Free agent pass-rusher Dwight Freeney remains confident that he’ll be playing for an NFL team come the start of the 2016 season.
“I’m going to play again next year,” Freeney said, via Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. “It’s 95 percent. But I can’t see that 5 percent happening.”
Over just 11 regular season games with the Arizona Cardinals last season, Freeney registered a team-high 8.0 sacks—including a game-winning strip-sack of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and a three-sack afternoon against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. He added another sack of Rodgers during Arizona’s playoff win over Green Bay.
Nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 13 games hasn’t been enough for Freeney—who turned 36 in February—to find a team for 2016. He thinks that’s a big mistake.
“Teams miss that I’m not the average guy,” Freeney said. “There are the anomalies, and I’m the anomaly. I can still play.”
Freeman listed four teams, including the Cardinals, as possibilities for Freeney. He also included the New Orleans Saints (who just lost Hau’oli Kikaha), New England Patriots (who traded Chandler Jones to Arizona) and Houston Texans.
Over the last month, Freeney visited the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons.
His first choice is still returning to the Cardinals.
Given his production to end last season, it’s somewhat surprising Freeney hasn’t found a suitor for 2016. But it’s still only June, and teams will have a much better understanding of their roster composition once training camp inches closer. The need for a veteran pass-rusher could arise quickly for a number of teams near the end of July and into August.
Freeney might have to continue his wait, but he should get his opportunity to prove he can still play at some point before the start of next season.
