NFL's Old Faces In New Places

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Apr 24, 2009

NFL's Old Faces In New Places

Terrell Owens, WR

The controversial receiver wore out his welcome in Dallas, but took less than a week to land in Buffalo. With the Bills, T.O. will team up with third-year quarterback Trent Edwards and try to produce at the level that he did with Tony Romo and the Cowboys.

Tony Gonzalez

The NFL record-holder for most receptions, TDs and receiving yards by a tight end, 10-time Pro-Bowler Tony Gonzalez was traded to the Falcons in exchange for a pick in next year's draft.

Jay Cutler

The Broncos' quarterback wanted out of Denver, and he got his wish. The Bears traded their own young quarterback, Kyle Orton, two first-round picks and a third-round pick to Denver for Cutler, who threw for a Broncos franchise record 4,526 yards last season.

Kyle Orton

The other key player in the trade that sent Jay Cutler to Chicago, Kyle Orton threw for 2,972 yards last season with the Bears, after beating out Rex Grossman for the starting job.

Jason Peters

The Eagles needed to plug the gap in their offensive line left by Tra Thomas' departure to Jacksonville. They filled the hole with Jason Peters, whom they acquired in a trade with Buffalo. Philadelphia quickly signed the 27 year old to an extension worth $60 million over the next six seasons.

Albert Haynesworth, DT

The Redskins won the bidding war for the most valued free agent in the 2009 pool, essentially signing Haynesworth to a four-year, $48.2 million contract.

matt-cassel-vikings-preseason-starter — Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

TJ Houshmanzadeh, WR

The dynamic wideout will join a receiving core that at the time includes Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Koren Robinson.

Brian Dawkins, S

The seven-time Pro Bowl defender effectively closed the curtain on his 13-year career with Philadelphia when he signed a five-year, $17 million deal with the Broncos. Dawkins earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2008 and will seek to repeat his success in the Mile High City.

Mike Vrabel, LB

The poster boy of Bill Belichick's defensive system finally departed after an eight-year love affair in which he won three Super Bowl rings and was four times voted the team's defensive captain. He should play a sizeable role in the linebacker slot for the Chiefs.

Kellen Winslow, TE

The injury-prone tight end was dealt to the Bucs for two future draft picks. In 2006 and 2007, his only two full seasons with the Browns, Winslow hauled in 89 and 82 receptions, respectively, and looks for a healthy start in Tampa Bay.

Chris Canty, DE

The Giants continued to bolster their defensive line by signing the former Cowboy standout. With Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Dave Tollefson already battling for time on the line, the flexible Canty could play both inside and outside for Big Blue.

Antonio Smith, DE

A talented run stopper (82 tackles -- 68 solo -- between 2007 and 2008) as well as a capable pass rusher for the Arizona Cardinals (5.5 sacks in the final 11 games last season), Smith will fill the void in Houston created by the departure of Anthony Weaver.

Nate Washington

The Titans signed Washington to a six-year, $27 million deal to replace Brandon Jones, who signed with the 49ers. Washington spent the past four seasons in Pittsburgh as the third receiver, but will be expected to step into the No. 1 spot in Tennessee.

Bart Scott, LB

Scott will at last step out of Ray Lewis's shadow and into the limelight. The new cornerstone of a beefed up Jets' defense declined an offer from his former team, the Ravens, to sign a six-year, $48 million deal with Gang Green.

Fred Taylor, RB

Taylor signed with the Patriots in a bid to win a Super Bowl ring. He left Jacksonville as the franchise's all-time leader in career rushing yards (11,271), yards from scrimmage (12,978), total touchdowns (70) and rushing touchdowns (62).

Derrick Ward, RB

After cutting Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, Cato June, Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway, the Bucs continued their campaign to get younger and more potent on offense by signing Ward. He ran for 1,025 yards last season while splitting time with fellow 1,000 yard rusher Brandon Jacobs.

Jabar Gaffney, WR

After hauling in 38 passes for 438 yards with the Patriots in 2008, Gaffney signed a four-year, $10 million deal with the Broncos. He was a solid slot receiver in New England behind Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and will again be a 3 or 4 receiver, this time behind Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal.

Rocky Bernard, DT

Bernard signed a five-year, $25 million deal to join the Giants' stingy defensive line. He notched a career-high 55 tackles (43 solo) in 2008 while playing on a disastrous Seahawks squad that went only 4-12.

Jon Kitna, QB

The Cowboys traded corner Anthony Henry to the Lions for Kitna, a 12-year veteran who will replace -- much to the delight of Cowboys fans -- Brad Johnson as the backup to Tony Romo.

Lito Sheppard, CB

After adding Bart Scott to the roster, the Jets further bulked up their defense by trading two draft picks to the Eagles for Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard. Though Sheppard saw diminished playing time in 2008, he looks to be a good fit in Rex Ryan's blitz-style defense.

Keith Brooking, LB

Dallas passed on the highly-priced Ray Lewis and instead signed veteran Atlanta linebacker Keith Brooking to a three-year deal. Brooking led the Falcons in tackles last season with 102 and helped carry the squad to its best record since 1998.

Andra Davis, LB

The Broncos followed up the signing of Brian Dawkins with another addition to their defense -- former Browns middle linebacker Andra Davis. He led Cleveland in tackles in 2003, 2005 and 2006, and logged a career-high 149 in 2005.

Dominique Foxworth, CB

After starting part-time for Atlanta in 2008, Foxworth returned to his hometown and is projected to be the full-time starter.

Jabari Greer, CB

The speedy cornerback signed a four-year deal with the Saints worth approximately $23 million after spending five years with the Bills.

Michael Boley, LB

Big Blue made yet another move to improve its D by signing former Falcon Michael Boley, who logged 334 tackles, six sacks and five interceptions in four years with Atlanta.

Sean Jones, SS

One of the most underrated players in the 2009 free agent pool, Jones signed on to replace the departed Brian Dawkins. In 2006 and 2007 -- Jones' only two full seasons with the Browns -- he led all NFL strong safeties in interceptions (5).

Phillip Buchanan, CB

Detroit signed the up-and-down cornerback to a two-year, $8.5 million contract in hopes of garnering the same production that he put up in three seasons with Tampa Bay. After a dreadfully unsuccessful stint with Houston, Buchanan joined the Bucs in 2006 and notched seven interceptions in 33 starts.<br><br>Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

NFL's Old Faces In New Places