The Combine usually began at 9:00am ET, but the new primetime slot should boost ratingsGETTY IMAGES
The NFL Scouting Combine this year will feature "three straight days of prime-time workouts" instead of of the usual daytime drills when on-field activity begins on Feb. 27, according to Peter King of NBCSPORTS.com. QBs will be featured in the "first evening of workouts." The Combine, which used to start at 9:00am ET daily, will become a primetime show in an "effort to jack up" ratings. NFL VP/Production Charlie Yook said of the reason for the change, "Point-blank, it's all about the eyeballs." He added, "We should get a larger consumption of the combine in all platforms" (NBCSPORTS.com, 2/17). ABC last year aired a portion of the Combine (THE DAILY).
CHANGING TIMES: ESPN.com's Adam Schefter cited sources as saying that the Broncos are not sending their assistant coaches to the scouting combine in Indianapolis this year because they believe they will "make better use of their time by watching film." Sources added that the Rams are not sending their offensive and defensive coordinators, Kevin O'Connell and Brandon Staley, to the combine because they would "rather have them in Los Angeles implementing the team's new offensive and defensive schemes." The moves "could portend the wave of the future," as the Broncos and Rams "could be establishing a trend that other teams will follow, leaving coaches behind to watch the combine on television and do their own scouting work in the office" (ESPN.com, 2/14).
