clarinews@clarinet.com (JIM SLATER, UPI Sports Writer) (02/02/90)
INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) -- Every move they make is watched by someone. This is the National Scouting Combine for college football's top seniors, and everyone wants a piece of a possible NFL career. Agents in dark suits seek players for contract talks. Union representatives hold meetings and hand out business literature to players. A small army of NFL scouts tries to assess the 341 players attending this weekend's closed sessions at the Hoosier Dome. Lide Huggins, the Denver football operations director, and a staff of Broncos scouts watch players from the time they enter their hotel lobby. ``Some will stay in the lobby,'' he said. ``Some will go into their rooms and never come out. It's another measurement. Physical abilities are all so close. Intangible things determine the second, third or fourth rounds. ``We try to have a personal interview with every player here. It's not so much what they answer as the perception of being a good interviewee. A lot of things go into fitting into clubs and communities and you want to know where they are coming from and what their loyalties are. You say, `Tell me a little about yourself,' and see where he starts. You're looking for confidence, eye contact, how a guy expresses himself. A lot of guys come prepared.'' Odell Haggins, a defensive lineman from Florida State, walks past, says hello and slaps Huggins' hand. ``See that,'' Huggins said. ``He knows me and knew enough to come by and slap my hand. It's important to remember my name.'' Before players reach the elevator to their rooms, NFLPA Research Director M.J. Duberstein is handing them literature about his organization. ``We're here to show them the difference between the fantasy they've always believed about the NFL and the reality,'' Duberstein said. ``The dream is to play in the NFL. The hard reality is that this is a cold business and these young guys who will be replacing veterans will one day be replaced themselves. ``Players are very scared and nervous. It's a bewildering, angst-ridden experience. They're on stage every minute. It's not only tests. It's `Are they on time?' or `How well do they get along in a group?' The Giants are over there giving psychological tests. We try to inject a minute parcel of reality into the situation.'' The NFLPA conducts a meeting each night to orient players to life in the NFL. ``We discuss how to choose an agent, what to do when you're drafted, when you're injured in a mini-camp,'' Duberstein said. ``They have told players they don't want them attending our meeting. The NFL has some things they don't want the players to hear.'' Duberstein also warns of the dangers posed by many agents who aren't registered with the NFLPA. ``There are agents in this lobby who are absolute scum, who are in the back pockets of the owners,'' he said. ``Vulnerable young men suddenly have the most friends they've had in their life. They had better know who is a good agent. The thing about a predator is he will sell the kid out, take his money and you'll never hear from him again.'' For NFL scouts, the session is basic comparison shopping. ``You can see them stripped down, side by side, and who you thought was big at Central Florida might not be big when you see him beside the kids from Southern Cal or Michigan,'' Huggins said. ``You want to make sure you have all the info. This is not a sure thing. There were 112 guys here last year that weren't drafted. A player won't normally hurt himself here. You're not going to lower somebody from what you see in shorts. You're looking for football players, not ballet guys.''