NFL Combine Diary Day 1: Calm Before the Storm
The Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the National Football League are in Indianapolis for the 2023 NFL Combine, and thus All Cardinals is here to provide live daily coverage of the event.
Publisher Donnie Druin gives his thoughts:
Indy is much colder than Phoenix, and I don't like it.
On a serious note, it's great to be back here for my second NFL Combine after making my rookie debut last season. This year, the stakes are fairly high for the Cardinals after their 4-13 outing netted them the No. 3 overall pick.
Will Anderson? Jalen Carter? Tyree Wilson? Trade down?
Options are across the board for new general manager Monti Ossenfort. If he doesn't know who he and the rest of his front office wants, this week will give him a perfect opportunity to get closer to solving that question.
If they have a pretty solid idea, perhaps this week seals the deal.
Some believe the NFL Combine is a mere dog and pony show for athletes to wear cool gear and run around Lucas Oil Stadium.
The testing is important, but what really matters is the Cardinals (and everyone else) getting the opportunity to get up close and personal.
Interviews and meetings are stacked across the board for these players, on top of media availability and eventually the on-field testing.
It's a lot for a player, which in turn can help teams see if they're capable of handling the pressure, stress, whatever way you want to describe a hectic string of days here.
Another overlooked aspect are the medical evaluations, where teams are able to get their own look at certain issues with their medical team firsthand.
It's a busy week for everybody involved. Players and NFL teams/their personnel will take turns going through an extensive process. Fans will have a blast keeping up with everything, and media like myself will simply try to keep our heads above water on a daily basis.
We're all busy here, and for good reason. This is what everybody in Indianapolis signed up for, and we wouldn't want to be anywhere else for the next few days.
It's time to settle in and get a bite to eat. Tomorrow we'll have actual football stuff to talk about. Thanks for keeping up.
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