Andrew Luck: Why Stanford QB Will Regret 2012 NFL Combine Decision

I give Andrew Luck brownie points for wanting to prove himself. But brownie points and accolades mean nothing at the NFL combine, and nothing good will come from Andrew Luck deciding to participate. 

Andrew Luck is the No. 1 overall draft selection right now. Nothing he can do will guarantee that more, or make it more true. That fact is stuck on a loop, and we are all forced to receive that fact in every last mock draft we are hit with. 

Luck can only hurt his stock from here until draft day, and he has already made his first mistake. CBS Sports had a full list of the NFL Combine participants, and Luck was among them. 

There is no telling if Luck will choose to throw at the combine, but even that doesn't matter at this moment. 

The only workout that Luck should be looking forward to is a Pro Day with his own receivers and in his own comfort zone. 

Robert Griffin III

The 40-yard times and power numbers can only hurt Luck going forward. Let's say that Robert Griffin III slays the combine, which he could. He has amazing speed and tremendous arm strength. 

Griffin has every opportunity to rule the day at the combine. With a solid pro day, Griffin may actually move a few spots up and really put the pressure on the Colts as to which quarterback they want to take. 

The combine takes place at the end of this month. That gives the Colts and Jim Irsay the perfect opportunity to see once and for all if Andrew Luck is their man. 

Peyton Manning

The question that everyone wants answered from now until March 8th is where Peyton Manning will end up. 

The deadline looms for owner Jim Irsay to pay Manning a $28 million option bonus. Many believe that the end is near for Manning in a Colts jersey. 

There is no way that Irsay spends that much money if he has a much cheaper and much younger talent in the queue. 

Luck gives the Colts a guaranteed NFL-ready quarterback, and there is no doubting that. But the what if that we haven't fully appreciated is what happens if Peyton Manning stays. 

Irsay may come away from private throwing sessions with Manning and feel all the more confident that Peyton has a few more years of fantastic football play. Perhaps he wants to give the ol' boy a shot at keeping his legacy intact. 

They are big ifs, but they become more certain under the scrutiny of the combine. This is a workout that is designed to dissect every single athlete to their bare essentials. Luck will need a huge day to match the expectations he comes in with. 

If he falters and Griffin shines, Irsay would have the perfect quarterback that is content to learn from Manning and sit in the bullpen for a couple of seasons in RG3. 

Andrew Luck is the No. 1 overall selection at this very moment. If he ever gets knocked from that precipice, it will be because of his decision to participate in the combine. 

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