METAIRIE, La. -- Louis Murphy and Khalif Barnes have nearly 20 years of NFL experience between them. But both are starting back at Square 1 this weekend as they try and revive their careers at the New Orleans Saints' rookie minicamp.
Murphy and Barnes are among five veteran players trying out during the camp, along with quarterback Matt Simms, offensive tackle Bryce Harris and tight end Clay Harbor.
Murphy, a wide receiver who spent his first seven seasons with the Raiders, Panthers, Giants and Buccaneers, has been out since he suffered a torn ACL with Tampa Bay late in the 2015 season. He never made it back to the Buccaneers’ active roster last year, in part because of a hamstring injury.
“First time since I was 8 years old missing a season,” Murphy said. “So that was humbling, made me appreciate the game more and made me really work hard this offseason too.”
Murphy (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) has 2,322 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his career. He said a few other teams have called, but this is his first workout.
“It’s an honor to actually have teams still call me,” said Murphy, who said he feels “older and wiser” at age 30. “Just being out that year made me appreciate the game more. I realized I really do love the game. I love football. So that’s why I wasn’t on my high horse to come to a rookie minicamp.”
Barnes, meanwhile, spent much of last season bouncing on and off the Saints’ roster without ever appearing in a game. The Saints initially signed the 11-year veteran offensive tackle at the end of the preseason and kept him nearby for depth purposes. But they also let him know they wanted him to lose weight.
And he did -- a lot of it.
Barnes told NOLA.com’s Herbie Teope that he is down to 314 pounds now after being 358 last August.
Barnes, 35, spent his first 11 years with the Jaguars and Raiders.
"I can't thank (the Saints) enough for just bringing me in and giving me a try from the beginning," Barnes told NOLA.com. "I thought my career was going to be over. I was a little heavier, so I worked my way down to get in."
