Player Goes by School Group # Camp # CP
AKINS, KEVIN BOSTON COL 10 DB1 DC
ALEXANDER, CHARLES LOUISIANA ST 07 DL1 DT
ALLEN, ASHER* GEORGIA 10 DB2 DC
ALLEN, ROGER MISSOURI WESTERN ST 01 OL1 OG
ARNOUX, STANLEY WAKE FOREST 09 LB1 IB
AYERS, ROBERT TENNESSEE 07 DL2 DE
BAKER, CHRIS* HAMPTON 07 DL3 DE
BARDEN, RAMSES CAL POLY ST 04 WO1 WO
BARNES, KEVIN MARYLAND 10 DB3 DC
BARWIN, CONNOR CINCINNATI 07 DL4 DE
BEATTY, WILLIAM WILL CONNECTICUT 01 OL2 OT
BECKUM, TRAVIS WISCONSIN-MADISON 03 TE1 TE
BECKWITH, DARRY DOUGIE LOUISIANA ST 09 LB2 IB
BELL, JOEL FURMAN 01 OL3 OT
BELL, KAHLIL UCLA 06 RB1 OH
BENNETT, MICHAEL TEXAS A&M 07 DL5 DE
BOLDEN, DEMONTE TENNESSEE 07 DL6 DT
BOLTUS, JASON HARTWICK 01 QB1 QB*
BOMAR, RHETT SAM HOUSTON ST 04 QB2 QB
BOONE, ALEXANDER ALEX OHIO ST 01 OL4 OT
BRACE, RONALD RON BOSTON COL 07 DL7 DT
BRANDSTATER, THOMAS TOM FRESNO ST 04 QB3 QB
BRANSON, MARQUEZ CENTRAL ARKANSAS 03 TE2 HB
BRANTLY, JUSTIN TEXAS A&M 01 PK1 PT
BREWSTER, ROBERT BALL ST 01 OL5 OT
BRIGHT, TRAVIS BRIGHAM YOUNG 01 OL6 OG
BRINKLEY, JASPER SOUTH CAROLINA 09 LB3 IB
BRITT, KENNY* RUTGERS 04 WO2 WO
BRITTON, EBEN* ARIZONA 01 OL7 OT
BRONSON, JARED CENTRAL WASHINGTON 03 TE3 TE
BROWN, ANDRE NORTH CAROLINA ST 06 RB2 OH
BROWN, CODY CONNECTICUT 07 DL8 DE
BROWN, DONALD* CONNECTICUT 06 RB3 OH
BROWN, EVERETTE* FLORIDA ST 07 DL9 DE
BROWN, NATHAN CENTRAL ARKANSAS 01 QB4 QB*
BRUGGEMAN, ROBERT ROB IOWA 01 OL8 OC
BRUTON, DAVID NOTRE DAME 10 DB4 FS
BUEHLER, DAVID SOUTHERN CAL 01 PK2 KO
BURNETT, JOSEPH JOE CENTRAL FLORIDA 10 DB5 DC
BUTLER, DARIUS CONNECTICUT 10 DB6 DC
BUTLER, VICTOR OREGON ST 07 DL10 DE
BUTLER, VINCENT DEON PENN ST 04 WO3 WO
BYRD, DEMETRIUS LOUISIANA ST 04 WO4 WO
BYRD, JAIRUS* OREGON 10 DB7 DC
CADOGAN, GERALD PENN ST 01 OL9 OT
CALDWELL, ANTOINE ALABAMA 01 OL10 OC
CAMPBELL, IAN KANSAS ST 07 DL11 DE
CANFIELD, TREVOR CINCINNATI 01 OL11 OG
CANTWELL, THOMAS HUNTER LOUISVILLE 04 QB5 QB
CAREY, DON NORFOLK ST 10 DB8 DC
CARPENTER, RUDY ARIZONA ST 04 QB6 QB
CASEY, JAMES* RICE 03 TE4 TE
CASILLAS, JONATHAN WISCONSIN-MADISON 09 LB4 OB
CHILDS, JEREMY* BOISE ST 04 WO5 WO
CHUNG, PATRICK OREGON 10 DB9 SS
CLEMONS, CHRISTIAN CHRIS CLEMSON 10 DB10 FS
COFFEE, GLEN* ALABAMA 06 RB4 OH
COFFMAN, CHASE MISSOURI 03 TE5 TE
COLLIE, AUSTIN BRIGHAM YOUNG 04 WO6 WO
COLQUITT, BRITTON TENNESSEE 01 PK3 PT
COOK, EMANUEL* SOUTH CAROLINA 10 DB11 SS
COOK, JARED* SOUTH CAROLINA 03 TE6 TE
COOK, JASON MISSISSIPPI 06 RB5 FB
COOPER, JON OKLAHOMA 01 OL12 OC
COSBY, QUAN TEXAS-AUSTIN 04 WO7 WO
CRABTREE, MICHAEL* TEXAS TECH 04 WO8 WO
CURRY, AARON WAKE FOREST 09 LB5 OB
CUSHING, BRIAN SOUTHERN CAL 09 LB6 OB
DANIEL, WILLIAM CHASE MISSOURI 04 QB7 QB
DAVIS, EMMANUEL C J PITTSBURGH 01 OL13 OG
DAVIS, JAMES CLEMSON 06 RB6 OH
DAVIS, NATE* BALL ST 04 QB8 QB
DAVIS, RULON CAL-BERKELEY 07 DL12 DE
DAVIS, VONTAE* ILLINOIS 10 DB12 DC
DAVIS, WILLIAM WILL ILLINOIS 07 DL13 DE
DELMAS, LOUIS WESTERN MICHIGAN 10 DB13 FS
DILLARD, JARETT RICE 04 WO9 WO
DREW, DAVON EAST CAROLINA 03 TE7 TE
EDISON, DOMINIQUE STEPHEN F AUSTIN 04 WO10 WO
EGBOH, PANNEL STANFORD 07 DL14 DE
ELLERBE, DANNELL GEORGIA 09 LB7 IB
ELLISON, KEVIN SOUTHERN CAL 10 DB14 SS
ENGLISH, LARRY NORTHERN ILLINOIS 07 DL15 DE
EVANS, MAURICE* PENN ST 07 DL16 DE
FANAIKA, PAULIASI PAUL ARIZONA ST 01 OL14 OG
FAVORITE, MARLON LOUISIANA ST 07 DL17 DT
FEINGA, LEIMONI RAY BRIGHAM YOUNG 01 OL15 OG
FELDER, ANTHONY CAL-BERKELEY 09 LB8 IB
FELIX, ROBBY UTEP 01 OL16 OC
FIAMMETTA, PLACIDO TONY SYRACUSE 06 RB7 FB
FLETCHER, ALEXANDER ALEX STANFORD 01 OL17 OC
FLETCHER, BRADLEY IOWA 10 DB15 DC
FODGE, MATT OKLAHOMA ST 01 PK4 PK
FOKOU, MOISE MOSES MARYLAND 09 LB9 OB
FOLLETT, ZACHARY ZACK CAL-BERKELEY 09 LB10 OB
FOSTER, ARIAN TENNESSEE 06 RB8 OH
FOSTER, BOBBY BROOKS NORTH CAROLINA 04 WO11 WO
FOSTER, RAMON TENNESSEE 01 OL18 OT
FRANCIES, COYE SAN JOSE ST 10 DB16 DC
FREEMAN, JOSH* KANSAS ST 04 QB9 QB
FREEMAN, MARCUS OHIO ST 09 LB11 OB
FULTON, XAVIER ILLINOIS 01 OL19 OT
GANO, GRAHAM FLORIDA ST 01 PK5 PT
GARCIA, JUAN WASHINGTON 01 OL20 OC
GARDNER, ANDREW GEORGIA TECH 01 OL21 OT
GAY, DAN BAYLOR 02 OL22 OT
GIBSON, BRANDON WASHINGTON ST 04 WO12 WO
GILBERT, JARRON SAN JOSE ST 07 DL18 DT
GLENN, NICHOLVIN CODY NEBRASKA 09 LB12 OB
GOODSON, MIKE* TEXAS A&M 06 RB9 OH
GRADY, ADRIAN LOUISVILLE 07 DL19 DT
GREEN, TYRONNE AUBURN 02 OL23 OG
GREENE, COURTNEY RUTGERS 10 DB17 SS
GREENE, SHONN* IOWA 06 RB10 OH
GRIFFIN, SEAN MICHIGAN 01 ST1 LS
GRONKOWSKI, DANIEL DAN MARYLAND 03 TE8 TE
HAMLIN, MICHAEL MIKE CLEMSON 10 DB18 FS
HARPER, THOMAS CULLEN CLEMSON 04 QB10 QB
HARRELL, GRAHAM TEXAS TECH 04 QB11 QB
HARRIS, CARY SOUTHERN CAL 10 DB19 DC
HARRIS, NIC OKLAHOMA 10 DB20 SS
HARRIS, RA'SHON SONNY OREGON 07 DL20 DT
HARRIS, VICTOR MACHO VIRGINIA POLYTECH INST 10 DB21 DC
HARTLINE, BRIAN* OHIO ST 04 WO13 WO
HARVIN, PERCY* FLORIDA 04 WO14 WO
HELMS, CHARLES BRETT LOUISIANA ST 02 OL24 OC
HEYWARD-BEY, DARRIUS* MARYLAND 04 WO15 WO
HILL, ANTHONY NORTH CAROLINA ST 03 TE9 TE
HILL, P.J.* WISCONSIN-MADISON 06 RB11 OH
HILL, SAMMIE STILLMAN 07 DL21 DE
HODGE, STEPHEN TEXAS CHRISTIAN 10 DB22 SS
HOLBROOK, CHASE NEW MEXICO ST 05 QB12 QB
HOLMES, LENDY OKLAHOMA 10 DB23 FS
HOOD, EVANDER ZIGGY MISSOURI 07 DL22 DT
HOYER, AXEL BRIAN MICHIGAN ST 05 QB13 QB
HUBER, KEVIN CINCINNATI 01 PK6 PT
HUGHES, BRANDON OREGON ST 10 DB24 DC
IGLESIAS, JUAQUIN OKLAHOMA 04 WO16 WO
INGRAM, CORNELIUS FLORIDA 03 TE10 TE
INGRAM, JACOB HAWAII 01 ST2 LS
IRVIN, CORVEY GEORGIA 07 DL23 DT
ISDANER, GREG* WEST VIRGINIA 02 OL25 OG
IVY, MORTTY WEST VIRGINIA 09 LB13 OB
JACKSON, TYSON TY LOUISIANA ST 07 DL24 DE
JAMISON, TIMOTHY TIM MICHIGAN 07 DL25 DE
JEAN-FRANCOIS, RICKY* LOUISIANA ST 07 DL26 DT
JENKINS, MALCOLM OHIO ST 10 DB25 DC
JENNINGS, RASHAD LIBERTY 06 RB12 OH
JERRY, PERIA MISSISSIPPI 07 DL27 DT
JOHNSON, BRUCE MIAMI-FL 10 DB26 DC
JOHNSON, DAVID DJ ARKANSAS ST 03 TE11 TE
JOHNSON, DOMONIQUE DJ JACKSON ST 10 DB27 DC
JOHNSON, GARTRELL COLORADO ST 06 RB13 OH
JOHNSON, HERMAN LOUISIANA ST 02 OL26 OG
JOHNSON, IAN BOISE ST 06 RB14 OH
JOHNSON, JEREMIAH OREGON 06 RB15 OH
JOHNSON, JULIAN RASHAD ALABAMA 10 DB28 FS
JOHNSON, MANUEL OKLAHOMA 04 WO17 WO
JOHNSON, MICHAEL MIKE GEORGIA TECH 08 DL28 DE
JOHNSON, QUINN LOUISIANA ST 06 RB16 FB
JOHNSON, TAURUS SOUTH FLORIDA 04 WO18 WO
KELLY, AARON CLEMSON 04 WO19 WO
KEMP, ANDREW ANDY WISCONSIN-MADISON 02 OL27 OG
KETTANI, ERIC NAVAL ACADEMY 06 RB17 FB
KIMBLE, BUICKER ANTHONY STANFORD 06 RB18 OH
KING, MITCHELL MITCH IOWA 08 DL29 DT
KNIGHTON, TERRANCE TEMPLE 08 DL30 DT
KNOX, JOHNNY ABILENE CHRISTIAN 04 WO20 WO
KROPOG, TROY TULANE 02 OL28 OT
KRUGER, PAUL UTAH 08 DL31 DE
LAURINAITIS, JAMES OHIO ST 09 LB14 IB
LAWRENCE, QUINTEN MCNEESE ST 04 WO21 WO
LEVITRE, ANDREW ANDY OREGON ST 02 OL29 OT
LEVY, DEANDRE WISCONSIN-MADISON 09 LB15 OB
LEWIS, CORNELIUS TENNESSEE ST 02 OL30 OT
LEWIS, KEENAN OREGON ST 10 DB29 DC
LINK, KYLE MCNEESE ST 02 OL31 OT
LOADHOLT, PHIL OKLAHOMA 02 OL32 OT
LUCKY, MARLON NEBRASKA 06 RB19 OH
LUIGS, JONATHAN JON ARKANSAS-FAYETTEVL 02 OL33 OC
MACK, ALEXANDER ALEX CAL-BERKELEY 02 OL34 OC
MACLIN, JEREMY* MISSOURI 04 WO22 WO
MAGEE, ARCILLA ALEX PURDUE 08 DL32 DE
MAIAVA, KALUKA SOUTHERN CAL 09 LB16 OB
MAILEI, MARCUS WEBER ST 06 RB20 FB
MANDEVILLE, BRIAN NORTHEASTERN 03 TE12 TE
MARION, BRENNAN TULSA 05 WO23 WO
MARKS, SEN'DERRICK* AUBURN 08 DL33 DT
MARTIN, DAVID ORION VIRGINIA POLYTECH INST 08 DL34 DE
MARTIN, JERALD SHERROD TROY 10 DB30 FS
MARTINEZ, JOSE UTEP 01 PK7 PK
MASSAQUOI, MOHAMED GEORGIA 05 WO24 WO
MASTHAY, TIMOTHY TIM KENTUCKY 01 PK8 KO
MATTHEWS, WILLIAM CLAY SOUTHERN CAL 09 LB17 OB
MAUALUGA, REYNOLD REY SOUTHERN CAL 09 LB18 IB
MAUGA, JOSHUA JOSH NEVADA-RENO 09 LB19 IB
MAYBIN, AARON* PENN ST 08 DL35 DE
MCBATH, STEVEN DARCEL TEXAS TECH 11 DB31 FS
MCCLINTON, MARCUS KENTUCKY 11 DB32 FS
MCCOY, LESEAN* PITTSBURGH 06 RB21 OH
MCGEE, STEPHEN TEXAS A&M 01 QB14 QB*
MCKEE, RYAN SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 02 OL35 OT
MCKENZIE, TYRONE SOUTH FLORIDA 09 LB20 OB
MCKILLOP, SCOTT PITTSBURGH 09 LB21 IB
MCKINLEY, KENNY SOUTH CAROLINA 05 WO25 WO
MCRATH, GERALD SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 09 LB22 IB
MEANS, ANDREW* INDIANA 05 WO26 WO
MEREDITH, JAMES JAMON SOUTH CAROLINA 02 OL36 OG
MICKENS, MICHAEL MIKE CINCINNATI 11 DB33 DC
MILLER, MAURICE MISSISSIPPI 02 OL37 OT
MILLER, ROY TEXAS-AUSTIN 08 DL36 DT
MITCHELL, KHALIF EAST CAROLINA 08 DL37 DT
MITCHELL, MARKO NEVADA-RENO 05 WO27 WO
MOALA, FILI SOUTHERN CAL 08 DL38 DT
MONROE, EUGENE VIRGINIA 02 OL38 OT
MOORE, D.J.* VANDERBILT 11 DB34 DC
MOORE, KYLE SOUTHERN CAL 08 DL39 DE
MOORE, WILLIAM MISSOURI 11 DB35 FS
MORENO, KNOWSHON* GEORGIA 06 RB22 OH
MORRAH, CAMERON* CAL-BERKELEY 03 TE13 TE
MORSTEAD, THOMAS SMU 01 PK9 PT
MOUTON, RYAN HAWAII 11 DB36 DC
MUNNERLYN, CAPTAIN* SOUTH CAROLINA 11 DB37 DC
MURPHY, LOUIS FLORIDA 05 WO28 WO
MURTHA, LYDON NEBRASKA 02 OL39 OT
MYERS, ROBERT ROB UTAH ST 03 TE14 TE
NELSON, SHAWN SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 03 TE15 HB
NICKS, HAKEEM* NORTH CAROLINA 05 WO29 WO
NOLAN, TROY ARIZONA ST 11 DB38 SS
NORWOOD, JORDAN PENN ST 05 WO30 WO
OGBONNAYA, CHRIS TEXAS-AUSTIN 06 RB23 OH
OGLETREE, KEVIN* VIRGINIA 05 WO31 WO
OHER, MICHAEL MISSISSIPPI 02 OL40 OT
OLSEN, SETH IOWA 02 OL41 OG
ORAKPO, BRIAN TEXAS-AUSTIN 08 DL40 DE
ORE, BRANDEN WEST LIBERTY ST 06 RB24 OH
ORTON, GREGORY GREG PURDUE 05 WO32 WO
OSAISAI, WOPAMO STANFORD 11 DB39 DC
OWENS, CHRISTOPHER CHRIS SAN JOSE ST 11 DB40 DC
PAINTER, CURTIS PURDUE 05 QB15 QB
PALMER, RYAN TEXAS-AUSTIN 11 DB41 DC
PARKER, ANTHONY TENNESSEE 02 OL42 OG
PARRISH, AUGUSTUS GUS KENT ST 02 OL43 OT
PASCOE, MCKENNA BEAR FRESNO ST 03 TE16 TE
PASSMORE, DARIUS MARSHALL 05 WO33 WO
PEERMAN, CEDRIC VIRGINIA 06 RB25 OH
PEGUES, DEREK MISSISSIPPI ST 11 DB42 FS
PETTIGREW, BRANDON OKLAHOMA ST 03 TE17 TE
PHILLIPS, JASON TEXAS CHRISTIAN 09 LB23 IB
PHILLIPS, JOHN VIRGINIA 03 TE18 TE
PINKARD, JOSH SOUTHERN CAL 11 DB43 DC
POTTER, ZACHERY ZACH NEBRASKA 08 DL41 DE
POWERS, JERRAUD* AUBURN 11 DB44 DC
PRYOR, MYRON KENTUCKY 08 DL42 DT
QUIN, GLOVER NEW MEXICO 11 DB45 DC
QUINN, RICHARD* NORTH CAROLINA 03 TE19 TE
RAJI, BUSARI B J BOSTON COL 08 DL43 DT
REILLY, MICHAEL MIKE CENTRAL WASHINGTON 05 QB16 QB
REYNOLDS, WILLIAM GARRETT NORTH CAROLINA 02 OL44 OT
RICHARD, DARRYL GEORGIA TECH 08 DL44 DT
RICHMOND, ANTHONY DAVID SAN JOSE ST 05 WO34 WO
RINGER, JAVON MICHIGAN ST 06 RB26 OH
ROBINSON, DUKE OKLAHOMA 02 OL45 OG
ROBINSON, LEE ALCORN ST 09 LB24 OB
ROBISKIE, BRIAN OHIO ST 05 WO35 WO
SAKODA, LOUIS LOUIE UTAH 01 PK10 PK
SANCHEZ, MARK* SOUTHERN CAL 05 QB17 QB
SANFORD, JAMARCA MISSISSIPPI 11 DB46 SS
SARGEANT, LYDELL PENN ST 11 DB47 DC
SCOTT, ANTHONY BERNARD ABILENE CHRISTIAN 06 RB27 OH
SCOTT, DARELL CLEMSON 08 DL45 DT
SHAUGHNESSY, MATTHEW MATT WISCONSIN-MADISON 08 DL46 DE
SHEETS, KORY PURDUE 06 RB28 OH
SHIPLEY, ALLAN A Q PENN ST 02 OL46 OC
SHIPLEY, JORDAN TEXAS-AUSTIN 05 WO36 WO
SIDBURY, LAWRENCE RICHMOND 08 DL47 DE
SINTIM, CLINT VIRGINIA 09 LB25 OB
SLAUSON, MATTHEW MATT NEBRASKA 02 OL47 OG
SMITH, ALPHONSO WAKE FOREST 11 DB48 DC
SMITH, ANDRE* ALABAMA 02 OL48 OT
SMITH, DEANGELO CINCINNATI 11 DB49 DC
SMITH, JASON BAYLOR 02 OL49 OT
SMITH, SEAN* UTAH 11 DB50 DC
SOUTHERLAND, BRANNAN GEORGIA 06 RB29 FB
SPERRY, KORY COLORADO ST 03 TE20 TE
SPILLMAN, CLAUDE C J MARSHALL 11 DB51 FS
STAFFORD, MATTHEW* GEORGIA 05 QB18 QB
STROUGHTER, SAMMIE OREGON ST 05 WO37 WO
SULAK, JOSEPH STRYKER MISSOURI 08 DL48 DE
SUTTON, TYRELL NORTHWESTERN 06 RB30 OH
SWANK, SAMUEL SAM WAKE FOREST 01 PK11 PK
SWIFT, NATHAN NATE NEBRASKA 05 WO38 WO
TATE, BRANDON NORTH CAROLINA 05 WO39 WO
TAYLOR, CURTIS LOUISIANA ST 11 DB52 FS
TAYLOR, TERRANCE MICHIGAN 08 DL49 DT
THOMAS, JAIMIE MARYLAND 02 OL50 OG
THOMAS, MICHEAL MIKE ARIZONA 05 WO40 WO
TRENT, MORGAN MICHIGAN 11 DB53 DC
TUPOU, FENUKI OREGON 02 OL51 OT
TURNER, PATRICK SOUTHERN CAL 05 WO41 WO
UNDERWOOD, BRANDON CINCINNATI 11 DB54 FS
UNDERWOOD, TIQUAN RUTGERS 05 WO42 WO
UNGER, MAXWELL MAX OREGON 02 OL52 OC
URBIK, KRAIG WISCONSIN-MADISON 02 OL53 OG
VALDEZ, JOSE ARKANSAS-FAYETTEVL 02 OL54 OT
VASQUEZ, LOUIS TEXAS TECH 02 OL55 OG
VAUGHN, CLARENCE CHIP WAKE FOREST 11 DB55 FS
VEIKUNE, DAVID HAWAII 08 DL50 DE
WALKER, BRANDON OKLAHOMA 02 OL56 OG
WALKER, DEREK ILLINOIS 08 DL51 DE
WALKER, VANCE GEORGIA TECH 08 DL52 DT
WALLACE, MIKE MISSISSIPPI 05 WO43 WO
WASHINGTON, DONALD* OHIO ST 11 DB56 DC
WATKINS, JASON FLORIDA 02 OL57 OT
WEBB, LARDARIUS NICHOLLS ST-LA 11 DB57 DC
WELLS, CHRIS* OHIO ST 06 RB31 OH
WHITE, PATRICK PAT WEST VIRGINIA 05 QB19 QB
WILEY, OTIS MICHIGAN ST 11 DB58 FS
WILLIAMS, BRANDON* TEXAS TECH 08 DL53 DE
WILLIAMS, DERRICK PENN ST 05 WO44 WO
WILLIAMS, EDDIE IDAHO 03 TE21 HB
WILLIAMS, EDWIN MARYLAND 02 OL58 OC
WILLIAMS, JAISON OREGON 05 WO45 WO
WILLIAMS, JAVARRIS TENNESSEE ST 06 RB32 OH
WILLIAMS, WORRELL CAL-BERKELEY 09 LB26 IB
WILLY, DREW BUFFALO 01 QB20 QB*
WILSON, JOHN JOHN PARKER ALABAMA 05 QB21 QB
WOOD, ERIC LOUISVILLE 02 OL59 OC
WOOTEN, MORRIS ARIZONA ST 09 LB27 IB
WORD-DANIELS, JAHI GEORGIA TECH 11 DB59 DC
WRIGHT, DEANDRE NEW MEXICO 11 DB60 DC
WYNN, JARIUS GEORGIA 08 DL54 DE

COMBINE ATTENDEES WOULD BE WISE TO RUN
Posted by Mike Florio on February 12, 2009, 3:46 p.m. EST

The latest issue of Sporting News arrived in the mail today. On the cover is a photo of four former Yankees in their prime. After noticing that a young Yogi Berra looks a lot like the guy who played Big Pussy on The Sopranos, I started to flip through the pages.

And I discovered some of the most thorough pre-Combine coverage I’ve ever seen.

So while we have no advertising arrangement with Sporting News (but, then again, I write for SportingNew.com), we strongly recommend buying this week’s issue.

Among our favorite features is a segment from Colts G.M. Bill Polian (yeah, the same guy we rip from time to time) regarding the importance of the Combine. And he makes a great point about the annual group of players who choose not to run the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis.

“Any time a player doesn’t run at the Combine, it raises a yellow flag,” Polian tells Clifton Brown. “If you’re fast, you shouldn’t be afraid to show people that you’re fast.”

Amen.

Then again, we continue to believe that the precise amount of time that it takes a guy to cover 40 yards in his underwear is largely irrelevant to his overall skills. Still, Sporting News points out on the page across from Polian’s comments that there’s talk Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree could slide out of the top ten if he can’t beat 4.5 seconds.

But Jerry Rice didn’t beat 4.5 seconds, and he only became the greatest receiver — and possibly the greatest player at any position — to ever put on a helmet that no one ever wears when running the 40.

The other problem with the running test used to assess incoming pro players is that, as someone explained it to us several years ago, there are only two occasions when a guy runs 40 yards in a straight line during a game: when something really good has happened, and when something really bad has happened.

But the scouts continue to obsess over these numbers because, in our view, they need to have some objective evidence on which to base their draft decisions, in the event that the guys they pick end up being bad players.

With each passing year, we become more convinced that no one really knows with any degree of certainty what kind of player a guy will be at the NFL level. It’s all a crapshoot, primarily because there’s no way of figuring out how a kid who was good at the college level will respond once he’s on the field in a game situation against the best of the best that the 120-plus Division I-A college programs have exported to the NFL over the preceding decade or longer.

Some find their stride, others find their ceiling. At that Combine, however, all should be willing to lace up their running shoes and show how quickly they can get from point A to point B, in the event that they’re ever running down the sidelines with an intercepted ball just before halftime of the Super Bowl — or chasing the guy who is.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/02/ ... se-to-run/

Why don't they have them run in shells at least??? Wouldn't that present a more accurate time?

I've wondered this too...is there a reason anybody knows of why all the combine drills can't done in pads & a helmet? Wouldn't that make the results more relevant?

CAL’S MACK SIDELINED FOR COMBINE
Posted by Aaron Wilson on February 18, 2009, 9:55 a.m. EST
Highly-regarded Cal center Alex Mack won’t be able to endure the rigors of the NFL scouting combine this week due to a sprained ankle he suffered Monday, NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports.

Mack is considered one of the top interior offensive line prospects in the draft and has been projected as a first-round pick by many draft analysts.

Now, Mack will be limited to the meet-and-greet aspect of the scouting combine, which is also important in the mass job interview that will go on in Indianapolis this week. Mack said he’ll rehab his injury and prepare for his Pro Day in Berkeley, Calif., on March 18.

“While preparing for the combine on Monday with my trainer, I suffered a sprained ankle,” Mack said. “The injury isn’t serious, but unfortunately, it is going to keep me from working out this week in Indianapolis.

“No one is more disappointed than me, as I have been working tirelessly to further prove myself as a first-round pick. However, I don’t want to perform at anything less than 100 percent.”

That makes sense.

Although NFL teams would undoubtedly be impressed if Mack was to gut it out and go through the drills on a bad ankle, it’s possible he could wind up making the injury worse and hurt his draft stock.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/02/ ... r-combine/

Jason Smith tore up the bench press with 33 reps.

Eugene Monroe had 23, Michael Oher had 21.