NFL Combine 2012: Why the Underwear Olympics Matter More Than You Think

While the NFL Scouting Combine may often seem like a ridiculous exercise framed around workouts that really don't test a prospect's ability to actually play football, don't underestimate how important this week's events actually are. 

For many teams this is the first chance they will get to meet the draft's top prospects in person and to size them up, both physically and mentally. While seeing the players strip down to be measured, poked and prodded may seem kind of funny, it actually serves a real purpose. 

First off, seeing what kind of shape a guy is in can tell a team a lot about that player's mentality. Guys who show up to the combine in fantastic shape show that they are taking the process seriously. Guys who don't show a level of immaturity that can turn teams off.

The players also have to sit for interviews and in that time they can win over a team or lose it completely. In today's NFL with so much money thrown at players the minute they enter the league, franchises need to know their rookies can handle the fame, attention and responsibility that goes along with having that kind of cash. 

While most of the drills don't actually tell us anything meaningful about a guy's ability in an actual football game, NFL scouts do use them to generate opinions about players. The thing is, the marquee players are not the guys those drills are designed for. For instance, if a guy runs a great 40-yard dash, it can mean he might be a great return man, etc., so a guy can go from off the board to relevant very quickly.

I think most of the world views the combine as a bit of an overhyped process, but make no mistake, teams take it very seriously. How seriously the players take it could determine where they end up on draft day.