The NFL Combines concluded this week and like every year around this time, we are left with more questions than answers. The journey a big time college player makes from campus hero to NFL Sideline walker (for the most part) is a long, strange one. In January many of these players were heroes. Beloved by their teammates, campus, and hometowns after capturing an elusive bowl win, but by February those same heroes are nothing more than pieces of meat in a glorified auction. For days, college football's best players are poked, prodded, drilled, tested, chopped up and put into a blender all the while self proclaimed experts are deciding the fate of many football players before they even strap on an NFL unit. Every year there are players who jump their stock and drop their stock in Indianapolis and this year is no different. According to the experts, Jake Long from Michigan, Vernon Gholston from THE Ohio State University, and Matt Ryan of Boston College had the best possible workouts. All three players will probably find themselves in the top 5 in this year's NFL draft.

     What always gets me, however, are the players who spent 6 months dominating college football's landscape only to see themselves fall out of the top 10, 25, or even first round because of a 4 day workout that measures a football player's ability to take physical and mental standardized tests, nothing more. Darren McFadden for example appeared to be a top pick coming into this year's draft, maybe even THE top pick. After a "Sub Par" work out, McFadden is slated to fall out of the top 5. Now I know that may seem like much, but anyone who watched Razorback football this year can tell you that no running back in the last 10 years or so will be coming into the NFL with a bigger upside. Production, versatility, explosiveness. Run DMC is a better prospect than Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson and will (you heard) outgain AD this season in both yards and touchdowns.

     The Draft is the same as the SAT. It simply measures your ability to do X amount of tasks in Y amount of time. In no way shape or form does it measure a PLAYers ability to PLAY (emphasis added). Remember Mike Mamula? A combine freak. Never latched on in the NFL. Kyle Boller-A combine wonder kid. He lost his job to a QB who could be collecting retirement. Vernon Davis? Two years in and that nasty B word is floating around his head. What about Zach Thomas? Not even invited to the combines and I'd say he has done all right in his run in the NFL.

      Tom Brady. Ever heard of him? He didn't wow anyone in the combines (evident in his 6th round pick). The fact is, I can go on and on with players who did well at the combines and busted, and those that didn't do well and flourished. The point I am trying to make, however, is that the doubters out there that will measure DMac's lack of prowess at the combine as a reason not to take him (I'm looking at you Miami) need to look back at the last three years of college football and ask yourselves "Does a guy like this come around a lot?". The answer should put an end to your "Who do we take?" debate.