3 ex-Warriors sign free-agent deals

There was no parade or draft notice for three former University of Hawaii football players on Saturday.

But cornerback/returner Mike Edwards, long-snapper Luke Ingram and linebacker Paipai Falemalu did come away with job opportunities in the National Football League. After being passed over in the NFL Draft, they reached agreements on free-agent contracts — Edwards with the New York Jets, Ingram with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Falemalu with the Cleveland Browns.

"It didn’t matter if I was drafted or signed as a free agent, I just wanted an opportunity to play in the NFL," Falemalu said.

This was the first time since 2010 when no Warrior was selected in the seven-round NFL Draft.

Edwards, a shut-down corner who scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns in 2012, was projected to be selected in the draft’s middle rounds.

"Sometimes things don’t happen for various reasons," said Michael Hoffman, Edwards’ agent.

After the draft ended, several teams called. The Jets, hindered by salary-cap restrictions, offered what Hoffman viewed as the situation.

All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis was traded to Tampa Bay last week, and the Jets drafted Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner with the ninth pick. They did not draft another corner.

"The (free-agent) guys (Edwards will) be competing with aren’t draft picks and don’t have a lot of experience," Hoffman said. "You can’t get drafted into a better situation unless you’re a first-round pick, and he was never going to be a first-round pick."

Hoffman said Jets head coach Rex Ryan and defensive secondary coach Aaron Glenn pushed to sign Edwards.

Hoffman said Edwards will play with a "chip on his shoulder."

"The bottom line is he’ll play," Hoffman said. "The Jets got themselves a good player, I believe."

Ingram, who played in the Senior Bowl, was the only long-snapper among the 300 prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine in February.

Agent Wynn Silberman said five teams made free-agent offers to Ingram.

The Steelers recently re-signed Greg Warren, who has been their long-snapper since signing as a free agent in 2005. He had some accuracy problems last year.

Ingram did not miss a game during his UH career. He also did not have a bad snap in 475 attempts.

Ingram said he was not discouraged about the draft snub.

"It’s the position," Ingrarm said. "I can understand when people need offensive line and quarterback depth. There’s no real depth in my position. There’s just one guy. I would have loved to have been drafted. It was a personal goal."

Ingram, who is 6-foot-5, said he weighs about 262 pounds. He was considered one of the Warriors’ more dedicated weightlifters.

"I’ve always been a gym guy as far back as (Mililani) high school," Ingram said. "I like being in the weight room. I enjoy lifting and pushing myself. I played defensive line in high school. I was always lifting with the guys in my position. When I got to college, I stuck to that same thing."

Ingram said he spent Saturday at home in Mililani with friends and family.

"It was a pretty mellow day, a typical Saturday," Ingram said.

Falemalu also was able to relax knowing it would be a "long shot" to be drafted.

"I stuck by my phone and hoped for it to ring," Falemalu said. "If it didn’t, I had faith in my agent he would get me a shot to play somewhere."

Falemalu will get his chance with the Browns, who recently traded for former UH slotback Davone Bess. On Saturday, Bess agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $11.5 million.

Falemalu has experience as a defensive end in a 4-3 alignment and as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. The Browns usually are in a 3-4. Falemalu projects as an outside linebacker.