Ex-Patriots Star WR David Patten Dead At 47

NEW ENGLAND. (THECOUNT) — David Patten, a former NFL wide receiver who played on the New England Patriots’ first three Super Bowl teams, has died in a suspected motorcycle accident. He was 47.

Patten, who spent four of his 12 NFL seasons in New England, died in what is believed to be a motorcycle crash, according to a Twitter user claiming to be his cousin.

A Twitter user who claimed to be Patten’s cousin claimed the wide receiver possibly died in a motorcycle accident, although there has been no confirmation on the cause of death as of 10:00 a.m. ET on Friday.

“He was always so good to me when I came and watched him play. R.I.P,” the user wrote via WZLX.

Details of the incident were not made available as of Friday morning.

Patten famously caught an 8-yard pass from Tom Brady to put the Patriots ahead 14-3 in the second quarter of their 20-17 win over the then-St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, the first of the franchise’s six championships over the next 17 years.

Patten finished his NFL career with 324 receptions for 4,715 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns, having also played for the New York Giants (1997-99), Cleveland Browns (2000 and 2009 (offseason)), the now-Washington Football Team (2005-08) and New Orleans Saints (2007-08), before rejoining the Patriots during the 2010 offseason and retiring prior to the 2010 season.

The former Western Carolina standout also spent one season with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League after going undrafted in 1996.

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