Former Patriot Sagapolutele Passes Away

The New England Patriots are currently in a battle with tackle Vince Wilfork over a new contract, but today the team is taking a step back from money talk and giving its condolences to the family of Pio Sagapolutele, as the former Patriot passed away over the weekend at age 39. Sagapolutele, a standout defensive lineman in the ’90s, was a Bill Belichick protégé from the time he was drafted to the Belichick-aided Browns in 1991 out of San Diego State, and he played for Cleveland through the 1995 season, then coming aboard the New England Patriots roster in 1996 when Belichick was the assistant to Bill Parcells. Sagapolutele played one season with the New Orleans Saints in 1997 before nagging injuries forced his early exit from the game, and the famed defensive lineman passed away last weekend after suffering a brain aneurysm.

In a statement recently released by the New England Patriots, coach Bill Belichick said, “I am very sad to hear the news about Pio. When we drafted him as part of our first draft class in Cleveland, we saw a touch, hard-working, dependable player and that is exactly what Pio brought to his teams on a daily and yearly basis. He was a quiet leader and a significant contributor to the record-setting ‘94 Browns defense in 1994 and then again with the Patriots ‘96 AFC Championship season. My prayers are with Yvonne and the entire Sagapolutele family.”

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