Texas DE Brian Robison is looking like a workout warrior, tying the Combine high with a 40.5 inch vertical leap. He also ran an unofficial 4.66 forty, leading group 8 on the first run through. He could be threatening to move into the first day of the draft.

The rest of the top five of group eight unofficially...

2. Jarvis Moss - 4.68
3. Anthony Spencer - 4.73
4. Charles Johnson - 4.81
5. Quentin Moses - 4.82

Continue reading "Robi$on" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today is all about defense. There are 50 defensive lineman and plenty of linebackers working out today.

The first half of the linemen have run and the official top ten forty times are in.

Clemson DE Gaines Adams locked himself into the top ten with a scorching 4.64, with a 1.57 ten-yard split.. He's only 258 pounds so he will work out later as a linebacker as well. Michigan DT Alan Branch ran a 5.04 with a 1.72 ten-yard split, which is great for a 6'5, 320-pound+ player. Unofficially, the NFL Network had Georgia's DE Quentin Moses with a disappointing 4.82.

Here are the rest of the official top ten after Adams ...

Continue reading "Monday morning runs" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Eating brunch alone, on a break from 'work', reading our baseball annual while the hipsters on each side regaled each other with tales of Saturday night, I couldn't help wondering how many of these dorky obsessed Sundays are in my future. I can imagine my boss Rick thinking, "Plenty, I hope." My wedding is about two months away, and with it, possibly something closer to balance on these gray winter days. We'll see.

Back to the men in shorts. I wrote earlier that Sidney Rice's forty time did him no favors. But this report indicates he had a great day catching the football. Perhaps the first round isn't out of reach after all. That second tier of wideouts will be fascinating to watch.

Continue reading "Rice Redux" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I need to grab a bite to eat for a while before my brain explodes, but here were the first unofficial times from the running backs before I go. Adrian Peterson ensured himself some money today. He ran an unofficial 4.38 forty.

Other unofficial interesting running back times: Rutgers FB/RB Brian Leonard ran a 4.49, Florida State RB Lorenzo Booker was at 4.45, Antonio Pittman ran at 4.44, Notre Dame RB Darius Walker was at 4.57, and Cal product Marshawn Lynch was at 4.52. Arizona's Chris Henry was tops thus far at 4.33. Again, all the times are unofficial.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A few remaining numbers I thought were interesting this morning...

Michigan State QB Drew Stanton ran in a 4.74 unofficially. His athleticism could set him apart in his quest to be the third quarterback drafted in April.

Fresno WR Paul Williams continued a strong post-season, running a 4.44. The Patriots need a wideout and love Fresno players because of the connection to coach Pat Hill. Don't be surprised if they draft Williams or CB Marcus McCauley, another Bulldog with good size.

Continue reading "Odds and Ends" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not every story from the Combine can be a happy one.

South Carolina's Sidney Rice ran a 4.51 unofficially. He runs nice routes, has good body control, and has good hands and size (6'3), but there were questions about his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. This didn't quiet those concerns at 200 pounds. He could have a hard time getting into the first round.

Clemson's Chansi Stuckey is supposed to be a vertical threat, but ran a 4.61 unofficially. He's had a poor post-season showing, including the Senior Bowl.

New Hampshire record setter David Ball dropped balls all over the place in drills.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two players who really boosted their draft stock today were USC wideout Steve Smith and Tennessee WR Robert Meachem. Unofficially, NFL Network had Smith running a 4.37 and Meachem running a 4.36. (Update: later, NFL amended the numbers to 4.39 for Meachem and 4.44 for Smith).

Continue reading "Big day for Smith, Meachem" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The official times from the first group of wideouts is up.

Other than Jason Hill, I think one player that helped himself was Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio State. He's a lightweight guy at 193 pounds, so 4.4 speed is important. He's also known as a very heady player who knows how to get open and fits the "possession" receiver mold. This show of long speed is proof he could be more than a slot guy in the pros.

David Clowny of Virginia Tech ran a 4.36, helping his stock.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Eagles have extended A.J. Feeley's contract through 2010. Jeff Garcia will certainly enter free agency now, and probably won't be excited about the interest he gets from around the league. Tampa and Denver look like possibilities.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dawan Moore of Oklahoma just made the best catch I've ever seen at the Combine: A one handed grab running at full speed over his shoulder. He palmed the ball, squeezing it immediatley like it was a Nerf.

I'm done with morning news and going to catch up with the Combine events of the day. Some risers at receiver because of their forty times.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)