Players with NFL experience will have a chance to audition for teams at a veterans combine on March 22 at the Arizona Cardinals’ training complex in Phoenix.
NFL director for player development Matt Birk informed all 32 teams on Thursday that the combine will be open to veteran free agents and will include drills, timing and tests similar to the annual NFL combine for draft-eligible players held in late February in Indianapolis.
The veterans combine will take place one day before a league owners meeting in the Phoenix area. About 100 free agents are expected to receive invitations. The NFL’s free agency market opens March 10.
“Naturally, it’ll probably draw more younger players,” Birk said. “But there’s a void there. You come out of college, and there’s a lot of places to go to showcase your talent. There was nothing for that guy out there who has one or two or three years in the league and is not with a team and is at the mercy of when the phone rings or when his agent gets him a workout.
NFL teams have traditionally brought individual players to their facilities for workouts.
The veterans combine will not include physical exams or extensive personal interviews.
Giants bring back Spagnuolo
Steve Spagnuolo is returning to the New York Giants to serve as their defensive coordinator, the team announced Thursday.
The Giants also hired former St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Tim Walton as their cornerbacks coach.
The 55-year-old Spagnuolo takes over for Perry Fewell, who was fired last week after serving five seasons as defensive coordinator. The Giants missed the playoffs with a 6-10 record in 2014 and finished 29th in the NFL in total defense.
Spagnuolo was the Giants’ defensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008 when they won Super Bowl XLII.
After leaving the Giants, Spagnuolo was the head coach of the St. Louis Rams and defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. He was with the Baltimore Ravens for the past two years as a defensive assistant.
Broncos’ Sanders named to Pro Bowl
Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was named a Pro Bowl replacement for injured Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones on Thursday.
Sanders becomes the 10th Broncos player on the Pro Bowl roster for the Jan. 25 game in Glendale, Arizona.
In Sanders’ first season with the Broncos, he caught a career-high 101 passes for 1,404 yards and nine touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards ranked fifth in the NFL.
Sanders made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He is one of four players on the roster who came to Denver this season as free agents. The others are safety T.J. Ward, cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end DeMarcus Ware.
McNary on exempt list after rape charge
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell granted the Indianapolis Colts’ request Thursday to place Josh McNary on the league’s commissioner exempt list after the backup linebacker was charged with rape of a woman last month.
McNary was charged Wednesday with rape, criminal confinement with bodily injury and battery resulting in bodily injury from an incident in the early morning hours of Dec. 1.
On Dec. 10, NFL owners unanimously endorsed a new personal conduct policy that includes a provision to place an individual on paid leave if formally charged with a violent crime or sexual assault.
McNary, who joined the Colts in 2013, faces one count of rape, one count of criminal confinement and one count of battery, according to Marion County Court documents.
Thurman named Bills’ DC
Dennis Thurman reached a contract agreement with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday to become the team’s defensive coordinator.
Thurman moves to the Bills after serving as New York Jets defensive coordinator in 2013-14. He also coached defensive backs for the Jets from 2009 to 2012.
In addition to Thurman, the Bills announced other new hires to coach Rex Ryan’s staff.
Tony Sparano Jr. will handle tight ends, Bobby April is the new linebackers coach, Karl Dunbar will coach the defensive line, Tim McDonald will take over as defensive backs coach, Jason Oszvart will be the strength and conditioning assistant, Jeff Weeks will serve as a defensive line assistant and Eric Smith will be a special teams assistant.
Redskins hire Callahan as OL coach
The Washington Redskins tabbed former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Bill Callahan to be their offensive line coach on Thursday.
Callahan received what ESPN called a lucrative three-year contract from the Redskins.
He leaves Dallas after his play-calling role was taken away by coach Jason Garrett after one year and given to Scott Linehan, who was promoted to offensive coordinator on Thursday by the Cowboys.
The 58-year-old Callahan, considered one of the best coaches in the NFL, turned Dallas’ offensive line into one of the best in the league this season. Two Cowboys linemen were named All-Pro and the team finished second in the NFL in rushing.