Dan Connolly originally joined the Patriots as a practice squad player on September 12, 2007 ... Originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie free agent prior to the 2005 season ... Placed on injured reserve with a finger injury (9/4/06) ... Released by the Jaguars (9/1/07) ... Signed to the Patriots' active roster (2/5/08) ... Released by the Patriots (10/20/08) ... Signed to the Patriots practice squad (10/22/08) ... Signed to the Patriots' active roster (12/14/08).
 

GP/GS (Playoffs): 19/4 (0/0)
 

2009 (14/4/0/2): Played in a career-high 14 games with four games started ... Made his first NFL start, playing at right guard in place of the injured Stephen Neal in the Patriots' 31-14 win over the New York Jets (11/22).

Buffalo (9/14): Inactive.  at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Inactive. Atlanta (9/27): Saw his first action of the season, playing on special teams kickoff return and field goal blocking units in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons. Baltimore (10/4): Played in reserve on special teams kickoff return and field goal blocking units in the Patriots' 27-21 victory. at Denver (10/11): Saw action in reserve on special teams kickoff return and field goal protection units. Tennessee (10/18): Played in reserve at center and on special teams kickoff return and field goal blocking units in the Patriots' 59-0 shutout victory over the Titans ... Reported as an eligible receiver as a third tight end on several offensive plays. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Played in reserve on special teams kickoff return and field goal protection units in the Patriots' 35-7 victory over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Reported as an eligible receiver as a tight end on several offensive plays, including Laurence Maroney's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Miami (11/8): Played in reserve at center, stepping in for the injured Dan Koppen in the Patriots' 27-17 victory over the Dolphins ... Part of an offensive line that provided the time for Tom Brady to register his 27th career 300-yard passing game ... Returned a squib kick for a 16-yard gain in the first quarter. at Indianapolis (11/15): Played in reserve at right guard and on special teams kickoff and field goal protection units at the Colts. N.Y. Jets (11/22): Made his first NFL start, playing at right guard in place of the injured Stephen Neal in the Patriots' 31-14 win over the Jets ... Part of an offensive line that helped Tom Brady to his fifth consecutive 300-yard game. at New Orleans (11/30): Played in reserve at right guard, on special teams return and protection units and reporting as an eligible receiver on several offensive plays at tight end. at Miami (12/6): Started at right guard in place of the injured Stephen Neal and contributed to an offensive line that didn't allow a sack of Tom Brady in 29 pass attempts. Carolina (12/13): Started at right guard in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Panthers and was part of an offensive line that didn't allow a sack for a second straight game. at Buffalo (12/20): Made his third straight start at right guard in the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Bills ... Helped clear the way on Laurence Maroney's 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Jacksonville (12/27): Played in reserve at right guard and reported as an eligible receiver on several offensive plays as the Patriots clinched the AFC East title with a 35-7 win over the Jaguars. at Houston (1/3): Played in reserve at center and on special teams return and protection units at the Texans.

2009 Postseason (0/0/0/1): Baltimore (1/10): Inactive.

2008 (1/0): Appeared in one game, making his Patriots debut while playing on special teams blocking units in the season finale at Buffalo (12/28) ... Listed as a gameday inactive for the season's first five games ... Released by the Patriots on Oct. 20 and signed to the Patriots practice squad on Oct. 22 ... Spent seven weeks on the Patriots practice squad from Oct. 22 to Dec. 13 ... Re-signed to the active roster on Dec. 13 ... Listed as a gameday inactive at Oakland (12/14) and against Arizona (12/21).
 

2007 (0/0): Was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 12 and spent the remainder of the season on the practice squad ... Released by Jacksonville following the 2007 preseason (9/1).
 

2006 (0/0 - Jacksonville): Placed on the reserve/injured list on Sept. 4 and missed the entire 2006 regular season.
 

2005 (4/0 - Jacksonville): Played in four games for the Jaguars as a rookie, seeing action on special teams ... Was one of two undrafted Jaguars rookies to make the team (Derrick Wimbush) and was one of just 15 players in team history to make the team as an undrafted rookie ... Made his NFL debut on Dec. 11 against Indianapolis ... Was active for the final four games of the regular season and for a wild card playoff game at New England on Jan. 7.
 

Was a four-year starting offensive tackle at Southeast Missouri State ... All-Conference selection for four consecutive seasons ... Finished career with 46 consecutive starts ... Started at offensive tackle in all 11 games as a senior ... Earned first-team All-Conference ... Started at offensive tackle all season as a junior and earned secondteam All-Conference after allowing only one sack ... As a sophomore started at offensive tackle all season ... Earned second-team All-Conference after not allowing any sacks.
 

Daniel Paul Connolly was born the son of John and Mary Beth Connolly on Sept. 2, 1982 ... Was a three-time All-District and All-Conference at Marquette High in Chesterfield, Mo. ... First member of the 1,000-pound weight lifting club ... Actively supports teammates community efforts ... While with the Jaguars was a frequent visitor of Clara White Mission and Wolfson Childrens' Hospital ... Majored in sports management ... Dan is married to Lori.
 

• Dan's brother, Patrick, was the Chef de Cuisine at Radius, a French food restaurant in Boston.
• While working at Chef Michael Schlow's restaurant Patrick was the winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the Northeast region for 2008.