Stretching the Field: Homecoming
by Luke Paul Chandler
For some teams, bringing back a former player is a quality move, for others, it’s just publicity stunt.
The allure of bringing a former player back home in the NFL is frequent. There is a perceived safety in bringing back a familiar face. Fans are usually at peace with the move because they can now dust off old jerseys and memorabilia that once were thought to be e-Bay fodder. Coaches and front offices are often guilty of this indulgence too, because a player will normally take less money to return to his old stomping grounds. Sometimes these moves are pragmatic, while others are just senseless.
Often times, players are brought back to their former team because they fell flat on their face after departing for big money elsewhere or were released for other mitigating factors. Either way, these players — for the most part — were no longer wanted. Like the pair of irregular jeans found 75% off at the store, they have some use for the buyer, but they’re not suitable outside of the house. In rare cases, like with running back Dominic Rhodes and the Colts, it’s a match made in Heaven.
Rhodes departed the Colts in free agency during the spring of 2007, fresh off a Super Bowl victory. Rhodes had played a key role in the Colts title run that year, forming a great running back tandem with then-rookie Joseph Addai. Rhodes’ role was waning by the time the Super Bowl rolled around, but he still managed to run for 113 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI. By that time though, it was clear that Addai had taken on a larger role in the offense and Rhodes was going to be relegated to third-down back or part-time running back. While it was a role that played to Rhodes’ strengths as a smooth receiver and change-of-pace back, he left seeking more of an opportunity. He signed with Oakland where he was thought to be a key to new head coach Lane Kiffin’s back-by-committee system.
After serving a four-game suspension related to a DUI arrest after Super Bowl XLI, Rhodes went on to moderate success in Oakland but was a victim of a numbers game at running back. He became expendable with Oakland pushing the cap limit for this season during free agency and selecting running back Darren McFadden with the sixth overall pick in the draft. Rhodes was released on April 28th, 2008 and signed with the Colts shortly thereafter.
Signing Rhodes made a great deal of sense for the Colts. He was familiar with the team’s complex playbook and fills the void for them in his old role as the No. 2 back. However, his touches will be diminished due to the emergence of Addai as a premier running back in the league. Addai fought through an injury most of last season, and his backup Kenton Keith couldn’t handle the complexity of being a running back in the Colts offense. Keith could run the ball, but he lacked any skills as a receiver or blocker. Rhodes brings great insurance and versatility to the Colts, and he physically is still able of being the primary ball carrier. For both parties, bringing back Rhodes makes sense.
On the contrary, the Colts division rival, the Titans, brought back a familiar face this offseason, re-signing defensive end Jevon Kearse after a four-year stint in Philadelphia. Kearse was once the elite speed-rushing defensive end in the NFL and was a part of two teams (1999 Titans and 2004 Eagles) who made it to the Super Bowl. Kearse has never matched the production of his rookie season as a pass rusher, when he had 14.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles. Despite injury concerns, the Eagles signed him to a record deal in the spring of 2004, giving him a signing bonus of $16 million — the largest ever for a defensive linemen at that time. Kearse no longer played purely as speed rusher in Philadelphia, he was asked to drop back into coverage for coordinator Jim Johnson’s zone blitzing scheme, and the team exploited his athleticism in other ways. That aside, Kearse never looked like the same pass rusher in Philadelphia.
Kearse never produced like the Eagles had hoped during his four seasons there, and he ultimately lost his starting job in mid-2007 to Juqua Thomas. During his time in Philadelphia, Kearse had lost a step due to various injuries and was far from dynamic. In an article written in USA Today in May 2008, Kearse blamed the production slip on the Eagles defensive scheme. He still claims to be a player who can produce.
The problem is that nothing on film supports Kearse’s claim. His knee injury from 2006, which caused swelling and discomfort during last season, was another in a long list of nagging injuries that have slowed the career of the “Freak.” Kearse didn’t appear to play with the same passion and ferocity as he did in his first stint through Tennessee. As an Eagle, Kearse’s game became more rounded, but he played as if he was disinterested at times. There were even claims from Eagles teammates that Kearse had been partying too hard in the offseason in Florida, and that he was no longer dedicated to the game.
For the Titans front office, this move screams of nostalgia and public relations. The Titans have been hit hard in free agency, losing ends Travis LaBoy and Antwan Odom, along with other young veterans like guard Jacob Bell. Rather than trying to build a up a position, like when they drafted LaBoy and Odom to replace Kearse, general manager Mike Reinfeldt put a band aid on the position. Bringing in Kearse may help drive some ticket and jersey sales up, but he is far from productive. In fact, seeing him lose his job again as a starter is not out of the question.
There is nothing wrong with putting the band back together, so long as everyone can still play his instrument well and perform like he once did. If not, it’s nothing more than a cheesy publicity stunt. The Colts put another key piece back into their orchestra that made their sound more harmonious. The Titans just made some noise.
Contact Luke at Luke@newerascouting.com.