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Behind Closed Doors at the NFL Combine
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/01/nfl-combine-miami-dolphins-formal-interview-quarterback
INDIANAPOLIS — At 10 p.m. last Thursday, two men waited outside Room 135 at the downtown Crowne Plaza: Dolphins quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree, and one of the 18 quarterbacks at the NFL combine.
“First one?” Hardegree asked.
“No, number four,” said the player, who wore a credential around his neck listing the schedule of interviews he’d take with teams. Then he smiled and suggested that maybe this would be his best one yet.
A few seconds later, this backpack-wearing, NFL-hopeful walked into a dimly lit hotel room to be grilled for precisely 15 minutes by a group of 10 Dolphins employees that included Mike Tannenbaum, the executive vice president of football operations, general manager Chris Grier, head coach Adam Gase and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.
The combine has turned into a made-for-TV event each February, with 334 prospects wearing league-issued workout gear while they are put through an on-field skills and athleticism contest. But the most valuable information is often gleaned behind closed doors during formal player interviews. Teams can schedule up to 60 of these private meetings during the week. They take place each day between 6 and 11 p.m. on the first floor of this hotel across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium. It’s an NFL gantlet, with all 32 clubs setting up in adjacent hotel rooms, each door adorned with a team banner. Access is tightly restricted by local police officers, who are stationed at every hotel entrance and are under strict orders to let only team employees and combine players enter—no agents, no sponsors, and no personal trainers are allowed.
A few steps away from the hotel’s indoor pool, their room wedged between the Patriots and Raiders, the Dolphins had already conducted 16 formal interviews by 10 p.m. on Thursday. Every 15 minutes, a new prospect took over the hot seat, with no breaks in between. Miami’s tiny room was filled to the brim with people and furniture and equipment, and when their 17th player arrived for his interview, a crash reverberated throughout the room—something fell to the floor as everyone jumped up to greet him.
“I apologize,” the quarterback said, looking around but unable to determine what fell. The handshakes and nice-to-meet-yous belied what was about to unfold: an interrogation...
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/01/nfl-combine-miami-dolphins-formal-interview-quarterback
INDIANAPOLIS — At 10 p.m. last Thursday, two men waited outside Room 135 at the downtown Crowne Plaza: Dolphins quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree, and one of the 18 quarterbacks at the NFL combine.
“First one?” Hardegree asked.
“No, number four,” said the player, who wore a credential around his neck listing the schedule of interviews he’d take with teams. Then he smiled and suggested that maybe this would be his best one yet.
A few seconds later, this backpack-wearing, NFL-hopeful walked into a dimly lit hotel room to be grilled for precisely 15 minutes by a group of 10 Dolphins employees that included Mike Tannenbaum, the executive vice president of football operations, general manager Chris Grier, head coach Adam Gase and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.
The combine has turned into a made-for-TV event each February, with 334 prospects wearing league-issued workout gear while they are put through an on-field skills and athleticism contest. But the most valuable information is often gleaned behind closed doors during formal player interviews. Teams can schedule up to 60 of these private meetings during the week. They take place each day between 6 and 11 p.m. on the first floor of this hotel across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium. It’s an NFL gantlet, with all 32 clubs setting up in adjacent hotel rooms, each door adorned with a team banner. Access is tightly restricted by local police officers, who are stationed at every hotel entrance and are under strict orders to let only team employees and combine players enter—no agents, no sponsors, and no personal trainers are allowed.
A few steps away from the hotel’s indoor pool, their room wedged between the Patriots and Raiders, the Dolphins had already conducted 16 formal interviews by 10 p.m. on Thursday. Every 15 minutes, a new prospect took over the hot seat, with no breaks in between. Miami’s tiny room was filled to the brim with people and furniture and equipment, and when their 17th player arrived for his interview, a crash reverberated throughout the room—something fell to the floor as everyone jumped up to greet him.
“I apologize,” the quarterback said, looking around but unable to determine what fell. The handshakes and nice-to-meet-yous belied what was about to unfold: an interrogation...
