Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Self-assuredly, wide receiver John Ross of the University of Washington stood in front of the media Friday at the Indiana Convention Center and matter-of-factly laid out his goal for Saturday’s running of the 40-yard dash.
When asked if he believed he could break Chris Johnson’s Combine record of 4.24 set in 2008, Ross said: “I’m going to try. I am going to try. I don’t want to say too much. I’m going to try. I’m going to give it my best.” He then added: “Under 4.3. That’s what I plan to run.”
Ross turned out to be a soothsayer when he blistered the 40 in 4.22 (the “official” time announced by the NFL), and then said afterward on NFL Network: “I feel like I could have run faster.”
To that end, Twitter was filled with those saying some scouts timed his run as low as 4.16. Former NFL general manager Charley Casserly, now with NFL Network, said five of six watches in the area where he was had Ross under 4.20, with the sixth at 4.25.
–Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he has not made a final decision whether quarterback Tony Romo returns to the team next season.
“I have not ruled out the possibility of him being a part of the Cowboys at all,” Jones told reporters Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Jones also said there is “nothing factual in any way” in regards to trade rumors involving Romo as part of a three-team trade. “Haven’t had a discussion with anyone,” Jones said.
On Friday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins have already discussed a possible deal involving quarterback Kirk Cousins and may try to include Romo as part of the trade.
–Inside linebacker Reuben Foster of Alabama, a consensus first-round projection in the 2017 NFL Draft, reportedly was sent home from the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday night after what was described as a “heated argument” with a hospital worker.
Details were scarce and on Saturday Foster claimed his innocence in an Instagram video that was later taken down.
“Y’all, stop asking me what happened, for real,” Foster said, according to AL.com. “Nothing happened. … Talk to Tim (Williams). Talk to Ryan (Anderson). Talk to Dalvin (Tomlinson). Them boys know. They were there.”
NFL.com reported that two of the players Foster listed refuted his claim that they witnessed what happened. According to reports, the alleged altercation did not get physical.
–The San Francisco 49ers agreed to terms on a three-year contract with wide receiver Jeremy Kerley.
The deal is worth $10.5 million deal, according to multiple reports.
“We are very excited to be able to keep a player and teammate like Jeremy in red and gold,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said in a statement. “As we evaluated the roster, his production on the field really impressed us and we believe he is a great fit for our scheme. As we learned more and more about him, it became obvious his teammates have a great deal of respect for Jeremy as well. He is a true pro who is an asset to this team on offense, special teams and in the locker room.”
In 2016, the 5-foot-9, 188-pound Kerley appeared in all 16 games (13 starts) for San Francisco and led the team with a career-high 64 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned 21 punts for 158 yards as the team’s primary punt returner.
–Greg Hardy, former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboy, avoided jail time on cocaine charges from last September.
According to Fox 4 in Dallas, Hardy struck a plea deal and was given two years’ probation, community service and a $500 fine.
Hardy, 28, could have been sentenced to at least 180 days in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.
Policed in Richardson, Texas, on Sept. 25 stopped Hardy for a traffic violation and searched his car before finding a small bag with 0.7 grams of cocaine in a wallet. Hardy claimed someone put the drugs in his wallet as he was passing it around to pay for things.
