Don’t believe everything you hear

So let me get this straight: Two months ago, Tim Tebow was projected to be selected in the 3rd or 4th round of the NFL Draft. Now, some draft experts are saying he could go in the late first or early second round? Only the NFL Draft. It’s funny how a player’s stock can go up or down without even playing a football game. I mean, you may as well not play during the college football season. This is why it’s kind of stupid for anyone to do a mock draft in January. All it does is make the mocker…well, make a mockery of himself by changing it.

Between the end of the college football season and the beginning of April, there are a number of reasons that a prospect’s stock can rise to the top or come crashing down. I swear, I think it can be something as minute as a hand shack. Maybe a prospect is suffering from perspiration issues. Maybe the prospect ate some real spicy food. Maybe the prospect isn’t use to wearing a shirt and tie. All of a sudden, he walks into the combine and shakes a GM’s hand, while covered in sweat. I’m sure the GM is thinking this guy’s extremely nervous. Uh-oh, red flag, this guy obviously can’t handle the pressure.

Anyways, I’m sure we all know that there are a ton of “legit” (eye roll) reasons why their stock rises and falls after the college season. The Combine workout, the interview process and the wonderlic test are just some of the reasons for the change in draft boards. However, there’s another element to the madness…LIES!

Yes, folks, general managers and head coaches lie through their teeth when it comes to describing some of these prospects in public. You want to know why? It’s all a part of the mind games that the hire-ups play with the other 31 NFL teams. It’s all about downplaying players they are interested in and over-hyping the players they don’t really care for.

It’s a kind of like playing poker. You don’t exactly want to tip your hat when you have a big hand. However, you sure would like to send mix signals to trick the player into thinking you might have something, when all you’re trying to do is bluff your way to winning.

Let me throw you this example: Like I said earlier, Tim Tebow’s stock is on the rise. I seriously doubt I have to get into the specifics as to why his stock has miraculously risen. We all know that two teams seem to be interested in his services: The Bills and the Patriots.

Now, has anybody even asked why the Patriots would be interested in Tebow? I mean, they already have Tom Brady. I don’t think quarterback need is going to hit the Pats for at least another 3-4 years. Plus, the Patriots have other pressing needs. They are looking to add a wide receiver (With Randy Moss getting older and Wes Welker being a question mark), defensive ends (Richard Seymour is history), linebackers (No more Teddy Bruschi or Mike Vrabel), running back (Fred Taylor? I think not) and offensive lineman (Brady has been getting killed).

Hmmm….doesn’t this kind of sound like a portion of the Bills list of needs? Lets not forget, the Patriots have three second round draft picks in their back pocket.

Again, why would the Patriots show any interest in Tebow? My thinking, and I’m just speculating here, is that they want the Bills to panic and think to themselves, “Oh s$#t, the Patriots want Tebow and if we let him pass us at the 41st pick, they are going to draft him with one of their three 2nd round picks.”

By drafting Tebow, the Bills would be eliminating themselves from filling in the same needs that the Patriots have. So, if there’s a linebacker or defensive end that the Bills are eyeing (Lets not forget that both teams run a 3-4 defense), the Patriots would be able to select him.

Now, I’m not trying to pick on the Bills in this matter. Hey, the Bills could be working a team like Jacksonville. By showing interest in Tebow, the Jags could call the Bills and offer some draft picks for the 41st pick. I know some may say my line of thinking is a little convoluted, but over hyping draft prospects has been going on for quite some time. GMs always say there’s a ton of misinformation out there. It’s a tough to try and figure out what’s real and what’s fake. Some scouts could be thinking to themselves “Gee, if the Patriots or Bills are looking at Tebow, then maybe they know something that we don’t.”

In the end, don’t read too much into whose going out to dinner with Jim Kelly or Bill Belichick. All of these GMs and coaches have agendas, and most of them happen to be hidden.