NFL Combine 2011: 10 Players Who Will Consider Giving It a Pass
The 2010 NFL season has come to a close, and now the anticipation for offseason activities begins. Trade rumors, the coaching carousel and the NFL Draft will be topics of discussion for the next few months.
The 2011 NFL Scouting Combine will be held February 23rd to March 1st.
The list of invited players was recently released. Some players take advantage of the opportunity to help their stock in the upcoming draft. However, others may be better off passing on the combine.
Here are 10 players who will consider backing out of the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.
10: Von Miller
1 of 10
Von Miller's stock has been skyrocketing recently. In many mock drafts he has surpassed UCLA's Akeem Ayers as the top linebacker in the draft. Some mocks even have him going as high as fifth overall to the Arizona Cardinals.
Miller is quite the physical specimen, so if he does participate it likely won't hurt his stock. Participating won't likely help Miller too much, though. This alone should cause Miller to question whether or not he should participate.
9: Cam Newton
2 of 10
Cam Newton should and needs to participate in the combine. I can't think of any player that could benefit more from the opportunity than Newton.
However, this won't change the fact that Newton will probably consider dropping out. Why? His attitude. Newton seems to think he is perfect. He lets his twitter followers know all the time.
During the Super Bowl alone Newton tweeted:
@CameronNewton Aaron Rodgers look like me on that throw...
@CameronNewton They call him "Big Ben" but he weak tho...
This could be way off, but I'm thinking Newton thinks he doesn't need to show what he has at the combine. His tape should show it all. Or maybe he wants to prove just how awesome he is.
8: Mark Ingram
3 of 10
There is no question that Alabama's Mark Ingram is the top running back in this year's draft as the class is weaker than usual at the position.
Unfortunately for Ingram, there is no dire need for running backs until the Miami Dolphins' pick at No. 15. This is likely where he will go.
Ingram is a great running back, but he isn't going to wow anybody at the combine with his speed or agility. Participating may actually produce more questions than answers. Ingram should understand the situation and back out, content as the 15th-overall pick.
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7: Ryan Mallett
4 of 10
Between now and April 28th, Ryan Mallett's stock could fluctuate anywhere between the fourth quarterback and the top quarterback in this year's draft. Right now, many view him in that fourth slot, and for that reason, Mallett obviously needs to work out.
The combine may not be the best place for that. He could participate in some of the events there like the cone drill, 40-yard dash, and the shuttle, but he may want to consider waiting for Arkansas' Pro Day to throw the ball.
He needs to make sure that he looks his best, which may mean skipping some events during the combine.
6: Cameron Heyward
5 of 10
Cameron Heyward is a great football player. He isn't the greatest athlete.
Heyward's current projection is somewhere in the late first-round. If he participates in the combine, I can see him falling to the middle of the second-round.
His 40-yard-dash time is not going to impress. He is going to be in the middle of the pack in most of the drills and nothing he can do is going to make him stand out and help his stock.
5: Ryan Kerrigan
6 of 10
Another version of Heyward, just with a little more to lose, Kerrigan is one of the highest-rated defensive ends in the draft class. However, like Heyward, Kerrigan is not the best physical specimen.
I can't see the combine doing anything but hurting Kerrigan. He will be compared to the top defensive ends and he will not outperform them in any category.
Kerrigan and Heyward both need to focus on showing their stuff during their respective team's Pro Days where they can really focus on their strengths.
5: Patrick Peterson
7 of 10
Patrick Peterson is a top-five pick in almost every mock draft out there. His placement ranges from two to five, but he is in the top five no matter what.
Being the top corner in the class, he has very little to gain and possibly a lot to lose.
If he runs a 40-yard-dash time a little slower than expected, or his high jump falls a few inches short of the projection, it could really hurt his stock.
Not participating leaves Peterson with the best opportunity to get drafted in the top five.
3: A.J. Green
8 of 10
A.J. Green has absolutely nothing to gain. 90 percent of the mock drafts have him going fourth overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. The lowest I have seen Green going is sixth overall to the Browns.
Why shouldn't he participate? It will be nearly impossible for Green to get his stock any higher than fourth overall. The Panthers, Broncos and Bills have much more important needs to address than a wide receiver.
Green is expected to run a 4.4 40-yard dash. Imagine he runs a 4.55. Suddenly he could drop because teams will be concerned. Now imagine he runs a 4.35. The result has basically no effect on his stock.
Nothing to gain, everything to lose. Sounds like a formula to drop out to me.
2: Jake Locker
9 of 10
Jake Locker can't take any chances. He and Cam Newton are currently a toss-up for the second quarterback to be drafted. There is absolutely no way that Locker is going to outperform Newton in any category—with the possible exception of throwing drills.
Since this is the case, Locker needs to skip the combine and just wait until his Pro Day. This puts him in a comfortable environment with the best chance to succeed.
Locker's best opportunity to oust Newton will come when throwing the ball. Having receivers he is used to will be vital for Locker.
1: Blaine Gabbert
10 of 10
If you were going to be the top quarterback in a draft class would you do anything to jeopardize that? No, and Blaine Gabbert shouldn't either.
Like Locker, Gabbert should wait until his Pro Day to participate in any drills. It's more important for quarterbacks than any other position because they have to rely on the players around them to perform.
Gabbert needs to stay in his comfort zone and cement himself as the top quarterback in the draft class.
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