Daxton Swanson

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Satele, Jackson

By Ben Levine | at August 2, 2014 9:30 pm

With all of the Patriots additions to their defensive back core, it’s certainly going to be tough for a player like Dax Swanson to make the final roster. However, the player has already faced plenty of adversity in his life, including switching colleges and going undrafted in 2013. Swanson uses all of these experiences as motivation (via Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal)…

“Yes, it motivates me a lot,” Swanson said. “Expecting to get drafted, still happy to have this opportunity and still got to where I needed to be, that was one of my goals. Me being me, I expect the best of myself. Not being drafted was very disappointing, but I had an injury and that’s kind of what happened. I just use that as motivation. It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finished. That’s my mentality.”

Swanson faced more adversity in July, when his father Henry died after suffering a stroke. The death adds fuel to the player’s fire, and he hopes that the memory of his father will guide him towards his ultimate goal.

“Yeah, it definitely does. It motivates me more,” Swanson said. “I just want him to know he’s in my heart and my thoughts all the time. He loved for me to have this opportunity and is excited for me to be in the NFL. I just want to make him proud, even though he’s no longer here. He’ll know I’m doing the best for him.”

While Swanson will have to compete with former Pro-Bowlers Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner for playing time, he’s certainly overcome tougher battles in his life.

“I’ve faced all sorts of adversity,” Swanson said. “Being on different teams, injuries — it just made me more mentally tough and hungrier to come out here and perform well and do my job, on the field and off the field.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the AFC East…

• The Dolphins had discussed a contract with recently-signed offensive lineman Samson Satele ten days ago but the veteran wanted to see if the team would offer more money, tweets the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. The team ultimately upped their offer to the veteran.
• The Dolphins will work out kicker Brandon Bogotay on Sunday, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The former Georgia Bulldog was signed by the Browns last year but was released before the season.
• Former seventh-round pick Rishard Matthews is “without a doubt” having a good training camp, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin told Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel.
• It was reported that Bills running back Fred Jackson could earn $1MM in incentives as a part of his new contract, and ESPN.com’s Field Yates details how the veteran could earn that money.