FOXBOROUGH — It had been nearly 1,000 days since Tyler Gaffney last appeared in a football game, and the New England Patriots offensive line worked together to hand him the perfect Welcome Back gift: The easiest touchdown run of his life.
Gaffney, who hadn't carried in a game since New Years Day 2014, took a handoff in the third quarter, made one cut, watched offensive tackle Cameron Fleming discard Saints linebacker Dillon Lee, stepped around New Orleans safety Vonn Bell, and went 44 yards — virtually untouched — to the endzone.
"It was just a big blur to me, a very surreal moment," Gaffney said after New England's 34-22 preseason win Thursday.