Michael Sam, the first openly-gay player drafted to the NFL, has officially applied for one of the 100 available spots in the first-ever NFL Veterans Combine to be held March 22-24 in Arizona.
Sam, the 2013 Southeastern Conference Co-Defensive player of the year and unanimous All-American, was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams in 2014, but was beaten out for a roster spot by undrafted rookie defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks from NCAA Division II West Texas A&M.
Sam landed on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad but was cut in October when the Cowboys signed linebacker Troy Davis.
Sam recorded 11 tackles and three sacks in the preseason for the Rams last year. At Missouri, Sam recorded 123 tackles, 36 for a loss and 21 sacks. His senior season was his best, with 48 tackles, 19 for a loss and 11.5 sacks.
If Sam isn’t signed by an NFL team this offseason, he could end up in Canada. The CFL’s Montreal Alouettes have reportedly offered him a one-year contract.
Bills sign infamous guard Richie Incognito
Richie Incognito has been out of work since 2013, but the Buffalo Bills and new head coach Rex Ryan saw enough out of the free agent to sign him to a $2.25 million one-year contract.
Incognito’s talent has never been an issue, but his attitude and lack of discipline have been. Before being suspended by the NFL from the Miami Dolphins in the Johnathan Martin harassment scandal, Incognito had worn out his welcome with the team that drafted him, the St. Louis Rams, who cut him in 2009 after an in-game altercation against the New Orleans Saints in Week 10.
Incognito spent the rest of the 2009 season with the Bills before being signed as a free agent by the Dolphins in 2010.
Rams settle on Frank Cignetti as offensive coordinator
After getting the cold shoulder from preferred outside candidates like Adam Gase, Kyle Shanahan and Rob Chudziznksi, the St. Louis Rams promoted quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti to offensive coordinator. The Rams will officially announce the move later this week.
In a related move, the Rams promoted tight ends coach Rob Boras to assistant head coach of the offense. The Rams offensive coordinator was the last one open in the league. This will be Cignetti’s first playcalling job in the NFL. Cignetti has coached quarterbacks with the Rams since 2012. Before that he was an offensive coordinator at Rutgers, Pitt, California, UNC and Fresno State.
Cignettie replaces Brian Schottenheimer, who left the Rams to become offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia last month.
Raiders hire Ken Norton Jr. as defensive coordinator
Jack Del Rio brought an old friend into the fold over the weekend, hiring his former teammate with the Dallas Cowboys, Ken Norton Jr, as the Oakland Raiders new defensive coordinator. Norton has coached linebackers for the Seattle Seahawks from 2010-2014. Before that he was with Pete Carroll as linebackers coach at USC.
Norton is a three-time Super Bowl Champion as a player and once as a coach with the Seahawks in 2014. Norton Jr. is the son of Ken Norton, the former world heavyweight boxing champion.
Ravens could release Haloti Ngata if he doesn’t take pay cut
Due $8.5 million for the 2015 season and a massive $16 million cap hit, the Baltimore Ravens have reportedly told defensive tackle Haloti Ngata that he will need to renegotiate his contract if he wants to stay with the team.
Ngata missed four games in 2014 after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Ngata put up his usual numbers once he returned, but those were never spectacular to begin with. Baltimore’s 3-4 defense only requires a big body at nose tackle and the Ravens obviously feel like they can replace Ngata’s size (6-4, 340) for a significantly smaller price.
Ngata has spent his entire nine-year career in Baltimore, but shouldn’t have trouble finding a job with the prevalence of 3-4 defenses in the NFL. If he hits the free agent market, though he’ll be hard-pressed to find a team willing to give him $8 million a year.
