The Film Doesn't Lie

With the exception of one activity, the Annual NFL Combine is a complete waste of time, energy and expenditures. The only worthwhile event/activity in Indianapolis on a yearly basis? The ability to sit down with and interview prospective draftable candidates. You can actually find out a thing or two about a person when you sit down with him, one on one, and interact and interview him. See how he reacts, see how mature and mentally-competent his is. Find out the type of person you're dealing with. Read his facial expressions and non-verbal messages. They will tell you a ton. Character, character, character. Or lack thereof.......

Throw out anything and everything that happens during the on-field testing and within the framework of the Underwear Olympics. Why? How close are those testing conditions to what actually transpires and happens during the course of a NFL game? When do you get to run 40 yards, straight-ahead, untouched? How many throws does a QB get to make untested and without pressure? How many times do they call time out, plop bench press equipment in the middle of the field and ask players/participants to throw up 225 pounds as many times as they can? Agility drills are probably the most-telling, but nothing tops the isolated interview with team brass. In a nutshell, the NFL Combine equals a gigantic waste of time. Nothing should scare teams more than the one, two or three players who perform off the charts in Indy. Tempting and impressive as the performances may be, what does the game tape say or show?

See, nothing, absolutely nothing, trumps the accumulated, depending on how many playing years the player has actually logged in the collegiate environment, game tape. It's here, and only here, where you deduce consistency and intensity. You also get to measure it against level of competition. Week in and week out, does the Draft prospect go against top-notch competition or does every other week involve dominating a marshmellow or third-tier body in a uniform? Folks, it matters. Not to dismiss any other collegiate conference, but give me a kid, regardless of position played that squares off against SEC competition every week. They are the athletes of the athletes; the fastest, the strongest, and the nastiest of D-1 competition. What does the tape show and say?

The Dallas Cowboys are no different than all the other 31 NFL teams. Football players. That's all you're looking for. Good, quality, fundamentally-sound football players. Nasty dispositions. Guys that don't stop until the whistle blows. Guys that HATE to get beat on blocks, routes or scoreboards. Give me guys who can't sleep for a week after losses. Give me guys and leaders who can transcend others and lift their play. Give me guys who can motivate others and kick butts when butts need to be kicked. And there is only one other factor that must be examined with a fine-tooth comb and microscope.

CHARACTER.Off the field character and maturity (or lack thereof). There's not a better poster child in this year's Draft than North Alabama's (former Florida Gator) CB, Janoris Jenkins. If teams only watched the game tapes, you would see steller games and efforts against the likes of NFL stalwarts and up-and-comers, Cincinnati's AJ Green and Atlanta's Julio Jones. Jenkins owned both these talents when he was the Florida Gators' starting CB. Absolutely stoned each and held each to minimal production. All fine and dandy, but then Janoris Jenkins decided to be Janoris Jenkins, knuckle-head, immature and terrible decision-maker. His off-the-field decisions about life in general are absolutely miserable. As a Coach, Head or Position, do you really want to mess with that sort of baggage. All employers would like to think the personal life can be left at the lockerroom door, but we are talking kids. Not mid-30's, 40's or 50's adults with real-life experiences. Janoris Jenkins may be all that and more on the field when covering opposition receivers, but off-the-field he has the mental maturity of a teenager. It's a total package which all teams must consider, and if they're confronted with more baby-sitting than coaching, take a pass.

On the flip side of Jenkins, you get presented with a David DeCastro. All football, all character. Someone truly dedicated to his craft without all the outside distractions. A guy that would rather study his playbook than the next sweet backside that struts by in the local club. Money, big money, attracts hanger-ons and users. Some guys are strong enough to ignore and block out the temptations, and others are made to fall victim to the next "easy" thing.

So come Thursday, hope our favorite team has done three vital things before they submit their selection envelope to the Commissioner's podium. They have discarded all Combine materials with the exception of the player interviews, they have watched endless hours of game tape and evaluated every play and move, and they have looked into off-the-field decisions, behaviors and actions with the diligence of a Private Eye or FBI Operative.

If that type of Due Diligence hasn't been executed, then shame on your club of choice. Find dedicated, blood-thirsty football players. Anything shy of 110% football dedication should be passed on without a second thought. Four children with four different women, not my kind of decision-maker.

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