A Few Familiar Faces at NFL Veteran Combine

Jan 23, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of NFL shield logo at midfield of University of Phoenix Stadium in advance of Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL will be trying something new today in Arizona when they conduct the first ever NFL Veteran Combine at the Cardinals practice facility.  It’s a chance for has-beens and never-weres alike to showcase their skills for all 32 NFL clubs.  I don’t think that the 100 veteran invitees will have to participate in the “underwear Olymics” like their collegiate counterparts.

There are a few names that should be familiar to Chicago Bears fans:

Jamaal Anderson, DE

Anderson had a cup of coffee with the Bears in training camp of 2013, but was cut before the season started.  He was a former top 10 pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007.

Nate Collins, DT

Collins had a good start to the season for the Bears in 2013 before tearing his ACL against the New Orleans Saints and was placed on IR in October.  The Bears re-signed him for the 2014 season, but he was let go before final cuts in August.  He sat out the 2014 season and hopes to bounce back in 2015.

Zach Minter, DT

The Bears picked up the undrafted free agent out of Montana State after rookie camp in 2013.  He made his professional debut vs the New York Giants in Week 6 and was waived on November 5th.   He kicked around between Bengals and Cowboys in 2014 before catching on with the BC Lions of the CFL a few weeks ago.

Harvey Unga, FB

Isn’t he still on the Bears?  I feel like he was on the Bears forever.  He was selected in the 7th round of the 2010 supplemental NFL Draft out of BYU.  Ungo yo yo-ed between the practice squad and the street between 2010 and 2013.  He also had a cup of coffee with the Jaguars last season before getting cut before the start of the regular season.

Jerrod Johnson, QB

Johnson kicked around with the Bears practice squad for a couple of stints in 2013.

Michael Bush, RB

The Bears signed Bush to a 4-year, $14 million contract with $7 million guaranteed in 2012.  Bush was among the long line of failed running backs the Bears signed to run alongside Matt Forte.  Bush was a major flop in Chicago, compiling just 608 yards and 8 rushing TD’s in two seasons.  Bush had a cup of coffee last season with the Arizona Cardinals, but did not get any carries.

Joe Anderson, WR

Remember when Joe Anderson was going to be the next hidden gem among Bears wide receivers?  He spent a couple of seasons with the Bears in 2012 and 2013 after going undrafted out of Texas Southern.  Anderson was up from the practice squad and used mostly on special teams.

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Other notable names in the Veteran Combine include Michael Sam, local kids Mike Kafka and Mikel LeShoure.  Here’s a complete list of participants: