Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona and Houston have all courted the man, but so far no team has been able to woo him back over. Now it’s rumored by ESPN that Atlanta’s owner Arthur Blank is the next in line, trying to convince Carroll to return to the NFL. And Blank is supposedly offering what Pete wants most: full control of all personnel decisions for the Falcons.

But the rumors before have proved fruitless, so far sparing USC its most valued asset. Pete has been quoted saying he’ll “never return” to the NFL, but who knows…if the conditions are right, any man has his price — even Pete.