Arizona Cardinals sign deaf fullback Derrick Coleman

No one is sure what the Cardinals' offense will look like under new coordinator Mike McCoy, but it apparently will include the use of a fullback occasionally.

The team has signed fullback Derrick Coleman to a one-year contract.

Coleman’s signing is notable because the Cardinals didn’t use a traditional fullback under former coach Bruce Arians.

Coleman, regarded as a good special teams player, spent last season with the Falcons. He was with the Seahawks from 2012-15.

Coleman has played in 47 NFL games, including 30 over his past two seasons. He touched the ball from scrimmage only 25 times in his career, including 13 receptions that included two touchdowns.

He didn’t play in 2016, a year after he was charged with vehicular assault and hit-and-run in connection with a car crash the year before while with the Seahawks. Coleman said at the time he had smoked “spice,” a synthetic with effects similar to marijuana. Coleman eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Coleman, who lost most of his hearing at age 3, is the first legally deaf offensive player in NFL history. His autobiography, “No Excuses,” was published in the summer of 2015.

Roster moves

The Cardinals' 2016 draft class, already regarded as the weakest in the five-year tenure of General Manager Steve Keim, took another hit on Wednesday. The team announced it had released safety Harlan Miller, the sixth-round pick that year, and defensive tackle Peli Anau, who was on the practice squad last season.

Miller is the third of six members of the draft class to be released. In addition, defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (first-round) has failed to win a starting job, and cornerback Brandon Williams (third round) and center/guard Evan Boehm (fourth) were benched after opening their rookie seasons as starters.

MORE: Cardinals' big questions loom as minicamps and OTAs continue

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