Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year from Missouri, was hoping to improve his draft status with his workouts. While he handled himself superbly during media interviews, addressing questions about football and his status as an openly gay player, his polish did not transfer into the drills.
His official 40-yard dash time was a 4.91. Other measurables: 25-1/2-inch vertical leap; 9 feet, 6 inches in the broad jump and 17 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press.
At 6-2 and 261 pounds, Sam isn’t an ideal fit at defensive end and doesn’t have ideal speed at outside linebacker.
As many projected, Sam’s biggest challenge at the Combine wasn’t facing questions regarding his sexuality. It all came down to his workouts. He’ll have another chance at Missouri’s Pro Day to impress, and he’ll need to take full advantage of it.
IYER: TEXANS SHOULD PICK CLOWNEY
Jadeveon Clowney was a dominant football talent deemed for NFL stardom even before his junior year at South Carolina. If he had been eligible for the 2013 draft, he would have topped every team’s boards. So why now before the 2014 draft are we trying so hard to find something wrong with his explosive game?
Just maybe the sizzling 40-yard dash he ran at the NFL Combine on Monday (officially 4.53 seconds) will silence questioners of his effort. Then again, they will point to the fact that after saying he planned to do everything at Combine, he only did the sprint and the two jumps (37.5-inch vertical, broad) — even though a hip-flexor injury should be sufficient reason.
Stop it. This is a 6-5, 266-pound man, the most intimidating pass rusher to enter the league in a long time. He’s made a habit of blowing up opponents in college football’s best conference and stands out on any game tape. That didn't change in the past year. Because he was so great in 2012 (13 sacks), naturally opponents changed their game plan to put all their focus on slowing him down in 2013 (3 sacks).
Clowney came back to school for another season only because the NFL still has an archaic rule about draft eligibility. He was banged up with a variety of injuries throughout that junior season. In that case, he was put in the tough situation of doing everything he could to help the Gamecocks win games (which he did), but not overextend himself with a big NFL payday waiting (which he didn’t).
The perception of “he doesn’t play hard,” fueled by coach Steve Spurrier’s “just OK work ethic” comment , was perpetuated at the Combine when he bench-pressed only 21 reps on Sunday . In reality, like it or not, Clowney’s natural skills are so good, he can afford to take it easy, and that strength is more line with speedy players at his position.
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock prefers Buffalo’s Khalil Mack as an edge-rushing prospect and is worried about some of Clowney’s red flags. But Mayock told reporters Sunday he could care less about what he lifts or runs.
“I already think I know what he is: he’s the scariest, freakiest, physical specimen I’ve ever seen since I’ve been doing this,” Mayock said.
No matter what’s said between now and the draft, the Clowney question will only be put to rest by one thing: the Houston Texans making him the definitive answer at No. 1.
TANNEHILL MOVING PAST SCANDAL
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill says he read only a few pages of the investigative report on the team's bullying scandal, but he's confident the necessary changes will be made to ensure a healthy locker room environment.
Tannehill, a starter since the first game of his rookie season in 2012, said he's ready to help by taking on more leadership.
Speaking Monday at a celebrity golf tournament organized by former Dolphins star Jason Taylor, Tannehill made his first public comments regarding the 144-page report released Feb. 14. Investigators found that guard Richie Incognito and two other offensive linemen engaged in persistent harassment directed at tackle Jonathan Martin, another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer.
"I saw a few pages of it," Tannehill said. "I got overwhelmed by 140-and-whatever pages and skipped it. I'm just glad it's out. The evaluations and summaries have been made, the points have been taken and now we can move forward. There's no more being anxious about it coming out. We've had the consequences and repercussions, and now we can put it in the past and move forward."
The Dolphins fired offensive line coach Jim Turner and longtime head athletic trainer Kevin O'Neill for their roles in the scandal, and coach Joe Philbin pledged to improve the workplace culture.
NFL punishment of players who engaged in harassment may be forthcoming in the form of fines, suspensions or both. Tannehill could find himself playing behind an entirely new line to start the 2014 season.
Even so, he considers fallout from the scandal in the past.
"I think it's behind us at this point," he said. "Obviously we'll try to learn from it and correct things Coach Philbin and the coaching staff feel need to be changed. We want to have a healthy locker room."
SCOTT JOINS CBS’S ‘NFL TODAY’
Bart Scott has been hired as a studio analyst for CBS's "The NFL Today" pregame show.
Scott will join James Brown, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Tony Gonzalez.
The former linebacker was a studio analyst on CBS Sports Network's weekly Sunday pregame show "That Other Pregame Show."
Before joining CBS Sports, Scott played for the Ravens (2002-08) and New York Jets (2009-12).
CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus says that "Bart brings a dynamic personality and unique perspective" to the show.
REPORT: JETS MAY BE INTERESTED IN VICK
Michael Vick wants to be a starting quarterback next season. Thanks to Nick Foles’s breakout performance in 2013, it is unlikely that Vick will get that opportunity in Philadelphia.
But luckily for the free agent, it appears there is a team with an uncertain quarterback situation that might be interested in Vick's services — the New York Jets, according to NFL.com.
While Geno Smith's rookie year was both part entertaining and disappointing, the Jets have shown faith in the young quarterback. While Vick could definitely help Smith become a better quarterback, it would be a hindrance to the franchise to bring in Vick as the starting quarterback. Not because of his past off-the-field issues, but because Smith represents the future for the Jets, or at the very minimum, a potential plan for the future.
The Jets are not in a position to "win now," and bringing in a banged up, aging Vick would indicate that the Jets don't have concrete plans for the future.
Contributors: Rana L. Cash, Vinnie Iyer, The Associated Press
