Guess what CAN'T be measured....

For every "Combine", every "Pro Day", every "Weight Limit", there are sections of the particular player which can be quantified.  I think it's funny, because, we measure what we can see, feel and touch, instead of actually measuring what actually COUNTS...

The one thing that completely implodes the concept of "scouting" and "COMBINES" is Mike Mamula.

I hate to throw the guy (continuously) under the bus...but hey, he went from a No-Name to a 1st Round Pick.  Did the Eagles actually do their homework before making this pick, or did they fall in love with the #'s...?

The funny thing is, is that Mike had ALL the #'s to make you fall in LOVE with him.  The only thing is that these numbers came in shorts...with no opponent...and no game tape.

To accurately measure a player, you have to see tape, talk to teammates/coaches/opponents, talk to them in person AND see them play in PERSON.

The one thing you CAN NOT measure is someones #HEART.  An individuals #HEART is something that makes them want to get up off the ground and keep going.  Get up early in the "Off-Season" and grind or watch tape when most of the team is watching cartoons.

#HEART can not, will not and most likely will NEVER be able to be quantified...I'm good with that.  Because it's a "feeling", a "way of thinking"....If you never experienced it, you'll never know.  If you have, then you KNOW that there is NO # that will ever encompass it.

Chris Polk

Chris Polk

      Like any other football junkie, I was enthralled with the NFL Draft.  Well, the Draft has come and gone and like every year, there are guys who were taken too high, too low, or didn't get selected at all.  A lot of people think that not being selected is a testament to how good they (the player in question) "thought" they were.  Others think it's an oversight on scouting.  I tend to think that most scouts, GM's, coaches and owners fall in love with "numbers" and not the PLAYER who's putting up those numbers.

     While yes, it is true that some guys put up gawdy numbers because of the system they played in and it's easy to fall in love with stats...Sometimes you have to actually LOOK at the stats and see HOW they were put up!  I was told in my college Stats class that there are 3 kind of lies...lies, damn lies and STATS.  Statistics tell part but not the entire story.  Behind every statistical gain, there is a player behind them.  Whether these stats are system generated, roster induced (lack of quality players behind the starter) or basic workings of the team (i.e. Nebraska under Tom Osborne), there is a player that has worked their tail off to achieve them (college football is really hard...)

     This brings me to Chris Polk.  I've watched this young man ball his H.E.A.R.T out for the University of Washington over the past 4 years (he Redshirted his Frosh year because of injury).  He carried the team in 2009 when Jake Locker was getting all the love in the Great NW.  Everybody knows that every great Quarterback NEEDS a running game.  Without a running game, the defense just "sits back" and waits on every pass.  Needless to say, when Jake was struggling in 2010, it was Polk who picked up the pieces and gained over 1,400 yards rushing on 260 carries (yeah, you read that right...260).

     In his final year at the University of Washington, the school once again leaned heavily on Chris until first year starter Keith Price got his feet wet.  If you don't believe me about Polk's contribution to the Program, check out his bio for yourself...-----> Chris Polk stats. 

     All of this, his leadership, playing through pain, getting very little recognition lead him to what...?  Not getting drafted?  Are you kidding me?  This guy played his ass off for 3 years!  But you know what?  That doesn't matter to Chris.  Chris now has an opportunity to play for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL and it's not his "Stats"that got him there...it was his H.E.A.R.T. 

     So the next time you think that stats prove a player belongs, or how many accolades he/she has gained or how many Twitter followers they (you) have.  You need to look into their eyes and analyze what's beating in the chest.  Because there is nothing worse than competing against someone who still thinks they have something to prove and has one big ass chip on their shoulder...