So much for being “excited” about the NFL Combine. Just a week after telling the Pensacola News Journal that he plans go through all Combine drills, former Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley has changed his mind.
Matt Barkley not throwing at Combine
Steve Dykes
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Barkley will not throw in Indianapolis on Sunday.
USC QB Matt Barkley will NOT throw at this week's combine. He might run, but will not throw until USC Pro Day on March 27. More at ESPN. Com
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2013
For now, that leaves the bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and shuttle run for Barkley, should he choose to participate. It’s the throwing drills that could help Barkley. Although most NFL decision makers have made up their mind where players are slotted, a fringe first-round pick like Barkley could take advantage of any opportunity he gets to boost his stock.
Barkley has been training at the IMG Sports Academy in Florida with former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke. He’s been rehabbing a shoulder injury that forced him to miss Southern California’s last two games and the Senior Bowl.
Update: Here’s a little more from Schefter, who reports Barkley’s shoulder is 85-90 percent recovered.
If his decision confuses some, it shouldn’t. When Barkley described the combine as a milestone moment in his career, he actually meant having the doctors clear him on his physicals, and as well as interviewing with the NFL teams looking to draft a franchise quarterback, according to those who know him.
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