Edds, who spent all of the 2012 season on injured reserve after suffering an ACL injury to his right knee during camp, will be looking to stick with the Patriots for the second time in his short career. In 2011, Edds was a late cut from the Miami Dolphins and was quickly signed by the Patriots. He appeared in two games before being relegated to their practice squad. From there he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts where he played in nine games and accumulated 12 tackles.

His ACL injury last season was the second of his short professional career. After being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 4th Round of the 2010 Draft, Edds tore his left ACL before his rookie season got underway. With both knees having been operated on in three seasons, this chance with the Patriots may be his last.

He joins former Hawkeye teammate Jeff Tarpinian as a linebacker trying to make the roster in New England, as well as Markus Zusevics who will be trying to keep them both out of the backfield as an offensive lineman.

Then there is the next wave of players who sign contracts as undrafted free agents. While still getting selected by an NFL team, it isn’t the way they perceive their dream coming true. However, there are multiple instances of players finding a way onto the roster via undrafted free agency.

The last way onto a roster is by making it to an NFL’s rookie camp on a tryout basis. That is the path that James Ferentz, Steve Bigach, Greg Castillo and Joe Gaglione are taking.

The former Hawkeyes are all attempting to make a roster or practice squad in the NFC North. Ferentz, the son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, is looking to fill a void as a backup center for the Chicago Bears. Bigach, Castillo and Gaglione are all trying to make the Minnesota Vikings roster.

Ferentz is coming off a senior season that saw him rewarded with 2nd Team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches as well as honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media. He started all 38 games during his sophomore through senior seasons and his resiliency is an attribute that the Bears may find intriguing. Despite being a little on the small side when it comes to playing the position in the NFL, Ferentz has the knowledge and game awareness to at least give himself a shot.

Bigach was a defensive lineman that never really got a chance to shine at Iowa until his junior season. While mostly doing dirty work in the middle of what was perceived as the biggest weakness on the team last season, Bigach started every game with nine starts coming at  defensive tackle and three starts at defensive end. His versatility will be key as the Vikings are looking to get younger along the defensive line.

Gaglione will also be trying to become a young member of that defensive line, although he excelled at defensive end when healthy. He started 10 games while playing in another and recorded 16 solo tackles with 35 assists. He led the Hawkeyes with five sacks and was tied for the team lead with nine tackles for loss. The 6’4″, 264 pounder may be lacking in speed for the position in the NFL but his determination last season was rewarded with an honorable mention All-Big Ten honor from the media.

Castillo drew plenty of ire from the fans for a few plays that seemed to come at the wrong times. He mostly was a backup cornerback but was stuck behind future NFL cornerbacks Shaun Prater and Micah Hyde while playing with the Hawkeyes. He started three games last season but played in 11. His plays on special teams were beneficial to the team and ultimately he left his mark in a positive way. He will be looking to find a home with the Vikings, whose secondary has been a point of emphasis for the team.

The path will be extremely difficult and yet, the dream is alive for these four players. They control their destiny as much as the team does and if they play their way onto a roster they will have achieved the nearly impossible.

Brad Herman – New England Patriots: released by Patriots

Bryan Mattison – Kansas City Chiefs: released by Chiefs

Nate Kaeding – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: retired from the NFL

NBA:

Reggie Evans - Brooklyn Nets: 26.3 min per game; 2.7 PPG; 25% FGP; 100% FTP; 13.3 RPG; 1.0 APG; 0.7 SPG; in 3 games

EUROPEAN BASKETBALL:

Matt Gatens - UCAM Murcia: 25 minutes; 11 points; 50% FGP; 100% FTP; 1 assist; 1 steal; in loss to Caja Laboral

Cyrus Tate - Ironi Nes-Ziona: 25.5 min per game; 15.0 PPG; 45% FGP; 83% FTP; 7.0 RPG; 1.0 APG; 1.0 BPG; 1.0 SPG; in 2 games

Kurt Looby - Trefl Sopot: 17.7 min per game; 1.7 PPG; 33% FGP; 50% FTP; 4.0 RPG; 1.7 BPG; 1.0 SPG; in 3 games

Greg Brunner - Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia: 35 minutes; 7 points; 38% FGP; 25% FTP; 13 rebounds; 3 assists; 4 blocks; 1 steal; in win over Juvecaserta

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL:

Mike McQuillan - Hagerstown Suns: 6-16; .375 avg.; 2 runs; 1 2B; 1 RBI; 1 BB; 1 SB; in 4 games

Justin Toole - Carolina Mudcats: 7-23; .304 avg.; 1 2B; 5 RBI; 2 BB; in 7 games

To most football fans the announcement means they will no longer be able to draft Kaeding on their fantasy football team. To Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans it means they will not get the chance to see if Kaeding would make the roster and be their kicker for the upcoming season.

But, for Iowans it means more.

Like most colleges and universities across the country, the University of Iowa has a loyal fan base. The players become part of the family when they wear the Hawkeye colors and the fans invest in them as if they are family members. Players come from all over the country and even the world, to play inside Kinnick Stadium. It doesn’t matter where they are from, they are welcomed in.

But that’s what made Kaeding all the more special. He didn’t come from somewhere else. He came from down the street. The Iowa City West star was part of three state championship teams his senior season, starring for the football, basketball and soccer teams. Though starring in all three sports, his future was in football.

He joined the Hawkeye program and was an impact player beginning in his first game as a true freshman, hitting both of his field goal attempts from 41 and 47 yards out. It’s a little too dramatic to say his destiny was laid out for him from his first collegiate game, but accuracy would come to be synonymous with Nate Kaeding. With each make, the fan appreciation grew. He was a key player as a true freshman and by the time his college career had ended, he had won the Lou Groza Award recognizing him as the best kicker in the country, as well as helping his team to a share of the Big Ten title. The family had something to cheer about and they were proud of him.

There are multiple players from Iowa teams that went on to NFL careers, but Kaeding was different. He was the home town hero, a label that shoulders an almost unfair amount of responsibility. There is not a lot of room for error for someone who’s name would jump off the page if it ever found its way into the police report or the wrong side of a news report. Of course, it never did. He was a good Midwestern kid who was blessed with a strong and accurate leg as well as an intense work ethic. He was responsible for kicking the game winning penalty kick during the state soccer championship game in high school and he was All-American in college while playing only 3.5 miles from the house he grew up in.

By the time the 2004 NFL Draft came around, there was little doubt that he would hear his name called. He celebrated with friends and family at Quail Creek Golf Course in North Liberty and waited for his dream to come true. In the middle of the 3rd Round, Nate took a call from Marty Schottenheimer, head coach of the San Diego Chargers. His destination was set and his world was about to change as he tried to perform on the highest level there is. He kicked for the Chargers for 8.5 seasons, with the last season and a half spent battling injuries. He rewarded the team by becoming a two time All-Pro selection as well as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, making 87.0% of his kicks as a Charger. An injury on the first kickoff of the year kept him out of the entire 2011 season and after more injuries started to keep him out of multiple games during the 2012 season, he was unceremoniously released. It looked like his season had ended early once again. However, he signed with the Miami Dolphins for the last two games of the year and had signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason in an attempt to return to prominence.

Another injury in his attempt to return, ultimately was the catalyst for the retirement announcement on Thursday. “The leg in the end was just kind of worn out,” he said. “It just got worn out and couldn’t stand up to the rigors of kicking in the NFL, which is three or four days a week of practice and a lot of kicks on game day.” He stands as the 2nd most accurate kicker in NFL history with a minimum of 100 attempts, connecting on 86.2%.

Iowans will no longer get a chance to brag about the hometown hero that plays in the NFL. The kid from down the road will now settle down with his family; his wife and kids as well as the communal family surrounding him in the city he grew up in. He’s home.

Mattison signed with the Chiefs three weeks into the 2012 season in order to provide depth on the offensive line. He spent time on both the active roster and practice squad before finishing up the season as the backup center. After drafting a replacement for him last weekend in the 2013 Draft, his roster spot became expendable.

A former defensive end in college at the University of Iowa, Mattison made the switch to the offensive side of the ball when he was in the Baltimore Ravens camp as an undrafted free agent. That move most likely extended his professional football career until this point. He spent time on the active roster of the Ravens, St. Louis Rams and the Chiefs during his five years in the NFL.

Herman was a graduate of the University of Iowa who signed as an undrafted free agent last season with New England. His attempt at making the roster was a long shot. However, shortly into his attempt he ruptured his Achilles tendon on the practice field and was placed on injured reserve.

Today’s release could very well signal the end of the 6-foot-5, 255 pound Herman’s NFL career, but the odds have been stacked against him before.

Keenan Davis – Cleveland Browns: signed free agent contract with Browns

Micah Hyde – Green Bay Packers: drafted in 5th round by Packers

Matt Tobin – Philadelphia Eagles: signed free agent contract with Eagles

James Vandenberg – Minnesota Vikings: signed free agent contract with Vikings

NBA:

Reggie Evans - Brooklyn Nets: 32.7 min per game; 6.3 PPG; 58% FGP; 42% FTP; 11.0 RPG; 0.3 APG; 1.3 SPG; 0.6 BPG; in 3 games

EUROPEAN BASKETBALL:

Matt Gatens - UCAM Murcia: 19 minutes; 13 points; 80% FGP; 100% FTP; 3 rebounds; in loss to Asefa Estudiantes

Jarryd Cole – La Rochelle: 29 minutes; 28 points; 61% FGP; 40% FTP; 10 rebounds; 1 assists; 2 steals; in win over CFBB

Cyrus Tate - Ironi Nes-Ziona: 28.5 min per game; 12.0 PPG; 75% FGP; 0.0% FTP; 7.5 RPG; 0.5 APG; 0.5 BPG; in 2 games

Kurt Looby - Trefl Sopot: 15 minutes; 0% FGP; 1 rebound; 1 block; in win over AZS Koszalin

Greg Brunner - Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia: 27 minutes; 6 points; 33% FGP; 10 rebounds; 2 assists; 2 blocks; in loss to Vanoli Cremona

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL:

Mike McQuillan - Hagerstown Suns: 5-22; .227 avg.; 2 runs; 1 2B; 2 RBI; 1BB; 1 SB; in 6 games

Justin Toole - Carolina Mudcats: 5-26; .192 avg.; 4 runs; 1 2B; 2 RBI; 1 SB; in 7 games

Tobin was 6 feet tall as a junior in high school and ended up walking on at Iowa. After turning into a 6’6″, 290 pound starting left guard and left tackle, Tobin will now try to find a role on the Philadelphia Eagles roster. He signed as an undrafted free agent after not being selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Vandenberg signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings and will now try to make their roster as a backup quarterback. Most teams carry three quarterbacks at most on their roster and Vandenberg will head in to mini-camp as one of five. Christian Ponder is currently the starter and his back-up last season was Joe Webb. The team also signed Matt Cassel as a free agent and have McLeod Bethel-Thompson on the roster as well.

It’s up to Vandenberg to earn his spot and his work is clearly cut out for him.

Hours after the draft ended, Davis agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns to sign as an undrafted free agent. He reportedly will leave for mini-camp later on this week.

The former Hawkeye wide receiver reportedly selected the Browns over the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will now have a chance to make the Cleveland roster and live out his dream. His special teams experience will most likely come in handy, although he will need to excel in every aspect to have a chance.

Hyde finished his collegiate career at the University of Iowa as the best defensive back in the Big Ten, winning the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award as a cornerback after the 2012 season. He was an impact player throughout his career, playing in every game of his four year collegiate career, starting every game from his sophomore season on.

He finished his senior season with 44 solo tackles as well as 34 assists. He also registered 14 pass break-ups with 1 interception and forced 3 fumbles as well as recovering 2. He was the primary punt returner over the last two seasons as well. He finished his career with 240 tackles and 8 interceptions while also holding the 8th and 10th longest interception returns in school history.

During his junior season, Hyde was moved to free safety in order for the team to try and maximize the players on the field. The experiment only lasted two games before he moved back to cornerback, but it may have been a forecast of things to come. Some scouts have pegged him as a free safety in the NFL. It will be up to him to show the Packers where he belongs.

Reggie Evans - Brooklyn Nets: 28.0 min per game; 4.0 PPG; 56% FGP; 40% FTP; 12.0 RPG; 1.0 APG; 1.0 SPG; in 2 games

EUROPEAN BASKETBALL:

Matt Gatens - UCAM Murcia: 30 minutes; 4 points; 22% FGP; 2 rebounds; 1 steal; in win over Baloncesto Fuenlabrada

Cyrus Tate - Ironi Nes-Ziona: 36 minutes; 17 points; 67% FGP; 50% FTP; 4 rebounds; 1 assist; 2 steals; in win over Maccabi K/G

Kurt Looby - Trefl Sopot: 26 min per game; 5.5 PPG; 67% FGP; 38% FTP; 5.5 RPG; 0.5 APG; 2.0 BPG; 1.0% SPG; in 2 games

Greg Brunner - Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia: 27 minutes; 9 points; 40% FGP; 8 rebounds; 2 assists; 1 block; 1 steal; in win over Cantu

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL:

Mike McQuillan - Hagerstown Suns: 9-25; .360 Avg.; 8 runs; 1 2B; 2 3B; 1 HR; 3 RBI; 7 BB; 2 SB; in 7 games

Justin Toole - Carolina Mudcats: 2-16; .125 Avg.; 1 run; 2 RBI; in 5 games