State natives, UConn products busy during NFL free agency
The sports world is at a standstill? Not in the wild world of NFL free agency.
Players have been coming and going daily with future Hall of Famers and former MVPs either changing teams or being placed in the state of limbo.
Connecticut natives have been front and center on the NFL movement caravan.
Four former Connecticut high school stars agreed on contracts with new teams in
five days beginning with Byron Jones’ historic deal with the Miami Dolphins.
Even as reports began to surface that the New Britain native would become the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, two other members of the talent-rich Connecticut high school football graduating class of 2010 were set to sign contracts of their own.
Stratford’s Tyler Matakevich, a former star running back and linebacker as well as a two-time All-State selection at St. Joseph High School, would agree to terms on a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. A few days later it would be reported that Seth DeValve, the former Manchester High School quarterback turned Ivy League receiver before he made the transition to NFL tight end, was ready to embark on life with his third team in three years when the Carolina Panthers came calling. During that same time Norwalk native and former King star linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis finalized plans to become a member of the Washington Redskins.
Could this just be the start of things? Well, former New London High star Jordan Reed, Maloney graduate John Jenkins and former Crosby High and Southern Connecticut State standout Jerome Cunningham are all unrestricted free agents. It doesn’t end there. Jones is far from the only UConn product signing contracts. Andrew Adams (Tampa Bay), Anthony Sherman (Kansas City) and Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Atlanta) agreed to extensions with the teams they suited up for in 2019 while the news came out that Geremy Davis signed with Detroit after stints with the New York
Giants and the San Diego/ Los Angeles Chargers.
None of the moves created the shockwaves of Jones’ deal with Miami. Jones’ five-year deal is worth $82.5 million with $40 million in guaranteed money in the first two years of the contract. Not a bad haul for a player that rivals.com rated as the No. 9 player in Connecticut and 10th best in UConn’s signing class a decade ago.
Jones did a video conference call with the media on Thursday and naturally, he was asked about the impact of the massive contract.
“One thing, my coach his name is Kris Richard and he is really one of the big reasons why I moved to corner (after beginning his career with the Dallas Cowboys playing safety) and why I was a Pro Bowl player is approach things as if it is a championship so championship preparation in practice, in life, the way you eat,” Jones said. “If this was a practice leading up to the Super Bowl how are you going to prepare for that practice, prepare for that game, so really my mindset is regardless of whether I am getting paid $1 million or $13 million, it doesn’t change for me, I am always going to practice and prepare to the best of my abilities.”
While the lucrative deal didn’t hurt, Jones said on multiple occasions that the chance to be a leader on a young team helped sell him on signing with the Dolphins.
“Football is a grind,” Jones said. “No matter how much you get paid, it is hard so you want to be in a good locker room, a good situation with good teammates, good coaches and you want to win games.”