Adrian McPherson wows scouts

[abomb]

Didnt see this anywhere else;

The Dolphins were among five teams who scouted controversial former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson during his impressive individual workout at Southeast High on Tuesday.

Dolphins college scout John Crea was among representatives from five teams who watched as McPherson put on an athletic display that drew comparisons to the likes of Michael Vick and John Elway.

Whether that's enough for McPherson to overcome charges of stealing and accusations of gambling as an FSU student is another matter.

However, McPherson showed off a sculpted 212-pound body as he ran a 40-yard dashes of 4.52 and 4.59 seconds, a short shuttle of 6.78 and an astounding 40 ½-inch vertical leap.

That led at least one NFL assistant coach to say that a comparison to Elway might not be out of realm.

''He's probably a better athlete in terms of escapability than John,'' said New Orleans quarterbacks coach Turk Schonert, who split time with Elway during Elway's freshman year at Stanford. ``And John could buy time, so there's no question we're talking about an outstanding athlete. John probably had a stronger arm, but [McPherson] throws it very hard and they're a lot alike. They both throw everything on a line.

``They don't have any feel on the short stuff yet.''

Aside from the Dolphins and New Orleans, Jacksonville, St. Louis and the New York Giants attended the session at McPherson's former high school, where he became the first athlete in state history to be named Mr. Football and Mr. Basketball as a senior.

However, McPherson ran into serious trouble at Florida State during the 2002 season after allegations of stealing a check and gambling came out. He was dismissed by the team.

Though he played for the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League and was named the Rookie of the Year, the allegations remain a significant issue for NFL teams. There's little question about whether McPherson is a good enough athlete to get a shot.

''He's a physical freak,'' agent Leigh Steinberg said.

As for McPherson, he said he feels that the controversy will fade once he plays.

''Gambling is not going to be an issue as long as I go out and perform,'' he said.


http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/11264166.htm

 

[abomb]

And another one;

For his last trick, Adrian McPherson stood flat-footed on the 40-yard line and flung a football on a high arc 60 yards into the far end zone. How's that for arm strength?

"Very impressive," said New Orleans quarterback coach Turk Schonert. "He doesn't look like a quarterback. I don't know any quarterbacks I played with who looked like that."

McPherson unveiled his Body by Adonis physique and his powerfully accurate right arm Tuesday morning for coaches from a half-dozen NFL teams on his old football field at Southeast High. The 21-year-old Bradenton native with the checkered past conducted a two-hour private workout that was attended by close to 100 people, including media, former high school coaches and teammates and some interested parties from the neighborhood.

While he ran the 40-yard dash twice (4.52 seconds was the fastest) and jumped 40.6 feet in the vertical leap, the main attraction was the throwing session. McPherson threw 68 passes to a pair of receivers - Rod Miller, the Sarasota Riverview star who played at Florida A&M, and Detroit Lions receiver Adam Herzing - who ran a variety

of routes.

McPherson handled the session with ease, approaching it, he said, as if he would a game.

The toughest part of his day came afterwards when he was grilled about his past, which included the highly-publicized trial in the spring of 2003 for using the Internet to place bets on college and professional sports. The trial ended in a hung jury.

McPherson denied he ever gambled.

"I didn't gamble," he said. "It's not going to change. It is what it is. People are saying he did it, but his name wasn't associated it with it. I didn't do it."

The subject comes up often - when he talks with reporters and when he meets with NFL teams, who are very interested in his past. How in-depth are the questions?

"Very in-depth," said his agent Leigh Steinberg.

Steinberg advised McPherson not to hide anything during his interviews with NFL coaches and general managers, and McPherson said he doesn't.

"There are things I told teams on a one-on-one basis that nobody else knows," McPherson said. "It's not like I'm trying to hide anything. Every team can find out anything they want to find out. So, because (the media) doesn't know some things, that doesn't mean the teams don't know. I feel like if I hide some things from the teams, anything, and they find out, I'm done. For whatever reason, they can understand that I made a mistake three years ago and that I'm being honest. And I thought I did a great job of telling every team everything, because they asked everything."

Schonert, who said the Saints interviewed McPherson at length at last month's NFL Scouting Combine, said the Saints were satisfied with McPherson's answers concerning his off-field problems while at Florida State.

"He was very up-front and forward with what happened," he said. "In my opinion it's behind him. He made mistakes, but he's moved on."

Miami, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, St. Louis and the New York Giants also sent coaches to the workout. Schonert was the most active of the coaches, acting as a linebacker while Miller and Herzing ran several routes.

"This was my opportunity. I could help myself or I could really, really hurt myself," McPherson said. "Some teams, because I haven't played, they didn't think I could so some things, so I wanted to be as sharp as possible and do whatever they ask."

At one point, the receivers were acting as running backs coming out of the backfield, and Schonert told McPherson to take something off the passes.

"I'm trying to show my arm and they want me to take something off my passes," McPherson said. "But that's a good thing. They want to see if I can make all the throws."

The idea behind the workout, according to Steinberg, was for McPherson to "awe and shock" teams into taking a long look at his client. Steinberg thinks McPherson can move into the low first round. McPherson also sees himself as a first round pick.

"My goal is to get drafted," he said. "Wherever I go, I'm just going to go in and compete. I have the talent. I'm hungry right now, so who's ever there has to compete day in and day out."

• Height: 6-foot-4.

• Weight: 211 pounds.

• 40-yard time: 4.52 seconds.

• Teams watching: New Orleans, Miami, New York Giants, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Cincinnati.

• What's next: Workouts with Baltimore and St. Louis in April.


http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/sports/11262512.htm

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Unfortunately, the old man will never let us take a chance on this guy even in the later rounds.

 

[Ryanwb]

Unfortunately, the old man will never let us take a chance on this guy even in the later rounds.

To whom are you referring to?

 

[JeffGollin]

Seems as though he's answered all the physical questions in impressive style, but being a successful QB involves decision-making, executing correct reads, accuracy under pressure, huddle-presence, willingness to put in time in the film room etc.

In the end, that's what will make or break McPherson.

 

[azdad1978]

Unfortunately, the old man will never let us take a chance on this guy even in the later rounds.

With Green calling the shots it might happen.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

To whom are you referring to?

Mr. Bidwill. I just don't see an old-school guy like that taking a shot on a known gambler even though I'd love to see it. As much as we like (pray) to think that Green is running the show, I'm guessing Bill still has final say on nearly every decision.

I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

And another one;

For his last trick, Adrian McPherson stood flat-footed on the 40-yard line and flung a football on a high arc 60 yards into the far end zone. How's that for arm strength?


http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/sports/11262512.htm

That did wonders for Kyle Boller!

 

[mdamien13]

That did wonders for Kyle Boller!

Exactly. Physical tools are great and all but a grasp of the offensive system, ability to read defenses, and mental capacity to handle the pressure of a blitzing, aggressive defense aren't going to be overcome by an ability to throw a 60 yd pass flat-footed.

 

[AzCards21]

jumped 40.6 feet in the vertical leap

Impressive.

 

[CardinalChris]

No way we draft a QB, regardless of character. We have three.

 

[Russ Smith]

No way we draft a QB, regardless of character. We have three.

I don't know he's a better athlete than Josh, and probably better at hoops.

that seems to be the primary thing Denny liked about Josh.

 

[imaCafan]

No way we draft a QB, regardless of character. We have three.

Actually we have 4 QB's (C. Lewis)......

 

[red desert]

If we don't take him with our first round pick we won't be taking him at all because he'll be gone before we pick again.

 

[Carpy]

That did wonders for Kyle Boller!

But can he do it from his knees?????

I don't understand at all the drama with gambling in general? Did he actualy bet against his own team?

If the fact that you are a gambler, means you are unsuitable to be drafted, you can go ahead and rule out any one from Australia with a pulse.

 

[Russ Smith]

But can he do it from his knees?????

I don't understand at all the drama with gambling in general? Did he actualy bet against his own team?

If the fact that you are a gambler, means you are unsuitable to be drafted, you can go ahead and rule out any one from Australia with a pulse.

He didn't bet against FSU but it appears he may have bet on their games so then you get into the did he mess with the point spread. He denies he bet at all it was set up to be done with an account in his friends name and he says his friend just said he did it after getting caught. THey claim they can match up transactions very closely to prove McPherson did it.They had records of cell calls from his cell phone to the gambling site, and money transfers, but his friends said Mcpherson didn't want his name on the account so it was in a buddies name.

It's really more a matter of can he be trusted because the NFL comes down to a multi million dollar business. he's got ridiculous talent but will he take advantage of it or will he get his money and just screw up again?

 

[wierwolf]

I say he will be great and yes better than McCown. I watched him last year in the arena league. He was awsome. He is NFL ready now if given the opportunity. That is my take anyways... I thought it odd that the Giants were among the 5 teams at the workout. Eli not working out? LOL. All in all, I don't see us getting a QB this year now that Josh resigned. Like stated before, "THIS YEAR!!!" Next year could be different....

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

There sure seems to be a lot of freaks in this draft . He's a 4th rounder at best. Where did Aaron Brooks get drafted.That's who he reminds me of.

 

[D-Dogg]

That did wonders for Kyle Boller!

Although that's still one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. What a cannon...too bad he doesn't know how to use it.

 

[D-Dogg]

I say he will be great and yes better than McCown. :

That's not much of a stretch. And if he's "great" then he's far beyond McCown's "below average."