Weeden on Kiper projection: ‘All you can do is laugh, man’
Published: 1/26/2012 9:35 PM
Last Modified: 1/26/2012 9:35 PM
When Oklahoma State defeated Stanford with a walk-off, overtime field goal in the Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl, it marked the end of Brandon Weeden’s college football experience. His preparation for NFL employment began almost immediately.
Since Jan. 8 – along with 90 other football athletes working in advance of the April 26-28 NFL draft – Weeden has been training at the Athletes’ Performance Inc. facility in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The former Cowboy quarterback is working with former NFL offensive coordinator Marc Trestman (now a Canadian Football League head coach in Montreal) and former NFL QB Tim Rattay. Also training at API are quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Stanford and Robert Griffin III of Baylor. Luck is expected to be the first pick overall in the draft. Griffin currently is rated the No. 2 man in the 2012 quarterback pool.
This week, Weeden and former Cowboy safety Markelle Martin are in Mobile, Ala., as members of the South team. The Senior Bowl is coached and coordinated by NFL personnel, so it’s a critical week for draft prospects.
Reports from Mobile indicate that Weeden has been the best quarterback among those playing in the Senior Bowl. The NFL combine is set for Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis. OSU’s Pro Day workout occurs in March. The NFL draft happens on April 26-28.
Weeden’s agent is Sean Howard of the Octagon Football representation firm. Howard is a former UCLA linebacker who once worked in the personnel departments of the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. Howard also represents former OSU tight end Brandon Pettigrew (who during the 2011 season totaled 83 receptions for the Detroit Lions).
During a Thursday telephone interview, Weeden discussed his draft status:
Your week in Mobile – has it been a business trip in every sense?
Weeden: “Tonight is the first time that we’ve had a little free time all week. The first three or four nights we were here, every scout and GM would pull you in and interview you. That would go on until (midnight) every night. It’s been pretty chaotic.”
So, in effect, the Senior Bowl is the first of two combine sessions for you.
Weeden: “Pretty much, yes.”
For months, you have predicted that you would change some opinions when you reached this level of evaluation. How do you feel when you see a guy like ESPN’s Todd McShay rave about your performance this week?
Weeden: “I’ve never felt like I got a fair shake when it comes to (national draft analysts), but I would never complain about it. I just wanted to wait until they could see what I can do. I’ve always been confident. I don’t worry about what they say. When it comes down to it, they’re not making decisions on draft day.”
Last week, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said he views you – because you will turn 29 in October – as being a third- or fourth-round guy. What was your reaction?
Weeden: “All you can do is laugh, man. I don’t get emotional about it. I can’t control. He’s not the one doing the drafting. He’s good at what he does, but I don’t lose sleep over it.”
On the Tulsa Sports Animal, Pat Jones predicted that you might pass Robert Griffin III and become the second quarterback drafted behind Andrew Luck.
Weeden: “That would be nice. That’s one of the goals, you know.”
Do you get the sense now that it’s a legitimate possibility?
Weeden: “It’s so hard to tell. It’s hard to get a feel for what teams are thinking. One, there’s still a lot of time left. Two, they don’t want to give anyone a hint of what they’re thinking.”
Taking the snap from under center is something you didn’t do at Oklahoma State. Video from Senior Bowl practices shows you taking snaps, dropping and releasing passes, and you look comfortable. Since the Fiesta Bowl, has that been your No. 1 emphasis – your footwork, set-up and release?
Weeden: “Absolutely. We’ve spent a lot of time on footwork. With Trestman, we’ve watched a lot of (video). With Tim Rattay, we do a lot of mechanical stuff. I’ve been working out every day since the Sunday after the Fiesta Bowl.”
Even if you have an exceptionally strong performance at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, is it a given that you will participate in OSU’s Pro Day workout in March? Weeden: “That’s a good question. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I haven’t even talked with my agent about it. For sure, I’m going to throw at the combine.”
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
