This past Saturday wasn't the first time that Joselio Hanson experienced the pain of cutdown day.
After spending his entire rookie season on the 49ers practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster in 2004. He appeared in 13 games that year and started in three of them. Unfortunately, he was released prior to the 2005 season, and was unable to catch on with another club.
Hanson spent all of 2005 out of football, praying that he would get another shot. His opportunity came shortly after that season, when the Eagles signed him and allocated him to the Frankfurt Galaxy of the now-defunct NFL developmental league, NFL Europe. He racked up seven pass deflections and 15 tackles en route to a World Bowl title. Two months later, the Texas Tech alum was at Eagles training camp, trying to make a name for himself.
"I came into the preseason that year thinking I had no chance of making the team," he admitted. "I was just planning on enjoying my last month of football and then starting to get my resume together to try and get a job. That experience has made me really appreciate my time in the NFL that much more."
Five years later, Hanson again sensed that there might not be room for him on the final roster. For him, the last few weeks have been unnerving, to say the least. He appeared to be the odd man out after the Eagles acquired both Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the offseason and was the subject of numerous trade rumors throughout camp. He was finally released on Saturday as rosters were cut down from 80 to 53. However, the 5-9 cornerback was able to breathe easy Wednesday, as the Eagles signed him to a two-year contract.
The seven-year veteran is appreciative to return for what will be his sixth season since joining the club prior to the 2006 season.
"I know that the NFL is a business," the 30-year-old said of being cut. "I really thought that I was going to get traded. When that didn't happen I knew that they would probably let me go and that I was going to be a free agent. My agent talked to a number of teams, between five and ten, about potentially signing with them. In the end, I weighed my options and decided that this was the best place for me. I'm just happy to be back with this team.
"My familiarity with the coaches, the environment, the playbook, and my teammates all contributed to me returning to Philadelphia."
Hanson is a team player, and will do whatever the Eagles ask him to do on Sundays, but the veteran is still confident in his ability to be a top-tier slot cornerback.
"I've always felt that I was the best nickel corner on this current roster," Hanson said. "But it is what it is. I'm going to wait my turn. If the coaches want me to go in, I'll go in. I'll see time, at least in the dime package. I'm looking forward to getting back into it. I just want to play football."
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