New England Patriots: former players they will face in 2015

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The nature of the NFL is one of business. Players come, players go; loyalty is at a scarcity. One of the byproducts of constant personnel exchanging is players regularly facing their former teams, and visa versa. The New England Patriots are as familiar with this song and dance as anyone.

Once a player enters Foxboro, he is forever marked with the Patriot Way. The culture within the confines of Gillette Stadium sticks with a player even when they’re playing for a new team. So when that player faces the Patriots in a meaningful game, it’s fun to watch.

Of the 13 regulars season opponents the Patriots will encounter in the 2015 regular season, seven have at least one former Patriot on their roster. Today, we’re going to find out exactly who those players are and take a look at their careers, both in New England and out.

This article does not include players who did not log a snap with the Patriots. For example, Tennessee Titans defensive back Jemea Thomas does not appear on this list because he was cut after training camp last summer. So you get the idea; this is a compilation of players who have actually helped the Patriots win real football games.

There are no former Patriots on the Steelers, Cowboys, Dolphins, Redskins, Eagles and Titans, so those games are skipped in this slideshow.

Next: Week 2 & Week 11: Matt Cassel

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Matt Cassel

Now that Brandon Spikes is no longer on the Bills’ roster, Cassel is the only former Patriot on the team. Entering his 11^th season, Cassel is long removed from his days as a backup in New England.

Cassel’s career would never be the same after Bernard Pollard crushed Tom Brady’s left knee on that unforgettable sunny September afternoon in 2008. The USC product had only attempted 39 passes in three seasons since being drafted in 2005; in 2008, he would go on to complete 327 of the 516 passes he attempted for 3,693 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Since 2008, Cassel has posted a winning record as a starter just once. 2010 was an outstanding year for Cassel, as he won 10 of the 15 games he started for the Chiefs, throwing a career-high 27 touchdowns and just seven picks.

Interestingly, Cassel has only faced his former Patriots teammates and coaches once in the seven years since he departed New England. That encounter was last season, when the Patriots spun up to Minnesota in Week 2. Cassel had one of the worst games of his career, tossing four picks in a 30-7 loss to the Pats.

Let’s just say that if Cassel manages to win the starting job this summer in Buffalo, the Patriots won’t exactly be shaking in their boots when they play the Bills.

Next: Week 3: Sergio Brown

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Sergio Brown

Signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent back in 2010, Brown has appeared in 71 games over his five seasons in the NFL, starting 11 of those contests. He has 76 combined tackles, one pick and eight passes defended to his name.

As a rookie, Brown served primarily on special teams. But when the Patriots released Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders in the 2011 offseason, Brown got more looks at safety.  He started three games that season, recording the only pick of his career thus far in a Week 2 game against the San Diego Chargers.

However, Brown wouldn’t survive training camp the following summer. After the Patriots let him loose, Brown signed with the Indianapolis Colts in early September.

In three seasons with the Colts, Brown faced his former Patriots teammates four times—twice in the regular season and twice in the postseason. Of course, the Patriots won all of those games. Brown factored in prominently into the Pats-Colts regular season game last year, tallying four tackles as the Colts tried unsuccessfully to slow down Jonas Gray.

The Colts let Brown walk this offseason, from which point the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him. Daniel Lago, our FanSided friend over at Black and Teal, had this to say about Brown in his roster prediction of the Jags’ safety position:

"Sergio Brown is basically a lock to make it on special teams, but he will also get a legitimate look at free safety. The Jaguars would probably prefer that [James] Sample starts however."

Week 3 will mark Brown’s fifth encounter with the Patriots since they cut ties with him three years ago.

Next: Week 6: Darius Butler, Adam Vinatieri

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Darius Butler

Speaking of former Patriots defensive backs playing for the Colts, Butler is another guy we need to talk about.

Most Patriots fans remember Butler as another one of those cornerbacks the Pats drafted high in the late 2000s that didn’t pan out. That is partially true.

In New England, Butler was largely a disappointment. After a promising rookie season, the UConn product was replaced in the starting lineup by Kyle Arrington. He failed to register an interception as a sophomore pro, and the Patriots let him walk just before the 2011 opener.

After a lost season in Carolina, Butler has rejuvenated his career since joining the Colts in 2011. In those three seasons, Butler has amassed eight interceptions (three pick-sixes), 35 passes defended and 114 tackles. The Patriots will most likely see the player they drafted in the second round back in 2009 lining up against Danny Amendola or Julian Edelman in Week 6.

Adam Vinatieri

Believe it or not, Vinatieri began his NFL career the same year that this writer was born, 1996. As you can imagine, No. 4 is the oldest player in the NFL right now (he’s 42).

Although we Patriots fans are perfectly content (and better off) with Stephen Gostkowski kicking the ball, we are forever indebted to Vinatieri for his heroic efforts in the early 2000s dynasty.

The old man has still got it. Oddly enough, Vinatieri may have had his best season in 2014, as he made all but one of the 31 field goals he attempted, and drilled every extra point. The Associated Press nodded toward Vinatieri after the season, naming him First-Team All-Pro.

Next: Week 7 & Week 16: Ridley, Revis

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There are a total of four former Patriots on the Jets’ roster right now. That is not a coincidence; both members of this heated rivalry like to draw players from the other side.

Darrelle Revis

Of course, Revis jumping ship after earning a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots was one of the stories of the offseason. He joins a revamped New York secondary that is honestly a bit daunting with all the new fixtures the Jets have recently collected.

Stevan Ridley

No longer will Patriots fans have to lose sleep over Ridley’s fumbling issues, as that is the Jets’ problem now. It’s unclear how much of a role Ridley will have after tearing his ACL early in 2014, but expect the Jets to feed him the ball in both games against the Patriots this season.

Steve Maneri

The Patriots brought Maneri on as a blocking tight end in 2014. He appeared in just one game, and the ball was thrown his was once. Maneri’s time in New England was short-lived and insignificant. He will aim to prove his former team wrong this season, but I’m not very concerned about him blowing the top off the Pats’ defense.

Zach Sudfeld

You may remember that Sudfeld was all the rage in New England at this time two years ago. He was being labeled as a deep sleeper by fantasy football experts, and the Patriots gave him a hefty signing bonus considering he went undrafted that spring. Unfortunately for Sudfeld, he tore his ACL in minicamp this June, so he won’t be playing any football in 2015.

Next: Week 10: Shane Vereen, Jonathan Casillas

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Shane Vereen

The Patriots are famously shrewd with their running backs. They view just about every player at the position as replaceable, so that’s why they weren’t willing to pay Vereen the three-year, $12 million-plus deal that the Giants handed him this offseason.

We’ll miss Vereen, but not that much. The Patriots have Travaris Cadet and James White to handle receiving duties out of the backfield. That being said, the Patriots’ defense had better be ready to cover their old teammate when they travel to the Meadowlands in Week 10.

Jonathan Casillas

Casillas came to the Patriots in a mid-October trade last season, and he was an important contributor in eight regular season games, recording 21 tackles and a forced fumble. During the postseason run, Casillas made two tackles.

No doubt he was a useful player, but again, the Giants were willing to pay more than the Patriots for Casillas’ services.

Daniel Fells

Fells spent the 2012 season in New England, starting four of the 13 games he suited-up for. The journeyman tight end only caught four passes, and he was released the following offseason. I, for one, was always frustrated by Fells’ slowness. Any of the Patriots’ linebackers could own him in a one-on-one matchup.

Of course, Vereen is who the Patriots will have to worry about the most out of this trio on November 15^th.

Next: Week 12: Aqib Talib

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Aqib Talib

In mid-2012, the Patriots were in desperate need of a big, physical cover man. They solved that problem by trading for Talib, sending a fourth-rounder to the Buccaneers in return for the 6-foot-2 cornerback and a seventh-rounder.

The Talib era in New England started with a bang when the former Buccaneer picked off an Andrew Luck pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown in his Patriots debut. His value in the Patriots’ secondary was evident when he got injured in the AFC Championship Game that year.

In 2013, Talib had a great season, picking off four passes and racking up 13 passes defended. Again, it was his absence in the AFC Championship Game against the Broncos that showed just how important his role was in the New England secondary.

When Talib exited that game, he ended up leaving the Patriots for good, signing with the Broncos in free agency. Talib has continued to play like a top-10 cornerback, totaling four picks and 18 passes defended for the orange horses last season.

Without a doubt, the Patriots will have to tread with caution when they throw the ball Talib’s way in their Week 12 visit to the Mile High City.

Next: Week 14: Hoyer, Mallet, Wilfork

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On paper, the Texans look a lot like the Patriots did a few years ago. Their head coach, Bill O’Brien, is a Bill Belichick disciple, and their top two quarterbacks are former Patriots. Oh, and so is their nose tackle.

Unlike Cassel, neither Hoyer nor Mallet logged significant time as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. But Hoyer does have more starting experience than Mallet, as he posted a 7-6 record as the Cleveland Browns’ starter last season.

However, Mallet has more experience in the Texans’ offensive system. He started two games for them last season, posting a pretty poor quarterback rating of 48.19.

Unless Tom Savage emerges as the Texans’ starter, the Patriots will see a familiar face at quarterback when they visit the Texans in Week 14.

As for Wilfork, it looks like he hasn’t lost a step since earning his second Super Bowl ring in February.

Next: Predicting 2015 division winners