EAGAN, Minn. -- Kevin O'Connell's football world was settling nicely in the summer of 2009. The quarterback immediately ahead of him on the New England Patriots' depth chart had been traded away. The Patriots had added two free agent quarterbacks as depth, but O'Connell -- a third-round draft pick the previous year -- was the favorite to emerge from training camp as Tom Brady's top backup.
As it turned out, O'Connell didn't emerge from camp with the Patriots at all. He was waived in August, one day after a disastrous preseason outing, and within weeks he was moving toward the slow sunset of his on-field career.