NFL Scouting Combine 2008: Day One
by 
David Kindervater on February 21st, 2008
Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The NFL Scouting Combine signage around Indianapolis states: “The 2008 NFL Season Begins Now.” Thus, just three weeks removed from my trip to Arizona for Super Bowl XLII, here I am in Indy for a fresh start to a new football season.
There used to be an offseason in the NFL, but that’s a thing of the past. Almost immediately after the Super Bowl you’ve got the Combine, the Draft, mini camps and OTAs. It never ends. This is my 4th straight year working the Combine and each season has been bigger in terms of media coverage. This year there are a reported 500 members of the media credentialed, including 14 reporters from ESPN. There’s even a mini “Radio Row” outside the Media Work Room. Crazy. But it clearly shows how popular the NFL has become.
The Combine and Indianapolis have some sentimental value to me. Back in 2005, this is where I wrote my very first blog entry and recorded my first-ever podcast. So returning here each year is always kind of special. I love this city and I love this event.
For those of you who aren’t aware, the NFL Scouting Combine is the annual job fair for prospective new NFL players. For six straight days from the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, players are put through a series of drills, tests and interviews with more than 600 NFL personnel including head coaches, general managers and scouts. These players and NFL personnel also take time to meet with the media in the form of “press conferences.” It’s actually not unlike Media Day at the Super Bowl, minus the freaks.
Day One is typically a warm-up day, but it’s not without it’s fair share of stories. In the Media Work Room were head coaches Lovie Smith (Bears), Dick Jauron (Bills), Eric Mangini (Jets) and Mike Nolan (49ers); plus Kevin Colbert (Steelers director of football ops) and Scot McCloughan (49ers GM). Michigan OT Jake Long, widely considered one of the best at his position and a potential Top 10 pick, also answered questions. Obviously he’s been prepped well as he said all the right things. In his four years at Michigan, he committed only two penalties (that were called) and gave up only two sacks. Pleased that he stayed at Michigan for his senior season (rather than entering the NFL Draft a year early), Jake said:
“Last year I didn’t feel I was good enough to come out, I wanted to improve on things and those things I improved on. I feel I’m a smarter and better player than I was last year. I’m smarter in identifying the defenses. I worked on the little things in my game and I’ve gotten a lot better.”
The Media Work Room will be especially busy the next two days. Ten head coaches and an assortment of team VIPs will be here tomorrow; plus more players than the place can handle. For now, I really need some sleep.
Tags: Dick-Jauron, eric-mangini, Jake Long, Kevin Colbert, lovie-smith, Michigan Wolverines, Mike Nolan, NFL Scouting Combine, rca-dome, Scot McCloughan| 2.5 |
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