Feb. 22, 2006
Former University of New Mexico standouts Hank Baskett III, Ryan Cook, DonTrell Moore and Terrance Pennington are among the more than 330 NFL hopefuls converging on the RCA Dome in Indianapolis this week (Feb. 23-28) for the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine. The NFL Combine, the annual job interview for potential NFL players, consists of on-field drills, medical testing, exams and interviews with team personnel and the media.
Baskett and Cook recently took part the Senior Bowl college football all-star game, while Moore competed at the East-West Shrine Game. Pennington played in both the Magnolia Classic and Las Vegas All-American Classic games. The four Lobos are the most ever invited to the NFL Combine during head coach Rocky Long’s eight-year tenure.
The 2006 NFL Scouting Combine on NFL Network Presented by Reebok will provide exclusive live television coverage of the annual event beginning Thursday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. ET and continuing through Wednesday, March 1.
The NFL Network airs in Albuquerque on Comcast Digital Cable channel 275, Direct TV channel 212 and Dish Network channel 154.
NFL Network’s programming will cover:
Press conferences — 8 hours (Thurs. 2/23 through Sun. 2/26 at 2 p.m. ET)
Player drills — 12 hours (Sat. 2/25 through Tues. 2/28 at 11 a.m. ET) Re-airs 8 p.m. ET
News and interviews — 5 hours (Thurs. 2/23 through Mon. 2/27 at 7 p.m. ET/PT)
Wrapup show — 1 hour (Wednesday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT)
“We view the NFL Scouting Combine as one of the hidden gems still left in the NFL,” said Charles Coplin, NFL Network’s vice president of programming. “This is an event NFL Network believes in and will look to grow to NFL Draft-like status.”
NFL Network will air three hours of live workouts daily from Saturday through Tuesday, beginning at 11 a.m. ET and featuring future NFL players participating in a variety of drills, including the famed 40-yard-dash. The live midday Scouting Combine workouts re-air on NFL Network each night from 8 p.m. ET/PT to 10 p.m. ET/PT.
NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock and host Paul Burmeister will serve as NFL Network’s on-air team for the live workouts and provide daily player reports on the prospects participating.
In addition, NFL Network’s signature show, NFL Total Access, will be on location from the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis with news, analysis and interviews featuring host Rich Eisen alongside former NFL and college head coach and current NFL Network analyst Butch Davis. NFLTA will air five consecutive nights of shows from Feb. 23-Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
NFL Network will carry player, coach and general manager press conferences from the NFL Scouting Combine with analysts Adam Scehfter and former Colts and Saints coach Jim Mora, Sr.
With extensive access to daily workouts, head coaches, front-office personnel and players, 2006 NFL Scouting Combine on NFL Network Presented by Reebok will give fans an exclusive opportunity to see how teams are preparing for the upcoming NFL draft April 29-30.
NFL Network’s 2006 NFL Scouting Combine coverage also will examine how the combine’s drills, tests and interviews are used by NFL teams to make decisions about the NFL draft.
The following is NFL Network’s day-by-day telecast plans:
Thursday, Feb. 23
2 p.m. ET — NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT — NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine
Friday, Feb. 24
2 p.m. ET — NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT — NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine
Saturday, Feb. 25
11 a.m. ET — Workouts: Offensive linemen and running backs (LIVE) (re-airs 8 PM ET/PT)
2 p.m. ET — NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT — NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine
Sunday, Feb. 26
11 a.m. — Workouts: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs (LIVE) (re-airs 8 PM ET/PT)
2 p.m. ET — NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT — NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine
Monday, Feb. 27
11 a.m. ET — Workouts: Tight ends, defensive lineman (LIVE) (re-airs 8 PM ET/PT)
7 p.m. ET/PT — NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine
Tuesday, Feb. 28
11 a.m. ET — Workouts: Linebackers, defensive backs (LIVE) (re-airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT)
Wednesday, Mar. 1
8 p.m. ET/PT — 2006 NFL Scouting Combine wrapup show