Ed Reed hasn’t played football in four years. Jeremy Shockey and Albert Haynesworth haven’t been on the field since 2011. Clinton Portis and Brian Westbrook haven’t suited up since 2010.
Though some of the NFL’s biggest stars left long ago, 2002 draft classmate Josh McCown is having one of the best seasons of his career — and he isn’t alone.
In the Jets’ game Sunday against the Panthers, the 38-year-old quarterback, who was drafted 81st overall by Arizona, will go up against 37-year-old Julius Peppers, who was picked second overall by Carolina in 2002. Before Dwight Freeney was claimed by the Lions on Wednesday, McCown and Peppers were the only players from that 2002 draft class still playing in the NFL.