The NFL world descends on Indianapolis this week, where the Combine officially starts Wednesday with the arrival of some players. (I arrive late Wednesday night in Florio’s discarded VW bus. He now drives a Rolls Royce.)
Media availability starts Thursday, and the player who may get the biggest crowd of the week is Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.
“This is a business trip,” Griffin told Jarrett Bell of USA Today. “I’m the CEO of Griffin Enterprises. It’s my job to go sell my product.”
Griffin only has to impress a few teams. He hasn’t given up hopes on going No. 1 in the draft. If that doesn’t happen, there are a few teams (Cleveland, Washington) that seem likely to attempt to trade up to the No. 2 pick to get Griffin. The Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t see it as some big competition with presumptive top pick Andrew Luck.
“When we step into the NFL, we’re not going to be the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks in the league,” Griffin said. “We’ll be more like No. 31 and No. 32. So while there may be a competition there, we’re both going to come in with a lot to learn.”
Griffin hasn’t ruled out throwing at the Combine, noting that Cam Newton’s throwing session last year didn’t hurt Newton. It could make a statement if Griffin threw and Luck did not.
“I’m getting ready to go to the only combine of my life,” he says. “Next year there won’t be a Wonderlic test, 40-yard dash or interviews with all the teams. So I want to take in the whole experience.”