The NFL's Old Faces in New Places

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 1, 2011

The NFL's Old Faces in New Places

Plaxico Burress

Burress isn't moving far after his 622-day jail sentence. He switches from one New York team to the other after agreeing to a one-year, $3.017 million deal with the Jets. He could start opposite Santonio Holmes, though Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller are sure to see plenty of looks, too. This could signal the end of the Braylon Edwards era in New York.

Nnamdi Asomugha

Surprise, surprise. The Eagles came out of nowhere to swoop in and steal the NFL's top free agent, Nnamdi Asomugha. The former Raiders cornerback signed a five-year $60 million deal with Philadelphia, a relative bargain, and will join Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the Eagles' secondary. Asomugha was pursued by the Jets, Cowboys and other teams, but ultimately selected Philadelphia as his best chance to win a Super Bowl.

Cullen Jenkins

A day after swooping in for Asomugha, the Eagles landed one of the top free-agent defensive tackles in Cullen Jenkins. Jenkins, 30, missed five games during the Packers' Super Bowl season, but he managed to get a five-year $25 million deal from Philadelphia, which looks to be gearing up for a deep playoff run of its own.

Albert Haynesworth

The Patriots' front office may have done it again. Banking on their knack for subduing big egos in Foxboro (see: Corey Dillon, Randy Moss), Bill Belichick and Co. swiftly dealt for Albert Haynesworth, the beleaguered defensive tackle formerly of the Redskins and Titans. Only surrendering a 2013 fifth-round pick to Washington in exchange, the move could pay major dividends. Though Haynesworth has had his share of public controversy -- from failing his physical last year to stepping on Cowboys' center Andre Gurode's head in 2006 -- he also has racked up 30.5 sacks in his 10-year career.

Chad Ochocinco

First Albert Haynesworth is traded to New England, then Ochocinco. Bill Belichick is making moves this offseason that few thought he would. Ochocinco had more than 10,000 receiving yards in his 10 years with the Bengals, including seven 1,000-yard seasons in the past nine years. The wide receiver is now finally in a position to add a Super Bowl championship to his six Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections.

Reggie Bush

It's New Orleans no more for Reggie Bush, as the running back and return man extraordinaire was shipped to the Dolphins Thursday as part of a move to clear cap space for the Saints. The former first-round pick has been a fan-favorite throughout his four-year career, tallying 2,090 rushing yards, 2,142 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns. He should split carries with Ronnie Brown in Miami.

Donovan McNabb

Different year, same story. That's the case for six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb following his trade to the Vikings earlier this week. The franchise cornerstone for Philadelphia from 1999-2009, McNabb was traded to Redskins last year, subsequently struggling by throwing 14 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. He'll look to resurrect his career in Minneapolis, leaning heavily on the power running of Adrian Peterson.

Kevin Kolb

Entering the 2010 season, Kevin Kolb was being hailed as the next big thing in Philadelphia. He had just supplanted Donovan McNabb as the starter, seemingly destined for a long and illustrious career as an Eagle. That certainly didn't last long. Kolb suffered a concussion during Week 1 against the Packers, watching newly-reborn Michael Vick have a career year and cement his place as Philadelphia's leader of the future. On Thursday, Kolb was traded to the Cardinals for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second-round pick.

Willis McGahee

McGahee, 29, is reportedly getting a four-year, $10 million deal from the Broncos. McGahee could be a goal-line or breather option for Knowshon Moreno, much like he was for Ray Rice in Baltimore. That said, McGahee's numbers have been on a steady decline since his last 1,000-yard season in 2007.

Todd Heap

The Cardinals added a safety valve for Kevin Kolb with Todd Heap, a 31-year-old tight end coming off a 40-catch, 599-yard season with Baltimore. Heap who grew up in Mesa, Ariz., and starred at Arizona State before his 10-year tenure with the Ravens.

Takeo Spikes

The San Diego Chargers landed the 14-year veteran Spikes with a three-year, $9 million contract after he recorded triple-digit tackles (109) for the first time since 2003. Spikes, 34, had three interceptions for the 49ers last season but looks to prove to the Chargers that it wasn't his last hurrah.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Entering his fourth season, Rodgers-Cromartie leaves the Arizona Cardinals to go to the Eagles in a trade involving quarterback Kevin Kolb. Rodgers-Cromartie started every game the last two seasons and hauled in nine interceptions from his cornerback position.

Tim Hightower

The Redskins added some depth to their backfield by acquiring Tim Hightower from the Cardinals for DE Vonnie Holliday and an undisclosed draft pick. Sharing carries for Arizona last season, Hightower rushed for 736 yards and five touchdowns, but also lost four fumbles. Hightower will like continue to split carries in Washington, where he'll team with Ryan Torain to form a two-pronged attack.

Roy Williams

Shortly after the Cowboys cut, Roy Williams found his new home in Chicago. The Bears pick up an eight-year veteran who has not exactly fulfilled expectations. Williams has only had one 1,000-yard season at wide receiver and last year fumbled the ball three times.

Tarvaris Jackson

Known mainly as being Brett Favre's backup at Minnesota, Jackson moves on to Seattle, where he'll fight for the starting position with Charlie Whitehurst after Matt Hasselbeck was not re-signed. Jackson hasn't been a regular starter since 2007, when he tossed nine TDs and 12 INTs.

Vince Young

After what can only be described as an "up-and-down" tenure with the Tennessee Titans, Vince Young agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles, likely to serve as a backup to Michael Vick. Still, the 2006 first-round pick by Tennessee has said he expects to challenge Vick for Philly's starting job in camp. Young's signing comes amid a flurry of Eagles' deals, including the snag of sought-after free agent Nnamdi Asomugha.

Sidney Rice

The wide receiver told SI.com in June he'd test the free-agent market ; he wasn't joking. Just days into free agency, Rice jumped to Seattle and will suit up for the Seahawks next season. Rice is coming off a season-ending hip injury but promises to give Seattle another 2009, where he had 1,312 receiving yards and eight TDs with Minnesota.

Jason Babin

After a stellar 12.5-sack season last year, Babin was looking for more cash this offseason. When the Titans couldn't deliver to the Pro Bowl defensive end, he picked up and went to Philadelphia on a five-year deal. This will be the second time Babin has played for the Eagles in his five-team, eight-year career.

Marion Barber

After six seasons with the Cowboys, Marion Barber agreed to a two-year deal with the Chicago Bears. Barber rushed for 4,358 yards and 47 touchdowns during his tenure in Dallas and looks to boost the Bears' ground attack. The 5' 11' running back also hauled in 1,280 receiving yards as a member of the Cowboys.

Quintin Mikell

Mikell has never played pro football in anything other than an Eagles jersey. That changed when the safety signed a free-agent deal with the St. Louis Rams this week. Last season Mikell tied a career high with three picks and had a career-best 77 tackles.

Paul Posluszny

The Jaguars were able to secure one of the best young linebackers in the game, signing Posluszny away from Buffalo with a six-year deal. "Poz" had the third-most tackles in the NFL last season, racking up 103.

Matt Hasselbeck

During his 10-year tenure, Matt Hasselbeck threw more than 4,000 passes for the Seattle Seahawks. Come Week 1, he'll prepare to throw his first for his new team, the Tennessee Titans. Hasselbeck signed with the Titans as part of their offseason overhaul, with the franchise parting ways with head coach Jeff Fisher and quarterbacks Vince Young and Kerry Collins. The 35-year-old veteran will look to improve upon the team's 6-10 finish in 2010 while serving as a mentor to first-round selection Jake Locker.

Darren Sproles

The tiny bolt of lightning bolted from the Chargers after the Saints came calling with a four-year, $14 million deal. Sproles arrives in New Orleans on the heels of Reggie Bush leaving for Miami. He'll help that void, but where his presence will really be felt is in the return game, where he's never gone a season without 1,000 kick return yards.

Nick Barnett

Two days after being released by the Packers, MLB Nick Barnett signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Bills, who lost LB Paul Posluszny to the Jaguars. Barnett, who was drafted by the Packers in 2003, was a mainstay of their defense until injuries derailed his career, forcing him to end two of the last three seasons on the IR.

Johnathan Joseph

Joseph has been known this offseason as the best bang-for-your-buck defensive back after most teams would likely not have the dollars to sign Nnamdi Asomugha. The former Bengal will now take his talents (nine picks and two TDs in the past two seasons) to the Texans where he'll team with Daniael Manning in the secondary.

Barry Cofield

Often overlooked behind more outspoken players such as Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora on the Giants' defensive line, nose tackle Barry Cofield has quietly pieced together an impressive career. Now, he'll look to carve his own legacy for archrival Washington. He agreed to terms with the Redskins on Tuesday, and will plan to step in as Haynesworth's replacement following his trade to New England. The former Northwestern Wildcat has accumulated 154 tackles and 10.5 sacks in his six-year career.

Steve Breaston

Kansas City may have found another go-to receiver. In his four years as a Cardinal, Breaston was overshadowed by Pro Bowl wideout Larry Fitzgerald. Nonetheless, Breaston still racked up 2,528 career receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Josh Wilson

Three years and $13.5 million is what it took to take Wilson from Baltimore and place him in Washington. The defensive back has tallied nine interceptions and four touchdowns in the past three seasons, and for the Redskins' spending habits, he was a bargain grab.

The NFL's Old Faces in New Places