The benefit of trading for a veteran player instead of choosing one in the draft is that he has already proven that he can play in the NFL.
When the Jets made a deal with Tennessee in March 2004 for fourth-year wide receiver Justin McCareins, who was coming off a career-high season with 47 receptions for 813 yards, a 17.3-yard average, and seven touchdowns, they acquired someone who would continue to prove himself and then some.
"I loved my time at the Titans; I had a really good experience. It was a great locker room, a great team. I just knew it was one of those situations where I played well enough to get some interest. And that trade, I thought it was great," said McCareins, who was dealt for New York's second-round pick in the 2004 draft.
"The opportunity to move to the New York area and play for the Jets was just an overwhelming experience. I was newly married and didn't have any kids yet, but it was a very life-changing to move from Franklin, Tennessee, to Hempstead, where they were practicing at the time.
"Santana Moss was on the team, Wayne Chrebet was still there, and so I think they saw me as somebody to stretch the field a little bit and support those guys. They liked my attitude and efforts with Tennessee and just wanted me to bring that same energy. And I really took pride in run blocking. They liked that from me, to be somebody to help in the run game with Curtis Martin in the backfield."
McCareins not only helped the run game during his first season with the Green & White, but he also set a new career-high and led the Jets with 56 catches for 770 yards and four touchdowns, helping flipflop their record from 6-10 in 2003 to 10-6 and making the playoffs.
"It was a different environment. Coming from Tennessee, I got a chance to go from Steve McNair to Chad Pennington," McCareins said. "It was obviously two really talented guys and I think I became more of a possession receiver. And I think they used me a little differently after we had a few injuries. They gave me the opportunity to catch the ball more ball. Just a different role that first year."
After slipping back to a 4-12 record in 2005, McCareins and his teammates were introduced to a different head coach after Herm Edwards was replaced by Eric Mangini.
"Everybody loved Herm. I remember him being a player's coach and a really easy guy to talk to. But Coach Herm left for a new position (with Kansas City) and it was on to the next guy," McCareins said. "Coach Mangini was just a different culture, a little bit more disciplined and was a very smart defensive-minded coach.
"He was very respected and demanded a lot from us, but it wasn't hard to get used to. The standard of practicing and effort was still there that Herm left with us. They were two different guys, but both demanded a lot from the players and I enjoyed playing for both of them."
After playing four years in New York and returning to Tennessee for his eighth and final season, McCareins finished with 240 catches for 3,676 yards and 17 touchdowns. What makes him most proud of his career?
"I'd say the relationships and just the respect in the locker room and on the practice field," McCareins said. "I felt like I put the same effort in every day, at least I tried to, and I tried to be a good teammate and just be one of those guys that people could rely on and would do whatever the team asked for of me to help out. I felt like I tried to be an unselfish player and not worry too much about statistics or glory or anything."
The Jets and Titans jerseys wouldn't be the last uniforms McCareins would wear. Following his playing days, he became a police officer in Coral Springs, Florida.
"When I got done with football, I felt like I needed purpose. I needed a team environment and I wanted to see real life. I wanted to experience something that I hadn't before. And it was equally as impactful as NFL football was," McCareins said.
"I lasted seven years and saw what I wanted to see. And just like in football, there's a lot of impressive and smart and hardworking and talented people, and I got to make more lifelong friends and relationships in that line of work.
"And I enjoyed it. It was a tremendous experience. I was looking for something real and exciting and rewarding, and it was. It's one of those jobs where you wonder how people can continue to do that for 20 years because it does take its toll. But I'm very proud that I lasted as long as I did and made a difference in a lot of people's lives. It was a very eye-opening career. I miss it, but I don't miss it."
Now semi-retired, McCareins – who was presented with the Congressional Patriot Award two years ago – lives with his wife, Sherrone, on a 40-acre ranch north of Dallas; and they have two children, Justin Jr. and Jordan.
"Justin is a pre-med major at Baylor. He's a junior and we're so proud of him," McCareins said. "I want him to be happy and balanced and content, and he's shown that he's able to handle the workload. He's very driven, very competitive, and he loves the idea of working in medicine for the rest of his life. He's a tremendous young man.
"And Jordan is a high school senior and is still in the process of committing to a college. She's going to do competitive western riding in college, and that's the goal for her, to keep on competing. She wants to study equine sciences in school and make that her life. She loves animals, especially horses, and she's one of those people who's like a natural. Really impressive on a horse.
"I'm so blessed, so lucky, and thankful to have the family that I was born into, with two brothers that are still my best friends. And I met my wife as a freshman in college, and we're best friends. Our marriage and relationship is as strong as ever. And my two kids, I'm very family-oriented and am kind of in a support role in my life right now where I just want to see the people around me happy and healthy and successful.
"I'm just so grateful. To play in the NFL, that was a dream of mine growing up. And to be able to pursue a career in law enforcement and have the experiences that I had, and to just be happy and healthy and be surrounded by people who love me and care about me, like I said, I'm the luckiest guy. I try to try to be thankful every day."
