You’ll remember when Noel Devine was scooped up in the speed-and-talent sweep the Philadelphia Eagles conducted last summer. They were collecting all these toys on both sides of the ball and Devine was particularly provocative because — well, he’s Noel Devine.

My goodness, the potential with pro coaches who could sit around and design a play or a package to best utilize his wonderful gifts. So fast. So breathtakingly elusive.

And a little mercurial, too. He simply walked out of training camp after but a few days and, as one might suspect, never had another NFL team tap him on the shoulder. The Omaha Nighthawks, of the four-team UFL, did and Devine made it through, which seems a small detail, but was nevertheless a big matter he had to settle.

Walk out on a team and you have prove certain things to certain people. Theories abound as to why Devine left the Eagles, why he left the NFL. Devine, now with the Montreal Alouettes, who are as happy to have him as was YouTube, explained his action.

Undrafted, Devine signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in 2011, but walked out on the team after four days. He was struggling mentally after the sudden death of another friend, Alonzo Stewart, 24, a robbery victim who was shot and killed last July. Stewart, Devine said, was like a brother to him.

“I wasn’t focused. I just needed time away from the game,” said Devine, who eventually signed with Omaha of the UFL. “I’m blessed and fortunate to have a second opportunity to redeem myself and play the game I love. I want to continue to make my mother proud. She’s my [guardian] angel.”