Pats Sign Brian Buckley For Multi-Year Contract

The New England Patriots yesterday announced the signing of former Harvard quarterback Brian Buckley '81 to a multi year contract.

Buckley, chosen in the 11th round of the National Football League (NFL) draft last Spring, was the only member of the 1981 Crimson team to be selected in the draft.

The six-foot, three-inch left-hander, reached last night at his Marblehead home, said he signed two one-year contracts, and was given a "substantial" bonus for signing.

Steak Sauce

Buckley will report to Bryant College training camp in Rhode Island on Monday, along with 57 other rookies, free agents and certain veterans.

He described his chances for making the team as "pretty good," and added that he has been working out with many Patriots veterans since he graduated from the University this Spring.

A Patriots spokesman said yesterday that Buckley is the only rookie among five quarterbacks vying for three permanent spots on the team.

Veterans Steve Grogan and Matt Cavanaugh are virtually assured of the first two spots and Tom Owen, another veteran, is having contract disputes and will probably not appear at training camp, the spokesman said.

He added that Buckley and Dave Rader, a second-year player from the University of Tulsa, will be "battling it out for the third spot."

There will be a lot of pressure being the only rookie quarterback. Buckley said, adding, however, that he does not feel nervous about trying out.

Challenge

"It's a challenge--they'll expect me to make a lot of mistakes because I am a rookie. I just have to make as few as possible," he said.

Buckley said that despite his Ivy League background, he has been generally well-accepted by the other players. "They kid me a lot about it, but it's usually good natured," he said, adding "some of them are a little leery about me being from Harvard, but most of them are curious about what it was like--they are surprised when I tell them, we had no athletic scholarships and no Spring training."

Buckley said both Grogan and Cavanaugh have helped him out in his early days with the team. He described Grogan as "a good man, but kind of hard to get to know. He's been criticized a lot lately and I thi..k that bothers him."

Low Key

He said Cavanaugh was "a lot more low key."

Buckley, who bargained with the Patriots without the help of an agent said. "I really didn't feel as though I needed an agent--I figured I'd pat my Harvard education to work and bargain by myself."