Mile High Monday: Players were bigger, faster, stronger at the Combine

What a jam-packed week at the NFL Scouting Combine. Things kicked off on Tuesday with head coaches and general managers talking to the media, but things really ramped up with position drills starting on Thursday. It was a whirlwind week that I will summarize on Tuesday right here at DenverFan.com.

I like when the Combine has wrapped. That means free agency is right around the corner, and that should be a frenzy of all frenzies this offseason.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Not So Fast and Furious

I sure wish Aaron Rodgers would hurry up. Even though things have seemed to change, and Rodgers seems to be staying with the Green Bay Packers, reports surfaced over the weekend that the veteran superstar quarterback is “torn” on what to do with his future. He’s not sure where he wants to play, and Rodgers is keeping the NFL world waiting on his decision.

If Rodgers wants to stay in Green Bay, the Packers are likely to make him the highest-paid player in the NFL with a new contract. The word is the Broncos would do anything they need to do in order to accommodate Rodgers when it comes to compensation that could reach $50 million annually. If Rodgers wants to be traded, Denver is the front-runner. Even though some speculate the Pittsburgh Steelers will be interested in Rodgers, I’ve heard months ago that would not be the case.

If Rodgers wants to retire, then he will do that. He’s got several interests outside of football, so hanging up his cleats – which I think is unlikely – could mean he’s moving on to the next chapter in his life. Broncos fans and Packers fans both lose in this instance. No matter what he decides to do, I just wish he would speed things up.

Aaron Rodgers has massive long-term contract offer from Packers that will alter QB market. But Denver lurking in a big way

This and much more in robust combine notebook from @DanGrazianoESPN and me.https://t.co/3LB2Wo7mQ1

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 6, 2022

The unofficial deadline for Rodgers could be coming up on Tuesday, March 8. That is when teams must decide whether to place the franchise tag on players. The Packers must decide on wide receiver Davante Adams, who could be franchise-tagged with a one-year fully guaranteed contract worth around $21 million. The future of Adams could be tied directly to Rodgers decision, so as impatient as I’m getting, we should find out where he wants to play in the near future.

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Background Check

The Scouting Combine is affectionately known as the “underwear Olympics” and I understand why that’s the case. Some fans make fun of the process, but I eat it up – almost everything – each and every year. The Combine should only make up around five percent (at best) of a player’s grade in the pre-draft process. However, it’s a fun event and those small percentages could lead to big things from an exposure standpoint.

I love hearing about these players and their backgrounds, and we can do that at the Combine. When good friend Daniel Jeremiah is filling the TV audience in on a player’s skill, he (and other analysts) can sprinkle in background information. The skill of the players is impressive, but the background can reveal much more about a prospect than some think.

I’ve always said, “glory to the players, glory to the game” because it’s not about me. My love of football goes back years and learning these players each draft season is my favorite thing about my job. Talent can come from anywhere, and what some of these players had to go through in order to get to the Combine is simply amazing. Some players battle homelessness, family problems, drug addiction and other things on their way to the NFL. To have that strength to move past those issues and get in this spot says a lot. I admire players who had to overcome obstacles on their way to greatness.

One more hour to go at the NFL Scouting Combine. We’ve had a blast!!

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 6, 2022

Many numbers from the Combine don’t mean much when it comes to football. To me, the Combine is not about the numbers – although that’s what most people talk about. The Combine is about introducing some of the next stars in the NFL to a rabid and ever-expanding fan base who can’t get enough of the product. The NFL has turned the Combine into must-see TV when years ago it was an event barely noticed on the sports calendar and only covered by the biggest NFL nerds.

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Fast Class

There’s no shortage of speed in this year’s draft class. At the Combine, the 40-yard dash is the most-watched and most-talked-about drill. Everyone pours over the 40-yard dash numbers even though it may not reflect a player’s pad speed. Even though that’s the case, speed can be showcased and was on full display this year.

The Combine had multiple records set in 2022. Combine records since 2003 included: average fastest player of 4.71 seconds (fastest in NFL history), 31 players with a sub-4.4 second time (most in NFL history) and the fastest RB, WR, OL, DL, LB and DB groups in NFL history. It was hammered over and over again how fast this class is, and they backed it up at the Combine.

It’s a bigger, faster, stronger league in the NFL – and that seems to build every season. These players provide strength to this draft class. Yes, the quarterback class isn’t great and there won’t be a first-round running back this year, but overall the class is stronger than some give credit – and they certainly are fast.

Behold: the fastest players to come out of the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Needless to say, there’s no shortage of speed in this draft class. pic.twitter.com/2VAFcEdGLU

— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) March 6, 2022

Will the Broncos be looking to add more speed to the roster? I think they will, and I think they should especially considering the division they play in. Speed kills, and it something you either have or you don’t. I believe the defensive secondary, both safety and cornerback, will be addressed in the 2022 NFL Draft. Adding a speedy defensive back is going to help a defense that must face some of the best offenses in the NFL within their division.

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Not the GOAT

This week was busy for me, as most weeks are, but I was able to get away to watch the new Batman film on Thursday night. I’m a huge Batman fan, and I was over the moon to see the movie on the night it opened to the public.

I’ve seen the internet reaction, which is mostly positive, and there are things about what fans are saying that drive me crazy. Yes, this movie is great. It’s maybe a bit long, don’t worry no spoilers here, but overall the story keeps moving and the way this movie is shot is fantastic. However, this is not the greatest Batman movie of all time.

I laugh at the overreaction, both positively and negatively, when it comes to superhero movies. Fans will go out of their way to overly love or hate a movie and “hot takes” abound. The reviews of this movie from fans has been overwhelmingly positive, but this movie does not beat “The Dark Knight” from 2008. In my opinion, that’s the best Batman movie off all time. This latest movie perhaps is the no.2 Batman film, but it’s certainly not at the top of the list.

Walk the line between justice and vengeance. Robert Pattinson is Batman in @TheBatman. #TheBatman pic.twitter.com/bklV5fux3s

— DC (@DCComics) March 3, 2022

What did you think of the latest Batman movie? Hit me up on social media and let me know!

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