NFL Draft Inanity

I've been following the NFL combine the past few days thanks to NFL Network HD and I must say, it's a total joke. They make such a huge deal out of 3 hundredths of a second in a 40-yd dash like it's the end of the world, then they show a video with competitors superimposed over one another and there's absolutely no discernible difference between a guy running 4.38 and 4.45. Yet because some a-hole scout or talking head harps about it, those 7 hundredths of a second can determine some kid's entire future - even though it's probably immaterial to his ability to succeed in the NFL.

Let's take a look at two separate combine participants, both DBs - Vontae Davis of Illinois (a highly touted, top-of-the-class prospect heading into the draft) and David Bruton of Notre Dame (best case - good NFL special teams player). Here's what SI.com had to say about Davis after yesterday's DB workouts...

Vontae Davis/CB/Illinois: Davis measured 5-foot-11 and 203 pounds upon arriving at the combine then completed 25 reps on the bench, a big number for a cornerback. He was fast Tuesday and clocked both of his 40-yard-dashes in the mid 4.3-second range [ed: he didn't, see below]. Davis then showed a lot of skill during defensive back drills, displaying the ability to quickly backpedal and flip his hips. NFL scouts still have questions about his character but Davis cemented himself as one of the most physically gifted cornerbacks available in April's draft.

And here's what they had to say about Bruton...

...

Yeah, nothing at all on Bruton. Now let's take a look at how they actually performed in the combine, courtesy of NFL.com (DNP = Did Not Place in NFL.com's top performers list).

40-yd Dash: Bruton 4.46, Davis 4.49
Bench Press: Davis 25, Bruton DNP
Vertical Jump: Bruton 41.5, Davis DNP
Broad Jump: Bruton 11'0", Davis DNP
3-cone Drill: Bruton 6.60, Davis 6.75
20-yd Shuttle: Davis 4.07, Bruton DNP
60-yd Shuttle: Bruton 10.96, Davis DNP

Bruton consistently outperformed Davis and got zero credit. The knock on Bruton is that he's too big (believe it or not) and can't keep up with wide receivers. Yet Bruton's results consistently matched, or were better than, the top wide receiver and tight end participants - the very people he will be going up against on future Sundays.

The NFL combine is a freaking merciless meat market. All your past accolades during actual competition are ignored, which is ridiculous. If you come in with high expectations, people are just looking to tear you down. If you come in with low expectations, you're more than likely to leave with the same. It's a place where reputations are very easily destroyed, but rarely made. And it does a discredit to anyone participating by throwing out years of evidence about their ability to succeed and replacing that with 2 hours of under-the-microscope analysis.