Former defensive tackle Ben Barten has had the weirdest beginning to his NFL career, and there's only been one preseason game. He was signed by the New York Giants as an UDFA; he spent rookie camp and then training camp with the Giants. However, they decided to waive him on July 30th. Not that unusual for a UDFA player who's part of the bottom of a roster. It takes a funny twist when the other New York team, the Jets, decided to claim him on waivers.
So, for Barten, it was nice; he didn't have to go far. Literally, the next closest team, well, they actually share a stadium, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The practice facilities are about 30 miles away from each other. However, after the first preseason game, Barten was waived by the Jets. Only to be claimed by, you guessed it, the New York Giants.
Barten went from New York to New York back to New York. You don't see a waiver wire journey quite like that, especially for a player that's never even played a snap in a regular-season NFL game. Yet, he's showing how weird the NFL roster churn can be.
Ben Barten is back with the New York Giants after a quick stint with the New York Jets
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When Barten was cut by the Giants earlier this month, Matt Sidney, a New York Giants expert, wrote, "The room became so crowded that the 6-foot-5, 324-pound Big Ben DT was viewed as expendable before the first padded practices even got underway." But now it appears they liked something about Barten and were probably sad to see him go.
Who hasn't broken up with someone and later regretted it? Feels like that just happened for the Giants. And what changed? Well, it seems that the strength of the Giants that allowed the team to let him go originally is fading. According to Big Blue View, "The Giants might currently be a bit thin on the defensive line. Josh Tupou and Bobby Jamison-Travis both missed practice on Tuesday for unknown reasons."
When Barten was waived, the defensive line seemed deep, but now it's thin, and Preseason Week 2 is looming. Barten was a player the Giants initially scouted and liked, which is why they signed him to a UDFA deal. He is also now familiar with the Giants' defense, coaching staff, and schemes. This may matter, and it also helps the former Badger find a spot long-term.
Sure, his journey is weird and strange, going from one New York team to another and back to the original, but there's a better angle than just that. Barten is now creating some traffic in the league. He hasn't cleared waivers once in the NFL. Both times he's been waived, he was immediately claimed. That's an important note and something that Wisconsin fans will want to keep an eye on as they root for Barten in the NFL.
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