Imagine NBA teams drafting players based on their dunk contest routines. Or MLB teams choosing hitters based on the Home Run Derby. Well, the NFL Combine, the most beloved test in all of sports, isn’t too far off.
It’s crazy how many traditions go unchallenged in sports. No one stops to think if something makes sense from a logical or scientific standpoint. While the Combine is plenty exciting, there’s something about it that seems a little off.
In my latest piece for Stack.com, I look into the Combine’s three most popular tests: the 40-yard dash, the 225-pound bench press test and the vertical jump test. There are some interesting studies that investigate the link (or lack thereof) between success at the NFL Combine and success in professional football. The results might surprise you.
