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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Eighteen former Purdue players are on 2014 season-opening NFL rosters.
That total includes quarterback Kyle Orton, who was contemplating retirement before signing a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills over the weekend.
The Bills are Orton's fifth pro team, following the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.
Another signal-caller, Drew Brees, enters his 14th professional season and ninth with the New Orleans Saints. He is the senior-most Boilermaker in the league.
The Den of Defensive Ends has six former players from that position on rosters: Cliff Avril (Seattle), Ryan Kerrigan (Washington), Greg Latta (Denver - reserve/injured list), Rob Ninkovich (New England), Shaun Phillips (Tennessee) and Anthony Spencer (Dallas). There are two former defensive tackles - Mike Neal (Green Bay) and Kawann Short (Carolina).
Offensive tackle Kevin Pamphile made the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster after being selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft last spring, while cornerback Ricardo Allen, also a 2014 fifth-round selection, is on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.
New England has the most Boilermakers with three: Ninkovich; defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, who signed over the weekend; and wide receiver Greg Orton, who is on the reserve/injured list.
Tennessee is the only other franchise with more than one Purdue alum, as safety Bernard Pollard joins Phillips, who signed as a free agent during the offseason.
Center Nick Hardwick, who enters his 11th season with the San Diego Chargers, has started all 135 games that he has played in during his career.
Offensive tackle Dennis Kelly is in his third season in Philadelphia, while running back Kory Sheets is on the Oakland Raiders' reserve/injured list.
In addition, two former Purdue football team captains - and teammates for one season - are general managers with division-rival National Football League franchises, Ryan Grigson with the Indianapolis Colts and Rick Smith with the Houston Texans. The Colts and the Texans both are in the South Division of the American Football Conference.
For complete details on Boilermakers in the NFL, click here.