It took Pete Mitchell exactly 44 days to learn that pro football is a business. But he ran head-on into the business side of the game earlier than most players. The Miami Dolphins drafted Mitchell in the fourth round out of Boston College in 1995. They expected him to be a receiving tight end who would fill a void in their offense. But late in camp, the Dolphins decided they needed another wide receiver.
Footballs take strange bounces.
So do the people involved in the sport. Mitchell has landed with his hometown team, the Detroit Lions, after four seasons with the Jaguars and the last two with the New York Giants. He signed a one-year contract as a free agent last week. Including the Dolphins, the Lions will be his fourth team in seven seasons. That is a lot of movement for a tight end who has been as productive as Mitchell.