Tight end Weslye Saunders hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2014 but he’s still not ready to believe his playing days are behind him.
Saunders is on a quest to find a team that will give him another chance, even if it means going door-to-door at this point.
As detailed by Liz Mathews of USA Today, Saunders showed up to the headquarters of the Seattle Seahawks last week with cleats in hand hoping to secure a workout or a contract with the team.
Instead, Saunders got turned away with a threat of a trespassing citation levied against him.
Went by @Seahawks facility to show @PeteCarroll & @DanMorganJr the NEW me.💪🏾🏈
— Weslye Saunders (@Wes_Saunders88) June 9, 2017
Miserable fail! 👎🏾But spirits still high 😄#WhyNotWes #FightOn pic.twitter.com/pssJ5CWTq7
“I brought my cleats to the facility today just in case coach (Pete) Carroll wanted to tell me to get on the field and run some routes,” Saunders said. “I could show him I’m just as good as Jimmy (Graham) and any of those guys. That’s pretty much what I wanted to show.
“Of course, I failed miserably at the gate on the front end of things, but exposure and obviously shining a little light on what I’m trying to do here is never a bad thing.”
Saunders also stopped by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and met a similar fate.
Saunders appeared in 34 games over four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts. He caught 10 passes for 90 yards with a touchdown over that span.
Saunders was twice suspended for violations of the league’s performance-enhancing drugs. The first suspension led to his release by the Steelers while the second one cost him his job with the Colts. Indianapolis eventually brought Saunders back before moving in 2014.
Saunders participated in the spring league this year as well in order to showcase himself to teams. He had seven catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in two games.
