NFL Veteran Combine 2015: Notable Participants Looking to Make Statement

The inaugural NFL veteran combine represents a last chance for many players hoping to find work.

Rather than showcasing bright prospects with the whole world ahead of them, this tryout opens the doors to outcasts young and old on March 22. Many of the 107 participants have jumped from team to team, unable to land a steady gig.

Matt Birk, former center and current NFL director of football development, described whom this event benefits in an interview with Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier:

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These guys have had the door slammed in the face. They've been told to 'bring your playbook, go see the head coach.' They've been through that once, twice, three times. And these guys are still pursuing their dream. When it comes to this list, what you see is that if a guy shows up to this event, and he is in shape, works out hard, you'll know that he's got the drive. That's the first prerequisite you need to play football.

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The complete player pool, courtesy of NFL.com, consists largely of players who will cause fans to stop and declare "Oh yeah, I remember him" after a few minutes of reflection. For many of them, an impressive showing is essential to preserving an NFL career.

Michael Sam, DE

The combine's only household name, Michael Sam will trade in his dancing shoes for cleats. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity on Twitter:

Tanier explained why the NFL's first openly gay player qualified for the combine—Tim Tebow and Vince Young were not admitted—despite his enhanced notoriety contrasting the search for overlooked athletes.

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Take away Sam's sociopolitical fame, and he fits squarely among the dozens of no-names on the invitation list. He was a late-round pick who bounced between a pair of teams and is currently a street free agent.

There are good reasons for teams to want a second look at Sam in drills; he trained for last year's combine under the pressure of having just publicly come out of the closet, which is the kind of out-of-box situation that could easily have added a few hundredths of a second to his times.

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During his senior year at Missouri, Sam earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors with 11.5 sacks. Yet he fell to the seventh round of last year's draft, and the St. Louis Rams promptly let him go.

The defensive end signed onto the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad, where he remained until getting waived in October. Running slightly faster in shorts won't convince any squad to make Sam its new starter, but he could net another training-camp invite. 

Michael Bush, RB

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Declining production and the age-30 kiss of death won't leave running back Michael Bush in high regard.

The rusher enjoyed some strong seasons with the Oakland Raiders, accumulating 1,395 total yards and eight touchdowns during 2011. His yards-per-carry average, however, depreciated in each of his last four seasons, condensing all the way down to 3.1 in 2013.

Year	Carries	Rush YDs	YPC
2009	123	589	4.8
2010	158	655	4.1
2011	256	977	3.8
2012	114	411	3.6
2013	83	197	3.1

After spending two years with the Chicago Bears, he didn't see the field at all for the Arizona Cardinals last season. That's saying something, as Arizona amassed an NFL-worst 3.3 yards per rush with Andre Ellington missing the final month.

What he lacks in speed and upside, Bush makes up for in experience and veteran savvy. The tough runner won't win regular touches, but a team might eye him as organizational depth.

Adam Carriker, DE

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

Perhaps the combine's most accomplished invitee, Adam Carriker is still itching to return from two quad surgeries that derailed a solid career.

The 2007 first-round pick has not played since Week 2 of 2012. The previous year, he collected 5.5 sacks for Washington in 2011. Yet the 30-year-old continues to mount a comeback attempt, which he is ready to kick into high gear this weekend.

Those aren't just empty words. Eight months ago, Carriker posted an Instagram video touting his recovery:

Athletes rarely bounce back from debilitating injuries after a three-year hiatus, so the odds are certainly not in Carriker's favor. This combine, however, presents a perfect opportunity for a former starter who can get his foot back in the door by proving strong and healthy.