40-yard dash still highlight of NFL Combine for players, sponsors

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- They pounce like hungry cheetahs stalking prey as they shift their rhinoceros-like muscles under tightly stretched compression clothing. NFL scouts and coaches watch and hover their fingers over stop watches, waiting to click when the potential draft picks cross the 40-yard finish line at the league's premier combine event.

The most anticipated days of the NFL Combine are upon us, as specialists performed the run Friday. Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers have their chance to show off their wheels Saturday, while defensive backs have the last crack at blowing away potential teams Monday.

One sponsor, Adidas, tried adding even more intrigue to the event with an incentive. The shoe company said that if a participant signs with Adidas before running the 40-yard dash, and proceeds to run one of the three fastest times, it would award them a Porsche 911 Carrera.

The Porsche giveaway has since been squashed by the NFL due to its partnership with General Motors, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell.

Even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is into the craze, as the 56-year-old ran an unofficial 5.3 seconds through his office this week. Goodell performed the hallway sprint for the #RunRichRun campaign, which with the help of DirecTV and Under Armour, the NFL Network is pledging $75,000 to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Although rumors rule when it comes to the best 40-yard dash times in NFL history, the best official time since 2006 was run by former Tennessee Titans and New York Jets running back Chris Johnson. In 2008 Johnson registered a blazing 4.24 40-yard dash time. Still, USA Today has reported NFL legend Bo Jackson's time of 4.12 seconds at the 1986 NFL Combine as the fastest official time ever. Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders ran an official time of 4.27 seconds at the 1989 NFL Combine, according to NFL.com.

The NFL describes the 40-yard dash as "the marquee event at the combine. It's kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It's all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start."

Scouts divide the 40-yards into 10-yard segments. The first 10-yards is the most important for all players, but especially non-skill position players. This distance displays the explosiveness and acceleration of prospects that is vital in today's game. After exploding out of the three-point stance and showing off their explosion, players morph into missiles as they boast their long-speed through the final 30 yards.

NFL.com listed Auburn's Sammie Coates, LSU's Jalen Collins, Florida State's Ronald Darby, Miami's Phillip Dorsett, Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham, Baylor's Antwan Goodley, Harding's Donatella Luckett, Ohio State's Devin Smith, and Oklahoma's Julian Wilson as its prospects that will run the fastest 40 times.

The fastest time at the 2015 NFL Combine, so far, belongs to Southern Illinois tight end Mycole Pruitt, who ran a 4.58 Friday. Maybe records will be broken this weekend in Indianapolis, but even if they aren't, 40-yard dash times are a sign of pride that some former NFL players still cling too. Last July, ESPN Analyst Kirk Herbstreit said that former NFL wide receiver Joey Galloway could still run a 4.29 at 42-years-old.

Sanders left it up to an olympic gold medalist to compete with his speed, in a tweet last year.