine
DL
1961–1971
2015

78
Bruce Armstrong
T
1987–2000
2001
33
Kevin Faulk
RB
1999–2011
2016

86
Stanley Morgan
WR
1977–1989
2007
26
Raymond Clayborn
CB
1977-1989
2017

Contributors

No.
Name
Positions
Seasons
Inducted
No.
Name
Positions
Seasons
Inducted

—
Billy Sullivan
Owner & founder
1960–1988
2009
—
Gil Santos
Broadcaster
1972–1979, 1991–2012
2013

text: Three other players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame spent part of their careers with the Patriots:

text:
28 Curtis Martin, RB (1995–1997), elected in 2012.
Bill Parcells, head coach (1993–1996), elected in 2013.
55 Junior Seau, LB (2006–2009), elected in 2015.

tag: ul

text: All-decade teams

text: 1960s (AFL)

text: In November 1971, fans voted on a 10-year Patriots anniversary team, which coincided with the team's 10 years in the then-defunct American Football League:[78] Additional selections for returner, special teamer, and coach were added in 2009:[79]

text:
[show]

v
t
e

Boston Patriots All-1960s Team

Offense
Parilli (QB)
Nance (RB)
Garron (RB)
Colclough (WR)
Graham (WR)
Whalen (TE)
Long (T)
Neville (T)
Neighbors (G)
St. Jean (G)
Morris (C)

Defense
Dee (DE)
Eisenhauer (DE)
Antwine (DT)
Hunt (DT)
Addison (OLB)
Philpott (OLB)
Buoniconti (MLB)
Shonta (CB)
Johnson (CB)
Webb (S)
Hall (S)

Special Teams
Garron (Ret.)
Cappelletti (PK)
Yewcic (P)
Webb (ST)

Coach
Holovak

text: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

text: In March 2009, as part of the Patriots' 50th anniversary, a group of local media and other team figures selected all-decade teams for the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s:[79]

text:
[show]

v
t
e

New England Patriots All-1970s Team

Offense
Grogan (QB)
Cunningham (RB)
Johnson (RB)
Morgan (WR)
Vataha (WR)
Francis (TE)
Gray (T)
Neville (T)
Hannah (G)
S. Adams (G)
Lenkaitis (C)

Defense
J. Adams (DE)
McGee (DE)
Hamilton (NT)
Zabel (OLB)
King (OLB)
Nelson (ILB)
Hunt (ILB)
Clayborn (CB)
Haynes (CB)
Fox (S)
McCray (S)

Special Teams
Herron (Ret.)
Smith (PK)
Patrick (P)
Tatupu (ST)

Coach
Fairbanks

text:
[show]

v
t
e

New England Patriots All-1980s Team

Offense
Grogan (QB)
Collins (RB)
C. James (RB)
Fryar (WR)
Morgan (WR)
Dawson (TE)
Armstrong (T)
Holloway (T)
Hannah (G)
Wooten (G)
Brock (C)

Defense
Adams (DE)
Veris (DE)
Bishop (NT)
Tippett (OLB)
Blackmon (OLB)
Nelson (ILB)
Rembert (ILB)
Clayborn (CB)
Lippett (CB)
R. James (S)
Marion (S)

Special Teams
Fryar (Ret.)
Franklin (PK)
Camarillo (P)
Tatupu (ST)

Coach
Berry

text:
[show]

v
t
e

New England Patriots All-1990s Team

Offense
Bledsoe (QB)
Martin (RB)
Russell (RB)
Glenn (WR)
Jefferson (WR)
Coates (TE)
Armstrong (T)
Harlow (T)
Rucci (G)
Lane (G)
Wohlabaugh (C)

Defense
McGinest (DE)
Williams (DE)
Goad (NT)
Tippett (OLB)
Slade (OLB)
Brown (ILB)
Johnson (ILB)
Hurst (CB)
Law (CB)
Clay (S)
Milloy (S)

Special Teams
Meggett (Ret.)
Vinatieri (PK)
Tupa (P)
Whigham (ST)

Coach
Parcells

text: On March 16, 2010, the Patriots Hall of Fame selection committee selected an all-decade team for the 2000s:[78][80]

text:
[show]

v
t
e

New England Patriots All-2000s Team

Offense
Brady (QB)
Dillon (RB)
Moss (WR)
Welker (WR)
Brown (WR)
Graham (TE)
Light (T)
Kaczur (T)
Andruzzi (G)
Mankins (G)
Koppen (C)

Defense
Seymour (DE)
Warren (DE)
Wilfork (NT)
McGinest (OLB)
Vrabel (OLB)
Bruschi (ILB)
Phifer (ILB)
Law (CB)
Samuel (CB)
Harrison (S)
Milloy (S)

Special Teams
Faulk (Ret.)
Vinatieri (PK)
Miller (P)
Izzo (ST)

Coach
Belichick

text: Anniversary teams

text: 35th anniversary (1994)

text: In 1994, a group of local media selected a 35th anniversary team:[78]

text:
[show]

v
t
e

New England Patriots 35th Anniversary Team (1994)

Offense
Grogan (QB)
Nance (RB)
Cunningham (RB)
Morgan (WR)
Cappelletti (WR)
Francis (TE)
Armstrong (T)
Neville (T)
Hannah (G)
S. Adams (G)
Morris (C)

Defense
J. Adams (DE)
Eisenhauer (DE)
Antwine (DT)
J. Hunt (DT)
Tippett (LB)
Buoniconti (LB)
Nelson (LB)
S. Hunt (LB)
Haynes (CB)
Clayborn (CB)
Marion (S)
Hall (S)

Special Teams
Cappelletti (PK)
Camarillo (P)
Tatupu (ST)

text: 50th anniversary (2009)

text: In 2009, the Patriots Hall of Fame selection committee selected a 50th anniversary team:[78]

text:
[show]

v
t
e

New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team (2009)

Offense
Brady (QB)
Nance (RB)
Cunningham (RB)
Morgan (WR)
Brown (WR)
Fryar (WR)
Coates (TE)
Armstrong (T)
Light (T)
Hannah (G)
Mankins (G)
Morris (C)

Defense
Adams (DE)
Seymour (DE)
Antwine (DT)
Wilfork (DT)
Tippett (OLB)
Vrabel (OLB)
Nelson (ILB)
Buoniconti (ILB)
Haynes (CB)
Law (CB)
Marion (S)
Harrison (S)

Special Teams
Faulk (Ret.)
Vinatieri (PK)
Camarillo (P)
Tatupu (ST)

Captains
Cappelletti (Offense)
Bruschi (Defense)

Coach
Belichick

text: All-time first-round draft picks

text: Key

text:
Table key

^
Indicates the player was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 *
Selected number one overall

†
Indicates the player was selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.

—
The Patriots did not draft a player in the first round that year.

Year
Each year links to an article about that particular AFL, Common, or NFL Draft.

Pick
Indicates the number of the pick within the first round

Position
Indicates the position of the player in the NFL

College
The player's college football team

text:
Positions key

C
Center

CB
Cornerback

DB
Defensive back

DE
Defensive end

DL
Defensive lineman
DT
Defensive tackle
FB
Fullback
FS
Free safety

G
Guard
HB
Halfback
K
Placekicker
KR
Kick returner

LB
Linebacker
LS
Long snapper
OT
Offensive tackle
OL
Offensive lineman

NT
Nose tackle
P
Punter
PR
Punt returner
QB
Quarterback

RB
Running back
S
Safety
SS
Strong safety
TB
Tailback

TE
Tight end
WR
Wide receiver

text:
New England Patriots first-round draft picks

Year
Pick
Player name
Position
College
Notes

Boston Patriots (1960–1970)

1960
—
Schwedes, GerhardGerhard Schwedes
RB
Syracuse
a

1961
2
Mason, TommyTommy Mason
RB
Tulane
b

1962
6
Collins, GaryGary Collins
WR
Maryland
c

1963
7
Graham, ArtArt Graham
WR
Boston College
d

1964
1
Concannon, JackJack Concannon *
QB
Boston College
e

1965
7
Rush, JerryJerry Rush
OT
Michigan State
f

1966
3
Singer, KarlKarl Singer
OT
Purdue
d

1967
21
Charles, JohnJohn Charles
CB
Purdue

1968
6
Byrd, DennisDennis Byrd
DE
NC State

1969
6
Sellers, RonRon Sellers
WR
Florida State

1970
4
Olsen, PhilPhil Olsen
DT
Utah State

New England Patriots (1971–present)

1971
1
Plunkett, JimJim Plunkett *
QB
Stanford

1972
—
— No pick
—
—
g

1973
4
Hannah, JohnJohn Hannah ^
OG
Alabama

1973
11
Cunningham, SamSam Cunningham †
RB
USC
h

1973
19
Stingley, DarrylDarryl Stingley
WR
Purdue
i

1974
—
— No pick
—
—
j

1975
16
Francis, RussRuss Francis †
TE
Oregon

1976
5
Haynes, MikeMike Haynes ^
CB
Arizona State

1976
12
Brock, PetePete Brock
C
Colorado
k

1976
21
Fox, TimTim Fox †
S
Ohio State
l

1977
16
Clayborn, RaymondRaymond Clayborn †
CB
Texas
m

1977
25
Morgan, StanleyStanley Morgan †
WR
Tennessee

1978
18
Cryder, BobBob Cryder
OG
Alabama

1979
25
Sanford, RickRick Sanford
CB
South Carolina

1980
14
James, RolandRoland James
CB
Tennessee

25
Ferguson, VagasVagas Ferguson
RB
Notre Dame
n

1981
19
Holloway, BrianBrian Holloway †
OT
Stanford

1982
1
Sims, KennethKenneth Sims *
DE
Texas

27
Williams, LesterLester Williams
DT
Miami (FL)
o

1983
15
Eason, TonyTony Eason
QB
Illinois

1984
1
Fryar, IrvingIrving Fryar *
WR
Nebraska
p

1985
28
Matich, TrevorTrevor Matich
C
BYU
q

1986
26
Dupard, ReggieReggie Dupard
RB
SMU

1987
23
Armstrong, BruceBruce Armstrong †
OT
Louisville

1988
17
Stephens, JohnJohn Stephens †
RB
Northwestern State

1989
16
Dykes, Hart LeeHart Lee Dykes
WR
Oklahoma State

1990
8
Singleton, ChrisChris Singleton
LB
Arizona
r

10
Agnew, RayRay Agnew
DE
NC State
s

1991
11
Harlow, PatPat Harlow
OT
USC
t

14
Russell, LeonardLeonard Russell
RB
Arizona State
u

1992
13
Chung, EugeneEugene Chung
OT
Virginia Tech
v

1993
1
Bledsoe, DrewDrew Bledsoe *
QB
Washington State

1994
4
McGinest, WillieWillie McGinest †
DE
USC

1995
23
Law, TyTy Law †
CB
Michigan

1996
7
Glenn, TerryTerry Glenn †
WR
Ohio State

1997
29
Canty, ChrisChris Canty
CB
Kansas State

1998
18
Edwards, RobertRobert Edwards
RB
Georgia
w

22
Jones, TebuckyTebucky Jones
CB
Syracuse

1999
17
Woody, DamienDamien Woody †
C
Boston College
x

28
Katzenmoyer, AndyAndy Katzenmoyer
LB
Ohio State
y

2000
—
— No pick
—
—
z

2001
6
Seymour, RichardRichard Seymour †
DT
Georgia

2002
21
Graham, DanielDaniel Graham
TE
Colorado
aa

2003
13
Warren, TyTy Warren
DT
Texas A&M
bb

2004
21
Wilfork, VinceVince Wilfork †
DT
Miami (FL)
cc

32
Watson, BenjaminBenjamin Watson
TE
Georgia

2005
32
Mankins, LoganLogan Mankins †
OG
Fresno State

2006
21
Maroney, LaurenceLaurence Maroney
RB
Minnesota

2007
24
Meriweather, BrandonBrandon Meriweather †
S
Miami (FL)
dd

2008
10
Mayo, JerodJerod Mayo †
LB
Tennessee
ee

2009
—
— No pick
—
—
ff

2010
27
McCourty, DevinDevin McCourty †
CB/S
Rutgers
gg

2011
17
Solder, NateNate Solder
OT
Colorado

2012
21
Jones, ChandlerChandler Jones †
DE
Syracuse

25
Hightower, Dont'aDont'a Hightower †
LB
Alabama

2013
—
— No pick
—
—
hh

2014
29
Easley, DominiqueDominique Easley
DT
Florida

2015
32
Brown, MalcomMalcom Brown
DT
Texas

2016
—
— No pick
—
—
ii

2017
—
— No pick
—
—
jj

text: Staff

text: Head coaches

text:
#
Number of coaches

GC
Games coached

W
Wins

L
Losses

T
Ties

Win%
Winning percentage

00†
Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach

00‡
Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player

00*
Spent entire NFL head coaching career with the Patriots

text: Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2016 NFL season.

text:
#
Name
Term
Regular season
Playoffs
Awards
Reference

GC
W
L
T
Win%
GC
W
L

Boston Patriots

1
Lou Saban
1960–1961
19
7
12
0
.368
–
–
–

[81]

2
Mike Holovak
1961–1968
107
52
46
9
.528
2
1
1
UPI AFL Coach of the Year (1966)[82]
[83]

3
Clive Rush*
1969–1970
21
5
16
0
.238
–
–
–

[84]

4
John Mazur*
1970
7
1
6
0
.143
–
–
–

[85]

New England Patriots

—
John Mazur*
1971–1972
23
8
15
0
.348
–
–
–

[85]

5
Phil Bengtson
1972[86]
5
1
4
0
.200
–
–
–

[87]

6
Chuck Fairbanks*
1973–1978[88]
85
46
39
0
.541
2
0
2
UPI NFL Coach of the Year (1976)[89]
Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year (1976)

[90]

7
Ron Erhardt
1979–1981[91]
49
21
28
0
.428
–
–
–

[92]

8
Ron Meyer
1982–1984
33
18
15
0
.545
1
0
1

[93]

9
Raymond Berry *‡
1984–1989*
87
48
39
0
.551
5
3
2
UPI NFL Coach of the Year (1985)
AFC Championship (1985)
[94][95]

10
Rod Rust*
1990
16
1
15
0
.062
–
–
–

[96]

11
Dick MacPherson*
1991–1992
32
8
24
0
.250
–
–
–

[97]

12
Bill Parcells†
1993–1996
64
32
32
0
.500
4
2
2
AP NFL Coach of the Year (1994)
Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of the Year (1994)
Maxwell Football Club NFL Coach of the Year (1994)
UPI NFL Coach of the Year (1994)
AFC Championship (1996)

[98][99]

13
Pete Carroll
1997–1999
48
27
21
0
.562
3
1
2

[100]

14
Bill Belichick
2000–present
272
201
71
0
.739
34
25
9
AP NFL Coach of the Year (2003, 2007, 2010)
Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year (2003)
Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of the Year (2003)
Maxwell Football Club NFL Coach of the Year (2007)
5 Super Bowl Championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016)
8 AFC Championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017)

[101][102]

text: Current staff

text:
New England Patriots staff

v
t
e

Front office

Chairman/CEO – Robert Kraft
President – Jonathan Kraft
General Manager – Bill Belichick
Director of Player Personnel – Nick Caserio
Director of College Scouting – Monti Ossenfort
Director of Pro Personnel – Dave Ziegler
Assistant Director of College Scouting – Brian Smith
Director of Scouting Administration – Nancy Meier
Football Research Director – Ernie Adams
Director of Football/Head Coach Administration – Berj Najarian

Head Coach

Head Coach – Bill Belichick

Offensive Coaches

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach – Josh McDaniels
Assistant Quarterbacks – Jerry Schuplinski
Running Backs – Ivan Fears
Wide Receivers – Chad O'Shea
Tight Ends – Nick Caley
Offensive Line – Dante Scarnecchia
Offensive Assistant – Cole Popovich
Coaching Assistant – DeMarcus Covington

Defensive Coaches

Defensive Coordinator – Vacant
Defensive Line – Brendan Daly
Linebackers – Brian Flores
Cornerbacks – Josh Boyer
Safeties – Steve Belichick
Defensive Assistant – Mike Pellegrino
Coaching Assistant – Brian Belichick

Special Teams Coaches

Special Teams – Joe Judge
Assistant Special Teams – Vacant

Strength and Conditioning

Strength and Conditioning – Moses Cabrera
Assistant Strength and Conditioning – James Hardy

→ Coaching staff
→ Management
→ More NFL staffs

AFC East
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South
HOU
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JAX
TEN
West
DEN
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NFC East
DAL
NYG
PHI
WAS
North
CHI
DET
GB
MIN
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CAR
NO
TB
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ARI
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SF
SEA

text: Culture

text: Cheerleaders and mascot

text: The Patriots NFL Cheerleaders are simply known as the Patriots Cheerleaders.[103] In 2005, cheerleader Kristin Gauvin won Miss Massachusetts, in part from her local commitment with the Patriots.[103]

text: The Patriots' mascot is Pat Patriot, a revolutionary minuteman wearing a Patriots home jersey.[103]

text: The Patriots also employ a corps known as the End Zone Militia. During each game, about ten men dressed as minutemen line the back of each end zone. When the Patriots score a touchdown, field goal, point-after-touchdown or safety, the militia behind the opposite end zone fire a volley of blanks from flintlock muskets. Per an interview with the Loren & Wally Show on WROR 105.7 FM in and around the time of Super Bowl XLIX, said shots use double the load of black powder than a regular historical reenactor does, specifically 200 grains, in order to be heard throughout the stadium. ESPN writer Josh Pahigian named this one of the top ten celebrations in the league in 2007.[104]

text: Radio and television

text: The Patriots' flagship radio station is WBZ-FM 98.5 FM, owned by CBS Radio.[105] The larger radio network is called the New England Patriots Radio Network, whose 37 affiliate stations span seven states.[105] Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti were the longtime announcing team until their retirement following the conclusion of the 2012 NFL season. Santos was replaced by Bob Socci.[105] Former Patriots QB Scott Zolak joined the radio team in the 2011 season as a sideline analyst, and in 2013, he replaced Cappelletti as color commentator.[105]

text: Any preseason games not on national television are shown on CBS's O&O WBZ-TV, who also airs the bulk of Patriots regular season games by virtue of CBS having the rights to most AFC games; CBS also has a presence at the nearby Patriot Place with the "CBS Scene" bar/restaurant. During the regular season whenever the Patriots host an NFC team, the games are aired on Fox affiliate WFXT-TV, and NBC Sunday Night Football games are carried by the "NBC Boston" network of stations led by WBTS-LD.[105] Preseason games were broadcast on ABC affiliate WCVB-TV from 1995 until the change to WBZ in 2009.[105] Don Criqui was play-by-play announcer for the 1995–2012 seasons, with Randy Cross as a color commentator and Mike Lynch as a sideline reporter.[105] Lynch was replaced by WBZ reporter Steve Burton in 2009.[105]


document_title: Pledge of Allegiance (United States)

question_text: who added under god to pledge of allegiance

text: Pledge of Allegiance (United States)

text: Recital[edit]

text: Congressional sessions open with the recital of the Pledge, as do many government meetings at local levels, and meetings held by many private organizations. All states except Hawaii, Iowa, Vermont and Wyoming require a regularly-scheduled recitation of the pledge in the public schools, although the Supreme Court has ruled in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that students cannot be compelled to recite the Pledge, nor can they be punished for not doing so.[8] A number of states state flag pledges of allegiance to be recited after this.[9]

text: The United States Flag Code says:

text: The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag—"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."[10]—should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may render the military salute in the manner provided for persons in uniform.[2]

text: Origins[edit]

text: Balch and Bellamy pledges[edit]

text: The Pledge of Allegiance, as it exists in its current form, was composed in August 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855–1931), who was a Baptist minister, a Christian socialist,[11][12] and the cousin of socialist utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850–1898). There did exist a previous version created by Rear Admiral George Balch, a veteran of the Civil War, who later become auditor of the New York Board of Education. Balch's pledge, which existed contemporaneously with the Bellamy version until the 1923 National Flag Conference, read:

text: We give our heads and hearts to God and our country; one country, one language, one flag![3]

text: Balch was a proponent of teaching children, especially those of immigrants, loyalty to the United States, even going so far as to write a book on the subject and work with both the government and private organizations to distribute flags to every classroom and school.[3][13] Balch's pledge, which predates Bellamy's by 5 years and was embraced by many schools, by the Daughters of the American Revolution until the 1910s, and by the Grand Army of the Republic until the 1923 National Flag Conference, is often overlooked when discussing the history of the Pledge.[14] Bellamy, however, did not approve of the pledge as Balch had written it, referring to the text as "too juvenile and lacking in dignity."[15] The Bellamy "Pledge of Allegiance" was first published in the September 8 issue of the popular children's magazine The Youth's Companion as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. The event was conceived and promoted by James B. Upham, a marketer for the magazine, as a campaign to instill the idea of American nationalism in students and to sell flags to public schools.[16] According to author Margarette S. Miller, this campaign was in line both with Upham's patriotic vision as well as with his commercial interest. According to Miller, Upham "would often say to his wife: 'Mary, if I can instill into the minds of our American youth a love for their country and the principles on which it was founded, and create in them an ambition to carry on with the ideals which the early founders wrote into The Constitution, I shall not have lived in vain.'"[17]

text: Bellamy's original Pledge read:

text: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.[1][18]

text: The Pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be recited in 15 seconds. As a socialist, he had initially also considered using the words equality and fraternity[16] but decided against it, knowing that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans.[19]

text: Francis Bellamy and Upham had lined up the National Education Association to support the Youth's Companion as a sponsor of the Columbus Day observance and the use in that observance of the American flag. By June 29, 1892, Bellamy and Upham had arranged for Congress and President Benjamin Harrison to announce a proclamation making the public school flag ceremony the center of the Columbus Day celebrations. This arrangement was formalized when Harrison issued Presidential Proclamation 335. Subsequently, the Pledge was first used in public schools on October 12, 1892, during Columbus Day observances organized to coincide with the opening of the World's Columbian Exposition (the Chicago World's Fair), Illinois.[20]

text: Bellamy's account[edit]

text: In his recollection of the creation of the Pledge Francis Bellamy said, "At the beginning of the nineties patriotism and national feeling was (sic) at a low ebb. The patriotic ardor of the Civil War was an old story ... The time was ripe for a reawakening of simple Americanism and the leaders in the new movement rightly felt that patriotic education should begin in the public schools."[15] James Upham "felt that a flag should be on every schoolhouse,"[15] so his publication "fostered a plan of selling flags to schools through the children themselves at cost, which was so successful that 25,000 schools acquired flags in the first year (1892-93).[15]

text: As the World's Columbian Exposition was set to celebrate the 400th anniversary the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, Upham sought to link the publication's flag drive to the event, "so that every school in the land ... would have a flag raising, under the most impressive conditions."[15] Bellamy was placed in charge of this operation and was soon lobbying "not only the superintendents of education in all the States, but [he] also worked with governors, Congressmen, and even the President of the United States."[15] The publication's efforts paid off when Benjamin Harrison declared Wednesday October 12, 1892, to be Columbus Day for which The Youth's Companion made "an official program for universal use in all the schools."[15] Bellamy recalled that the event "had to be more than a list of exercises. The ritual must be prepared with simplicity and dignity."[15]

text: Edna Dean Proctor wrote an ode for the event, and "There was also an oration suitable for declamation."[15] Bellamy held that "Of course, the nub of the program was to be the raising of the flag, with a salute to the flag recited by the pupils in unison."[15] He found "There was not a satisfactory enough form for this salute. The Balch salute, which ran, "I give my heart and my hand to my country, one country, one language, one flag," seemed to him too juvenile and lacking in dignity."[15] After working on the idea with Upham, Bellamy concluded, "It was my thought that a vow of loyalty or allegiance to the flag should be the dominant idea. I especially stressed the word 'allegiance'. ... Beginning with the new word allegiance, I first decided that 'pledge' was a better school word than 'vow' or 'swear'; and that the first person singular should be used, and that 'my' flag was preferable to 'the.'"[15] Bellamy considered the words "country, nation, or Republic," choosing the last as "it distinguished the form of government chosen by the founding fathers and established by the Revolution. The true reason for allegiance to the flag is the Republic for which it stands."[15] Bellamy then reflected on the sayings of Revolutionary and Civil War figures, and concluded "all that pictured struggle reduced itself to three words, one Nation indivisible."[15]

text: Bellamy considered the slogan of the French Revolution, Liberté, égalité, fraternité ("liberty, equality, fraternity"), but held that "fraternity was too remote of realization, and … [that] equality was a dubious word."[15] Concluding "Liberty and justice were surely basic, were undebatable, and were all that any one Nation could handle. If they were exercised for all. they involved the spirit of equality and fraternity."[15]

text: After being reviewed by Upham and other members of The Youth's Companion, the Pledge was approved and put in the official Columbus Day program. Bellamy noted that, "In later years the words 'to my flag' were changed to 'to the flag of the United States of America' because of the large number of foreign children in the schools."[15] Bellamy disliked the change, as "it did injure the rhythmic balance of the original composition."[15]

text: Changes[edit]

text: In 1906, The Daughters of the American Revolution's magazine, The American Monthly, listed the "formula of allegiance" as being the Balch Pledge of Allegiance, which reads:[14]

text: I pledge allegiance to my flag, and the republic for which it stands. I pledge my head and my heart to God and my country. One country, one language and one flag.

text: In subsequent publications of the Daughters of the American Revolution, such as in 1915's "Proceedings of the Twenty-Fourth Continental Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution" and 1916's annual "National Report," the Balch Pledge, listed as official in 1906, is now categorized as "Old Pledge" with Bellamy's version under the heading "New Pledge."[21][22] However, the "Old Pledge" continued to be used by other organizations until the National Flag Conference established uniform flag procedures in 1923.

text: In 1923, the National Flag Conference called for the words "my Flag" to be changed to "the Flag of the United States," so that new immigrants would not confuse loyalties between their birth countries and the US. The words "of America" were added a year later. Congress officially recognized the Pledge for the first time, in the following form, on June 22, 1942:[23]

text: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

text: Addition of "under God"[edit]

text: Louis Albert Bowman, an attorney from Illinois, was the first to suggest the addition of "under God" to the pledge. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution gave him an Award of Merit as the originator of this idea.[24][25] He spent his adult life in the Chicago area and was chaplain of the Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. At a meeting on February 12, 1948,[24] he led the society in reciting the pledge with the two words "under God" added. He said that the words came from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Although not all manuscript versions of the Gettysburg Address contain the words "under God", all the reporters' transcripts of the speech as delivered do, as perhaps Lincoln may have deviated from his prepared text and inserted the phrase when he said "that the nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom." Bowman repeated his revised version of the Pledge at other meetings.[24]

text: In 1951, the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization, also began including the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.[26] In New York City, on April 30, 1951, the board of directors of the Knights of Columbus adopted a resolution to amend the text of their Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of each of the meetings of the 800 Fourth Degree Assemblies of the Knights of Columbus by addition of the words "under God" after the words "one nation." Over the next two years, the idea spread throughout Knights of Columbus organizations nationwide. On August 21, 1952, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus at its annual meeting adopted a resolution urging that the change be made universal, and copies of this resolution were sent to the President, the Vice President (as Presiding Officer of the Senate), and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The National Fraternal Congress meeting in Boston on September 24, 1952, adopted a similar resolution upon the recommendation of its president, Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart. Several State Fraternal Congresses acted likewise almost immediately thereafter. This campaign led to several official attempts to prompt Congress to adopt the Knights of Columbus policy for the entire nation. These attempts were eventually a success.[27]

text: In 1952, Holger Christian Langmack suggested in a letter to President Truman adding "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Langmack was a Danish philosopher and educator who came to the US in 1911. He was one of the originators of the National Prayer Breakfast and a religious leader in Washington, D.C. Truman met with Langmack and with several others to discuss the addition.[citation needed] At the suggestion of a correspondent, Representative Louis C. Rabaut (D-Mich.), of Michigan sponsored a resolution to add the words "under God" to the Pledge in 1953.[citation needed]

text: Before February 1954, no endeavor to get the pledge officially amended had succeeded. The final successful push came from George MacPherson Docherty. Some American presidents honored Lincoln's birthday by attending services at the church Lincoln attended, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church by sitting in Lincoln's pew on the Sunday nearest February 12. On February 7, 1954, with President Eisenhower sitting in Lincoln's pew, the church's pastor, George MacPherson Docherty, delivered a sermon based on the Gettysburg Address entitled "A New Birth of Freedom." He argued that the nation's might lay not in arms but rather in its spirit and higher purpose. He noted that the Pledge's sentiments could be those of any nation: "There was something missing in the pledge, and that which was missing was the characteristic and definitive factor in the American way of life." He cited Lincoln's words "under God" as defining words that set the US apart from other nations.[citation needed]

text: President Eisenhower had been baptized a Presbyterian very recently, just a year before. He responded enthusiastically to Docherty in a conversation following the service. Eisenhower acted on his suggestion the next day and on February 8, 1954, Rep. Charles Oakman (R-Mich.), introduced a bill to that effect. Congress passed the necessary legislation and Eisenhower signed the bill into law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.[28] Eisenhower said:[29]

text: From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty.... In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war.

text: The phrase "under God" was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance on June 14, 1954, by a Joint Resolution of Congress amending § 4 of the Flag Code enacted in 1942.[28]

text: On October 6, 1954, the National Executive Committee of the American Legion adopted a resolution, first approved by the Illinois American Legion Convention in August 1954, which formally recognized the Knights of Columbus for having initiated and brought forward the amendment to the Pledge of Allegiance.[27]

text: Even though the movement behind inserting "under God" into the pledge might have been initiated by a private religious fraternity and even though references to God appear in previous versions of the pledge, author Kevin Kruse asserts that this movement was an effort by corporate America to instill in the minds of the people that capitalism and free enterprise were heavenly blessed. Kruse acknowledges the insertion of the phrase was influenced by the push-back against atheistic communism during the Cold War, but argues the longer arc of history shows the conflation of Christianity and capitalism as a challenge to the New Deal played the larger role.[30]

text: Salute[edit]

text: Swearing of the Pledge is accompanied by a salute. An early version of the salute, adopted in 1887, known as the Balch Salute, which accompanied the Balch pledge, instructed students to stand with their right hand outstretched toward the flag, the fingers of which are then brought to the forehead, followed by being placed flat over the heart, and finally falling to the side.[3]

text: In 1892, Francis Bellamy created what was known as the Bellamy salute. It started with the hand outstretched toward the flag, palm down, and ended with the palm up. Because of the similarity between the Bellamy salute and the Nazi salute, which was adopted in Germany later, the US Congress stipulated that the hand-over-the-heart gesture as the salute to be rendered by civilians during the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem in the US would be the salute to replace the Bellamy salute. Removal of the Bellamy salute occurred on December 22, 1942, when Congress amended the Flag Code language first passed into law on June 22, 1942.[31] Attached to bills passed in Congress in 2008 and then in 2009 (Section 301(b)(1)of title 36, United States Code), language was included which authorized all active duty military personnel and all veterans in civilian clothes to render a proper hand salute during the raising and lowering of the flag, when the colors are presented, and during the National Anthem.[32]

text: Music[edit]

text: A musical setting for "The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag" was created by Irving Caesar, at the suggestion of Congressman Louis C. Rabaut whose House Resolution 243 to add the phrase "under God" was signed into law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.[33]

text: The composer, Irving Caesar, wrote and published over 700 songs in his lifetime. Dedicated to social issues, he donated all rights of the musical setting to the U.S. government, so that anyone can perform the piece without owing royalties.[34][35]

text: It was sung for the first time on the floor of the House of Representatives on Flag Day, June 14, 1955 by the official Air Force choral group the "Singing Sergeants". A July 29, 1955 House and Senate resolution authorized the U.S. Government Printing Office to print and distribute the song sheet together with a history of the pledge.[36]

text: Other musical versions of the Pledge have since been copyrighted, including by Beck (2003), Lovrekovich (2002 and 2001), Roton (1991), Fijol (1986), and Girardet (1983).[37]

text: Controversy[edit]

text: In 1940, the Supreme Court, in Minersville School District v. Gobitis, ruled that students in public schools, including the respondents in that case—Jehovah's Witnesses who considered the flag salute to be idolatry—could be compelled to swear the Pledge. In 1943, in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, the Supreme Court reversed its decision. Justice Robert H. Jackson, writing for the 6 to 3 majority, went beyond simply ruling in the precise matter presented by the case to say that public school students are not required to say the Pledge on narrow grounds, and asserted that such ideological dogmata are antithetical to the principles of the country, concluding with:[38]

text: If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.

text: In a later case, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals held that students are also not required to stand for the Pledge.[39]

text: Requiring or promoting of the Pledge on the part of the government has continued to draw criticism and legal challenges on several grounds.

text: One objection is that a democratic republic built on freedom of dissent should not require its citizens to pledge allegiance to it, and that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the right to refrain from speaking or standing, which itself is also a form of speech in the context of the ritual of pledging allegiance.[40][39] Another objection is that the people who are most likely to recite the Pledge every day, small children in schools, cannot really give their consent or even completely understand the Pledge they are making.[41] Another criticism is that a government requiring or promoting this phrase violates protections against the establishment of religion guaranteed in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.[42]

text: In 2004, linguist Geoffrey Nunberg said the original supporters of the addition thought that they were simply quoting Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, but to Lincoln and his contemporaries, "under God" meant "God willing", so they would have found its use in the Pledge of Allegiance grammatically incorrect and semantically odd.[43][44]

text: Legal challenges[edit]

text: Prominent legal challenges were brought in the 1930s and 1940s by Jehovah's Witnesses, a denomination whose beliefs preclude swearing loyalty to any power other than God, and who objected to policies in public schools requiring students to swear an oath to the flag.[45] They said requiring the pledge violated their freedom of religion guaranteed by the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The first case was in 1935, when two children, Lillian and William Gobitas, ages ten and twelve, were expelled from the Minersville, Pennsylvania, public schools that year for failing to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.[46][47]

text: In a 2002 case brought by atheist Michael Newdow, whose daughter was being taught the Pledge in school, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the phrase "under God" an unconstitutional endorsement of monotheism when the Pledge was promoted in public school. In 2004, the Supreme Court heard Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, an appeal of the ruling, and rejected Newdow's claim on the grounds that he was not the custodial parent, and therefore lacked standing, thus avoiding ruling on the merits of whether the phrase was constitutional in a school-sponsored recitation. On January 3, 2005, a new suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on behalf of three unnamed families. On September 14, 2005, District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled in their favor. Citing the precedent of the 2002 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Karlton issued an Order stating that, upon proper motion, he would enjoin the school district defendants from continuing their practices of leading children in pledging allegiance to "one Nation under God."[48]

text: A 2005 Bill, H.R. 2389, to prohibit the Supreme Court's and most federal courts from considering any legal challenges to the government's requiring or promoting of the Pledge of Allegiance, died in the Senate after having passed in the House. This action is viewed[by whom?] in general as court stripping by Congress of the constitutional power of the Judiciary. Even if a similar bill is enacted, its practical effect may not be clear:[opinion] proponents of the bill have said that it is a valid exercise of Congress's power to regulate the jurisdiction of the federal courts under Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, but opponents say Congress does not have the authority to prevent the Supreme Court from hearing claims based on the Bill of Rights, since amendments postdate the original text of the Constitution and may thus implicitly limit the scope of Article III, Section 2. Judges and legal analysts have said that if Congress can remove from the judicial branch the ability to determine if legislation is constitutional, the US separation of powers would be disturbed, or rendered non-functional.[49]

text: Mark J. Pelavin, former Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said of court stripping in regard to the Pledge of Allegiance that:[50][51]

text: Today's House adoption of the so-called "Pledge Protection Act" is a shameful effort to strip our federal courts of their ability to uphold the rights of all Americans. By removing the jurisdiction of federal courts, including the Supreme Court, from cases involving the Pledge, this legislation sets a dangerous precedent: threatening religious liberty, compromising the vital system of checks and balances upon which our government was founded, and granting Congress the authority to strip the courts' jurisdiction on any issue it wishes. Today, the issue was the Pledge of Allegiance, but tomorrow it could be reproductive rights, civil rights, or any other fundamental concern.

text: In 2006, in the Florida case Frazier v. Alexandre, a federal district court in Florida ruled that a 1942 state law requiring students to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.[52] As a result of that decision, a Florida school district was ordered to pay $32,500 to a student who chose not to say the pledge and was ridiculed and called "unpatriotic" by a teacher.[53]

text: In 2009, a Montgomery County, Maryland, teacher berated and had school police remove a 13-year-old girl who refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom. The student's mother, assisted by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, sought and received an apology from the teacher, as state law and the school's student handbook both prohibit students from being forced to recite the Pledge.[54]

text: On March 11, 2010, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in the case of Newdow v. Rio Linda Union School District.[55][56] In a 2–1 decision, the appellate court ruled that the words were of a "ceremonial and patriotic nature" and did not constitute an establishment of religion.[55] Judge Stephen Reinhardt dissented, writing that "the state-directed, teacher-led daily recitation in public schools of the amended 'under God' version of the Pledge of Allegiance... violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution."[57]

text: On November 12, 2010, in a unanimous decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston affirmed a ruling by a New Hampshire lower federal court which found that the pledge's reference to God does not violate non-pledging students' rights if student participation in the pledge is voluntary.[58][59] A United States Supreme Court appeal of this decision was denied on June 13, 2011.[60][61]

text: In September 2013, a case was brought before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, arguing that the pledge violates the Equal Rights Amendment of the Constitution of Massachusetts.[62] In May 2014, Massachusetts' highest court ruled that the pledge does not discriminate against atheists, saying that the words "under God" represent a patriotic, not a religious, exercise.[63]

text: In February 2015 New Jersey Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman dismissed a lawsuit, ruling that "… the Pledge of Allegiance does not violate the rights of those who don't believe in God and does not have to be removed from the patriotic message."[64] The case against the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District had been brought by a student of the district and the American Humanist Association that argued that the phrase "under God"in the pledge created a climate of discrimination because it promoted religion, making non-believers "second-class citizens."In a twenty-one page decision, Bauman wrote, "Under [the association members'] reasoning, the very constitution under which [the members] seek redress for perceived atheistic marginalization could itself be deemed unconstitutional, an absurd proposition which [association members] do not and cannot advance here."[64] Bauman said the student could skip the pledge, but upheld a New Jersey law that says pupils must recite the pledge unless they have "conscientious scruples"that do not allow it.[65][66] He noted, "As a matter of historical tradition, the words 'under God' can no more be expunged from the national consciousness than the words 'In God We Trust' from every coin in the land, than the words 'so help me God' from every presidential oath since 1789, or than the prayer that has opened every congressional session of legislative business since 1787.”