-By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online
Well the scouting combine is finally over, and there is an awful lot to digest yet, but here is some of the happenings you can think about from now until the NFL Draft In April.
Teams are now more wary then ever about “at risk” players. Former Florida Gator and more recent North Alabama Defensive back Janoris Jenkins is finding this out first hand. “I’m done with it” he says of his past mishaps, and on smoking pot. “I can’t do it any more.” NFL teams are “red flagging” more players now for “indiscretions & conduct unbecoming.” It was very clearly addressed during on-field drills by Giants cornerbacks coach Peter Guinta (Who BTW once upon a time was the defensive coordinator of the Rams “greatest show on Turf” that won a Super Bowl) “Playing in the NFL is not a right, it’s an honor”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thinks that soon the Combine will be open to fans(the ones who pay 400 bucks a pop like the VIP seating at the draft) and someday soon there might even be cameras in the meeting rooms when player are being interviewed. I wonder how much the guy with the AIR Horn that signals the end of the interview sessions gets paid? Maybe ESPN commentator and former Giants LB Antonio Pierce should have that gig since he’s so good with horns..
It’s evident that after 3 full days of broadcast coverage on the NFL Network that they will run out of relevant stuff to say. Now I know what I was missing the last few years watching it on my computer. How many times can we watch Rich Eisen’s two nephews videos of 40 times? At least Rich can run a faster 40 then me, and I walk with a cane these days.
Record performances from the Combine:
Three Receivers, Miami’s Travis Benjamin, Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill, and Stanford’s Chris Owusu had the fastest 40 times at 4.36 each.
Florida RB Chris Rainey toped out the best in three different drills, the three cone (6.42), the 20 yard shuttle (3.93-a new record) and the 60 yard shuttle (11.06)
Baylor QB & Heisman winner Robert Griffin III had the best 40 time (4.41) and the highest Vertical Jump (39 inches) among all QB’s (but he claims he ran a 4.35).
The other Top QB prospect, Stanford QB Andrew Luck had the best Broad Jump of the QB class at 10 feet & 4 inches, But UConn receiver Kashif Moore had the best over all Vertical Jump at 43.5 inches.
The Combine is “proof that anyone can become a star with one good workout.”
Case in Point: University of Memphis DT Dontari Poe and his 44 Bench press reps.
Even in a weak year for a position like Tight Ends, one always rises up to recognition like Oklahoma’s James Hanna, who’s stock has risen after this weekend.
Now, can the “workout wear” be any more colorful then it was this year? Color coded to match the position groups? Really?
I liked how Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin sat at the 10 Yard line mark of the 40 yard dash area timing 10 yard splits, and no one sat near him or in front of him!
Broadcast notes: one good thing about the coverage on NFLNetwork: if you rise late and miss the beginning of scheduled events, they replay the entire days’ worth of coverage as soon as it ends live. We even heard Mike Mayock say something we have known for years: The CAA is the most competitive conference In The FCS. (I guess he does read my e-mails after all!). Also impressive (as everything he does) was Steve Mariucchi’s “chalk Talk” with RG III.
A broadcast note of our own: The Tuesday Night “Pro Football NYC” show broadcasted it’s last segment last night after 2 years. But fear not, as we will continue our broadcast commentary of the Jets and Giants on aweekly basis with two new shows. In Place of “PFNYC” on Tuesday’s at 8pm Et starting March 6th will be “the JETS ZONE”, produced in cooperation with Zone TV Live, and the following day, March 7th at 9pm Et “The GIANTS RUSH” will make it’s debut.
Both those shows will continue to be heard a www.blogtalkradio.com/Football-Reporters live in progress, and via Sticther radio & iTunes as podcasts.
