Wall-to-wall football at Lucas Oil Stadium
Published: February 27th, 2010 | Tags: 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, Bruce Campbell, John Fox, Ken Whisenhunt, Mike Singletary, Norv Turner, Rex Ryan, Rod Graves
INDIANAPOLIS – Nearly every corner of Lucas Oil Stadium was filled with NFL Scouting Combine activity Saturday. It’s the place to satisfy a football fix.
After visiting the media center to catch Jets quote machine Rex Ryan, I passed Cardinals general manager Rod Graves and coach Ken Whisenhunt giving extra love to small groups of reporters. This is where they land the best quotes.
Exiting the room, which occupies around 125 or so reporters at any given time here, I passed the miniature radio row, where NFL.com senior writer Vic Carucci was on the airwaves for SIRIUS NFL Radio, interviewing prospects.
Around the corner and up several half-flights of stairs, the NFL Network set on the concourse overlooking the end zone gave a bird’s-eye view of the offensive linemen and tight ends working out on the field. Rich Eisen, Charles Davis, Jamie Dukes and Mike Mayock interviewed Maryland workout warrior Bruce Campbell. Chatting with Campbell afterward, I told him his impressive unofficial 40-yard dash times. Except he wasn’t surprised. He said he expected to — and has – run faster. Wow.
Chargers coach Norv Turner chatted up some coaches on the concourse. Niners coach Mike Singletary headed out with his cell phone tight on his ear. Panthers coach John Fox sat at the top of the lower bowl. A line of scouts and coaches at the Oil Can Grill was — not surprisingly – long. For the record, the nachos looked best, but I held off.
Regardless, it was total football sensory overload.
– Frank Tadych
