Billy Yates (football player)
Billy Yates is a former National Football League offensive lineman for the New England Patriots who retired in 2011. He was born on April 15, 1980 in Fort Worth, Texas and is "6-2" and weighs 310 pounds. Wears number 74 with the Patriots
College Football Career
Attended Texas A&M University and played in 20 games at guard.
NFL career
As an undrafted rookie coming out of college in 2003 Yates signed with the Miami Dolphins and played with the team through training camp and preseason but was released shortly before the regular season began. Six days later the New England Patriots signed him to a contract. He played in three games with the Patriots that year but spent most of his time on the teams practice squad. In 2004 he spent the whole year on the Patriots squad. The 2005 season saw Yates play in four games with the Patriots as a backup offensive tackle and special teams player. In 2006 he was active for four games and started three of them. His first career NFL start came in week seven vs the Minnesota Vikings. Two weeks later however, in week nine vs the New York Jets, Yates was injured and put on injury reserve for the rest of the season.
