Pats’ lineman takes road less traveled to Super bowl
BY JERRY SNOW — Jacksonville, FL
When Stephen Neal trots onto the field for New England Sunday, he carries perhaps the game’s most unusual journey of the starters in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Neal didn’t play college football, and he’s put on about 120 pounds since he was a high school senior.
There’s plenty of guys who can say the same, but only Neal is living out what most 300-pounders can hardly imagine.
For the first time since high school, Neal is a starter on a football team – and it happens to be the Patriots.
Ten years ago he was a five-sport senior at San Diego High, about to take a Division I wrestling scholarship at Calfornia State-Bakersfield after finishing fourth at the state meet in the 189-pound class.
He went 45-2 that season, and his claim to fame could have easily been wrestling against future-Heisman winner Ricky Williams (now of Miami Dolphins infamy).
Instead, Neal took over as right guard three games into this season and makes his 17th straight start Sunday, when the Patriots try to win their third Super Bowl in four years.
“It is hard to believe, in a way, that I got here, “Neal said. “I’m not an arrogant person, but I am very confident. I didn’t just hope to make an NFL team, I expected to have a career once I learned the ropes.”
Neal was quite the achiever as a college wrestler.
He won two NCAA Division I titles in the heavyweight class, going 75-0 his last two seasons.
“I went from fourth in the state as a high school senior to fourth in the nation two years later, “Neal said, referring to his redshirt freshman season. “I expect to succeed at whatever I do.”
That explains why Neal not only compiled a 156-10 wrestling record his last three years of college, but also a three-time Academic All-American while carrying a 3.24 GPA.
Still, making the NFL without playing in college, and with a 40-yard-dash time closer to 5.2 than 4.2?
Neal felt his wrestling experience would help him with the brutality of offensive line play, but knew he had much to learn about technique.
“I didn’t know what to expect, “Neal said of his first practices in 2001. “I didn’t know what was going on.”
Neal went undrafted, obviously, and was cut by the Patriots in August. Ironically, Sunday’s opponent (Philadlephia) signed Neal to their practice squad the next month.
He finally landed on the Patriots’ roster that December, and was listed as inactive for the last three regular-season games and the run to the Super Bowl title.
Neal made the Patriots’ active roster in 2002 and started the second game of the season only to leave the game with an injury, never to return that year.
He missed the entire next season as well, and was on injured reserve when New England won the 2003 title.
The second time, the Patriots gave him a Super Bowl ring, but he admits he really didn’t feel like a part of it.
He’s very much a part now, as part of a group being counted on to keep quarterback Tom Brady from hitting the turf.
Neal plans to count on his experience as an athlete come gametime.
“One thing I’ve learned as a competitive athlete is that there can be a lot of buildup and nervousness leading up to the game, “Neal said. “But once it starts, the butterflies go away, and it’s just another football game.”
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