Todd Gurley Refuses Medical Check at NFL Combine

Todd Gurley's knee is going to be one of the key focal points at this weekend's NFL Scouting Combine, but the former Georgia star is reportedly keeping it under wraps. 

According to NFL.com's Michael Silver, Gurley didn't allow doctors at the combine in Indianapolis examine his right knee:

However, per Bryan Broaddus of the Dallas Cowboys' website, Gurley's stance is common because of how aggressively doctors tend to get with these examinations:

ESPN's Chris Mortensen provided comments from Dr. James Andrew, who performed Gurley's surgery:

"

I heard some fuss that Gurley wouldn't let teams examine him and that's just totally misleading," said Andrews. "The team physicians I have spoken with who are there -- and I have spoken to a bunch of them -- were all happy about what they saw. I mean, they're smart enough to know you can't have 32 teams pulling and tugging on a knee just 3½ months removed from surgery. But the doctors I spoke with said he looked great and I'd say he's probably six weeks ahead with his recovery.

[...]

Gurley's quad muscle is way ahead of what you would expect even at this stage and that's vital to a good recovery, as you know," said Andrews.

"

Silver added more from Gurley's perspective:

In case you are wondering how physical doctors get with these exams, Rutgers tight end Tyler Kroft was in Indianapolis prepared to take part in drills this weekend. That got derailed, as reported by Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, after waking up on Friday with a swollen ankle from the doctors "poking and prodding."

Raanan's report also notes Kroft did suffer a sprained ankle in Rutgers' bowl game against North Carolina on December 26, but with nearly two full months to heal, the tight end was ready to start the next phase of his career. 

Gurley is in an even more tenuous position because he's rehabbing a torn ACL that he had surgically repaired less than three months ago. As long as teams are able to see his rehab, speak to doctors about the recovery and look at his medicals, no one is going to worry about not being examined at the combine. 

The former Bulldogs running back is going to be one of the most intriguing draft-day prospects to watch. His talent before the injury suggested a player who deserves to be taken in the first round, but the injury could make him one of the best value picks if he falls out of the top 32.