NFL Draft 2011: Are the Injury Concerns Surrounding Da'Quan Bowers Just Smoke?

You have all heard the saying, "where there's smoke, there's fire," but that saying is not always applicable to the NFL draft process. 

As the draft nears, teams will begin to throw out unbelievable amounts of misinformation in hopes that a prospect they covet will fall to them in the draft. Another plan of attack is to build up a prospect in hopes of a team taking him way too early and allowing a player you truly like to fall. 

Is this what we are seeing with Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers?

Early in the draft process, Bowers was looked at as a top five pick lock and potentially the No. 1 overall pick. My, oh my, how times have changed. 

There are reports that Bowers surgically repaired knee is still a big issue. In fact, some reports out there indicate Bowers could be forced to undergo microfracture surgery which would cost him his entire rookie season. That news will obviously scare away a lot of teams. You don't need to be spending a first-round pick on a guy who could miss his first season. 

While the reports circulate that Bowers stock is drastically dropping, there are people out there with a more level head who understand the draft process and believe this is a smoke screen. 

One scout told Wes Bunting, the thought that Bowers is falling into the mid-first round is ridiculous. He says it’s all about misinformation and he thinks teams that want him outside the top 10 are the ones putting all the info out there.

When draft day finally comes, we will see if this was all smoke, or if there is actually fire. I have a hard time believing a guy who was looked at as a potential first overall pick just a few months ago will fall to the middle of the first round. 

It's unlikely Bowers makes it out of the top 10, even with his injury cloud.