40 Fodder – A breakdown of the Dash for Cash!

In 2003, Anquan Boldin ran a 4.72 forty yard dash at the NFL Combine. He was considered slow for a Wide Receiver and even though he played well at Florida State, he fell to the second round of the draft and was labeled a “possession receiver”. After a few Pro Bowls, I wonder how many coaches would pass on him now.

The 40, as it is often referred as, is a measuring stick that everyone seems to sincerely care about. I always hear people asking, “What did he run?” The biggest truth about the 40 yard dash is that it either makes or costs you money and that’s about it.

First of all, why don’t they have the Combine participants in football attire? At least shoulder pads and a helmet. When will we ever see a guy in Spandex with no shirt on trucking down field on Special Teams? Never, but I digress.

What is considered a good 40 time for each position? Let’s look at the chart!

Can the 40 effect draft position? Absolutely!

In February, typically after the Super Bowl up until April, the football world is flooded with Scouting Reports on players entering the upcoming draft. Using Chris Johnson as my example, let’s take a look at what some were saying before the Combine…

Chris Johnson – “Overall: Chris Johnson may be a 3-5th round pick to a team that is struggling on special teams and needs a little tweek on their running game.” from FFJungle.com

Johnson ran a 4.24 at the Combine and vaulted up the draft boards and was selected by Tennessee in the 1st Round. What’s odd is that everyone knew Johnson was fast, he was labeled a 3rd Down Back, or a scat back that was exceptionally fast but scouts said he lacked the bulk and size to be a 3 down back. His scouting reports all say – SPEED but point out he was undersized. After he posted a 4.24 the coaches didn’t care what the scouting reports said!

Do players stay fast? Yep!

In 2005 Fabian Washington used his natural athletic ability to burn a 4.25 at the Combine and of course that got Al Davis’ attention and the Oakland Raiders drafted Fabian in the 1st Round. I recently asked Fabian, now with the Baltimore Ravens, if he were to run a 40 today, 4 years into the league, what he would run. I was curious if the really fast guys maintain their speed or does it diminish as they get bigger, stronger and older? Well Fabian hasn’t gotten much bigger and he hasn’t gotten any slower either, he can flat out run. He was a former track stud who was a District Champion in the 100 meters in high school down in Bradenton, FL.

“4.29 – 4.33” he replied. Yeah, he is still fast.

Size is overlooked when you’re fast!

In this most recent draft the Denver Broncos traded away a future 1st round pick to select Cornerback Alphonso Smith out of Wake Forrest. Smith ran a decent 4.52 and is 5’ 9” which prompted scouts like Scott Wright to say “their isn’t too much not to like about this guy other than his lack of prototypical height…would get selected much earlier if he were 2 or 3 inches taller”. Smith is a pure ball hawk who is the all time ACC leader in interceptions but doesn’t have the “tangibles” to measure up. The funny thing is, Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones was 5-9 and I never read anything about his height. Why? Well Pacman ran a 4.31!

While Fabian Washington’s tangibles helped him earn millions more by going in the first, Alphonso Smith’s hindered him and cost him money even though he is one of the most productive Cornerbacks in college history. I am willing to bet if Smith runs a sub 4.5 he goes in the 1st Round and makes that much more money.

How much more money?

Let’s compare two Cornerbacks from the same team and how they were paid. Draft position dictates how much guys make. These figures from the Sun-Sentinel.com: Vontae Davis vs Sean Smith -

1st Rd – Cornerback – Vontae Davis -5-year contract

500,000 – Signing Bonus (Divided into every year of the contract 100,000 per year).
4,045,000 – Option bonus (Bonus spread over the last 4 years of the contract starting in 2,010, 1,011,250 per year)
310,000 – Base Salary
815,000 – Roster Bonus
—————————————————————————–
1,225,000 (Roster Bonus + Base Salary + Pro Rated Signing Bonus)
Vontae Davis – 2010

395,000 – Base Salary (Guaranteed)
100,000 Pro-Ration from Signing Bonus
1,011,250 (Pro-Rated Option Bunus)
——————————————————————————-
1,506,250 Cap number

Vontae Davis – 2011
676,250 – Base Salary (Guaranteed)
100,000 (Pro-rated from signing bonus)
1,011,250 (Pro-rated option bonus)
——————————————————————————
1,787,500 Cap number

Vontae Davis – 2012
957,500 – Base Salary
1,011,250 (Pro-rated option bonus)
100,000 (Pro-rated from signing bonus)
—————————————————————————–
2,068,750 Cap number

Vontae Davis – 2013
786,250 Base salary
1,011,250 (Pro-rated option bonus)
1,897,500 Cap number

_____________________________________________________________________________

2nd Rd selection CB Sean Smith – 4 year contract

945,000 Signing Bonus (Prorated over 4 years 236,250)

Smith also has a 421,000 reporting bonus that is a not likely to be earned incentive, this does not count against the cap until the players earns it. These bonus are tied to certain team and individual incentives. In Sean’s case he can earn it if:

-Participates in more than 35% of the defensive plays.
-3 or more TD’s on interceptions or leads the team in interceptions.
-5 or more fumble recoveries or leads the team in fumble recoveries.
-11 or more interceptions or leads the team in interceptions.

Smith can also earn the bonus if the team improves in certain statistical categories.
-Net yards defensively.
-Net yards per pass.
-Total defensive.

2009
310,000 – Base salary
236,250 – Pro Rated signing Bonus
—————————————————
546,250 Cap number

Sean Smith 2,010
395,000 – Base Salary
236,250 – Prorated signing Bonus
————————————————–
631,250 Cap number

Sean Smith 2,011
480,000 – Base salary
236,250 – Prorated signing bonus
————————————————–
716,250 Cap number

Sean Smith 2,012
565,000 – Base salary
236,250 – Prorated signing Bonus
————————————————-
801,250 Cap number

If Smith has not earned the 421,000 reporting bonus by his 3rd season he’ll get this bonus in the 4th year of the deal even if he’s cut.
Cap total in 2,012 will go up if you add reporting bonus to 1,222,250.

So in short…a little more than double, and if Vontae was in the Top 10 forget it, those guys make big bank!

It’s clear that being a 1st Round pick pays better and there is no better way to get into the 1st Round than to put up a great number on the stopwatch in April at the NFL Combine.

Does speed make you a good player?

While speed in the NFL is important as the league is full of wondeful athletes, the answer is, absolutely not! Some of the greatest players ever had terrible 40 times. Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Lynn Swann and Terrell Davis are all players who were considered “slow” coming out of college. Jerry Rice ran in the 4.6 to 4.71 range. Emmitt Smith ran the 40 in 4.7 seconds and that same year Blair Thomas from Penn State ran a 4.4. The Jets went with Thomas with the 2nd overall pick in the draft and Emmitt went 17th to Dallas, how’d that work out.

What’s the Skinny on the 40, put the game tape on and see if you can find a football player and use the Combine as a measuring stick to reinforce what you should already know, who is good and who isn’t…the numbers on a stopwatch shouldn’t matter.