Aumukamara’s time silenced doubts about his wheels and might have cemented his status as a top-10 pick. On Sunday, even before he ran the 40, the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said he thought the Cowboys should select Amukamara if he was still available at No. 9.
49ers pioneer Wally Yonamine dies at 85
Wally Yonamine, who became the first Asian American to play professional football when he debuted with the 49ers in 1947, died of prostate cancer on Monday night. Yonamine was 85.
Greg McElroy: Alabama’s Einstein aces Wonderlic
McElroy, it’s worth noting, would seem to rank high on the Harbaugh Quarterback Scale: Leadership, competitiveness, intelligence, decision-making, accuracy.
Quinn’s UNC teammates awed by ‘Big Freak’
The NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi said he thought North Carolina’s Robert Quinn was a top-five pick who could go No. 1 overall. Said fellow NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock on Sunday: “He’s as good a natural pass rusher as I have ever seen.”
Upper-crust CBs Peterson, Prince ooze confidence
What does he hope to run in the 40-yard dash Tuesday at the NFL Combine? LSU’s Patrick Peterson said he wanted to clock in at 4.2 seconds, a mark which would break the event record of 4.24 seconds.
John Elway, ex-NFL scout talk LSU’s Patrick Peterson
John Elway eyed countless cornerbacks during his Hall-of-Fame career. And there is some belief he’s closely examining another – LSU’s Patrick Peterson — in his new role as Denver’s vice president of football operations.
Nevada’s Kaepernick disagrees with project label
Kaepernick acknowledged that he’s trying to shorten his delivery – his long windup is one reason he’s earned the project label. But, with a 79 ½-inch wing span, he said there’s only so much shortening he can do.
Chiefs’ Pioli notes that a good QB coach is hard to find
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli made an interesting point this morning at the NFL Combine: The NFL’s most important position doesn’t have enough coaches in a position to coach it well.
Ex-NFL scout: Smallish LB Von Miller plays strong
“This is part of why when you ask about his size, there’s no really no issue. Some guys play stronger and some guys that are big don’t play as strong. This guy plays with a great deal of explosion and a great deal of strength.”
McElroy has cast; Ponder has familiar answer
Asked about what NFL quarterback they try to emulate, Washington’s Jake Locker, TCU’s Andy Dalton and Ponder have said – surprise! – Super-Bowl-champion signal-caller Aaron Rodgers.
Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert: Big arm, great hair
For starters, there is the matter of Gabbert’s hair. It is blonde and long and wavy. As he spoke, a reporter in front of me turned to another and, looking into the future, muttered something about a “hair deal.”
The quarterbacks cometh: Jake Locker and Andy Dalton
Two intriguing quarterback prospects have stepped to the podium here at the NFL Combine and they both came across quite well. That is, Jake Locker and Andy Dalton have no plans, at the moment, to add “entertainer” and “icon” to their NFL quarterback duties:
For combine quarterbacks, character will count
When asked to tick off the qualities he seeks in a quarterback since his hiring, the Jim Harbaugh has never failed to mention leadership. A laser limb? Still waiting for Harbaugh to mention a Howitzer as a top priority.
Early rising Spikes makes impression on Harbaugh
The 49ers have offered no public assurances that free-agent-to-be Takeo Spikes will be back in San Francisco in 2011, but the team captain and 13-year veteran has clearly made an impression on coach Jim Harbaugh.
Q&A with Jim Harbaugh at the NFL Combine
The following is a transcript from Jim Harbaugh’s press conference with the national media today at the NFL Combine. (Note: The questions are paraphrased — my recorder didn’t pick up most of the questions in their entirety. UPDATE: The 49ers sent out a transcript with a more accurate reflection of the questions. This updated blog now reflects that):
Harbaugh still high on Smith; coy on Carr
To illustrate his strategy today in a conversation with the team’s beat writers in a corridor of Lucas Oil Stadium, Harbaugh, as if playing poker, put an imaginary hand of cards close to his mouth and laughed, “It will be like on the poker channel,” he said. “… Put the shades on. Pull the cap down. Kind of take that approach this year.”
Baalke: Niners treating Smith like any other free agent
Before stepping to the podium here at the NFL Combine, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke spoke to the Bay Area media contingent that’s here in Indianapolis. The following are the highlights from that 12-minute question-and-answer session.
Harbaugh, Baalke to meet media today at Combine
The 49ers will take center stage today on the first day of media availability at Lucas Oil Stadium. General manager Trent Baalke will take the podium at 8:15 a.m. (PST) and head coach Jim Harbaugh will follow at 9:45 a.m.
Q&A with 49ers quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst
“You know there were stories about Steve Spurrier – the last thing he thought he’d do when he was playing was end up being a coach. And he kind of came to coaching once his playing career was over. I think Jim knew all along and so he was trying to get the most out of those situations.”
Kindred spirits Chryst, Harbaugh reuinted in SF
Harbaugh is the millionaire ex-quarterback who didn’t go into broadcasting – among the league’s top-75 in career pass attempts, he is the only NFL coach. Chryst is the Ivy League graduate who didn’t go to Wall Street – he played football and baseball at Princeton and went on to add a master’s degree from Wisconsin.
