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Fru · 02-18-2013, 07:18 AM

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Some will say that former USC quarterback Matt Barkley already has failed the biggest test of his life, before it even began. The reality could be that he already believes he has passed it. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Barkley won’t throw at this week’s Scouting Combine. Per Schefter, Barkley “might” run. Which means, of course, that he “might” not. It’s a stark contrast to Barkley’s own words from a week ago, in which he said his injured shoulder had healed sufficiently to allow him to throw. “This is probably the biggest test of my life coming up,” Barkley said. “This is like the SAT times thousands. I hear the whole couple days is a grind. But I am looking forward to that challenge. I am excited about it.” Scouts will grumble, perhaps even more loudly than they would have if he’d never claimed he would throw in the first place. But the agent-driven decision apparently reflects a conclusion that Barkley has nothing to gain and plenty to lose by throwing passes to receivers he doesn’t know in an unfamiliar setting. The top quarterbacks often defer throwing to their Pro Day workouts, which are tightly-scripted games of pitch and catch with their college teammates at their college practice facilities. Barkley, based on Schefter’s report, plans to follow that path. The deeper message here is that, regardless of the ratings and rankings and assessments of Barkley by folks in the media who act like they know but in reality don’t actually know what teams are truly thinking, Barkley’s agents apparently have collected information suggesting to them that the player doesn’t need to risk harming his actual draft stock by throwing this week. Or maybe it’s a ruse aimed at convincing teams to think that at least one team has Barkley pegged for a top-10 pick. Either way, Barkley’s name can be taken off the list for the latest installment of the Underwear Olympiad.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...st-of-my-life/

**Canadian Speed** · 02-19-2013, 06:27 AM

It should be mandatory though... They're going to have to change that at some time.

I think the USC QB curse is strong with this one as well...

Fru · 02-19-2013, 07:50 AM

Many college athletes would like nothing more than to get this free exposure in front of all the pro scouts, gms and over involved owners. I see this as an insult to those who get snubbed at an invite. full participation at the combine should be mandatory and partial participants should not be considered. It would make for greater competitiveness.

**Canadian Speed** · 02-19-2013, 08:37 AM

I agree... It's a once in a life time thing. And it's only ever the QBs that do it. You don't see RBs out there saying they won't run the 40, or WRs for that matter.

It should be a given that you have to participate, unless you have medical reasons of a serious nature. If a player wants to go that way, it raises even more serious personality questions then if the guy can throw the deep ball.

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