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NFL Combine for VETERANS (1 Viewer)

L

ldizzle

Footballguy
Just saw this on Rotoworld

The league will host an "NFL Veteran Combine" on March 22.

It will take place in Arizona's during the league meetings. The event the first of its kind is self explanatory. It's a Combine, only for veteran NFL players. Per Profootballtalk, it will allow veteran free agents to "go through the same kinds of drills and testing draft prospects go through in Indianapolis, with representatives of all 32 clubs on hand." It's an excellent idea in a league where some players slip through the cracks far too quickly. We wouldn't expect too many players to get deals they otherwise wouldn't through the Combine, but it should help prolong the careers of at least a few worthy cases.

 
I like it. Should be more football to watch and give the guys more exposure. However, teams go by what they see on tape. So much so the combine will only be for medical I assume.

 
Ketamine Dreams said:
"First one to run the 40 yard dash in the inaugural combine for veterans is former Colts running back Trent Richardson!"
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As fun as that would be ... his $3M salary is guaranteed for 2015. There's no point in cutting him unless he's so bad that he's just a waste of a roster spot. Actually, he might be at that combine....

 
Wouldn't it be awesome if they had one of these for every day Joes like you and me?!?! An open combine to any guy that wants to try out. :moneybag: :moneybag:

 
George Jefferson Airplane said:
Another unwatchable NFL offseason product. :X
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I actually think it's brilliant.. .fills an offfseason void (their goal is year-round NFL coverage) and gets the fans involved rooting for the top free agents. For the players, it offers cast-offs prime-time exposure to show they still have stuff left in the tank. NFL gets more TV revenue. Seems like a win/win/win/win. Ingenious idea.

 
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BusterTBronco said:
This is for the scrubs who are borderline to even make an NFL roster. I doubt any of the marquee free agents will participate.
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Yeah, there's nothing but downside risk for the top guys. People know Randall Cobb is pretty fast, but if he shows up and runs a 4.5 there will suddenly be questions about him.

 
BusterTBronco said:
This is for the scrubs who are borderline to even make an NFL roster. I doubt any of the marquee free agents will participate.
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maybe not the very top FAs, but in the wide middle range, if a guy thinks participating will make him more money, i could see a lot of players doing it.
 
I would think this will overall be a pretty solid product. Probably be a lot of sleepers that this board has followed that never really got much of a chance. I don't think the underwear olympics part will be as highly scrutinized as the college version, but it will be an easy way to see if someone has made some extraordinary gains.

My guess is the interview portions will have greater meaning here. These guys will have had a little time to adjust to not being adored college stars (I'm assuming these will be mostly guys 2 or 3 years removed from college), and it might be a little easier to predict which guys have the work ethic and mindset to be solid contributor as a non-star.

And hey, it's at least something tangible to talk about in the off-season. Not saying it's must-see TV or anything.

 
None of the RBs broke 4.75 -- Felix and Leshoure both right around that.

There was no rougher moment Sunday thanMichael Bush raw response to learning that he clocked out at an unofficial 4.91 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

"You gotta be (expletive) me," Bush said. "... 4.91? ... There you go, there goes my career." The free-agent running back knows scouts aren't about to jump at those results, wondering out loud if this was the end, and acknowledging: "It hurts. It hurts."
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I'd have to think seeing it in cold hard #s like that might actually help some of these guys make peace with hanging them up.

 
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I'd love to see more veteran numbers from actual players like Adrian Peterson or Dez Bryant or something. Heck even having accurate weights year over year would be nice.

 
This thing is ugly and there probably isn't a place for it. Whereas the regular combine is guys just starting their careers and where hope blossoms, this thing is where Michael Bush has to watch his career completely shatter in front of his eyes. No one wants to watch something where dreams die.

 
Sabertooth said:
I'd love to see more veteran numbers from actual players like Adrian Peterson or Dez Bryant or something. Heck even having accurate weights year over year would be nice.
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Players who aren't desperate have absolutely no reason to put numbers to themselves like this. No reason to risk injury, no reason to challenge perception. They'd never go for this.

 
ConnSKINS26 said:
Sabertooth said:
I'd love to see more veteran numbers from actual players like Adrian Peterson or Dez Bryant or something. Heck even having accurate weights year over year would be nice.
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Players who aren't desperate have absolutely no reason to put numbers to themselves like this. No reason to risk injury, no reason to challenge perception. They'd never go for this.
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I know. It'd be pretty ####### awesome though. Like having a bench competition for everyone in the league.

 
Bojang0301 said:
This thing is ugly and there probably isn't a place for it. Whereas the regular combine is guys just starting their careers and where hope blossoms, this thing is where Michael Bush has to watch his career completely shatter in front of his eyes. No one wants to watch something where dreams die.
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Yea, following twitter today this all seemed really depressing. They charged those guys $400 to be there too, and paid none of their expenses.

 
Kind of like watching Chris Farley after Kevin Nealon tells him they chose Swayze to be the Chippendale dancer and he kind of starts trying to dance again.

 
Bojang0301 said:
This thing is ugly and there probably isn't a place for it. Whereas the regular combine is guys just starting their careers and where hope blossoms, this thing is where Michael Bush has to watch his career completely shatter in front of his eyes. No one wants to watch something where dreams die.
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I just saw some of the 40 times and read the reports. I don't think this idea will live on too much longer. I didn't know they were showing it on TV.

But really, some of these times make me wonder if guys even trained for it or if the NFL really destroys their bodies that fast.

 
I'm not sure there's a place for this long term. Combine is a young man's event. I'm sure certain positions could see some benefit. This isn't going to turn into the event like the NFL wants it to.

Saddening to hear about Michael Bush's results. Rather depressing that he was attending.

 
There were only taped highlights on NFLN for an hour last night. I legit did not get the impression they were trying to make this an event.

 
I think it'll stick.

I liked the interview point where they said a GM said it'll bring closure. It sure does that for some and we all know players hang on a little too long and kind of look almost sad when the once proud guys are struggling to make a team.

The Army QB playing WR...I imagine everyone is on board with getting guys like that a means to "showoff" their skills for NFL GMs. Played then went into service for their country for two years, in our society I want that commended not being a negative. If the veteran combine doesn't stick then Army needs to have a post-service pro day to continue this idea. Teams sign "camp bodies" all the time. I would totally support the idea of any team adding a former military guy that just got back from service.

The 40 times were terrible but as a result I think vets will test themselves and work on this for next year, if there is one.

Felix Jones...if you don't have speed, that was a giant part of your game.

Mikel Leshoure showed good power and always has. I think he performed as many Lions fans would expect. The power but not the speed to do anything with it after.

Shawne Merriman-who wasn't curious about him post steroid or whatever his deal was

Carriker is a beast and a half with that benchpress. He'll get an invite.

I can't recall the name, an OLB impressed.

Tyler Wilson in link above and others-threw better than he ever has and seemed to fare very well. I think a zillion people said he needs time and could be something someday; well this might be the point where he got that time.

I saw a few FB names with the RBs. Their eh speed is probably OK and not too too slow for FBs. That's probably camp worthy where a summer's worth of work could improve that a couple tenths of a second.

I didn't like the little OL feedback that was presented

It's not like I watch football each Sunday and think how all these guys are fast. Some sure are, but in general the good linemen that do play in the NFL put on pounds as they get older. I wanted to see some agility scores or footwork drills or somesuch from O-linemen. I'd take a relatively slow strong beast of a guy at G if the offense doesn't have him pulling every other down. We watched several teams be decimated last year by not enough depth on the line and little seeming to be available on the waiver-wire. I think this veteran combine could fill a big need here for the NFL.

 
Don't think it'll be a televised event, but having workouts for 100 vets at the owners meetings? That'll stick, I think. Why don't people think it'll stick? Because some running backs ran slow? If 10-15 players get signed before/during training camp, then it's a big win.

The 40 times thing is overblown anyway. These vets didn't spend 20 grand at a combine prep academy. When players can shave 2/10 of a second of their 40 time in a few months prepping for the combine, what happens when they are just playing football? We've heard it from scouts and coaches before, if you ever timed these guys during camp or the season, they'd all run a lot slower.

 
I'm warming up to it a little bit more after the video. I agree with Bri about the Army WR. This may be something that legitimately aids the league in camp bodies but doesn't do anything TV wise.

 
Most people think there's all this time for players to show what they can do in camp and get a coach's attention. After the first string and some of the second string, there really isn't. I remember talking with Ruvell Martin when he was with San Diego. He had less than five snaps with the first unit one summer, did very very well in NFLE, and then the next summer he got more preseason time but only a sprinkling with the first unit. Injuries in SD and then later in GB, almost forced their hand to look at him and give him a try. Anyhow, five snaps....can you imagine?

This is not to say when the third string is in the coach isn't watching but also when you watch practices at camp, sometimes the coach is off talking to his assistants or over by the first string D with his back to the field. It's far less exposure than people imagine.

He told it as James Lofton and him working late after practice when others had cleared the field, the coach came by and watched a few minutes, and then finally the next day the coach wanted to really see what he could do. You're on the team, but ya gotta find a way to get on the coaches radar. All the third stringers are bustin' wanting a job so it's not necessarily hard work. They have to get noticed sometimes and can totally fall under the radar.

 
wdcrob said:
None of the RBs broke 4.75 -- Felix and Leshoure both right around that.

There was no rougher moment Sunday thanMichael Bush raw response to learning that he clocked out at an unofficial 4.91 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

"You gotta be (expletive) me," Bush said. "... 4.91? ... There you go, there goes my career." The free-agent running back knows scouts aren't about to jump at those results, wondering out loud if this was the end, and acknowledging: "It hurts. It hurts."
Click to expand...
I'd have to think seeing it in cold hard #s like that might actually help some of these guys make peace with hanging them up.
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It's amazing to me that he wasn't clocking himself before going to the combine.

 
massraider said:
The 40 times thing is overblown anyway. These vets didn't spend 20 grand at a combine prep academy.
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Considering what it could mean for their career to get re-signed, spending some money to shave your 40 time down seems like the right move. If one of those RBs had run a 4.51, you think teams wouldn't be interested? A vet minimum contract could get these guys $700K.

 
I don't have a huge problem with the $400 attendance fee. It's a lot easier to show up and perform one time then to fly all over the country doing private workouts for interested teams. No reason why the teams couldn't kick in to make this happen though.

Also wouldn't be surprised if guys like Frank Gore aren't running a 4.8 40 these days.

 
Faust said:
Free-agent RB Michael Bush: There goes my career
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What career? He's going to be 31 and hasn't touched the ball since 2013, when he averaged 3.1 yards per carry. He hasn't managed 4.0 yards a carry since 2010.

It does point out that this event is mostly downside for the athletes; it's only guys who aren't on anyone's radar who might hope to spark someone's interest. If people already know what you can do the last thing you want to do is go out there and possibly put up a slow time.

 
Really shows the value of rookies over vets too. NFLPA should be kicking themselves in the head for pissing away rookie contracts.

 
The NFL has finally done it. They have jumped the shark on this one.

They put together an event that is akin to showing the "highlights" of once good/great players, like Joe Namath's final season as he saddened his followers, looking like everyone got the memo except him.

They go up against the NCAA tournament which, while I'm sure means little to most people, to me it was just an illustration of the big bully trying to muscle into yet another sports 15 minutes of fame. The NFL just can't stand for anyone else to get a minute's attention.

They basically made a documentary of how 5-6 years can cripple a man (who is still in his 20's!) and reduce him to a shell of his former self. That oughta encourage kids to go into football.

This product has no place being out there.

If nobody has wanted you for 2 years, please don't prey on their vulnerabilities for your ratings...and charge them to do it.

This is like that old saying a famous HOF coach said "If you can do a thing and it has 8 outcomes...and 7 of those outcomes are bad...don't do it."

 
It sounded like a good idea when I first heard about it. However, I think this is just showing the public what NFL Scouts and GMs already know. These "name" players fall off the talent cliff fast. For the most part, if you can play in the NFL, you're on someone's radar already.

Did any teams even send senior level scouts to this? You have to figure they are busy with Rookie visits and analysis right now.

 
Kool-Aid Larry said:
Bojang0301 said:
Really shows the value of rookies over vets too. NFLPA should be kicking themselves in the head for pissing away rookie contracts.
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how do you mean?
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Most positions and players burn out quickly <3 years. This shows that there is most definitely a deterioration, not that we didn't know that before, of athletic ability. The NFLPA pissed away what was a probably a lot of players one shot to make their best money as rookies in favor of rewarding veterans. I think the amount of vets that get rewarded is minimized and overall salaries are reduced by it. Long story short NFL players < MLB, NBA, NHL as far as treatment and salary.

 
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