Overhyping of prospects contributes to drama of NFL draft



A man sporting a sleek black tailored suit and a yellow tie purposefully strides to the podium and firmly grips the sides as he looks out assuredly at the cameras.

Close to 16 million Americans are watching an event that has become a holiday for some and a religious experience for others.

This isn't a presidential address, and it isn't the diatribe of a celebrated religious or political leader.

This is the NFL Draft, t-minus two days and counting.

For those who don't follow the NFL -- a completely understandable malady -- the NFL Draft is the only dot that matters on the league's spring calandar.

While we wait until September for the regular season, we pore over statistics, 40-yard dash times, shuttle drills, Wonderlic tests and combine workouts.

The stats mean everything right now, and not necessarily the ones that matter.

Take the battle for top quarterback. Chris Leak won a national title with the Florida Gators a couple months ago, but he's too small and his arm is too weak to matter in the NFL. Just like that, he's a second-day pick.

Ohio State quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith is suffering from the same ailments.

Seemingly just as fast, Louisianna State University signal caller JaMarcus Russell, who had a solid but not outstanding junior season, has become the next big thing because he looks like the next big thing.

Take wide receiver for instance. University of Southern California wide out Dwayne Jarrett's 6-foot-5 frame and sticky hands put him in the top 10 players in the entire draft after the season ended.

He was a valued commodity and figured to be one of the next great red zone threats in the NFL.

The guy had a monster game against Michigan in January's Rose Bowl, catching 11 balls for 205 yards and two touchdowns. That was the last time we saw him on the playing field, so you'd figure the good vibes would linger, right?

Combine stats say otherwise, and therefore, the nation's draft boards say otherwise. Thanks to an uninspiring 4.62 40-yard dash time, which probably beats a majority of 6-foot-5 NFL players, along with some other workout numbers that didn't impress, Dwayne Jarrett might fall completely out of the first round.

For me to discount the pundits completely would be ill-advised.

JaMarcus Russell has shot up draft charts because he's a great prospect and could most certainly be something special.

Chris Leak has fallen down them because, it's true, he doesn't have a typical NFL body.

But this freakish obssession with combine and workout stats has got to stop.

The players run in air-conditioned indoor facilities without pads to heighten their effect on scouts in February's NFL Combine.

They prepare for weeks and then let themselves go after the onlookers and media-obssessed have had their fill.

The Cowboys drafted defensive lineman Marcus Spears in 2005 after he tore up his workout sessions, and he showed up to rookie mini-camp in May at 11 pounds overweight.

Bill Parcells called him "Chubby Checker" during that first summer.

Cowboys fourth round draftee Skylar Green, one of the most tantilizing return men in last year's draft thanks to a great workout, showed up to camp 15 pounds overweight.

Parcells called him "Fats Domino." He was cut before the season started.

I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that I love the draft.

It's as close to the NFL as we'll come for another five months, so I'll drink it in like all the others and remain parked on my couch for an unhealthy amount of time this weekend.

But as for that non-wind-aided 40-yard dash time that "can't miss" wide receiver prospect recorded months ago -- I think I'll let their game performances do the talking.

Will Parchman is a junior journalism major from Austin.

Opinions expressed in the Lariat are not necessarily those of the Baylor administration, the Baylor Board of Regents or the Student Publications Board.

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