6 Years Ago Today Dan Connolly Lived Every Offensive Linemen's Dream

I feel like the 2010 Patriots get forgotten because of their early playoff exit to the Jets, but man that team was a lot of fun. 

14-2 record. Tom Brady was the unanimous league MVP. First year of the killer TE combo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The Law-Firm rushed for 1,000 yards. They also beat all 4 teams that made each league's conference championship game in the regular season, Jets, Steelers, Bears and Packers. They were the best team in the NFL that season.

But my favorite highlight from the 2010 Pats is easily when RG Dan Connolly returned a kickoff 71 yards to the 4 yard line against the Packers on Sunday Night Football. 

As a former offensive linemen (key loss in the newspaper after I graduated NBD)

 it was always my dream to somehow get my hands on the ball. When I finally got the chance on senior day, I gained a yard. In my defense though the starting offensive line was out and I had no help but that's beside the point. Also yeah, we went 1-7, (3-8 if you count non-league games) but we had no QB or depth....but whatever this isn't to talk about high school football, I'm 25 years old, I totally don't care anymore. I'm just trying to paint a picture here, damnit.

When Dan Connolly got the chance to touch the ball, he nearly scored a touchdown. A truly awesome highlight from one of the most underappreciated Patriot teams of the Brady-Belichick era. I could watch that big ran run all day. 

Dan might have not scored that night in 2010 but he did get to truly live every football players dream by winning a Super Bowl in his final NFL game.