Breaking: Before the Miami Dolphins announced their intention to highjack the transaction, the top veteran was on his way to the New York Jets.

The Miami Dolphins once again sniped the New York Jets from signing a player they highly coveted. #FinsUp

 

Tell me where you heard this one before.

The New York Jets had their sights set on a player, and at the last minute, the Miami Dolphins swooped in and saved the player from having to spend his remaining days in New York New Jersey, playing for a team everyone hates.

It happened with superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

And now, according to new Miami Dolphins pass-rusher Shaquil Barrett, the same thing happened to him. In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Zach Gelb, Barrett talked about how he thought he was headed to the Jets before Chris Grier and company swooped in at the last minute and made an offer the two-time Super Bowl-winning pass-rusher could not refuse.

Shaquil Barrett tells CBS Sports’ Zach Gelb why he signed with the Miami Dolphins over the New York Jets.

“So my agent was talking to me about potentially going to New York. And it was New York all the way up until, maybe, I don’t remember what day I signed. But it was New York until I ended up agreeing to terms with the Dolphins. They just came out of left field, for real.”

Barrett continued:

“I love the prospect of going to New York, but the Dolphins like they’re just more established as a team. They’re more proven at this point. And they got some good guys in the pass-rush room. So, I was looking forward to partnering up with them guys. And no state tax, that helps out a lot.”

We already know Barrett likes the rest of the linebacker room. However, the 31-year-old pass-rusher would later say that joining the Dolphins was the better opportunity. It also allowed his family to remain up the road in Tampa Bay.

“I just think it was a little bit of a better opportunity. And then, just thinking of my family…that part ofactored in a lot as well. Not having to really uproot everything for one year. It would suck to have to do that. So I was happy. This is pretty much the best-case scenario. If I had to move, just going down the road a couple of hours…everything gets to stay the same upcoming year.”