Mar 2, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield speaks to the media during the 2018 NFL Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — It was a big day of media interviews, including quarterbacks, at the NFL Scouting Combine. Here is some of the best of what was said:
Whether you love Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield or hate him, there’s no denying his surplus of confidence.
On being selected by the Cleveland Browns, winless last season:
“That would be a chance to play football, I’d love that. First things first, they’d get a winner, if anybody’s going to turn that franchise around, it’s going to me. They’re close, they’re very close, they’ve got the right pieces they just need that one guy and quarterback make the difference.”
Asked about his most pro-ready attribute, he said: “I’m the most accurate quarterback in this draft, by far.”
On what teams are asking him about: “Teams ask me about my character, but until you sit down and talk to me directly, you might have image that’s portrayed in stories or headlines. But I love the game, I’m up front and honest, I know exactly what I’m about and that’s the most important thing. What you see is what you get. I’ve always been brutally honest and some people don’t like that because it’s rare now days.”
On being willing to initially play a backup role: “First things first, whatever team I go to, I’m not going to settle for a backup job, I’ve never been like that and I never will.”
–USC’s San Darnold had to address his high interception and fumble totals:
“In regards to turning the ball over, the No. 1 priority of a quarterback is to protect the football. I’m aware of that, and I’m aware how much I turn the ball over and that it’s not OK,” he said.
“I’ve been addressing it this offseason. I’ve been working on keeping two hands (on the ball) in the pocket at all times. The only time I let go of the ball is to throw it. That’s something I’ve really been working on. And also keeping it tight whenever I tuck it and run.”
–Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli is missing the index finger on his left (dominant) hand due to
Amniotic Band Syndrome, requiring amputation at birth. He was asked what funny explanations he has given for missing the finger.
“Woodshop class, I guess was my best one. But no, I’m pretty serious about it. I just tell people it happened at birth. Serious events like this, I don’t mess around with.”
–Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph countered criticism that he put up huge numbers over the years in part because of shoddy Big 12 defenses.
“Well, we played Colorado, Washington and Virginia Tech and we beat the crap out of all of them in the postseason. Those are not Big 12 defenses, and we played pretty well against those guys. So you throw on that tape and I think that’ll kill that argument right there.”
–Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, answered with a smile when asked if he would move to receiver if a team wanted to see him there: “No sir. I’m a quarterback.”
–Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley on the most important thing he learned from Tide coach Nick Saban:
“To work hard. I feel like Coach Saban works us hard and the outcome of working hard is to win. I told a coach I felt like one week I didn’t have a good week of practice and I had a bad game. I felt like when I had a great week of practice, I had a great game. I really believe in that. If I have a good week of practice, I’m going to have a good game every time.”
–Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White is a potential second-day pick in the NFL Draft. He began his career at South Florida before transferring to the Hilltoppers, where he was teammates with Brandon Doughty, a 2016 seventh-round pick of the Miami Dolphins.
“When I transferred to Western Kentucky and I sat out a year while he played, I literally followed him around like a puppy dog,” White said.
“I wanted to pick his brain on everything he did. He never got annoyed. He always answered my questions. Even when he was up-and-coming with the Dolphins, I still texted him if I had anything. He always got back to me. We’d call each other. I went to his wedding. He’s always been there for whatever I needed, both on and off the field. I honestly couldn’t be any more thankful for him.”
–Penn State wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton on growing up with parents who were Marines:
“Bounced around a little bit, strict parents, didn’t really get away with anything, taught me a whole lot of life lessons. Raised me as if I was in the military. It was a blessing to have both my parents in the military and have both of them together my whole life and being along the journey I’ve been playing football and throughout my life, always by my side and always being my great support system.”
–More from Mayfield, who was asked about his left tackle at Oklahoma, Orlando Brown, who tested poorly at the Combine, including the worst marks among offensive linemen for the 40-yard dash (5.85 seconds) and bench press (14 reps).
“When are you ever going to watch Orlando Brown run 40 yards down the field?” Mayfield said. “You can watch last year’s tape and see he allowed zero sacks. I’d say that’s pretty important for a left tackle.”
Brown is the son of the late Orlando “Zeus” Brown, who played in NFL for more than a decade. Brown was asked Thursday if he had ever thought about playing other positions to escape his father’s shadow.
“No. I’ve been fat my whole life,” he said. “I wish I was fast. If I was fast and 6-foot-2, I’d probably be playing defensive back. But God blessed me.”
