Mayock pleads with Luck, Griffin, Blackmon to work out Sunday

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As the “A” team of Rich Eisen, Charles Davis, and Mike Mayock wrapped their coverage of Saturday’s on-field workouts of the big uglies and David Puddys (offensive linemen and tight ends), Mayock turned to Camera One and made a pitch to three of the key players who won’t fully embrace the opportunity to show what they can do on Sunday.

“Andrew Luck.  C’mon,” Mayock said.  “I watched you the last couple years at the Manning Passing Academy, you got nothing to hide.

“Robert Griffin, I have loved watching you throw the football.  You have absolutely nothing to hide.  Come on out here tomorrow, let it rip.  Cam Newton did last year.  Didn’t hurt him.  Let’s have some fun.

“Justin [Blackmon], dude, let’s run, catch, throw.  Let’s have some fun.  And when you’re done come on up here and sit with and we’ll talk about your day.”

The messages came after Mayock, Eisen, and Davis recalled that Mayock successfully shamed receiver Calvin Johnson into running the 40-yard dash five years ago.  Johnson found a pair of shoes and then blistered a 4.38.

Hopefully, Mayock can shame Luck, Griffin, and/or Blackmon into doing the same thing on Sunday.

51 responses to “Mayock pleads with Luck, Griffin, Blackmon to work out Sunday

  1. This has to be the worst time of the year. I think instead of the combine let’s just see the prospects go bowling, I’m sure we’d learn just as much. If you want these players to help you get ratings, why don’t you pay them enough to participate?

  2. This is clearly a case of the media stepping over the respect line. Participating at the Combine is decision for the player and his agent – nobody else need butt in.

  3. Hopefully, Mayock can shame Luck, Griffin, and/or Blackmon into doing the same thing on Sunday.

    Won’t happen.

    Time for Mayock and some other people to grow up. As if there were a way to double-dog-dare people to do things they don’t want to do.

    I said this a few days ago- from a player’s standpoint, the combine exists only to maximize one’s draft ranking. This doesn’t apply to Luck, Griffin, or Blackmon since they’ve already done that.

    Andrew Luck can’t go any higher than #1, and that’s where he’s going whether or not he decides to work out. Therefore, he’d be wasting his time attending.

  4. Why should they? They don’t care about your ratings and you don’t care about them, just what they do for your ratings. They already showed what they can do in actual game situations.

  5. No doubt… Stop acting like the conditions have to be exactly right.. What are these guys not going to perform when it’s 20 below out and snow is flying everywhere?

    So sick of these agents telling these kids it’s okay to give a half a** effort at the combine because it won’t hurt their draft stock one bit.
    Well that may be the case for Luck but who knows about the rest…

  6. The all mighty mayock has spoken, now get out there and show the people what they want. I kind of understand Blackmon not going because he could pull a hammy. Luck & RG3 should definitely throw though.

  7. I love Mayock. I love his knowledge and the fact he is not afraid to say what he thinks. But in this case I do not respect what he is doing.

    Trying to shame a 22 year old kid on national TV into working out only benefits Mayock and the NFL network not necessarily the kid. Luck, Griffin and Blackmon have little to nothing to gain by working out. The only ones who gain by them working out are Mayock and the NFL Network.

    I agree with Mayock that many kids can gain by working out but not these kids. More importantly he is not their agent and he is not being paid to look at for their interest. Leave these decisions to the kid, his family and his agent. Don’t try to embarrass a kid into doing something that may negatively effect him. I am not going to say Mayock is doing this for personal gain. We should give him the benefit of the doubt. But regardless of his motives its wrong.

  8. One Gm all ready spoke out about this so who knows how many other GM’s want to say the same thing but hold their breaths and do not want to get into this discussion at the combine.

    They talk about confidence with these kids and all of them act like they are so sure of there own abilities so then why are they so afraid of the combine conditions? Afraid of insecurities and making mistakes and another player making them look bad? That is a sad reason not to participate.

  9. Let’s see, imagine you are Andrew Luck. You have zero ties to a talking head in the media who is sure to be one of many who second guess you your whole career — yep, I can see why he’d want to accommodate a nobody journalist.

  10. lombardihero says: So sick of these agents telling these kids it’s okay to give a half a** effort at the combine because it won’t hurt their draft stock one bit.

    WHAT are you talking about? When has that EVER happened?

    If anything, agents have players too focused on the combine as opposed to, you know, actual football.

  11. agelardi says:
    Feb 25, 2012 4:04 PM
    Why should they? They don’t care about your ratings and you don’t care about them, just what they do for your ratings. They already showed what they can do in actual game situations.

    What? for my ratings?
    They all ready showed what they can do in a college game day settings so what are you trying to say that no further evaluations should be conducted?

    Okay then by watching every stud in college that goes pro if they showed everything in actual game situations then why are most a bust?

    They come to the combine because not all 32 teams watch every game film on every player nor could they so the combine if for their future into the NFL so maybe they should start acting like professionals the day they step through the combine doors..

  12. why shouldn’t they work out are they scared or do think they can’t do as good as the other guys
    No excuses for not doing it if they don’t like it they shouldn’t go into NFL football
    They should be made to do it or just for get the whole thing

  13. lombardihero says:Feb 25, 2012 4:10 PM

    No doubt… Stop acting like the conditions have to be exactly right.. What are these guys not going to perform when it’s 20 below out and snow is flying everywhere?

    So sick of these agents telling these kids it’s okay to give a half a** effort at the combine because it won’t hurt their draft stock one bit.
    Well that may be the case for Luck but who knows about the rest…
    —————————————————-
    Please tell me what Luck or Griffin have to gain from participating in these things??? Luck has played all 4 years in college. Scouts have had every oppurtunity to watch him in game condition. Griffin same thing. These guys are not going to perform in something that’s meaningless. It’s real silly to insinuate just because they won’t jump through hoops for your entertainment at a combine that is essentially meaningless to them that they somehow will not perform in football games. What kind of logic is that?

    Will the Colts pass over Luck because he didn’t perform at the combine? Will Griffin drop out the top 10 for the same reason? Give me a break.

  14. What I don’t like is that these guys will work out at their school’s pro day a couple weeks later. Why? Other than injury, why not go to Indy and experience the combine. It’s a once in a lifetime type thing. One argument is that they feel more comfortable and more in control when they’re at their school on the pro day. Really? Way to impress upon your future employers that you might not be able to handle some pressure by throwing or running in shorts away from the comforts of “home”.

    All of you people that think it will hurt their stock is full of it. Combine performances only affect the 2nd tier and below prospects negatively or positively, and those guys are gonna participate anyway. The combine will not affect the blue chips. The teams want to see them throw and run so that they can compare the “lesser” prospects to the top prospects. Risk of injury is hogwash–yes, I said hogwash, dammit–since the risk of injury is no different than it would be on their pro day.

    I say go to the combine. Do what you do. Go home. It won’t hurt your position.

  15. No they won’t we all ready said that. Logic the Logic is if these guys are so confident in there ability’s and have little exp outside the elements you just described then why not open it up some.

    That was the point nobody said even RG3 is going to slide down the board like a hurricane. Were saying it sure would be nice to see how they perform in a not so normal setting…

  16. If they make it into a true competition, with prize money for the winners, then I have some sympathy for Mayock. Otherwise, little to gain for the top guys with the possibility of sustaining an injury and losing the position they’ve already earned.

    Why should players like Blackmon and Jeffery who have done so much on the field go out and run against sprinters like Stephen Hill or Tommy Streeter who have done little or nothing on the field? It would be foolish and counterproductive for them.

  17. From a fan’s standpoint, of course we would love to see them throw, run, and jump around. Last year there were more doubters about Cam Newton’s ability to throw than believers. Newton showed well and was rewarded. There are no such doubts about Griffin, Luck, or Blackmon. There is plenty of game tape on all of them.

    There is no upside for any of them and any questions could cost them money.

  18. Mayock is awesome. If there was one thing I wish he could stay away from, it would be his mock drafts and projections where players will fall. But he has no say in the matter.
    Anyway I love his analysis. He pegs strengths, problem areas and what to look for better than anyone and usually keeps it in a good layman term. I hope he has a long career in this business.

  19. Institute a “Combine Competitor of the Year” award at each position with some sort of prize or other tangible recognition and maybe these prima donnas will want to compete. It’s called bribery.

  20. Mayock is NOT a good analyst and he stepped over the line regarding his comments. He is suppose to be a part of the media and not create news which he clearly did with this comment.

    I will take Frank Cooney and his companies’ work long before the likes of Mayock as well.

    Mayock has and will continue to make some very bad analyst calls as long as he has a microphone.

    One other thing – the relationships that he claims to have, like the one that he thinks he has with the Patriots camp, is exaggerated.

  21. The Combine and pro-day “work outs” are both a waste of time, but these players that won’t perform at the Combine but go ahead and perform in their pro-days are obviously insecure about their skills while performing in anything less than a “perfect” situation. What a wake up call they’ll get when/if they actually make it onto an NFL field.

  22. ghjjf says:
    Feb 25, 2012 5:30 PM
    The Combine and pro-day “work outs” are both a waste of time, but these players that won’t perform at the Combine but go ahead and perform in their pro-days are obviously insecure about their skills while performing in anything less than a “perfect” situation. What a wake up call they’ll get when/if they actually make it onto an NFL field.

    Exactly…. Great Post.

    It’s funny how some in here are talking about how worthless it is for some of these guys to do all the drills here at the combine but yet never addressed their pro days:)
    Well if it is about injuries and being worried about that they have to throw and run at their pro days and could very well injure themselves as easily at a pro day:)

  23. 6thsense79 says: Feb 25, 2012 4:32 PM

    Please tell me what Luck or Griffin have to gain from participating in these things??? Luck has played all 4 years in college. Scouts have had every oppurtunity to watch him in game condition. Griffin same thing. These guys are not going to perform in something that’s meaningless. It’s real silly to insinuate just because they won’t jump through hoops for your entertainment at a combine that is essentially meaningless to them that they somehow will not perform in football games. What kind of logic is that?

    Will the Colts pass over Luck because he didn’t perform at the combine? Will Griffin drop out the top 10 for the same reason? Give me a break.

    ————–

    Nobody’s insinuating anything. The fact of the matter is while they have “nothing to gain” from throwing at the combine, they have nothing to lose either. Look at Cam Newton a year ago, he was terrible throwing at the combine and still went #1.

    Why should they throw? Because it shows that drive to compete in everything, it shows that they’re not afraid to show what they can bring to the table, it shows confidence. It’s an attitude thing, the “I don’t need to do this, but I’m going to anyway because I want to show what I’m made of ” mentality is something teams love to see.

    Instead these kids are choosing the safe route, the fearful route, the uncompetitive route. Will it hurt their draft stock? Probably not, but it certainly isn’t helping.

  24. The reason QB’s don’t throw at the combine is they don’t know the speed of the receivers. If their timing is off with a receiver, it makes them look like they aren’t accurate. Better to wait for their pro day when they know the receivers.

  25. Not a big fan of any of the nfl network guys, but, I gotta agree with them on this one. Seriously who do these guys think they are ? Some owner is about to make them rich men and they can’t be bothered to run 40 yards ? Seriously ?

    For me the biggest thing is the qbs. I keep hearing how they want to throw to their own wr’s, but that’s lame. What are the colts going to draft all the Stanford skill position players as well?

    It’s hard to support these guys when they act like this. Its one weekend for people who are about to make you a millionaire, just do it

  26. Theres no point in them working out. All three are expected to go in the top 10. Luck and Griffin are going top 3. They risk having an off day and potentially slipping.

  27. auburntigers34 says:
    Feb 25, 2012 4:04 PM
    Mayock’s pathetic.

    Well, lets see..He’s on tv and your on here commenting. I’m sure your comment won’t sting him too much

  28. Why should they care about what Mayock says?

    He is TERRIBLE in the booth during a game. Between the lisp and his sensationalizing of every player, it’s just painful.

  29. How coninciencedental..All the white folks in the NFL found every reason in the book to be “concerned” about Cam. This season, since they got their chosen QB, they are all onboard with RG III. So Interesting…And please spare me all the so call “concerns” about Cam. I already now how that psychological game works.

    BTY, can Mayock see pass the skin color of these QBs? Does he feel he needs to compare every black QB to their own? RGIII is so lucky because if Cam didn’t come along and do what he did last season, folks like Mayock would be stuck constantly comparing RG III to Mike Vick or VY.. SMDH…

    So sad….

  30. “How coninciencedental..All the white folks in the NFL found every reason in the book to be “concerned” about Cam. This season, since they got their chosen QB, they are all onboard with RG III. So Interesting…And please spare me all the so call “concerns” about Cam. I already now how that psychological game works.

    ———————————————————-

    Whats sad is that there are people like you who turn everything into a racial topic. Its not about race. When there is an athletic QB, scouts will want to know if he can throw as well as he can run because its a much tougher game at the pro level. Mike Vick couldnt do that until two years ago. Vince Young still hasnt figured it out. Cam Newton looks like he will. If a team is going to invest a top 5 pick in a QB he wants to make sure he can pass as well as he can run. No one cares what color these kids are leave the 1960’s in the past

  31. I don’t mind mayock, but cmon. Anybody can see the conflict of interest here. If the top prospects run, throw, and catch then there is more interest and better ratings for NFL network. There is really no point in any of them working out. The league wants this dog and pony show to generate more advertising dollars in the offseason. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start making participation in the physical tests mandatory. If Calvin Johnson hadn’t run 5 years ago, guess what? He still would have gone #2 overall. These guys have nothing to gain, and a lot to lose.

  32. I agree leave the 60’s in the past. By the way nice name whatswiththehate and your the one spewing hate.

    Grow up and stop spamming message boards and get a life.

  33. ,I still remember Mike Maylock saying after Parcells and Ireland selected Pat White in the second round, “I not only think he (White) can come in and run “The Wildcat”, I think he could end up becoming the eventual starter”.

  34. @dlmcc1010,

    Don’t be so naive. Race matters. It matters in just about everything, including the NFL. You can act like it doesn’t come into peoples minds, but it does, whether consciously or subsconsciously.

    Jake Locker is a perfect example of a double standard. He is one of those athletic qbs you speak of. He does have a cannon, but wasnt terribly accurate at Washington, nor did he win a bunch of games. Was he subject to the same scrutiny that Cam Newton was? Ryan Tannehill is largely unproven, but despite the fact he has played more games at receiver than qb, most “experts” are comfortable penciling him in as the third qb off the board. In what universe is Tannehill a better pro prospect than Russell Wilson? I don’t believe that Mayock and crew are racist, but I think they harbor biases and stereotypes that force them to put most qbs of color in the same boat. The previous poster could have been more tactful than to come right out and basically call Mayock a racist. That being said, can we ask a serious question about race without somebody automatically going into defensive mode?

  35. Luck and RG3 have nothing to prove, that would be a bad idea to throw, Mayock just wants to create some hype for the NFL network, can’t blame him for saying that. Mayock is by far the best draft analyst out there and even he makes mistakes, sometimes big but didn’t he make some pretty good ones too? He didn’t like clausen, kiper did, how’d that turn out?

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