The Sports Xchange

Former NFL offensive lineman Sam Adams, who spent most of his career with the New England Patriots, died in Houston at age 67.

The cause of death was not released. Adams became ill at his home last Saturday and died at a hospital.

A native of Jasper, Texas, Adams spent nine seasons with the Patriots during the 1970s and started 90 of the 119 games that he played for the team. His NFL career ended with 1981 with the New Orleans Saints.

In 1978, Adams and the Patriots set an NFL record by rushing for 3,165 yards while winning the AFC East title.

“This is really sad news for Patriots fans who enjoyed watching Sam Adams play and the many Patriots teammates who played with him throughout the 1970s,” Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said. “Not only was he a stalwart in the trenches for nearly a decade, but I can’t think of a more appropriately named player to represent the Patriots.”

Kraft was referring to one of America’s founding fathers, Boston native Samuel Adams.

Adams’ son, also named Sam, followed him to the NFL. He started his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 1994 and ended it with the Denver Broncos in 2007 with stops in Baltimore, Oakland, Buffalo and Cincinnati.

The funeral will be Saturday at Church of Jesus Christ House of Prayer in Jasper.