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2012 NFL Draft Rumor Thread

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My only concern about the whole RG3 thing is towards the end of the season, RG3 was widely considered around the 10th best player on the board. I don't know if anybody heard Heckert say it, but he said that the board is "pretty much finished" before the combine and all of that. I hope that doesn't mean that they had RG3 evaluated in early January.
 
My only concern about the whole RG3 thing is towards the end of the season, RG3 was widely considered around the 10th best player on the board. I don't know if anybody heard Heckert say it, but he said that the board is "pretty much finished" before the combine and all of that. I hope that doesn't mean that they had RG3 evaluated in early January.

What else do they really have to evaluate him on?

He's going to run a 40, throw without pads on, and go through interviews. They've seen his game tape which weighs much more into the decision to see a guy going in pads and in real game situations.
 
The 10th best player on the board according to talking heads at ESPN?

We have no idea what Heckerts board looks like.

My guess is that he's pretty high on the list.
 
What else do they really have to evaluate him on?

He's going to run a 40, throw without pads on, and go through interviews. They've seen his game tape which weighs much more into the decision to see a guy going in pads and in real game situations.

Well, how many guys get hired to a workplace without going through a physical and interview? Kind of important.
 
The 10th best player on the board according to talking heads at ESPN?

We have no idea what Heckerts board looks like.

My guess is that he's pretty high on the list.

Cam Newton was probably the 10th best player on the board at the end of last year too.
 
Jamison Hensley @ ESPN.com said:
Wake-up call: Browns open to trading up - Feb. 24th 7:30AM

Head coach Pat Shurmur said the Browns are "open to anything" when asked about trading up to the Rams' No. 2 spot.

"Yeah, we’re willing [to trade]," Shurmur said Thursday at the NFL combine, via the Akron Beacon Journal. "With two first-round picks, we have flexibility. We can just stand pat and take two really fine players [in the first round], guys that we would hope to be starters for us. Having two first-round picks, you have flexibility if you want to do something.”

The Browns would presumably trade up from fourth overall to select Robert Griffin III. The team is scheduled to meet with the Baylor quarterback tonight.

“We try to find out as much as we can about the player,” Shurmur said. “How smart he is, how well he might learn, how he might react to adversity.”

Browns general manager Tom Heckert will miss the combine with an illness, which is not considered serious, a source told the Plain Dealer of Cleveland. He will participate in some player interviews via Skype.

Hensley's slant: I believe if the Browns want to move up to draft RG3, the Rams would be willing to make that trade because they would only fall back to the fourth overall pick. The top wide receiver (Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon) or offensive tackle (USC's Matt Kalil) will be available at No. 4 for St. Louis, which needs help at both positions. If the Browns are sold on RG3 as their franchise quarterback, this trade would be a win-win for both teams.

Hoping all goes well, and some beat reporters get a feel for what the Browns think.
 
Might be a stupid question, but is the measurement with shoes or without?
 
NFL.com - The Browns, who own two first-round draft picks, won't be afraid to make trades on Draft Day.

"I wouldn't say we're hesitant to do anything," coach Pat Shurmur said. "We're excited about the fact that we're going to make our team better with this draft, and I think that's the way we approach it. We're not hesitant at all.

"I think we're willing (to move up). With two first-round picks (Nos. 4 and 22), we have flexibility. We can just stand pat and take two really fine players, guys that we hope would be starters for us. And then, obviously with two first-round picks, you have flexibility if you want to do something
Read more: http://football.realgm.com/src_wire...d_willing_to_deal_on_draft_day/#ixzz1nKATwn87
 
NFL considers head-to-head races at Scouting Combine

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 24, 2012, 12:20 PM EST

The NFL Scouting Combine may soon resemble a track meet, as the league is considering changes to make the Combine more competitive and viewer friendly.


Judy Battista of the New York Times reports that the NFL is considering major changes to the Combine in the future, including having head-to-head races in the 40-yard dash. With the Combine becoming important programming for NFL Network, and with the NFL now letting a small group of fans into the stadium to watch, the league is considering ways to make the Combine more fan-friendly by making it more competitive.

As it stands, players have plenty of incentive to do well in the 40-yard dash, the bench press and other Combine measurements because they know NFL teams will be using those measurements to assess them. But football players are competitive people, and it might add to the incentive to push themselves if they have the opportunity to prove that they’re the fastest or the strongest man at the Combine.

The NFL could, for instance, time players as usual in the 40-yard dash and then have a final race among the five players with the fastest times. Or it could assess every lineman in the bench press, and then bring back the top two and have them bench press simultaneously to see who can crank out more reps at 225 pounds for the title of strongest man at the Combine.

Unsurprisingly, plenty of personnel executives who have grown accustomed to the way the Combine works now don’t like the new proposals.

“I’m old school,” 49ers G.M. Trent Baalke said. “Let’s just roll with how we’re doing it.”

Maybe this makes me new school, but I love the idea of adding some competition to the Combine. Heck, having grown up watching guys like Renaldo Nehemiah, Herschel Walker and Willie Gault compete in the Superstars, I’d love to see them go all-out and add an obstacle course for the running backs and a tug-of-war for the linemen.

That’s not going to happen. But a head-to-head competition in the 40-yard dash might.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...iders-head-to-head-races-at-scouting-combine/

Offhand, I think it's absolutely ridiculous. Yet, I would kind of like to see who's the fastest. Even though it has no bearing on how good of a player they may be. In practice though, it would probably be a joke and invite more opportunities for injury.
 
There is serious depth at the wideouts position. There's a good mixture of speed + size/quickness guys who can be had with the Browns #37 pick. There will a big time run on them in the second round.
 
Robert Griffin III wins the press conference

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on February 24, 2012, 2:23 PM EST

AP
Robert Griffin III stepped up to the podium at the Combine Friday, surveyed the massive throng of reporters getting in position, and whispered under his breath, “It’s really official now.”

With a microphone nearby, even that comment was audible to those in the front few rows. Everything Griffin says and does over the next decade is going to be scrutinized. It’s hard to imagine another young man more ready for the responsibility.

It’s only a press conference, but Griffin couldn’t have been more impressive, comfortable, intelligent, and funny on Friday. Press conferences are part of the gig to being an NFL quarterback. Teams like the Browns, Redskins, and Dolphins have to be excited about trying to make Griffin the face of their franchise.

“I hope somebody falls in love with me — other than my fiancée,” Griffin said when asked about the Browns possibly “falling in love” with him.

Some highlights from the session:

1. Griffin won’t throw at the Combine, just his Pro Day.

2. He wore Ninja Turtle socks Friday. Naturally.

3. On playing a lot of out of the shotgun: “It’s not the traditional spread where we’re playing out of shotgun all the time. Although we are in shotgun a lot. So was Tom Brady and Eli Manning in the Super Bowl, but that’s beside the point.”

4. The Eagles met with Griffin Thursday night. He will meet with the Chiefs and Browns Friday night. He mentioned the Browns and Redskins as West Coast offenses he could fit in. Griffin said it would be “an honor to play the Browns.”

5. On possibly playing for the Colts: “I’ve talked to Peyton a few times. It’d be amazing for him to play out his career here — and to play behind him. . . . It would be an honor to sit back and learn. I’d hold that clipboard with pride.”

6. On suggestions the Baylor offense is simple: “I’d like to sit down with those folks and show how simple it is. It’s not a simple offense. It’s a great offense. It’s a quarterback friendly offense, but simple would not be the word to describe it.”
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/24/robert-griffin-iii-wins-the-press-conference/

Really making himself a tempting target. I know it's just for the money, but it's hard not to appreciate that he said it.


Justin Blackmon won’t run at combine

Posted by Josh Alper on February 24, 2012, 2:12 PM EST

Getty Images
The big question about Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon’s ability to thrive at the professional level is his speed.

Blackmon, projected to be the first receiver off the board, said Friday that he is planning to eliminate that concern.

“I know I’m not slow,” Blackmon said, via Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. “I’m hoping to shock a few people.”

He just won’t be shocking anyone at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this weekend. Although Blackmon said previously that he would do everything in Indy, he changed course on Friday and announced he won’t run a 40-yard dash. Blackmon cited a hamstring injury for his decision, but there’s another good reason for his decision to wait a bit longer to display his speed.

He’ll run his 40 at the Oklahoma State Pro Day on March 7th instead, a move that should pay off for him thanks to the differences in the two tracks. Indy’s track is slower than the one in Stillwater — 49ers running back Kendall Hunter posted a much better time at the college’s track last year — and that should pay off for Blackmon in a better result.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/24/justin-blackmon-wont-run-at-combine/

If you know you're going to be fast, then you should run.
 

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