There may never be another James Develin or Dion Lewis among the New England Patriots’ reserve-futures signings. That’s because not many Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz defensive ends become Pro Bowl fullbacks, and not many halfbacks go 731 days between regular-season appearances.
For each of those Develin and Lewis stories, there are countless more that go like Rob Housler’s, Marcus Benard’s and Rufus Johnson’s.
Housler was waived with the failed-physical designation by May 2017. Benard was released by September 2013. And Johnson earned a 53-man roster spot and played in one regular-season game before landing on the non-football illness list in 2015, then was let go from the practice squad after three days in 2016.