2012 NFL Combine: Breaking Down the Evolution of Overrated Event

Make no mistake about it, the NFL Scouting Combine is very much of an overrated event.

However, for once, being overrated is a good thing.

NFL teams go to the combine knowing they can put numbers next to names and get a better idea of exactly what they're dealing with. Some teams are enamored with a fantastic 40 time or overall display of athleticism, but most teams know how to keep their excitement in check.

The combine is just one of many factors that determines draft stock for NFL teams.

The combine is overrated solely because of fan interest.

The increased amount of coverage that bombards Indianapolis—again, a good thing—has turned the NFL combine into the monster it is today. The teams don't care who is watching, but fans, who are desperate for anything football related, can't get enough of it.

This event used to just be for scouts, coaches and personnel executives. Fans hardly knew or cared about draft prospects until they were actually drafted, let alone what their workout times and measurements were two months prior.

In recent years we've seen an increase in fan interest at every level of football. The amount of interactive media now available almost makes it feel like you are at the event even if you are thousands of miles away.

You could be living Miami and still find a player's height, weight, 40 time, vertical jump, etc., three seconds after it is recorded.

Writers, Internet bloggers and private scouts alike use any all means of social media to push their brand and knowledge because fans eat it up. Like the rise of fantasy football in the past two decades, everybody wants a crack at being a general manager, and those with access easily take advantage of it.

That includes the NFL itself.

Not only can you watch the event live on NFL Network, but can watch from multiple cameras on NFL.com as well.

The combine didn't evolve for its own sake—it serves its purpose regardless of coverage—it evolved because of demand. 

Fans simply want to watch football whenever they can. This is why the draft is a three-day extravaganza that includes two nights of prime-time television. It was only a few years ago that the draft was a two-day marathon experienced only by the draftniks and hardcore fans on a Saturday-Sunday schedule.

Much like the draft, the combine is simply another dose of that football fix fans desperately crave. It hasn't even been 20 days since the New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI, but fans of the other 31 teams cannot wait to get back on the field.

The combine isn't overrated for the wrong reasons. Fans may get extremely excited about a particular player, but they're not making decisions for the teams. NFL personnel know what they're in Indianapolis for and, for the most part, they know how to do their jobs.

An offseason event being "overrated" because of fan interest isn't a problem the NFL is worried about. In fact, it isn't a problem at all.