The NFL combine took place earlier this week. Some players, like Hall of Famers Marcus Allen and Jerry Rice, would never have wowed anyone at the NFL combine. And some who never make the cut in the NFL make headlines at the NFL combine. The fastest player at the rookie showcase? Running back Chris Johnson from East Carolina, who ran an amazing 4.24 40-yard dash. Highest vertical leap? Kentucky receiver Keenan Burton, who went 38.5 inches airborne. The strongest? A tie between Michigan offensive lineman Jake Long and Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston. So who is the most impressive physical specimen among rookies? Vernon Gholston is a 270-pound man who runs a sub-4.7 40, can bench 225 pounds 37 times, and boasts a vertical leap of 35.5 inches. It is incredible to be that big and that athletic. He gets my vote. If you meet Vernon Gholston, before you deliver the obligatory male greeting, "Dude, how much do you bench?," tell him that you did 225 for 38 reps in your mom's basement.

Please don't remind me that the NFL exists, Dan. Too soon.

Go Celtics!

Maybe they can all go to the Patriots and help them choke again next year.

Ben-T,

Though the East has gotten tougher (because the Lebrons are much improved), the acquisitions of P.J. and Sam really makes the Celtics dangerous. At this point, I have no idea who will win either conference or the Finals. If Kobe isn't bothered by his finger, then my money's on the Lakers. And if my beloved Mavs don't make it (and with the bone-headed decisions that Avery makes, it doesn't look good), the next best thing would be a Lakers-Celtics matchup. It wouldn't quite be Magic vs. Bird, but it would be entertaining.

I don't think the Lakers match up well against the Celtics. Pau Gasol is still soft imo, and KG will beat up on him. Paul Pierce has always shut down LA and played extremely well against Kobe. If the finals are Celtics-Lakers, I will be very confident, as well as overjoyed at the match up.

It won't be Bird vs. Magic, but I never got to see those games, so I would happily take Pierce vs. Kobe.

Actually, the matchups will be Kobe vs. Ray and Pierce vs. Odom. On the first, Kobe is the best player in the game, and while Ray can shoot with him, Kobe's superior going to the basket and defending. On the second, while I think that Pierce is a better player (by far) than Odom, their different players. Odom is a tall 6'10" and his size would present problems for Pierce. That's not to say that the Celtics couldn't win a series with L.A., but L.A. would have to be the favorite.

I don't mean Pierce plays well in personal match ups against Kobe. I mean that Pierce puts up huge numbers when playing the Lakers.

P.S: Also consider that in the season series, the Lakers got throttled by the Celtics. I know that was before they had Gasol, so they are significantly better now, but they had Bynum in those games. If KG neutralizes Gasol, and I think he will, still believe Gasol is soft, then we are back where we started.

But when (if) Bynum comes back healthy, he'll start at center with Gasol at PF, Odom at SF, Kobe and Fischer in the backcourt. So it's not quite back to where it was with Bynum vs. KG. Bynum and Gasol together will be a very strong frontcourt.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Celtics have a heckuva lineup. I just think the Lakers' is better (which amounts to the better team, I don't know). Putting that kind of talent around Kobe is bad news for the rest of the NBA. And that's really what it comes down to. Kobe is the man. Period. If he's got two All-Star caliber players (Gasol and Odom) and other good role players supporting him, I just don't see anyone beating them.

Assuming Bynum will be what he was before he went down again this year is a big if.

As to Kobe, bah. Paul Pierce is the anti-Kobe man, I'm telling ya. Just wait for the finals. If its Celtics-Lakers, I would predict Celtics in 5.

Stop being trolls. This post is about football. Do you see any posts about basketball (now or at anytime in the history of FlynnFiles) here? Maybe to satiate you guys I'll write something about the Washington Generals at a later date. At least D. Isgusted comment was tangentially related to the post. Ralph, why not talk in the post immediately below about Romo's four-point advantage in the Wonderlic over Brady?

This topic has been hi-hacked with a string of irrelevant basketball talk. I've been known to 'troll' some myself. Especially when a topic that I'm busting about is bugging me. In future I’ll try not to do it regularly if at all. Mea Culpa in advance.

Relevant to the topic though this will be my final whine and the last time I post here on football. I don’t know if I’ll get over ‘Black Sunday’ in the near future and I will have an especially difficult time ever getting interested in what the Patriots do specifically going forward.

For the last three years I’ve watched this very talented team choke but this last game was a choke for the ages. Worse than the Bills of old losing four Super Bowls, it would have been easier to swallow if the Aintriots had lost one or two games going into the SB42. But to have a perfect season and then completely $hit the rack the way they did was appalling.

In the last three years, they've choked in the 2006 Divisional playoffs against Denver; they've choked in the 2007 Conference championship against the Colts (even when up 15 points going into the second half); and going into SB42 with a perfect record and history to be made, they choked against a team that they had met two times in the season and who they had outmanned and (should have) had out planned.

So I’ll be ending my abusive relationship with the home town team and will hopefully eventually renew my interest in pro football in general sometime soon.

Abusive relationship?

6 out of 7 division championships, including 5 straight. Appearances in 5 out of 7 AFC Championship Games. Appearances in 4 out of 7 Super Bowls. Record 21 game winning streak. Record 16-0 regular season. Second team ever to 3 out of 4 championships in an era when no other team has appeared in more than one Super Bowl. Right back in the hunt to win it next year.

I hate to imagine what you'll be like when they slip back into true mediocrity!

Have to agreee with Ben, ASDF. I'm a Jets fan and would trade places with you in a heartbeat. I know it's easy to get spoiled when your team is so successful but enjoy the present. The Pats domination will not last forever, enjoy it while it lasts and wax nostalgic when it's over.

Ok, this is really truly my last post on this topic. I know you’re both right. And I also know that my man whine is somewhat unjustified. But, we are spoiled fans and are nuts for our team’s successes where much is expected.

My problem is that the Patriots themselves, never mind their fans, hold themselves up to a higher standard and when they project confidence and a winning attitude and fail to deliver, especially where they only needed one f’ing win to seal the deal; it’s a shocker! After a series of similar seasons, at least for me, it’s hard to accept that one ultimate loss and I see this as being the end for a once charmed franchise.

My best friend is a Jets fan from the Bronx and he too has a hard time relating to these sentiments.

Spoiled little biatches, ain’t we?! But that’s the way it is.