Is it possible for something to be important and absolute nonsense at the same time?
I’ve been to the NFL Combine a few times, and it has changed drastically over the years. The first time I went was in 2013, and, honestly, I preferred it back then.
It was a much looser setup. The biggest names — guys from powerhouse schools or players with unique stories, like Margus Hunt — had podiums. Everyone else? They sat at round cafeteria tables, and the media could just walk up, pull up a chair, and have a real conversation.
That’s how I got to sit down with Giovani Bernard, Travis Kelce, and plenty of others who went on to have long, successful careers. Meanwhile, some of the players who were given podiums — like Manti Te’o and Eddie Lacy — faded out of the league before long.
The table setup allowed for something the modern Combine sorely lacks: Genuine conversations. One-on-one time with a player, without a sea of microphones in their face, made for better stories, better insights, and, frankly, a better experience for everyone involved.
Now? It’s completely different.
The last time I went, the Combine had gone full-on assembly line. Players are ushered to podiums for pre-scheduled interviews, with the media kept behind a certain line, waiting for their turn. It’s more structured, more formal, and a lot less fun.
The only thing that hasn’t changed? The players themselves. They’re still mostly nervous kids at the biggest job interview of their lives. Everything they say is coached, their confidence is manufactured, and their goal is to avoid saying anything remotely interesting.
The vast majority of them will be millionaires in a few months, but right now, they’re still just kids (for the most part — NIL has changed things).
And as for the Combine itself? It doesn’t do much for the media. You might get a decent sound bite here and there, but most answers are canned. You’ll see who’s fast in a straight line, who’s strong in a controlled environment, and who can execute highly specific drills that rarely resemble actual football.
The real reason the Combine exists is for team interviews. That’s where the real work happens—behind closed doors, where teams get to test a player’s football IQ, dig into their personality, and figure out if they’re worth the investment.
But since we love football, we convince ourselves that watching men run, lift, shuffle sideways, backpedal, and catch passes in shorts is entertaining.
It’s not. And it’s okay to admit it.
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If you’re a general sports fan, you’ve got options right now. MLB is in spring training, the NBA is in full swing, and golf, racing, and more are picking up steam.
But if you’re a football-only fan? This is the worst time of the year.
Free agency opens in less than a month. The dead zone will be over soon.
Until then… hang in there.
I sit around and watch the tube
But nothing’s on
I change the channels for an hour or two
Twiddle my thumbs just for a bit
I’m sick of all the same old s**t
In a house with unlocked doors and I’m f****n’ lazy
