NFL Will Host A Combine For Veterans

We're all accustomed to the NFL combine for rookies in Indianapolis. Prospects are poked and prodded, interviewed and put through a series of tests to help scouts understand them a little better. Does what we see match with the tape we've been studying, does his interview match what everyone says about him?

However, the NFL is about to take it to a new level by holding a combine for veterans looking for a team. Whether you've been in the league a year or 10 years, you'll have the chance to showcase your skills in front of teams in the hope of catching on.

Right now, players will travel all across the country having off-season workouts hoping to stick. However, that's a system that's both extremely time consuming and not very cost effective for anyone involved.

NFL Director of Football Development Matt Birk had this to say:

"There's a void there. 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. This will be a forum for these guys to showcase their talents and a service for our clubs instead of [what had been] an inefficient process.''

It will be held in Phoenix Arizona on March 22nd, one day before the owners meeting that is also held in Arizona, which gives every team the chance to attend. 100 players are expected to be invited in the first year and we'll soon see how popular this is.

Players will not be poked or prodded like rookies, and they won't be interviewed extensively. However, they will be put through a number of football related drills.

Personally, I think this is a fantastic initiative by the league, and it makes you wonder why they haven't done it sooner. I imagine it will be filled with 2nd and 3rd year players who have been released from practice squads but may eventually become popular for veterans looking for a way back into the game.