Alumni / Alumni Bios Detail
Live

MEDIA CENTER

NOW: Replay: Best of the Week

Listen to a replay of the "Best of the Week" of Patriots.com Radio programming.

Live Stream


Video Archive Audio Archive Photo Gallery
 
PFN ScheduleTV Schedule
 
Radio StationsPatriots Radio
 
RSS FeedsMedia Help
 
  31  Ben Kelly  CB

  Height: 5-9   Weight: 185
  Year: 4   Yrs/Pat: 3
  Acquired: CW-01 (MIA)
  School: Colorado
  Major: Psychology and Communications
  Born: Sep 15, 1978  Cleveland  OH
Personal
Benjamin Oliver Kelly was born on September 15, 1978 in Cleveland, Ohio ... Also lettered on the Colorado University track team, where he took part in the 4x400 meter relay ... Earned All-American status in the quarter mile ... Posted career-bests of 6.78 in the 60-meter dash and 21.53 on the 200-meter dash ... Named first-team all-state and All-North Coast League selection in football as both a junior and senior at Mentor Lake (Ohio) Catholic High School ... Lettered four times in basketball and in track.
Career Transactions
Ben Kelly was claimed off of waivers by the Patriots from the Miami Dolphins on November 2, 2001 ... Originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round (84th overall) of the 2000 NFL draft … Placed on injured reserve (9/26/00) … Released by the Dolphins (11/1/01) … Placed on injured reserve by the Patriots (12/12/01)
... Placed on injured reserve on Nov. 14, 2002.
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS: (13/0) (0/0)

Has recorded four tackles (3 solo) and a special teams tackle.
College
Played three years (1997-99) at Colorado, including the final two as a starter … Concluded his career with 132 tackles, 11 interceptions, 34 passes defensed and three fumble recoveries, including two for touchdowns … Returned 39 punts for an average of 10.1 yards and two touchdowns … Fielded 64 kickoff returns for a 28.1 yard average and three touchdowns, including a long of 100 yards … His kickoff return average ranks second on the NCAA Division I-A career list, while his 1,798 career kickoff return yards are a Buffaloes record … As a junior in 1999, Kelly served as the kickoff returner … Voted first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection as a cornerback and kickoff returner … Tallied 42 tackles, a career-high five interceptions and two fumble returns for touchdowns … Also returned 19 kickoffs for a 28.8 yard average, with two for touchdowns … Against Washington, Kelly returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 98 yards for a score … Recorded a career-long 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Missouri and picked off a pair of passes against Oklahoma … Added an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown against Boston College in the Insight.com Bowl … As a sophomore, Kelly started all 11 games and was a first-team all-conference choice as a defensive back and return specialist … Earned the Brian Cabral Award as the team’s Outstanding Special Teams Player and the Dave Jones Award as Colorado’s Outstanding Defensive Player … Posted a career-high 54 tackles, four interceptions and a career-best 22 passes defensed … Returned 20 kickoffs for a 23.7 yard average and 11 punts for a 20.8 yard average, including two for scores … Recorded punt returns for touchdowns versus Utah State (68 yards) and Iowa State (76 yards) … Opened the Aloha Bowl against Oregon with a 93 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
2002 Season
Pittsburgh (9/9): Saw action in the secondary and on special teams. at N.Y. Jets (9/15): Participated on special teams and in the secondary … Recorded a special teams tackle. Kansas City (9/22): Assisted on a tackle in defensive play. Green Bay (10/13): Played at left cornerback for most of the fourth quarter in place of an injured Ty Law and recorded two solo tackles … Teamed with Roman Phifer to tackle Ahman Green in the backfield for a loss of a yard in the third quarter. Denver (10/27): Inactive. at Buffalo (11/3): Participated on special teams. at Chicago (11/10): Inactive.
2001 Season
With Patriots and Miami Dolphins: Played in two games with the Dolphins and recorded one assisted tackle in reserve play … Released by the Dolphins (11/1) … Claimed off waivers by the Patriots (11/2). Listed among inactives for his first three games with Patriots. New Orleans (11/25): Made Patriots debut in special teams play and returned two kickoffs for 33 yards including a long return of 28 yards. New York (12/2): Returned five kickoffs for 90 yards with a long return of 26 yards … Placed on injured reserve (12/12/01).
2000 Season
With Miami Dolphins: Kelly played in two regular season games, both in a reserve role … Inactive for two contests … Returned five punts for a 6.2 yard average with a long return of 10 yards. New England (9/24): Sustained significant damage to the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee on a punt return … Placed on injured reserve on Sept. 26.