Not every player that comes into the Combine media room gets a spot on stage. Some are placed at banquet-style tables for a more informal session with the media.
As the content of Texas A&M tight end Martellus Bennett's conversation with the media came to light, however, more and more reporters and cameras started gathering around.
Bennett developed a relationship with Bills tight end Kevin Everett when he went on a recruiting visit Miami. Everett suffered a severe neck injury in the first week of the 2007 season and -- for a moment -- doctors weren't sure if he'd be able to walk again.
Bennett wore Everett's number for a game last season.
"He had a little tear in his eye," Bennett said. "You could tell he was touched by it. A lot of people thought I did it for publicity, but it was more for a friend."
It's the type of human interest story that is rare among pre-NFL Draft interviews. Heart and the human condition often take a back seat to speed and the human ability.
Bennett appears to have a good balance of both.
The top-ranked tight end according to NFLDraftScout.com, Bennett left Texas A&M early to showcase his skills for the NFL scouts. He had more than 500 yards receiving last season and averaged five knockdown blocks per game.
"I know a lot of people think I just got up one day and said 'OK I’m going to the NFL' but it was a long process and we went about it the right way," he said.
At 6-foot-6 and 259 pounds, Bennett has the size to be an NFL tight end, but he also considered following a basketball career. He said at the Combine football is his first love, his "wife," but basketball is his "mistress."
Now committed to a life in professional football, teams can look at maximizing that basketball ability. The name Antonio Gates comes to mind.
Bennett's experience with the Aggies is surprisingly balanced. He led the team with 49 catches for 587 yards but also had 67 knockdown blocks. He played on the line of scrimmage but also ran routes out of the slot, a popular move for a tight end in some NFL offenses.
"I moved around," Bennett said at the Combine. "I say that, as true tight ends, we put our hands in the dirt. So, a lot of times, I had my hands in the dirt but I also played in the slot and out wide. They moved me around a lot. I blocked a lot in tight and out wide was where I caught a lot of my passes."
But those numbers lose traction quickly in a room hungry for stories.
Bennett moved some emotions with his gesture for Everett and is moving up the draft board. He hopes to further honor his friend by building a successful career on the same international stage.
"I’ve been working real hard to get to this point in my career," he said. "I know to a lot of people I’m under the radar so I’m ready to show them what I have, what I’ve got."
RELATED LINKS:
- MYFALCONSDRAFT: Rank draft prospects at MyFalconsDraft.com
- TIGHT ENDS: Previewing the tight ends
- PHOTOS: Photos of some of the 2008 NFL Draft prospects
- NFL DRAFT: Draft coverage from AtlantaFalcons.com
- SCOUTING COMBINE: AF.com at the Scouting Combine
- SENIOR BOWL: AF.com at the Senior Bowl
