FOXBOROUGH, Mass. –The New England Patriots will honor their 2015 Patriots Hall of Fame inductee Willie McGinest, a three-time Super Bowl champion, at halftime of this week's game against the Miami Dolphins under the lights in prime time at Gillette Stadium. It is the Patriots second appearance on CBS and NFL Network's "Thursday Night Football" in 2015 and the first time in team history that they will play two Thursday night games in one season.

Throughout his career, McGinest was a leader of a defensive unit that propelled the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships in four seasons and was a part of many memorable moments for Patriots fans during his career. One of his most memorable plays came in a 2003 regular-season game when he stuffed Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James on the goal line with 11 seconds remaining to preserve a 38-34 win. On Thursday night, fans will have the opportunity to return the favor and give McGinest a memorable moment as a member of the team's Hall of Fame.

McGinest was the fourth overall selection in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft and Robert Kraft's first draft pick as Chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots. Kraft said he and McGinest will always share a special bond because they came into the NFL together.

A versatile player, who played defensive end and linebacker, McGinest was a two-time Patriots all-decade team member. He played 12 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Patriots and was one of the cornerstones of the team's success in winning the Super Bowl in the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons. He ranks third in team history with 78 sacks and owns an NFL record with 16 career postseason sacks.

McGinest joined defensive lineman Houston Antwine, who was selected by the senior selection committee, as the 2015 Patriots Hall of Fame inductees. McGinest and Antwine were inducted during a public ceremony attended by thousands of Patriots fans on the NRG Plaza outside The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon on Aug. 5.

NFL NETWORK FAN ZONE PRESENTED BY TOSTITOS

Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the NFL Network's live broadcast from the Thursday Night Football Fan Zone presented by Tostitos located in Lot 4A near the Patriots ProShop and CBS Scene Restaurant & Bar. 

ROB GRONKOWSKI NIKE CAMPAIGN

Nike will launch its winter campaign featuring Rob Gronkowski prior to Thursday's game next to the NFL Network's Fan Zone presented by Tostitos in Lot 4A. As part of the campaign, a larger-than-life Gronkowski ice statue with the message #getoutthere will be on display and a great photo-opportunity for fans.

PREGAME AT PATRIOT PLACE

Around Patriot Place, the property's 16 dining options can satisfy any hungry football fan with everything from sushi to burgers to fine dining. For a complete list of restaurants, visit

www.patriot-place.com/tags/restaurants#.Ve8g1NJViko. Need to gear up for the game? The Patriots ProShop and Patriots ProShop Collection have the widest selection of authentic Patriots merchandise available anywhere. Gold apparel will also be available in the ProShop to kick off the NFL's celebration of Super Bowl 50. For more information, visit www.patriotsproshop.com.

PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSIT

Parking lots open at 4:30 p.m. and stadium gates open at 6:30 p.m. for the 8:25 p.m. kickoff. With evening commute traffic and a capacity crowd of nearly 67,000 fans, Gillette Stadium officials encourage drivers to allow themselves plenty of time when traveling near the stadium on game day. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the game. Fans must use I-95, I-495 or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium. For ease of entry and exit, fans are reminded of the following:

• From the North (from I-95), fans are strongly encouraged to stay to the right and park in P10
• From the South (from I-495), fans are strongly encouraged to stay to the left and park in P11 or P10

Don't want to drive to the game? The MBTA Commuter Rail will provide special train service from South Station in Boston and from TF Green Airport in Warwick, R.I. to Gillette Stadium for Thursday's game. The round trip fare is $15 and fans are reminded the NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect for Thursday's game at Gillette Stadium (more information below). Additionally, no personal items may be left on the trains during the game. For more information, visit www.mbta.com/ridingthet/patriots.

NOTE:Trains will depart from Gillette Stadium 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

MASSACHUSETTS NATIVE WHITNEY DOUCET TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM

Prior to kickoff, the Bristol, R.I. Police Department Honor Guardwill present the colors and Massachusetts native Whitney Doucet, a singer who has performed with Keith Urban and recently released her first music video for her single, "Gone By Tonight," will sing the national anthem. 

POSTGAME POSTER HANDOUT

Fans attending the game will also receive a free commemorative Willie McGinest Hall of Fame poster upon their exit (weather permitting).

METAL DETECTORS AT ALL GATES

Please note metal detectors will be located at all stadium gates and be prepared to remove phones and cameras from your pockets. Unlike procedures you may be familiar with at the airport, stadium security will not be asking you to remove your keys, shoes, belts, loose change, etc.

CLEAR BAG POLICY

Gillette Stadium officials want to make one thing perfectly clear: The NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect once again throughout the 2015 season. That policy states that all bags entering the stadium must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12" x 6" x 12".Fans can use one-gallon clear (see through) plastic freezer bag or similar. In addition, small clutch bags (not to exceed 7" x 4" x 2") may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: non see-through purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch sacks, luggage of any kind, seats cushions, computer bags and camera bags or any bag lager than the permissible size. For additional information, go to NFL.com/allclear.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS HALL OF FAME

In 1991, the Patriots created their own Hall of Fame after John Hannah became the first Patriots player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While the team honor has existed since 1991, the Patriots Hall of Fame didn't find a permanent home until the Kraft family built The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon in 2008. Now, enshrinement into The Hall is an honor benefiting of the franchise's greatest players, with 30-foot video pylons displaying each honoree. Beginning in 2008, fans became part of the hall of fame tradition and active participants in the selection process. This year, Houston Antwine and Willie McGinest became the 23rd and 24th members of the Patriots Hall of Fame. The previous inductees are listed in alphabetical order below (with year of induction):

• Houston Antwine (2015)
• Bruce Armstrong (2001)
• Drew Bledsoe (2011)
• Troy Brown (2012)
• Tedy Bruschi (2013)
• Nick Buoniconti (1992)
• Gino Cappelletti (1992)
• Ben Coates (2008)
• Sam Cunningham (2010)
• Bob Dee (1993)
• Steve Grogan (1995)
• John Hannah (1991)
• Mike Haynes (1994)
• Jim Lee Hunt (1993)
• Ty Law (2014)
• Willie McGinest (2015)
• Stanley Morgan (2007)
• Jon Morris (2011)
• Jim Nance (2009)
• Steve Nelson (1993)
• Vito "Babe" Parilli (1993)
• Andre Tippett (1999)

Contributors:

William H. "Billy" Sullivan, Jr. (2009)
Gil Santos (2013)