For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That holds true in the zero-sum NFL world, too, so when the New York Giants traded offensive lineman Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday, it meant another move was coming to fill his spot on the roster.
Faalele's roster spot didn't stay open long. Later on Wednesday, the Giants reunited with Ben Barten, an undrafted rookie defensive lineman out of Wisconsin. After signing with Big Blue in May, the 24-year-old was waived in late July to make room for free-agent linebacker Anfernee Orji.
He didn't have to wait long for his next opportunity -- he also didn't need to travel that far. He made the grueling 30-minute drive from East Rutherford to Florham Park after the Jets scooped him up just two days later. After a relatively underwhelming showing in Gang Green's first preseason game, the J-E-T-S waived Barten. The very next day, the G-Men claimed him off waivers, bringing him home.
If Barten’s story sounds familiar, you aren’t crazy. Something eerily similar happened last year with cornerback Korie Black.
Ben Barten is giving Giants fans some serious Korie Black flashbacks
Last year, the Giants selected Black with the 246th pick. The former Oklahoma State standout signed his rookie contract in May and went through the whole song and dance of Big Blue's offseason, looking for a chance to make the 53-man roster.
Well, that opportunity never came. Black was cut right after roster cutdowns as part of routine roster gymnastics, with the intention of bringing him back to the practice squad. Instead, he cleared waivers, hit free agency, and signed with the Jets’ practice squad.
The 24-year-old spent the first few weeks of the season bouncing between the Jets’ active roster and practice squad before the G-Men returned the favor, stealing him back off their P-squad in October.
Giants, Jets, Giants, Jets, Giants, Jets -- it’s exhausting. But eventually, they both ended up right back where they started: East Rutherford.
Now that Barten is back in blue, he’ll get a chance to put his unimpressive preseason debut behind him when the Giants take on the Miami Dolphins on Saturday afternoon. He played 17 snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Jets’ preseason opener, finishing with a 41.9 overall PFF grade, including a 52.2 run-defense grade and a 68.2 pass-rushing grade. He also recorded one tackle on the day.
Now Barten gets his own Round 2 in East Rutherford. Black made his count, appearing in nine games as a rookie and returning for another summer fighting for a roster spot. If Barten can do the same, maybe that arduous 30-minute commute to Florham Park will officially be a thing of the past.
Add us as a preferred source on Google