The NFL combine has a way of changing the public perception of specific players. Many, including life long organizational scouts, forget the good or the bad of an individual player's career, instead, choosing to make judgment based solely on a players combine performance. The Combine, a testing ground where players are not required to participate in pads is overvalued and more often than not analyzed without historical merit. It's almost as if a players three or four years of college is good only for entry into the week long February event, and that a players Combine numbers stands alone when determining their worth.

Too much value is placed on how fast, smart, or strong a player is at the Combine while important questions such as leadership, character and football speed are practically ignored. The event places far too much weight on the individuals physical skills without the football. Tests like the 40 yard dash, the Wonderlic, and bench press totals are over emphasized not only by scouts, but by those in the media that cover the event. And while these tests are never the ultimate measure of player's skill, sexy combine numbers almost always influence a player's draft day slot.

This year will be no different. The current consensus of the top-10 players on most website Big Board will change. Those changes will occur based on the Combine numbers they produce, not the individual's collegiate career.

The fact that quarterback Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell didn't work for scouts at the Combine was disappointing, but not unexpected. Neither quarterback had much to gain by putting their top-ranked status on the line this past weekend. The two will perform their Pro-Day in comfortable surroundings without the pressure of 'who has done what' during the week long Combine circus. Quinn and Russell's MIA status also provide specific players and prospects, those who may have slipped into the proverbial crack, the opportunity to shine and increase their draft day value.

Top wide receiver prospect Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech, who participated in but one event, the 40-yard-dash, posted a blistering time of 4.35 seconds. Johnson was five-tenths of a second from the top of the speed chart at the Combine. Offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Ohio State, defensive end Gaines Adams from Clemson, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, and Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch all had productive Combines and are all an apparent lock as top-10 selections in April's draft.

Also making a statement this past weekend were Wolverine cornerback Leon Hall, Louisiana State safety LaRon Landry, Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown, and Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. All have a very good chance of moving up organizational draft charts with their Combine performances.

Those players projected to be late first or early second-round selections that damaged their value were players like Miami linebacker Jon Beason who logged a mediocre 4.72 second forty-yard-dash. Also disappointing in the Combine speed test were Arizona State tight end Zach Miller's (4.89) Bulldog defensive end Quentin Moses (4.85), and South Carolina wide out Sidney Rice (4.55). Considering the fact that Pro scouts take a long hard look at speed, especially at the position of outside linebacker, defensive end and wide receiver, the trio likely lost draft value which translates into a decrease in signing dollars.

On the flip side, players like Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston (4.32), wide receiver Robert Meachem (4.39) of Tennessee, and defensive back Brandon Meriweather (4.47) of Miami, all helped their stock and made a significant move up the Big Board with their blazing performances in "The Dash" for cash.

No one gets a second chance to make a first impression, but the upcoming Pro Days offer the opportunity of redemption for those in need. A good or bad performance during a job interview doesn't define the employee, a career does that. Leaving many to question; is too much value placed on an individual's performance at the NFL Combine?