Immediately after unheralded Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn increased his team's lead to 17-7 on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, 6-foot-4, 313-pound Patriots right guard Dan Connolly scooped up Mason Crosby's squib kick on the ensuing kickoff. He wrapped both of his arms around the ball as he slowly pushed ahead to try and get a few extra yards, then made a cut to his right and turned on the afterburners for a 71-yard return all the way down to the Packers' 4. It didn't take long for the Elias Sports Bureau to confirm that Connolly's return was the longest in NFL history by an offensive lineman, which means the man used to only hearing his name called after he was caught holding will get to keep that football in a special place. Two plays later, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady capitalized on the eye-popping moment by completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez with 1:08 remaining in the first half. That allowed New England to go into the locker room trailing by just a field goal instead of 10 points. Source: NFL Fanhouse
His successful stiff arm late in the run made him look like a seasoned returner. Classic, and well deserved for the record.
The way he was carrying the ball after he hit midfield was priceless. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDyPOyg6-Ko]YouTube - Dan Connolly Return[HD][/ame]
Fat guy running like he is carrying a turkey is still one of the best things about watching football.
Absolutely one of the funniest plays I watched this year. All of a sudden lumbering up the middle with the ball wrapped with 2 hands to his body, he cuts left and becomes a 313# kick off returner. Turns on the speed, breaks tackles, stiff arms one guy, and we are all standing up in the bar screaming for him to score. :icon_cheesygrin: Funny crap.
I freaking loved this play, I was going nuts. Wanted him to score so bad. I always wanted to see this happen, that and an onside kick returned for a touchdown by a big guy. Best thing I saw yesterday, better than the comeback.
he actually showed some decent speed for a big guy .......... he's got 'deceptive' speed ........ :Loco:
At the moment he went from "lumbering" to cutting left, he blew by 3 Packers guys, who were probably in the "WTF" shocked mode. :icon_cheesygrin: I've seen the clip like 6 times, and laugh every time.
