It’s not that they aren’t inevitable. Players rarely depart from franchises on their own terms. Injury, age, performance and salary individually, or collectively, will eventually gang up on even the best of them and lead to a change in job status.
But even given the inevitability of the business, some separations are a little more noticeable, a lot more emotional.
Like Jahri Evans’ severance from the New Orleans Saints on Monday, one of several moves the team has made this offseason, including releasing linebackers David Hawthorne and Ramon Humber.
In 10 seasons, Evans went from being a little-known, fourth-round draft pick from a school many didn’t know existed (Bloomsburg), to one of the best players in franchise history.