Rodrick Almar Rutledge (born August 12, 1975 in Birmingham, Alabama) is a professional American football player who played tight end for five seasons for the New England Patriots and Houston Texans of the National Football League.He currently plays for the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL. He was the first player to ever catch a pass from future Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, a 6 yard reception on Thanksgiving Day 2000 at the Detroit Lions. Rutledge, known more for his blocking than his pass catching, was a key member of the 2001 Super Bowl winning Patriots.