FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has grown accustomed to an annual moment of comic relief during the pre-draft private workout circuit.
As Dimitroff and a cast of about 10 to 12 other Falcons team evaluators make the college rounds to dissect offensive and defensive linemen, there are times when a 225-pound assistant coach in the group has to hold a heavy bag as a 320-plus-pound offensive lineman thrusts all his weight toward the bag.
“And it's funny every year -- there is an assistant holding that bag who is ass over teakettle,” Dimitroff said of watching one of his staff members tumble to the ground.