Billy Yates joined the Patriots as a practice squad player on Sept. 11, 2004 ... Originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2003 ... Waived by the Dolphins (9/5/04) ... Signed to the Patriots' active roster (2/4/05) ... Released by the Patriots (9/3/05) ... Signed to the Patriots practice squad (9/4/05) ... Signed to the Patriots' active roster (11/12/05) ... Released by the Patriots (9/2/06) ... Signed to the Patriots practice squad (9/3/06) ... Signed to the Patriots' active roster (10/21/06) ... Placed on injured reserve (11/13/06) ... Released by the Patriots (2/17/09) ... Re-signed by the Patriots (2/20/09).
 

View Billy Yates Career Statistics >>

GP/GS (Playoffs): 25/11 (1/0)

• Yates has played in 25 games with 11 starts over his five-year NFL career entering the 2009 season. He began his career with Miami (2003), spent the 2004 season on the Patriots' practice squad, and has played in 22 games with 20 starts for the Patriots over the last three seasons (2006-08).
• Yates started a career-high seven games in 2008, suiting up at right guard for the first seven contests of the year in place of an injured Stephen Neal.
• Yates was part of an offensive line that led the Patriots to 356 first downs in 2008, the second highest total in franchise history.
• Yates made his first NFL start at right guard against Minnesota on Oct. 30, 2006 and was a member of an offensive front that gave Tom Brady enough time to throw for 372 yards and tie his then career high with four touchdown tosses in a 31-7 win.

2008 (7/7): Started the first seven games of the season at right guard in place of an injured Stephen Neal ... Was part of an offensive line that led the Patriots to 356 first downs in 2008, the second highest total in franchise history ... Was a part of the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years, totaling 2,278 rushing yards (sixth in team history and the most since 1985), 21 rushing touchdowns (tied for fourth in team history and the most since 1981) and an average of 4.4 yards per carry (fifth in team history and the best since 1983) ... Started at right guard against Kansas City (9/7) ... Made the start at right guard at the N.Y. Jets (9/14) ... Started at right guard against Miami (9/21) ... Made his fourth straight start at right guard at San Francisco (10/5) ... Started at right guard at San Diego (10/12) ... Started at right guard against Denver (10/20) as New England ran for 257 rushing yards, the team's highest single-game rushing total since Dec. 22, 1985 ... Started at right guard and was part of an offensive line that helped Matt Cassel throw for a then career-high 267 passing yards against St. Louis (10/26) ... Suited up but did not play at Indianapolis (11/2) and against the N.Y. Jets (11/13) ... Listed as a day-of-game inactive in the Patriots' final six games.
 

2007 (7/1/1/8):  Set a single-season career high with seven games played in 2007.

at N.Y. Jets (9/9):  Inactive. San Diego (9/16):  Started at right guard...Contributed to a line that helped Tom Brady throw for 279 yards and three touchdowns in the Patriots' 38-14 victory over the Chargers.  Bills (9/23):  Played in a reserve role at guard in the Patriots' commanding 38-7 victory over the Bills.  at Cincinnati (10/1): Contributed in a reserve role at right guard in the Patriots' commanding 34-13 victory over the Bengals.  Cleveland (10/7):  Did not play.  at Dallas (10/15):  Inactive.  at Miami (10/21):  Played in a reserve role on special teams protection units in the Patriots' 49-28 win over the Dolphins.  Washington (10/28):  Inactive.  at Indianapolis (11/4):  Inactive.  at Buffalo (11/18):  Played in a reserve role at right guard and on special teams protection units in the Patriots' dominating 56-10 win over the Bills.  Philadelphia (11/25):  Inactive.  at Baltimore (12/3):  Inactive.  Pittsburgh (12/9):  Played in reserve at right guard and on special teams protection units in the Patriots' 34-13 win over the Steelers...Part of an offensive line that didn't allow a sack in 46 pass attempts.  N.Y. Jets (12/16):  Inactive.  Miami (12/23):  Inactive.  at N.Y. Giants (12/29):  Played in reserve on special teams protection units as the Patriots became the fourth NFL team to complete its regular-season schedule without a loss with a 38-35 comeback victory over the Giants.

2007 Postseason (0/0/0/3):  Jacksonville (1/12):  Inactive.  San Diego (1/20):  Inactive.  N.Y. Giants (2/3):  Inactive.

2006 (4/3, 0/0): Signed from the practice squad on Oct. 21 and saw action in four games with three starts at right guard before being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 13 ... Made his first NFL start in the Patriots' victory against Minnesota (10/30/06).

Buffalo (10/22): Saw action on special teams protection units ... Played in a reserve role at right guard toward the end of the fourth quarter. Minnesota (10/30): Made his first career NFL start at right guard ... Was a member of an offensive front that gave Tom Brady enough time to throw for 372 yards and tie his career high with four touchdown tosses ... Helped to pave the way for a running game that averaged 5.7 yards per carry, gaining 85 yards on just 15 rushes. Indianapolis (11/5): Started at right guard ... Member of an offensive front that did not allow a sack on 35 pass attempts. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Started at right guard, but left the game in the third quarter with an injury ... Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 145 yards on just 26 carries (5.6 yard avg.).

2005 (4/0/1/3): Signed from the practice squad on Nov. 13, 2005.

Miami (11/13): Saw action on special teams protection units in the Patriots' 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins. New Orleans (11/20): Saw action at guard late in the fourth quarter of the Patriots' 24-17 win over the Saints. at Kansas City (11/27): Inactive. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Inactive. at Buffalo (12/11): Saw limited action at guard in the Patriots' commanding 35-7 road victory over the Bills ... Played on the extra point protection units in the Patriots' commanding 35-7 road victory over the Bills. Tampa Bay (12/17): Did not see action in the Patriots' 28-0 shutout victory over the Buccaneers. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Inactive. Miami (1/1): Saw limited action right guard ... Member of an offensive line that allowed just one sack for one yard.

2005 Postseason (1/0/0/1): Jacksonville (1/7): Inactive. at Denver (1/14): Played on special teams protection units.

2004 (0/0): Signed to the Patriots practice squad (9/11) and was a member of the squad for the remainder of the regular season and through the fi rst two rounds of the playoffs … Signed to the Patriots' active roster (02/04/05) and was inactive for Super Bowl XXXIX.

2003 (3/0 – Miami Dolphins): Played in three games in a reserve role. N.Y. Giants (10/5): Made his NFL debut on special teams. Baltimore (11/16): Had extensive playing time in a 9-6 overtime win as the Dolphins rushed for 141 yards. Washington (11/23): Saw time in a reserve role.

Was a four-year letterman for Texas A&M (1999-2002) ... Started at guard in all 20 games in which he played over his final two seasons ... As a senior, helped open holes for the Aggies to average 161 rushing yards per game, racking up a grand total of 1,771 ground yards on the season ... As a junior in 2001, helped power the Aggies to 1,541 total rushing yards ... Saw action as a reserve in his freshman and sophomore seasons as Texas A&M averaged 169 rushing yards per game.

Billy LaQuayne Yates was born on April 15, 1980 in Fort Worth, Texas ... Was a two time all-state selection at Corsicana (Texas) High School ... Also lettered in basketball and track ... His favorite sports team growing up was the Dallas Cowboys and his favorite athlete was Michael Jordan ... In 2008, participated in the United Way of Rhode Island's Hometown Huddle at the East Providence Boys & Girls Club, teaching club members how to incorporate nutrition and fitness into their daily routines ... Majored in agricultural development at Texas A&M ... Married to Tamika.
 

• Billy's cousin Taje Allen, played cornerback for the St. Louis Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs. The two share the same middle name, LaQuayne.
• Billy would like to pursue a career in coaching when his playing days are over.