Detroit signs veteran QB Cassel

The Detroit Lions signed veteran quarterback Matt Cassel.

Detroit put the free agent on the roster Monday, adding depth behind Matthew Stafford.

Cassel played sparingly the past two seasons in Tennessee. The 13year veteran also has played for Dallas, Buffalo, Minnesota, Kansas City and New England.

He started 15 games in 2008 with the Patriots when Lions general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia also worked for the franchise. Cassel has started 81 games in his career, completing 59% of his passes for 17,449 yards with 104 touchdowns and 81 interceptions.

Jake Rudock, drafted by Detroit in the sixth round two years ago, and Cassel are expecting to compete to be Stafford’s backup.

Beckham shows up: The New York Giants have opened their first organized team activities under new coach Pat Shurmur with star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the building.

Speaking on a conference call, Shurmur said he hadn’t yet talked to Beckham, whose name has been mentioned in trade speculation in recent months.

The coach didn’t know how many of the voluntary activities Beckham planned to attend or the condition of his left ankle. The ankle was broken in the fifth game of a 3-13 season that led to the firing of coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese .

Shurmur said he previously spoke with Beckham about a video that surfaced online showing the 25-year-old who wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid player on a bed holding what appeared to be a hand-rolled cigarette. A woman next to him had unidentified white powder on a nearby table.

Shurmur didn’t reveal what he said to Beckham. He also is not worried whether the player will be affected by trade rumors.