NFL Combine 2012: Adding More Flare to Draft Workout Is Fantastic Idea

The NFL is contemplating spicing up the annual scouting combine, which has to be one of the brightest ideas the league has had in a while. 

According to the New York Times,  Eric Grubman, the executive vice president of NFL ventures and business operations, said that they are entertaining the idea of making big changes to the draft workout, but want to avoid hurting the event overall. 

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We would not want to do something that was just good for television, or just good for the fans, if it were at the expense of either the football evaluation or the players’ preparation. It’s a balancing act. The combine works.

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Some of the changes might include having prospects race side-by-side in the 40-yard dash, as well as a bench-press competition. 

Coaches and scouts may not like the idea, but from the point of view of the fans, this is excellent. While it will put more pressure on the players, that could turn into a good thing. 

These guys are competing for a job. If they have to go up against each other even more than they do already, it should bring out the best in them. They want to win at everything they do, so the intensity will be kicked up a notch for the combine. 

"When you make it interesting, people want to see it,” Grubman said. 

Television ratings are very important, and by adding flare to the NFL Scouting Combine, more people will want to watch. 

The trick is not to focus solely on views, as the importance of the combine is key. The purpose the event serves can't be hindered just for ratings. 

Still, the combine needs to be amped up some, and making it an even bigger competition will help it gain more notoriety.

Some may not like these changes because they're set in their old ways, but switching things up at the combine is a great idea. It will force the players to work harder so they can stand out more, which in turn will make the draft workout better overall.