Greater things later

After graduating in December, getting the coveted T-ring, and playing in the best game of my career in the Rose Bowl, I went back home to Colorado to relax, workout and get ready for the combine in Indianapolis. I didn't quite know what to expect but I have heard so many stories about the combine from my former teammates who have been.

On Thursday, I flew from Denver to Indy and checked into the hotel. From there it was straight to the hospital for the first round of physicals. We had to tell them any injuries we had in our careers. Then they checked our hearts, drew blood and took X-rays. The next day was a little crazy. The doctors actually checked us out. They took us into an empty room and had us lay on a long table where they poked, prodded and pulled. If they found anything out of the ordinary then you had to go take MRIs. I had to take MRIs on both my knees and everything checked out okay. I wasn't that nervous about having the MRIs because I knew it was going to happen before I went to the combine.

Next came the infamous psychological tests. The psychological testing was an experience. They were the longest tests I have ever taken, even longer than some of the tests I took in college. One of the tests had over 300 questions. And with the same questions over and over again to try and trick you.

The next day we did all the lifting tests. The lifting was cool. I'm not quite at 100 percent; I'm still at about 85 percent. Everything went fine, but this is when I first started to notice the pressure building. What they try to do is put you in the most pressure filled situation and see how you respond and react. If football is what you do, then you should be fine. You should be used to pressure-filled situations. They just try to make you as uncomfortable as possible to see your personality and how you handle pressure.

We ran the next day, and it pretty much goes down the way everyone would expect it to. I didn't run quite as fast as I wanted to but I'm going to run again a Pro-timing Day in Austin on March 23.

I can see how it can be nerve-wracking to some people but I just tried to stay calm about everything. I've always heard that you will be overwhelmed at the combine, but I wasn't. It was a great opportunity. It was cool to see all the players you've heard about or played against in a different setting. I just kept thinking how strange it is that some of these guys might be one of my new teammates. Everyone is there for the same reason and we were all experiencing the same things together, that is what makes the combine so cool.

I feel like I haven't completely made it yet, but at the same time I feel like I have made it. I wasn't supposed to make it this far. After everything I've been through I'm happy that I am here now. After I left, I felt like I really did something for myself and I was really confident. I feel like I am one of the best tight ends in the country. I saw the other tight ends and they were good, but I think that I am just as good, if not better.

I will be back in Austin early next week, getting ready for Pro Timing Day where I will run the 40 again and vertical jump. I'm going to stay in Austin until the end of April. It will be good to get back and see my teammates and spend my last few days in Austin before I start on the next part of what has already been an interesting career.

Hook 'Em

Bo