NFL: Owls and Lions get free-agent deals

Before last week's NFL draft, the league expanded the offseason roster by 10 to 90 positions.

So teams were on the phones immediately after Saturday's seventh round speaking to players who had gone undrafted.

Seven Temple Owls signed rookie free-agent contracts on Sunday, bringing the Owls' total NFL signees for 2012 to 10, tying for the largest class in school history. (Ten former Owls also inked NFL deals a year ago)

Linebacker Stephen Johnson (Norristown) signed with New Orleans, and receiver Rod Streater (Burlington) signed with Oakland.

Offensive lineman Pat Boyle signed with Detroit; defensive end Morkeith Brown signed with Tampa Bay; offensive lineman Derek Dennis went to Miami; defensive end Adrian Robinson went to Pittsburgh; and offensive lineman Wayne Tribue signed with Denver.

Running back Bernard Pierce (Glen Mills) was selected in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens; tight end Evan Rodriguez was selected in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears, and linebacker Tahir Whitehead was chosen in the fifth round by the Detroit Lions.

According to their Twitter pages, the following Penn State players signed contracts as undrafted free agents: offensive tackle Quinn Barham, Detroit; defensive end Eric Latimore, Minnesota; defensive back D'Anton Lynn, New York Jets; wide receiver Derek Moye, Miami; and defensive back Nick Sukay, Buffalo Bills.

Defensive back Chad Powell signed with Oakland and tight end Andrew Szczerba agreed to terms with Dallas, according to reports.

Jonathan Grimes, who set records at William and Mary, signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Texans.

Grimes (Paul VI High) finished his career with school records in rushing yards (4,541), all-purpose yards (7,955), and kickoff return yards (2,289).

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants signed 10 free agent rookies, including Rutgers fullback Joe Martinek.

Peyton Manning felt right at home with Todd Helton and the Colorado Rockies.

Manning dropped by Coors Field on Sunday morning to visit his pal before the Rockies played the New York Mets.

Manning and Helton were quarterbacks at Tennessee in the mid-1990s.

When Manning was going through his rehabilitation from neck surgery during the NFL lockout, Helton helped arrange for him to use the Rockies' facilities to work out.

Manning, who signed with the Broncos during free agency, thanked Helton and the Rockies for their hospitality and generosity.

Oakland's general manager Reggie McKenzie said the Raiders will bring in former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart for a tryout, but have not yet signed him.

"We want to take a closer look at him, watch him throw the ball and see how his injury has come around," McKenzie said.

Leinart broke the collarbone on his left (throwing) shoulder Nov. 27 during his first start for the Houston Texans. He is familiar with the Raiders' offensive system, much of which was imported by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, a Texans assistant last season.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum joked that he really likes his fourth-round pick. That's the draft selection, of course, that the Jets traded to the Denver Broncos, along with a sixth-rounder, to acquire backup quarterback Tim Tebow.

The Jets' offense will have a different look because of Tebow, who'll play a key role in running wildcat and option-style plays behind starter Mark Sanchez.

But Tannenbaum brushed aside thoughts that New York brought in some guys on offense - speedy wide receiver Stephen Hill, running back Terrance Ganaway and guard Robert T. Griffin, both sixth-rounders from Baylor - who are used to playing in a style suited to Tebow's skill set.

"That would just be a coincidence," Tannenbaum said.