DELTA FLIGHT 1088 (IND-ATL) -- The NFL Combine has become a made-for-TV event, much to the chagrin of many scouts using the event as an opportunity to refine and enhance evaluations of NFL draft prospects. It's also much more than what you see on TV, with tons going on beyond drills broadcast across the country.
That was apparent during the five days our Falcons digital crew spent in Indianapolis covering Terry Fontenot, Arthur Smith and the prospects they might draft at No. 8 overall and selections owned after that.
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The flight back home provided an opportunity to reflect on what Tori McElhaney, Kris Rhim and I saw and heard (or, in one case, didn't hear) at the NFL Combine. Some things are relevant to the Falcons, others not. Let's get to some of what we experienced around in Indy:
We take a look at the action in Indy at the 2022 NFL Combine.
Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot speaks at a press conference on Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller (29) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks (05) runs with 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot speaks at a press conference on Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Crown Plaza Window signage at the 2022 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (AJ Mast/AP Images for NFL)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
USC wide receiver Drake London (16), Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave (21), Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (38), and Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson (39) watch a video on a phone during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (38) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Street pole banners at the 2022 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (AJ Mast/AP Images for NFL)
Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave (21) smiles during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks (05) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (02) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
USC wide receiver Drake London (16) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Iowa State running back Breece Hall poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Oregon State tight end Teagan Quitoriano works out at the bench press during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Decor at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Steve Luciano/AP Images for NFL)
Prospects cheer on a player during the bench press during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Decor at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Steve Luciano/AP Images for NFL)
Prospects cheer on Tulsa wide out Josh Johnson at the bench press during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Liberty quarterback Malik Willis poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (11) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave (21) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave (21) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave (21) runs a drill during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (11) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks (05) reaches for the ball during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (16) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (16) throws during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (11) throws during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
USC wide receiver Drake London (16) makes a catch during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker (48) runs a drill during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
NFL Network's DeAngelo Hall speaks to the defensive backs during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 6, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Iowa State running back Breece Hall poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
A detailed view of the 'NFL Combine' logo during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
A detailed view of the broad jump measuring board during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Cincinnati defensive back Sauce Gardner (14) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
A general view of Lucas Oil Stadium during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
A detailed view of Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams's (37) tattoos during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis (05) poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Cincinnati defensive back Sauce Gardner (14) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Mar. 6, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Brooke Sutton/NFL)
Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker (48) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis (05) runs a drill during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
A detailed view of the NFL network desk during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
LSU defensive back Derek Stingley Jr (28) for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Malik Willis makes great impression in Indy
The Atlanta native and Liberty quarterback may have conducted the press conference of the combine on Wednesday, with one stellar (and often funny) quote after another. Then he dropped an absolute dime deep downfield in quarterback drills.
That wasn't his finest feat this week. That came walking the streets of downtown Indy, when he stopped and outfitted a homeless person with some of his combine swag.
All quiet on the Ridley front
Smith and Fontenot were asked about Calvin Ridley's status during press availabilities at the combine and didn't provide an update on the receiver who was away from the team most of last season while, as he said in a statement, working on his mental wellbeing.
Fontenot said he understood the questions and said he could say more at the appropriate time. That was all expected during an uncertain period. It was somewhat surprising, however, that nothing broke beyond that. The combine is a time with teams (and agents) from everywhere come together and mingle, often talking shop late, late into night.
The topic has been radio silent through this point, with but one national report addressing the situation. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport described the situation as “complicated,” without much detail beyond that.
Lindstrom brothers unite??
Chris Lindstrom has become a fixture along the Falcons offensive line, a foundational piece worth building around. Could another Lindstrom help fortify the front? It's certainly a possibility worth exploring.
After all, Alec Lindstrom was a standout center at Boston College – also his brother's alma mater – and could be available in the middle rounds. Alec would like to play alongside his brother, as he mentioned in his combine press conference.
Weirdest question goes to…the Falcons?
It's common for combine participants to get asked about odd questions from meeting with teams at the event. You don't want to be the team referenced in these answers, where the questions mentioned are pretty extreme.
That wasn't the case when Iowa State running back Breece Hall said the Falcons dropped an odd one on him.
Hand size at issue (again)
Kenny Pickett's hand size became a hot topic during early portions of the combine after they measured just 8.5." Hand size has become a big deal when evaluating prospective NFL quarterbacks, with passers getting knocked for not having the hand size to grip the ball well.
There are fears, real or not, that a passer can't excel in cold weather situations. That apparently applies to Pickett, despite, you know, playing at Pittsburgh.
Combine on the move?
The NFL Scouting Combine has been in Indianapolis forever, and for good reason. It's in the middle of the country, minimizing travel distance as much as possible, with the facilities required to host the even well. The NFL has pondered moving it to a bigger market, to further commoditize it or to rotate host cities.
That has been met with backlash from those who often go, including media members, but it may not stop the league from moving combine locations.
Rico Allen enters coaching ranks
Ran into former Falcons safety Ricardo Allen inside Lucas Oil Stadium during the combine while with Falcons videographer extraordinaire Jenny Ross on Thursday. While I didn't know him, Jenny did and Allen lived up to his reputation as a genuinely nice human being. It was great news to those who knew him that he'll be joining the Miami Dolphins coaching staff. Congratulations to him.
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