The NFL Scouting Combine (also called the National Invitational Camp), is a week-long showcase, occurring every February at Lucas Oil Stadium (and formerly at the RCA Dome until 2008) in Indianapolis, Indiana, where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general managers, and scouts. With increasing interest in the NFL Draft, the scouting combine has grown in scope and significance, allowing personnel directors to evaluate upcoming prospects in a standardized setting. Its origins have evolved from the National, BLESTO and Quadra Scouting organizations in 1977 to the media event it has become today.

Athletes attend by invitation only. Implications of one's performance during the combine can affect perception, draft status, salary and ultimately career. The draft has popularized the term "workout warrior," whereby an athlete's "draft stock" is increased based on superior measurable qualities such as size, speed, and strength, despite having an average or sub-par college career.^[1][2][3] The 2012 NFL Scouting Combine occurred February 22–28, 2012.^[4]

History[link]

Tex Schramm, the president and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1989, proposed to the NFL competition committee a centralization of the evaluation process for NFL teams. Prior to 1982, teams had to schedule individual visits with players to run them through drills and tests.^[5] The National Invitational Camp (NIC) was first held in Tampa, Florida, in 1982.^[6] It was originated by National Football Scouting, Inc. as a means for member organizations to look at NFL Draft prospects. For non-member teams, two other camps were created and used from 1982–1984. The National Invitational Camp was renamed the NFL Scouting Combine following the merger of the three camps in 1985 to cut the cost of running the extra camps. The NIC was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1984 before the merger. It was held in Arizona in 1985 and once again in New Orleans in 1986 before permanently moving to Indianapolis in 1987.^[7]

Tests and evaluations[link]

Tests/evaluations include:

• 40-yard dash^[8]
• Bench press (225 lb repetitions)^[8]
• Vertical jump^[8]
• Broad jump^[8]
• 20 yard shuttle^[8]
• 3 cone drill^[8]
• 60-yard shuttle^[8]
• Position-specific drills^[8]
• Interviews — each team is allowed 60 interviews in 15-minute intervals^[9]
• Physical measurements^[9]
• Injury evaluation^[9]
• Drug screen^[9]
• The Cybex test^[9]
• The Wonderlic Test^[10]

Sports writers question whether these tests have any relationship with future NFL performance.^[11] Empirical research conducted by Brian D. Lyons, Brian J. Hoffman, John W. Michel, and Kevin J. Williams (2011) found that the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, 20-yard shuttle, and 3 cone drill tests have limited validity in predicting future NFL performance.^[12] In fact, the Lyons et al. (2011) study suggests that a prospect's past performance in college is a better indicator of future NFL performance than the aforementioned physical ability tests.

Bench press records[link]

At the NFL Combine, bench press is used as a test of strength and stamina, in which athletes lift 225 pounds (102 kg) as many times as possible.^[13] Since 1999, only a few players have managed to achieve more than 40 repetitions.^[14][15]

• Justin Ernest, 1999, 51 repetitions
• Stephen Paea, 2011, 49 repetitions
• Leif Larsen, 2000, 45 repetitions
• Mike Kudla, 2006, 45 repetitions
• Mitch Petrus, 2010, 45 repetitions
• Brodrick Bunkley, 2006, 44 repetitions
• Dontari Poe, 2012, 44 repetitions
• Scott Young, 2005, 43 repetitions
• Isaac Sopoaga, 2004, 42 repetitions
• Tank Tyler, 2007, 42 repetitions
• Igor Olshansky, 2004, 41 repetitions
• Terna Nande, 2006, 41 repetitions
• David Molk, 2012, 41 repetitions

Scouting organizations[link]

The NFL's first scouting organization, LESTO (Lions, Eagles and Steelers Talent Organization), was started in 1963 by the teams mentioned in its name. It became BLESTO when the Bears joined the following year and BLESTO-V when the Vikings came on board later in the decade. It is now known simply as BLESTO despite the fact that the Bears and Eagles having gone their separate ways.^[16]

CEPO (Central Eastern Personnel Organization), formed in 1964, was a joint endeavor between the Colts (Baltimore-based at the time), the Browns, the Packers and the Cardinals (St. Louis-based at the time). Its name was changed twice, first to United Scouting after the Falcons, Giants and Redskins joined its ranks, then finally to National Football Scouting in 1983 to avoid any confusion associated with the United States Football League, the NFL's direct competitor that began its operations that year. National Football Scouting is now known simply as The National.^[16]

Also formed in 1964 was Troika by the Cowboys, Rams (based in Los Angeles at the time) and 49ers. It was renamed Quadra when the Saints joined in 1967.^[16] Quadra is no longer in existence.

As of the 2008 season, eighteen franchises participate in The National (Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tennessee Titans), with eight served by BLESTO (Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Redskins). Each of the six non-affiliated teams (Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and Oakland Raiders) relies on its in-house scouting staffs.^[17][16]

Combine invitations[link]

In a typical year, there are about 335 invited players. About 250 invitations are sent before bowl games are completed to those who have completed their seasons. However, underclassmen have until mid-January to confirm their draft status. Invitations are made to those receiving supermajority support from the selection committee.^[18]

Television[link]

The NFL Scouting Combine was first shown on television in 2004. Media and cameras were historically prohibited, but with the launch of NFL Network on November 4, 2003, six installments of one-hour shows to recap the day's events aired in February 2004.^[19] NFL Network has exclusive access to the Scouting Combine, whereas ESPN, a competitor network, does not.^[20] NFL Network aired two hours of combine workouts for each workout day in 2005,^[21] 26 total hours of coverage in 2006,^[22] 27 hours in 2007,^[5] and 25 hours in 2009.^[23] It began airing over 30 hours of Combine coverage starting in 2010,^[24] which received 5.24 million viewers.^[25]

Regional combines[link]

Beginning in 2011, a series of eleven regional combines for players not invited to the main Scouting Combine, as well as other free agents, were held in eight cities (Los Angeles, Houston, Baltimore, Tampa, East Rutherford, Chicago, Atlanta, and Cleveland) from January to March. The best players from these regional combines are invited to the NFL Super Regional Combine at Ford Field in Detroit in late March.^[26]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Combine on NFL.com
• NFL Regional Combines website
• Cooney, Frank (February 18, 2009). "History by the numbers: Combine has come a long way". CBS Sports. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11394538. Retrieved 2012-02-25. 
• Chappell, Mike (February 22, 2012). "NFL combine comes down to six drills". Indianapolis Star. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012202220373. Retrieved 2012-02-25. 

Stephen Paea

Paea (left) in a game vs. Louisville in 2010
No. 92     Chicago Bears
Defensive tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: (1988-05-11) May 11, 1988 (age 24)
Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school: Timpview High School, Provo, Utah
College: Oregon State
NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53
Debuted in 2011 for the Chicago Bears
Career history
Chicago Bears (2011–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (2010) Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (2010) First-team All-Pac-10 (2010) Morris Trophy (2009, 2010) Brian Piccolo Award (2012)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Tackles 14 Quarterback sacks 2.0 Stats at NFL.com

Stephen Paea (pronounced /ˈpaɪ.ə/ PY-ə; born May 11, 1988) is an American football defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State University, and was recognized as an All-American. He was taken with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Bears.

Early years[link]

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Paea grew up on Vavaʻu, Tonga, which was where he played rugby as a young boy. When he was 16, his family moved to the United States, originally to Lawrence, Kansas, where his cousin Chris Maumalanga was playing for the Kansas Jayhawks.^[1] After a year, they moved to Provo, Utah, where Paea attended Timpview High School. Playing defensive line at only 240 pounds, he drew little attention by Division I schools, so he decided to enroll at nearby Snow College in Ephraim.

After redshirting his initial year at Snow, he added more than 20 pounds to his frame and started the 2007 season as the No. 2 tackle on the depth chart. Finally drawing the attention of major schools, he transferred to Oregon State in mid-season after graduating from Snow with an associate's degree in December 2007.^[2]

College career[link]

Paea attended Oregon State University, where he played for the Oregon State Beavers football team from 2008 to 2010. Making an immediate impact for the Beavers, Paea played in all 13 games, starting 12 of them, and recorded 41 tackles, 11 for a loss, and five quarterback sacks. He was selected to College Football News′ All-Sophomore Second Team and was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection.

As a junior, he registered a team-leading 8.5 tackles for loss and was co-leader for sacks with three. He was named All-Pacific-10 First Team and received the Morris Trophy for the best defensive lineman in the conference.

In February 2010, a YouTube video showed him bench-pressing 225 pounds 44 times.^[3][4]

Paea was invited to the 2011 Senior Bowl, but tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee on the opening practice, causing him to miss the remainder of the event.^[5]

Paea was a nominee for the Bill Hayward Athlete of the Year Award at the 2011 Oregon Sports Awards.

Professional career[link]

2011 NFL Draft[link]

At the NFL Combine, recorded 49 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press, the highest since Justin Ernest's 51 reps in 1999.^[6][7]

Chicago Bears[link]

Paea was taken with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and on July 29, 2011, he signed a 4-year contract with the Chicago Bears.

In a Sunday Night Football game on October 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, as well as his NFL debut, Paea sacked Donovan McNabb in the end zone for a safety, being the first Bears player to record a safety in his debut since at least 1970.^[8]

In 2012, Paea and Nick Roach were awarded the Brian Piccolo Award.^[9]

After the 2012 NFL Draft, Paea was reunited with Oregon State teammate Brandon Hardin. When asked about Paea, Hardin said, "If I had one word to describe him, it would be a beast. He’s just strong as hell. When he was our d-tackle and I was playing corner, it was good knowing he was in there rushing the quarterback."^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Oregon State Beavers bio

Ndamukong Suh

Suh in the 2011 NFL season.
No. 90     Detroit Lions
Defensive tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: (1987-01-06) January 6, 1987 (age 25)
Place of birth: Portland, Oregon
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Weight: 307 lb (139 kg)
Career information
High school: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon
College: Nebraska
NFL Draft: 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Debuted in 2010 for the Detroit Lions
Career history
Detroit Lions (2010–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (2010) NFL Alumni Defensive Lineman of the Year (2010) Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year (2010) Sporting News Rookie of the Year (2010) Pro Football Weekly Rookie of the Year (2010) PFWA Rookie of the Year (2010) Pro Bowl (2010) First-team All-Pro (2010) Sporting News First-team All-Pro (2011) College awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Tackles 102 Quarterback sacks 14.0 Forced fumbles 1 Interceptions 1 Touchdowns 1 Stats at NFL.com

Ndamukong Suh (pronounced /ɨnˈdɑːməkɨn ˈsuː/ in-DOM-ə-kin SOO, born January 6, 1987) is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Nebraska, and earned All-American honors. He was chosen by the Lions with the second overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.

As a college senior, Suh became one of the most decorated players in college football history. He won numerous awards including the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, and was recognized as a consensus All-American.^[1]

Early years[link]

Suh was born in Portland, Oregon. He attended Grant High School in Portland, where he earned Parade magazine high school All-America honors and was voted the 2004 Portland Interscholastic League Defensive Player of the Year and was a Class 4A first-team all-state selection.

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Suh was ranked sixth among defensive tackle prospects in the nation.^[2]

College career[link]

Ndamukong Suh playing in the 2009 Holiday Bowl.

Suh attended the University of Nebraska, where he played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team from 2005 to 2009. As a true freshman in 2005, Suh played in the first two games and had an assisted tackle against Wake Forest before missing the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery. He received a medical redshirt.

In 2006, Suh played in all 14 games as a backup defensive lineman and earned freshman All-Big 12 honors from The Sporting News. Despite coming off the bench, he finished the year with 19 total tackles, and ranked among the team leaders in tackles for loss (8) and quarterback sacks (3½). In his sophomore season, Suh started in 11 of the Cornhuskers' 12 games, and recorded 34 total tackles on the season.

As a junior in 2008, Suh recorded a team-high 76 tackles, 7½ sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions (both returned for touchdowns) and a touchdown reception while playing fullback. He became the first Nebraska defensive lineman to lead the team in tackles since 1973. Suh earned First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2008, the first Nebraska interior defensive lineman to earn those honors since Steve Warren in 1999.

In 2009, Suh registered 85 tackles, 12 quarterback sacks, 28 quarterback hurries, 24 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, three blocked kicks, and one interception. Suh had 12 tackles (seven for losses, a school single-game record) and 4½ sacks in a 13–12 loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship Game, for which he received game MVP honors. He helped Huskers defense rank first nationally in scoring defense (10.4 ppg), tied for second in total sacks (44), first in pass efficiency defense (87.3), seventh in total defense (272.0 ypg), ninth in rushing defense (93.1 ypg) and 18th in passing defense (178.9 ypg). He also played all four quarters versus Arizona in the 2009 Holiday Bowl, helping Nebraska record the first shutout in the Holiday Bowl's 32-year history, as well as the first shutout in school bowl history.^[3] He was a consensus First-team All-American and earned consensus First-team All-Big 12 honors and was the Associated Press National Player of the Year, Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Defensive Lineman of the Year, and a Heisman Trophy finalist.

College awards[link]

On December 3, 2009, Suh was named as one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Award. On November 24, 2009, Suh was named one of three finalists for the 2009 Outland Trophy, alongside Mike Iupati and Russell Okung.^[4] On November 10, Suh was selected one of four finalists for the 2009 Lombardi Award, the first Cornhusker to receive this honor since Dominic Raiola in 2000.^[5] In October 2009, Suh was named to The Sporting News and CBS Sports midseason All-American team.^[6][7] Suh began season at No. 3 on Rivals.com′s preseason defensive tackle power ranking.^[8] He was also named to the 2009 Outland Trophy watch list.^[9]

On December 7, 2009, Suh was named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.^[10] Later that evening, Suh was named the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as the top defensive player in the nation.^[11] CBS Sportsline also named Suh their Defensive Player of the Year. The Touchdown Club of Columbus named Suh the winner of the Bill Willis Trophy on December 9, 2009.^[12] That same evening Suh won the Lombardi Award for the top collegiate lineman or linebacker.^[13] On December 11, at the ESPN College Football Awards show, Suh was selected as the winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player and took home the Outland Trophy for the best interior lineman.^[14] Suh finished fourth in the Heisman race, accumulating 815 points, which is the highest total by a fourth-place finisher for the Heisman in its history.^[15] He was also one of four unanimous selections to the AP First-team All-America in 2009.^[16] Suh was named the 2009 AP Player of Year, becoming the first defensive player to receive the award in its history.^[17]

Career statistics[link]

Professional career[link]

2010 NFL Draft[link]

Suh was widely considered to be one of the best prospects available in the draft.^{[18][19][20][21][22]} ESPN.com's draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. described Suh as "maybe the most dominating defensive tackle I've seen in 32 years" and projected him to go #1 overall.^[23] Suh was seen as an ideal fit at either defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense or as a defensive end in a 3-4 NFL defense.^[24]

For off the field marketing activities, Suh signed with The Agency Sports Management & Marketing,^[25] where Russ Spielman will serve as lead agent. At the NFL Combine, Suh bench pressed 225 lb 32 times and had a 35½ inch vertical leap, the highest for a defensive tackle since Al Lucas (36 in) in 2000. According to Barnes: "He is not a hard worker; he is a relentless worker." ^[26]

To prepare for the NFL Draft (and contract negotiations) Suh signed with Maximum Sports Management, and agent Roosevelt Barnes, who would serve as Suh's lead agent. This caused moderate concern for many teams who were hoping to draft him, as this was the same agent who represented Michael Crabtree. Crabtree was the longest 2009 NFL Draft 1st round contract hold out, waiting over six weeks into the NFL season before signing with the San Francisco 49ers. He even threatened to re-enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

Detroit Lions[link]

Suh was selected second overall in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. On August 3, Suh agreed to a five-year, $68 million contract with $40 million guaranteed.^[29] On September 12, Suh had his first sack against Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.^[30] On October 10, during a game against the St. Louis Rams, he recorded his first career interception off of Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.^[31] Suh scored his first touchdown of his NFL career against the Washington Redskins on October 31, 2010, on a recovery of a Rex Grossman fumble.

After an injury to Lions kicker Jason Hanson, the Lions had Suh attempt an extra point on November 7, 2010, against the New York Jets. However, Suh missed the extra point when the ball hit the right upright.^[32]

For the 2010 season, Suh led the Lions, all rookies, and all defensive tackles in sacks with 10.^[33] He was picked as a starter for the Pro Bowl, becoming the first Lions rookie since Barry Sanders to be picked as a Pro Bowl starter.^[34] He missed the game, however, due to shoulder surgery.^[35] On January 25, 2011, Suh was named to the All-Pro Team.^[36] He was also named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year,^[37] the Pro Football Weekly and Pro Football Writers of America Rookie of the Year,^[38] the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year,^[39] and the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.^[40]

In the 2011 season on week 14 against the Oakland Raiders Suh jumped up to block the game winning field goal, to make the Lions 9-5-0.

Suh was named a Pro Bowl alternate for the NFC after the 2011 NFL season.^[41]

Style of play[link]

Suh has been criticized in the media and by other players for his aggressive style of play and has been fined a total of $42,500 by the league for three violations in the first year-and-a-half of his career. In a poll of fellow players conducted by the Sporting News, Suh was named "the dirtiest player" in the NFL.^[42] As of December 2011, he had been flagged for nine personal fouls in his first two years, the most of any player in the league in that time frame.^[43]

2011 stomping incident[link]

During the third quarter of the Lions' Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers on November 24, 2011, Suh pushed Packers' offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith's head into the ground three times, then stomped on his arm. All of this took place after the whistle was blown. Suh was penalized for unnecessary roughness and ejected from the game.^[44] The resulting penalty gave the Packers an automatic first down. The Packers would score a touchdown two plays later, giving them a 14-0 lead and an eventual 27-15 victory.

Initially, Suh denied stomping on Dietrich-Smith, saying he was only trying to get his balance back.^[45] However, on Friday morning, the Lions issued a statement calling Suh's actions "unacceptable." Within hours, Suh wrote on his Facebook page that he'd "made a mistake" a day before and intended to learn from it.^[46] Fox Sports NFL rules analyst and former vice president of officiating Mike Pereira said that based on his knowledge of league discipline, "the question won’t be if the NFL will suspend Suh, but when — and for how many games." He drew parallels between Suh's actions and those of Albert Haynesworth, who drew a five-game suspension—the longest suspension for an on-field incident in modern NFL history—for stomping on Andre Gurode's head in 2006.^[43]

On November 29, the NFL suspended Suh for two games without pay. In announcing the decision, Roger Goodell noted that it was the fifth time Suh had been disciplined for on-field conduct.^[47] Soon after the suspension was handed down, Suh announced he would appeal the decision. The NFL held an expedited hearing before former Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell, so that a decision could be handed down before the Lions' next game, on December 4, against the New Orleans Saints.^[48] The appeal was turned down on December 2, forcing Suh to sit out the game against the Saints and the December 11 game against the Minnesota Vikings.^[49]

Personal[link]

Suh’s mother, Bernadette (née Lennon) Suh, an elementary school teacher, was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica and is a graduate of Southern Oregon University. His father, Michael Suh, is from Cameroon and played semi-pro soccer in Germany while working as a machinist. They met and married in Portland, Oregon in 1982, after Michael Suh was admitted to a Portland trade school.^[50] Although his father is only 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m), Suh's grandfather, also named Ndamukong Suh, stood 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m).^[51] In the Ngemba language of Cameroon, Ndamukong means "House of Spears."^[52]

Suh has three sisters; he is the second oldest of the children.^[53] His older sister, Odette Lennon Ngum Suh, played soccer collegiately at Mississippi State University and is currently a midfielder on the Cameroon women's national football team.^[50]

Suh is a fan of Arsenal F.C.^[54]

Donation and endowment[link]

On April 17, 2010, at the annual Husker Spring Game, Suh announced a $2.6 million donation to the University of Nebraska.^[55] Two million dollars of his gift will go to Nebraska Athletics for its Strength and Conditioning Program, and remaining $600,000 will create an endowed scholarship for the UNL College of Engineering, from which he graduated in 2009 with a degree in Construction Management.^[56] His gift is the largest single charitable contribution by any former player, and occurred before Suh was taken with the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Endorsements[link]

Before Suh was even drafted by an NFL team, he signed an endorsement deal with Nike.^[57] Suh has also signed endorsement deals with Subway,^[58][59] Dick's Sporting Goods,^[59][60] Omaha Steaks,^[59][61] and Chrysler.^[59]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Suh90.com
• Detroit Lions bio
• Nebraska Cornhuskers bio