title: Rod Rutledge
text: # Rod Rutledge
  
  Rodrick Almar Rutledge (born August 12, 1975) is a former professional American football player who played tight end for five seasons for the New England Patriots and Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
  
  Rutledge was the first player to ever catch a pass from Tom Brady, a 6-yard reception on Thanksgiving Day 2000 against the Detroit Lions. Known more for his blocking than his pass catching, Rutledge was a key member of the 2001 Super Bowl champion Patriots.
  
  Pre-draft measurables :
  
  | Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Bench press |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 6 ft 4+7⁄8 in (1.95 m) | 272 lb (123 kg) | 35+7⁄8 in (0.91 m) | 10+7⁄8 in (0.28 m) | 4.99 s | 1.76 s | 2.91 s | 20 reps |
  | All values from the NFL Combine ||||||||
  