Oakland Raiders: This Is a Test

It comes as no surprise that NFL players have to pass several tests in order to qualify for participation with the Oakland Raiders and other NFL teams. The tests include measures of physical and mental fitness or proficiencies.

The NFL Scouting Combine is held in Florida in February, and it's almost time for the 2010 event. College football players who hoped to join the NFL are invited to this camp to perform various tasks before NFL coaches and others.

The list of exercises and tests include:

• 40-yard dash
• Bench press (225lb repetitions)
• Vertical jump
• Broad jump
• 20 yard shuttle
• 3 cone drill
• 60-yard shuttle
• Position-specific drills
• Interviews — each team is allowed 60 interviews in 15-minute intervals
• Physical measurements
• Injury evaluation
• Drug screen
• The Cybex test
• The Wonderlic Test

Here is the question: Once the players pass all the tests and begin to play for a team, are there interim tests, scheduled throughout their career to determine if the players maintained their physical and mental fitness?

Are these tests administered periodically during off-season, since there may be great temptations to get "out of shape" during those leisure moments?

Are the results of those tests public information?

Why is this question being asked?

There have been articles suggesting that some players are too fat, not smart enough for a position on the Raiders team, and so on. These types of comments have been made about JaMarcus Russell, for example.

Well, if these rumors continue, it just makes sense to submit the players to these tests, again, to determine if they have maintained a desired level of fitness, both in the physical and mental domain.

The theme of this article is "this is a test" and as you know, most people don't like tests! And, how many of you like pop quizzes?

I think all of us are in  agreement that some things need to change. Administering physical, mental, and drug tests throughout the year, and make them "surprise pop quizzes" just might put some of the NFL players on notice.

What do you think?

We are looking for a true commitment to excellence in this decade. So, get ready, get prepared because a suggestion is being set forth: administer more tests before and throughout the 2010 season.