Sept. 2, 2012 marked the first day of James Develin’s New England Patriots tenure.
He’s now on day 1,740.
Given where Develin had been before he arrived in Foxborough, it wouldn’t have been much of a surprise if he departed soon after. From going undrafted out of Brown University as a defensive end, to playing one game in the Arena Football League as an Oklahoma City Yard Dawg, to converting to fullback in the United Football League as a Florida Tusker, to spending a season-plus on the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals – Develin was forging a well-rounded football journey to that juncture.