Patriots Announce Death of Hall of Famer Jon Morris at 84

The New England Patriots announced that Jon Morris, a center who helped establish the franchise in its early years, has died at 84. The team disclosed no cause of death. Morris spent his first 11 professional seasons with the Patriots, from 1964 through 1974. He was selected by the Boston Patriots in the 1964 draft and became a central player on the team’s offensive line. The Patriots’ announcement described him as one of the franchise’s earliest stars. During his time with the team, Morris earned six AFL All-Star selections. After the AFL and NFL merger, he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1970, the Patriots’ first season as a New England-based team, according to the reports. His playing career with the franchise spanned a period when it was building its place in professional football. Morris left New England after the 1974 season and played for the Detroit Lions for three seasons, followed by one season with the Chicago Bears. He retired from playing in 1978. He later returned to the Patriots, serving as a radio color commentator on team broadcasts from 1979 through 1987, and also worked as an analyst for NBC. In 2011, Morris was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame after...