OT- NFL to host Veteran Players Combine

Submitted by EastCoast Esq. on

As the title says, the NFL will hold a Veteran Combine. This will happen in March. Players will have to apply for the combine, and about 100 will be selected.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12172630/nfl-hold-combine-veteran-free-agents

I think this is a win-win. Free agent veterans get to work out for all interested teams at once, NFL teams get to directly compare the veterans to each other, and the fans get something to watch. Also, because it is self-selecting, it will really serve as an opportunity for veterans who might otherwise be overlooked.

HANCOCK

January 15th, 2015 at 4:51 PM ^

if nothing else, this could be a very interesting thing to study. how will the combine impact the money particular players end up getting? how much value will teams put into these numbers? how will players age (their pre-draft combine numbers compared to their free agency numbers)? 

 

i dont know too much about the process NFL teams use to workout free agents and maybe they already use 40 yard dash times/shuttle times/broad jumps/bench jumps/etc. but i kinda doubt it since free agents arent going to camps to train for their workouts like they do with the draft...i wonder if this will impact the kind of playing shape free agent players get into physically for their upcoming seasons

baorao

January 15th, 2015 at 8:58 PM ^

to watch NFL teams ignore game tape and once again be impressed by the straight line speed of the Darius Heyward-Beys of the free agent market.

USMC 1371

January 16th, 2015 at 8:26 AM ^

I'm surprised these drills never change. I'd be more interested how many times a lineman can dead lift 405 than benching 225. I'd also like to see how fast someone is in a 10 or 20 yard dash than 40 yards. Do they really care how high a center can jump?

EastCoast Esq.

January 16th, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^

I agree with you to an extent. You have to imagine that, as we go through time, more sophisticated performance measures have been invented. That said, the NFL approaches change like an infant -- crying, kicking, and screaming.

One thing I'll note on the 40 yard dash, though...I know it is measured in increments, so they can see how a player is accelerating.

Here's an article with information on the different drills (just Googled it):

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-02-19/sports/0902190063_1_tier-first-cone-third-cone

USMC 1371

January 16th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^

Thanks, good info. That clears thing up as far as for speed testing. I do however disagree with the bench for core strength. I have been training for many years and done strength competitions. Of the squat,dead and bench I would say the bench is the last I would judge someone's strength by. I don't ever remember the bench press involved in the worlds strongest man competition.