What's the View From America on the importance of the NFL Combine?

By the end of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week, there’s one thing for certain: The US media will be telling us about the player who “wowed us at the Combine” while others “disappointed” or “hurt their draft status”.

A total of 332 prospects from college football are invited to do different drills, watched on by GMs, owners, head coaches, scouts and every member of the American football media known to man.

The drills are: The 40-yard dash (timed run measuring speed), the shuttle run (a cone drill to measure lateral quickness), the three-cone drill (to measure a player's ability to change directions at speed), the bench press (to test strength), the broad jump (getting a player to stand still and jump outwards before landing without moving, to test a player's balance) and the vertical jump (measuring his explosiveness). The 40-yard dash is seen as being all-important, simply because it's more like an Olympic event than the rest of them.

If you have a great Combine - as Trae Waynes did in 2015 - then it's probable that you'll move yourself in leaps and bounds up the draft order. That's not guaranteed - Jacoby Ford had a brisk 4.28-second 40-yard dash in 2010 and is now playing in the Canadian Football League after four years of not fitting in anywhere. And a great Combine can lead to a great NFL career - here's looking at you, Odell Beckham Jr (great shuttle sprints in 2014), Chris Johnson (record breaker for the 2008 40-yard dash) and Tyler Eifert (led all tight ends in 2011).

But when we look at 2010, here are two player profiles from the Combine that still make us chuckle.

The first talked about an Arizona tight end who produced 23 reps in the bench press: "Does not have a great top-end speed and may not be able to stretch the field at the next level. Lacks the elusiveness to make people miss after catch." That was about Rob Gronkowski.

The other was about a wide receiver from a small school who recorded OK-to-mediocre numbers in every comparison apart from the broad jump (where he was worst) and in the vertical jump (where he was almost worst). The NFL Combine expert said in his profile: "He is undersized and will initially struggle with the physical aspects of the game at the next level," adding: "He has decent hands but it looks like the ball gets big on him at times and he traps too many passes in his body".

It finished with: "Lacks size. Not tall and does not possess enough bulk at this time. Needs to add strength to more effectively beat press coverage and battled for the ball in the air. Route running skills could use some refinement. Needs to become more consistent catching the ball in a crowd." That was about Central Michigan's Antonio Brown. He's worked out OK for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Not tall and does not possess enough bulk at this time. Needs to add strength to more effectively beat press coverage and battled for the ball in the air. Route running skills could use some refinement.

And the overrated?  This 2011 Florida State alumnus topped players in the vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle and his profile described his strengths as: "Very tight and sound in his drop. Accelerates quickly when escaping the pocket. Will make plays in the open field after tucking. Can buy time with his feet and keep his eyes downfield. Does a good job in the short passing game getting the ball out quickly with accuracy. Exhibits great leadership qualities and toughness."

Does not have a great top-end speed and may not be able to stretch the field at the next level. Lacks the elusiveness to make people miss after catch.

That's Christian Ponder, who hasn't played since 2014 and is considered one of the biggest quarterback draft busts in recent memory.

And there are those who they get just right: "He will be challenged to avoid a Ryan Leaf-like, crash-and-burn scenario if he does not settle down and mature." Who was that about? Johnny Manziel. 'Nuff said.

But the best stories are the ones about the uninvited, who sit outside and look into the party, wishing for the chance. If that happens: "You have to do what you have to do to get there, no matter what it takes." That was New England's Malcolm Butler, talking to USA Today in 2015 a few days after his incredible play won Super Bowl 49. Also playing for the Patriots is one Julian Edelman, who has also turned out OK too.

He will be challenged to avoid a Ryan Leaf-like, crash-and-burn scenario if he does not settle down and mature.

In Butler's words: "The Combine is a good thing - it's a great thing. Everyone wants to go and show their abilities to the scouts and the whole world, but not everyone is going to have that opportunity."

And even if you don't get invited, you can still get a job in the NFL. Just ask Butler, Edelman and fellow non-invitees Doug Baldwin, Sam Shields, Wes Welker and future NFL Hall of Famer James Harrison.