Combine Standouts

Garrett jumps through roof, Peppers backflips off field Sunday

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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If there were any lingering questions surrounding Myles Garrett‘s status as the favorite to go first overall to Cleveland in the 2017 draft, they were cast into oblivion on Sunday.

Garrett’s workout jumped off the charts — 4.64 40, 41-inch vertical, 33 bench reps of 225 pounds, 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump at 272 pounds — had everyone in attendance raving, including NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and Mike Mayock, and should serve as one of the final convincing pieces of evidence for Garrett to go first overall on April 27.

“Everything he did just screams ‘I want to be the first pick,'” Mayock said. “Strong, drop your hips, eyes up, pound and go. He’s a natural edge rusher. I don’t care what defense you play, if you’re Cleveland and you’re looking at No. 1, (defensive coordinator) Gregg Williams likes to hunt quarterbacks, I think that’s the guy you want.”

We’ll spend the next month or so discussing potential landing spots for Garrett, but there should be only one response: Cleveland, Cleveland and Cleveland. Sunday’s workout solidified that notion. Continue reading →

John Ross breaks record, but tight ends shine Saturday

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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It stood for many years, and it even garnered its own chain and custom pendant, but let the record show that on March 4, 2017, Chris Johnson‘s 40-yard dash record finally fell.

Washington receiver John Ross was the culprit who unseated CJ2K, running a blazing fast 4.22 40 that even “looked fast in slow motion,” as NFL Network’s Ike Taylor said Saturday. It sent shockwaves through Twitter, with thousands mentioning him by name and more than a few questions about why he didn’t try to run the 40 in adidas cleats and win himself his own private island.

“I really can’t swim that well,” Ross told NFL Network’s Michael Irvin. “And I don’t have a boat, so you know, I had to run in Nikes.”

It didn’t take long for the social team at Nike to post a photo of the famed 4.2 Nikes, or for the company to sign Ross to an endorsement deal. It’ll likely take a little longer for him to come off the board, though, because his speed was a known commodity entering the combine and won’t make much of a difference in his draft stock. Continue reading →