Rishard

Matthews

The announcement comes two days after Matthews was let go by New Orleans, who had signed him two months prior. “Rishard Matthews the football player no longer exists and it’s okay,” wrote Matthews in an Instagram post Monday morning. “It was cool being a professional football player and getting to play a kid’s game for work. I will always be a fan of the best sport in the world but for me, that kid’s game no longer exists.” Drafted 227th overall in 2012, Matthews enjoyed a productive seven-year stint in the pros, logging 220 catches for 3,160 yards and 21 touchdowns over 87 games for the Dolphins, Titans and Jets. The 29-year-old Nevada alum enjoyed his best statistical year in 2016, setting career highs in catches (65), yards (945) and touchdowns (nine) in his debut season with Tennessee.

“It’s not for everyone,” Saints coach Sean Payton said about Matthews, who logged 27 snaps in New Orleans’ first preseason game before packing his bags and leaving camp the following day. With New Orleans being the second team the 29-year-old’s requested an exit from (and been granted) in the last year, much shouldn’t be expected from Matthews even if he’s able to land another tryout in camp. Tre’Quan Smith, Ted Ginn and Keith Kirkwood will continue to be mainstays in the Saints’ offense this year.

It’s the first we’ve heard of Matthews this offseason following his truly strange 2018. Going on 30, Matthews made five appearances between the Titans and Jets after he forced his way out of Tennessee last September. He struggled to get on the field for the Jets before a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve. Just two years removed from back-to-back 800-yard seasons, Matthews should have a real shot at cracking the Saints’ 53-man roster if he’s over whatever ailed his 2018.

So ends Matthews’ deeply-bizarre 2018. Matthews signed a bafflingly team-friendly extension with the Titans in August before forcing his way off the roster in September. He caught two passes in five games as a Jet after signing in late October. Going on 30, Matthews’ strange season has his future NFL prospects looking uncertain.

Matthews had one catch for seven yards while filling in for Quincy Enunwa (ankle, out). Andre Roberts will take his place.

This comes just a week after Matthews said he was unlikely to sign with a team this season. With Quincy Enunwa (ankle) out indefinitely and Terrelle Pryor no longer on the roster, this is a good landing spot for Matthews, but it will likely take him some time to settle in. He is only deep-league stash at this point.

Cleveland will host Matthews on Monday and the Cards will follow that up with a workout the following day. It’s the first visits the free agent’s scheduled since hiring Drew Rosenhaus as his agent. Now relying on someone else to manage his negotiations, Matthews will likely land with a suitor soon. The Browns make a lot of sense given coach Hue Jackson’s reported plan to reduce rookie Antonio Callaway’s snaps moving forward.

Rosenhaus is the most powerful agent in football. Up to this point, Matthews had been representing himself. Rosenhaus claims Matthews has already drawn interest from “multiple teams” and expects him to sign soon. The 28-year-old was let go by Tennessee after going AWOL last week. He’d make sense for a receiver-needy team like Dallas.

This was really the only possible outcome after Matthews walked away from the team this week. Tennessee’s No. 1 receiver each of the last two seasons, Matthews is talented and has consistently produced when given the opportunity. This incident could scare off a few teams, but it would be a surprise if he does not land somewhere in the near future. With Matthews out the door, Corey Davis is locked into the No. 1 role, and talented sophomore Taywan Taylor should see more opportunities.

Unhappy with his playing time, Matthews has left the team and reportedly has no plans to return. Trading him would be the best option for Tennessee, but it seems more likely they are forced to release him. With Matthews on the outs, talented sophomore Taywan Taylor should get more opportunities moving forward, and Corey Davis’ stranglehold on targets is even more secure.