Over the past several days of the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway watched hundreds of potential NFL players take part in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis.
When asked about this one specific drill that seems to garner a lot of attention, Elway had this to say (via the team’s official website).
You know, it’s a big part of it, but it’s also showbiz, too. It is important to be able to see what these guys can run, but they also train for it now, too.
So it does help you, and you like to see guys run fast, but you can also see how fast they play on tape, too. A lot of it is game speed. A lot of guys can come run a 4.2 here, put pads on them and they run a 4.7.
While there is a lot of validity to being able to run a quick, slightly over four-second 40-yard dash, and be a successful player in the NFL, New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady is the exception to the rule. That’s evidenced by his 5.38 40-yard time back in 2000.
Top quarterback prospect Jameis Winston ran an incredibly slow 40-yard time during his appearance at the combine this past weekend. Meanwhile, reigning Heisman winner Marcus Mariota dominated the drill. This obviously doesn’t mean Mariota is going to be a better pro than Winston. It just means that their games are vastly different. In this, Elway’s “showbiz” claim makes a lot of sense.
Photo: USA Today Sports