So if your an NFL fan you know that this week is NFL Combine week. Hundreds of hopeful college football players make their way to Indianapolis in hopes to impress NFL scouts. Whether it’s the 40 yard dash, vertical jump, bench press you name it, players can leave a long lasting impression on scouts. This is also the time in the NFL Draft process where scouts become absolutely insane.
Take in point LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. It’s no secret the Cincinnati Bengals are going to take Burrow with the 1st overall pick. I mean what’s not to love? This past season he threw for 5671 yards, 60 touchdowns, only 6 interceptions, has a 76.3% completion rate for goodness sake! Also won the Heisman Trophy by the widest margin ever you get the idea. Burrow is very very good.
Even with all his accomplishments, scouts and the media always have to find something critical to panic over with top prospects. What are scouts SO concerned with Joe Burrow? His hand size. No I’m not joking.
HAND SIZE! Now you know it’s Combine season.
Smallest Hands by #1 Overall Pick QBs Since 2003
2016 Jared Goff 9”
2005 Alex Smith 9’ 1/8”
2004 Eli Manning 9’ 1/8”
2018 Baker Mayfield 9’ 1/4”> Joe Burrow’s hand size measured at 9”.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) February 24, 2020
People are panicking because his hands are slightly small. Are you f***ing kidding me. Burrow to his credit clapped back in the best way possible.
Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands. Please keep me in your thoughts.
— Joey Burrow (@Joe_Burrow10) February 24, 2020
This is the part of the draft process that drives me absolutely insane. There are actual valid criticisms when looking at prospects. Maybe a player isn’t fast enough, maybe they have accuracy issues, maybe they aren’t athletic enough and so on. That’s fine to point out in a prospect I have no problem with that. My problem is when scouts and the media have to create b.s problems that are “concerning” for teams.
Oh no! Joe Burrow has slightly small hands! How on earth can he ever hold a football let alone hold any object! The Bengals simply can’t draft him anymore!
NFL teams will find every excuse under the sun when it comes to prospects to critique them on. Just take a look at some of the handful of things NFL scouts have actually asked players about.
#Baylor OT Spencer Drango said 1 team at combine asked “Would u share your internet history w/ us?”
Drango: “Sure. I search a lot of food.”
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) February 25, 2016
Strangest question DE Obum Gwacham has heard at the Combine: “When did you lose your virginity?” (He didn’t answer)
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 20, 2015
When a scout at the combine asked me… “If you could kill someone and not get caught, would you?” pic.twitter.com/mwK5UX8gvW
— Austen Lane (@A_Train_92) February 23, 2016
WHAT’S THE POINT OF ANY OF THIS!?!? I know some of you will say “It’s all about the psychology of a player and see how he will react to certain questions.” Cool so if a player (rightfully so) has a problem about a team asking him when he lost his virginity, then that’s a valid reason to not draft said player? In what other job interview would ANY of these questions be asked? In what other job would a potential employer ask you about you god damn hand size?
Judge players on their on the field abilities. Judge players on their character and if they have been in trouble with the law. Don’t judge players on their life experience and things that are just simply beyond their control. I’m sick of so called “experts” trying to fear monger over trivial things that NO ONE CARES ABOUT.
We are two months away from the NFL Draft. Don’t over react to every little thing that isn’t perfect about a player. They are all very talented. They will do just fine in the NFL.
The biggest lesson to take away is this. If your hand size is nine inches or less, you have baby hands and thus can no longer grasp objects from this day forward. I’m surprised my baby hands were even able to write this article. I will now have to live in a world where I can’t be a NFL quarterback not because I’m an non athletic nerd, but because I posses baby hands. What a cruel world. Good luck Joe Burrow.
