The grass isn’t all the time greener on the opposite facet, however for 3 former failed New England Patriots gamers it undoubtedly is.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Joshua Ucha and Tyquan Thornton all started coaching camp with the Patriots this summer time and at the moment are headed to Tremendous Bowl LIX with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
It’s actually been fairly the journey for these three gamers this season. The Patriots launched Smith-Schuster in early August after one season with New England. Thornton met the identical destiny in mid-November when the Patriots waived the 2022 second-round decide, who wound up signing with the Chiefs apply squad. And New England traded Uche to Kansas Metropolis on the finish of October in return for a 2026 sixth-round decide.
Smith-Schuster simply has made the most important impression out of these three. Uche was inactive for the AFC Championship Sport on Sunday and it’s the sixth time he’s been inactive within the final seven video games. In the meantime, Thornton hasn’t seen any snaps with the Chiefs.
Smith-Schuster caught 18 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns in the course of the common season with the Chiefs, which isn’t far off from the 29 receptions, 260 yards and one landing he compiled in 2023 with the Patriots. However the veteran wideout stepped up within the postseason. He made two essential catches for 60 yards within the win over the Buffalo Payments to assist the Chiefs transfer on to the Tremendous Bowl.
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It’s form of unfathomable to consider that Smith-Schuster went from being unable to make a Patriots roster devoid of expertise to creating performs within the NFL playoffs. He now can have a serving to hand within the Chiefs making historical past as they give the impression of being to be the primary staff ever within the league to win three consecutive Tremendous Bowls.
Smith-Schuster, Uche and Thornton aren’t the one former Patriots going again to the Tremendous Bowl with the Chiefs. Beginning offensive lineman Joe Thuney will get the possibility so as to add one other Tremendous Bowl ring to his assortment. The All-Professional guard, who has moved to deal with at instances this season out of necessity, already has 4 Tremendous Bowl wins below his belt, with two of these coming with the Patriots.
Mike Pennel had a cup of espresso in coaching camp with the Patriots in 2019 earlier than being launched previous to the season. He’s now searching for his third Tremendous Bowl title with the Chiefs.
Then there’s Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly. The journey to New Orleans will mark his ninth look within the Tremendous Bowl within the final 11 seasons with the Patriots and Chiefs mixed. Daley, who was a defensive position coach with the Patriots from 2014-18, is on the hunt for his seventh Tremendous Bowl ring.
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The Philadelphia Eagles don’t have any former Patriots on their roster. Linebacker Ochaun Mathis performed 5 video games for the Patriots this season earlier than being launched by New England in mid-November and signing to Philadelphia’s apply squad.
