Update: Sadly in the first draft of this post, I forgot that good old Jerry Bengston was actually the first designated player in Revs history. So Jones will be the second in Revs history. Rookie mistake.

The New England Revolution, who are in the midst of a playoff push during the latter half of MLS’ regular season, made a historic signing on Sunday with the addition of a 2014 World Cup hero, Jermaine Jones. One of the German-Americans who helped lift the U.S. out of the Group of Death and into the Round of 16, Jones is a 32-year-old all-action midfielder. He’s also the second “designated player” in Revs history, meaning that his salary is higher than the cap traditionally allows. The way that the team got rights to sign him ended up being a bizarre scenario, culminating with a so-called “blind draw.”

In a statement released by the Revolution, the team explained that the right to sign Jones was determined by MLS in a 50-50 draw with the other league team interested, the Chicago Fire. While it was described officially as a “blind draw,” it basically means that New England had the fate of their potential first designated player in team history decided on a glorified coin toss.

That said, Jones is in fact coming to play for the Revolution, which is a good thing. He will get paid $4.7 million through the end of the 2015 season according to ESPN, which is far more than any other Revs player. Is it a transcendent franchise move? Probably not, since Jones was never a truly world class player, and is most likely entering the final stage of his career given his age.

Still, he was a frontline player for Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. squad in the World Cup. Jones was unintimidated by the celebrated list of opponents that the Americans took on in their difficult draw, and will add not only toughness to the Revs midfield, but the chance at spectacular plays such as his goal (seen above) against Portugal. The curling strike was one of the better goals (in terms of quality) ever scored by a United States men’s player at the World Cup.

Now, he’s going to be playing for the Revs, as an impact designated player. And it was all possible thanks to a coin toss.