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The above photo is a good representation of how most NFL players at different positions are positioned before the snap of the ball. It is good to note because these are the positions that most NLF players are in just before they begin to move. This photo is also a good representation of how all NFL players at every position are dressed during a real NFL game. For some reason, the NFL doesn't think that it's necessary for players to be properly dressed for the occasion of the combine or for the useless "pro day".



A few changes to every single event, including written tests.



1) Every Player will wear football personal protective equipment (PPE) according to the rules. (This goes for game day too. Players are a multi-million dollar commodity in this billion dollar organization and players should have to do everything necessary to stay safe, healthy and on the field. All this talk about player safety and the league won't even make all players use the new helmets, won't make all linemen wear visors and won't make all players wear proper football PPE?)



2) In addition to following the PPE rules, every player will also wear any additional protective gear and or authorized football accessories that they would normally wear in a game. This would include tapping of the hands feet and legs, braces, flak jackets, gloves, visors, cup, sharpie, hand towel... etc. Excessive facial and head hair, froes and dreads are not acceptable. The football helmet IS NOT designed or fit tested for men with excessive facial or head hair. Excessive facial and head hair reduces the effectiveness of the head protector to protect the head and face region. Cut the hair off and get over it. Do what you want when your playing days are over. Until then, adhere to the PPE rules of football. Besides, you're confusing my nephew, he's convinced that girls are playing in the NFL.



I don't think that the 40yd dash is completely a complete waste of time so we'll leave it in the evaluation process with the above and below necessary modifications. However, the 40yd dash will now be different for most positions and may not even be a 40yd dash at all. The absolutely unnecessary and unrealistic track style start will be scratched and thrown into the nearest port-a-pot before a three day music festival. The current 40 is absurd, I can't believe that the NFL is forcing this upon it's players and encouraging track athletes to compete with football players. I can't believe that the current 40yd dash carries a damn bit of weight in the evaluation process. Rich Eison can still run the 40 for entertainment purposes.



In addition to being absolutely unnecessary and un-realistic, this track style 40yd dash is obviously an unfair advantage for a certain group of athletes who have been running track for most of their lives and feel comfortable and confident in that starting position. So we're doing away with it. Some have said that the wonderlic is unfair to a certain group of athletes but we're going to leave it in. At the end of the day, the bottom line in this bidness is everyone at the combine is pose to have graduated high school and pose to have had some form of college education. Therefore they should at least be able to problem solve, read, write and be book smart enough to at least read and retain a very complex and lengthy NFL play book.



Changes 4 the 40:



QB: Football Player will be timed from two different starting positions for the 40yd dash. 1) The QB will take a snap from under center, perform a 5 step drop and then run their 40yd dash with the ball in hand. Clock starts when the ball is snapped. 2) The QB will take a snap in the gun, 5yds deep and then run their 40yd dash with the ball in hand. Clock starts when the QB catches the ball.



WR: Football Player will be timed with two variations and they will never ever put their hand on the ground. They will stand at the line as they normally would in a real game, start from a dead stop and run the 40yd dash like they would on a go route, like they would in a football game.



1) The WR will have the ball in their hand.



2) The WR will not have a ball in their hand.



TE: Football Player will have three different starting positions for the 40yd dash.



1-2) They will run the 40 as the WR's did. This aint yo grand-daddy's TE son.



3) They will start from a football style three point stance, they will not ever assume the track style three point stance. Why in the world would they? This is frickin football. While in this football stance, they will be required to back pedal/shuffle for 2yds before starting the 40yd dash. Clock starts at the snap.



O-Linemen: Football Player will also have two different starting positions for the 40yd dash, except it won't be a 40yd dash it will be a 10 or 20yd dash. Ex-OL let me know which you think would be best. Each OL will back pedal/shuffle for 2yds and then run whichever distance we deem necessary and useful for an NFL O-Linemen.



1) They, like the TE's will put a hand in the dirt.



2) They will also start crouched, with their hands on their knees.



D-Linemen: Football Players will be split into two groups. Inside and outside guys. Like the OL, they too will run a distance not to exceed 20yds... 10yds? Teams can request that a player be timed from both positions.



1) The inside guys will start in a football style three or four point stance.



2) Outside guys will run according to the TE rules, without the back pedal.



LB's will run the 40yd dash from a proper LB pre-snap position.



DB's, DB's, DB's....DB's, ahhh DB's, the biggest group of knuckleheads in the league and they spend most of their football lives running backwards, so let's go ahead and at least incorporate it into their test. Shall we? DB's will start their 40yd dash standing and they will proceed to back pedal for 5 then they will be forced to do this real interesting and DB necessary thing called flip their hips, turn and now run forward for the remainder of the 40yd distance. Dexterity, coordination and flexibility will also be tested here because we will line each side of the "track" with cones say.....3yds apart? Ex-DBs, give me a good number here. This will test the DB's ability to back pedal, flip his hips and stay on course without taking out the WR, losing ground or running into the third row.



I know that we have a lot of football coaches, ex-coaches, players, ex-players, knowledgeable fans and cheerleaders out there, so let us know which part of the 40 or the combine you would modify to make it a more football friendly interview. Or if you like the way the combine is going then we could write a different post where we want the NFL to not only use starting blocks at the combine but we want the NFL to start using starting blocks during the games in an effort to maximize our love for speed. Not so much our love for football and football players but our love for speed.



It would be kind of cool for the kids too because then we could not only have the tee kid but also the starting block kids. Ya see, these lucky kids could bring the starting blocks out pre and collect them post snap, get more fans involved, it would be a good thing for the over priced NFL. Picture this, DB's in the starting blocks but in a crab walk position. Remember the ol'crab walk? DB's would assume this position because their first steps are normally backwards. And hey, maybe starting blocks would help extend Champs days at CB by a year or two. Okay, I've said enough now I want to hear what you have to say about this very important and fascinating facet of your favorite sport.