It looks like new Revolution head coach Jay Heaps will have a pair of established veterans around to help him with his rebuilding efforts.
Forward Nate Jaqua (above) and defensive midfielder Clyde Simms are likely to join Heaps in New England after the Revolution picked both players in Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft on Monday afternoon.
Both will receive genuine contract offers within seven days as the Revs attempt to secure their signatures for next season. If either or both of the players cannot reach a new agreement for the 2012 campaign, the Revs would then secure the first right of refusal on their MLS rights.
WATCH: Jaqua sets up Montero
“With Nate and Clyde, we’ve chosen two players who have a lot of MLS experience,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement released by the team. “The league will now make them contract offers. Should they decide to remain in MLS and play for the Revs, we believe they can help us on the field. We also expect that their professionalism would have a positive impact in our locker room.”
New England started their busy day by selecting Jaqua with the second overall pick in the second stage. The 30-year-old forward spent the past three seasons with Seattle (nine goals in 66 appearances, but no tallies in his past 38 games in league play), but he has also featured for Chicago, Houston and LA during his nine-year MLS career.
Jaqua also been on the winning side of five US Open Cups, as well as the 2007 MLS Cup – in which his Houston Dynamo topped the Revs, 2-1. He also enjoyed a short and prolific spell with Austrian side SC Rheindorf Altach in 2008.
Former D.C. United captain Simms could link up with Jaqua next season after the Revs took him with their second pick in the second stage. The 29-year-old veteran has spent his entire MLS career in the nation's capital after arriving from then-second division side Richmond Kickers in 2005.
Simms – who was part of one Open Cup winner and two Supporters’ Shield winners with United – established deep roots with the club and the city during his seven years with D.C., but he saw his path toward the exit paved by Perry Kitchen's shift to a holding midfield role late in the campaign.
In addition to picking up the rights to Jaqua and Simms, New England lost attacker Kheli Dube to Chicago in the first round and passed on the opportunity to claim former starters Ryan Cochrane and Pat Phelan before the process concluded.
