When you got on then-Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan's radar, you stayed on it. Even two years and a team later.
Greg Salas, a wide receiver who was drafted by St. Louis in 2011 out of the University of Hawaii, broke his leg during his sixth game with the Rams, went on injured reserve, and was traded to New England the following season.
Spending all but one game on the Patriots' practice squad, he was released and signed by Philadelphia in November 2012, and would be on the Eagles' practice squad until New York signed him off of it in October 2013.
"Rex joked with me when I got in because they had tried to actually sign me previously, when I was on the Patriots, and that ended up not working out at the time. He told me, 'You know, we already tried to grab you once, and now we got you here. So let's have some fun and get after it," Salas said.
"It felt great to know that there was an organization and a coach that had believed in me from the get go and wanted to have me there. I was excited to get off the practice squad and back onto the active roster, and have an opportunity to come in and show what I can do."
Which didn't take too long to do so. After being inactive for two games, Salas made his Jets debut in Week 9 against the 6-1 New Orleans Saints.
"I think the Saints were pretty heavily favored that game. But to come in, and I think I might have had two catches and 50 yards [team-high 57] or something, and to make some big impact at big moments of the game to help get a (26-20 upset) win, that's always the most rewarding part," Salas said. "When you do have those plays and the team gets the win at the end of the day, to be a part of that impact was just huge.
"And I think that kind of solidified me in the locker room a little bit and let people know that I'm not just a guy off the street. I can come in and play and make a positive impact for the team. So it was just a really good moment for me to acquaint myself with Jets Nation."
Playing in the final eight games of the 2013 season, Salas made his first start for the Jets the following year in their Week 5 game near where he grew up in Chino, California, against the San Diego Chargers.
"It was exciting to go back to my hometown to have that first start," Salas said. "And after fighting all the injuries that I had been through to get back to that point again was extremely rewarding for me. All the hard work that I had put into getting my body back in correct shape and to have that opportunity again was just super fulfilling.
"Going back and playing in San Diego, I had so many friends and family tailgating at the game, there to support me. And I almost had a touchdown that game. It got called back. But it was just a wonderful experience for me, an opportunity, and something I'll always remember."
Another memorable moment from his time with the Green & White occurred eight games later against Miami on Monday Night Football. Midway through the opening quarter, Salas recorded the game's first points when he scored on a 20-yard touchdown run.
"It was really funny because the play was not for me," Salas said. "We had practiced it all week, but it was for Percy Harvin. So I think everybody in MetLife Stadium might have been shocked that they're giving Greg Salas the end around.
"Percy had come off on the sideline, but (offensive coordinator) Marty Mornhinweg had already put in the call to Geno (Smith). I just ran in because they needed someone. So it was a good opportunity for me. I remember getting the handoff, and it was just like the Red Sea parting. It was wide open for me to go.
"And I remember pulling my hamstring as soon as I took my first step up the field. I was like, 'Oh, man. Just get there.' But it was so open that I was able to kind of limp all the way. The team did a great job of blocking. And if you watch it, you'll see me kind of just fall into the end zone.
"I was very excited and very happy and everybody was congratulating me, and they were, 'Why do you seem so down?' And I was like, 'Well, I think I just pulled my hamstring and I'm probably out for the rest of the season.' So it was a bittersweet moment, but I was happy to go out on that note."
After scoring a touchdown on his last play as a Jet, Salas went on to conclude his NFL career by spending the 2015 training camp and preseason with Detroit before injuring his knee, and then signing with and playing for Buffalo the next year.
And much like he did while working out, practicing, and studying game plans while with the Rams, Patriots, Eagles, Jets, Lions, and Bills, Salas prepared for what was next.
During the offseasons, he took advantage of programs the NFL offered its players, and participated in the personal finance boot camp at Miami University and the entrepreneur program at the Wharton School of Business.
"I just knew my next step was going to be in the business realm, and so I had to prepare myself more than I had been. And the NFLPA offers an awesome opportunity to (earn an MBA at) a great university in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University," Salas said.
"And if they're going to pay for you to do that, I think it was a no-brainer. It's like, I can go get a world-class education and be prepared for life after football that'll carry me as I transition out of there."
In 2018, Salas found his way back to his alma mater and joined Learfield/Hawaii Sports Properties, where he is the Associate General Manager.
"Learfield is one of the largest technological companies in college sports," Salas said. "There are many different verticals, from licensing to multimedia rights to ticketing solutions to NIL. You name it, Learfield has their hands involved in it.
"So just like MetLife Stadium has the naming rights, that's kind of what I do here for the University of Hawaii, is work on all their corporate partnerships. It's sports marketing. I approach businesses in the community and show them the value of college sports and the fandom here, and provide marketing assets for them to introduce themselves to fans. So whether it's a Fancam or people coming onsite to table and activate naming rights, we kind of do that all here for the University of Hawaii.
"I enjoy being on the business side of it. I walked into MetLife Stadium all those times and didn't realize someone put together the deal to name MetLife Stadium. I just didn't understand that side of the business. I was just focused mostly on football the whole time.
"So to see how those deals are put together and to be a part of those now and see your hard work pay off on game days for your brand partners is fun and rewarding."
Making their home in Honolulu, Salas and his wife, Dominique, have a daughter, Bella, and a son, Julian.
"I look back on my NFL times as a childhood dream realized, and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I had and the opportunity it supported me and my family moving forward," Salas said. "The NFL has been such a huge blessing in my life. It makes things very easy to have that shield, that logo, on your resumé and opening doors and being able to talk to people and kind of launch your second act after transitioning out of the NFL.
"But now it's enjoying my family. Being able to go to my daughter's soccer game or my son's basketball game, coming home and cooking dinner for them and swimming in the pool and going to the beach and just being a family guy. That's my greatest joy now."
