INDIANAPOLIS — Part of the peril of covering the NFL Scouting Combine is having to choose which person to interview in a room with three podiums, eight tables and more than 700 reporters.

Case in point: Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Oregon LB Casey Matthews, brother of Packers LB Clay Matthews, took Podium B. He was surrounded by many reporters, some of whom had to leave the interview and scurry to Podium A when Browns general manager Tom Heckert was announced.

Matthews eventually left, opening Podium B for Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, one of the top QB prospects. Cue the scurrying again.

While Kaepernick and Heckert talked, the PA announced that Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett, another top prospect, would be at Podium C. The scurrying became a stampede.

After Heckert wrapped up, Pat Shurmur replaced him on Podium A. The first-year Browns coach had the smallest crowd after all the reporters shuffled their positions.

Coming up soon? Auburn QB Cam Newton. That’s when stampede becomes madness and an easy decision: Hang on his every word.

– Justin Hathaway

Posted in: Combine  | comments  |