<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a294f7a3dbef426008baad0-981/mike-mitchell.jpg" alt="Mike Mitchell" data-mce-source="Justin K. Aller/Getty Images"><p class="source"><span>Justin K. Aller/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>Steelers safety Mike Mitchell is furious with the way the NFL has handled a recent string of player suspensions.</strong></li><li><strong>Mitchell's teammate&#xa0;JuJu Smith-Schuster and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski received equal suspensions for decidedly different plays, with Smith-Schuster making a block in-game and Gronkowski diving onto a players after the whistle.</strong></li><li><strong>In a passionate rant, Mitchell criticized the league, its leadership, and the media for their portrayal of him as a "dirty player."</strong><hr /></li></ul><p>Pittsburgh Steelers' safety Mike Mitchell voiced his displeasure with the NFL's inconsistency with regard to punishing players for hits.</p><p><span>His comments come in the wake of a weekend that saw many penalties and suspensions handed out, including one to Mitchell's teammate&#xa0;JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was suspended one game for his hit on Vontaze Burfict. Mitchell was displeased that&#xa0;Smith-Schuster's punishment for making what was ostensibly a football play was given an equal suspension to Rob Gronkowski, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rob-gronkowski-hit-tredavious-white-bills-dirty-2017-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who dove at Bills&#xa0;cornerback Tre'Davious White after a play was dead and sent White into concussion protocol</a>.</span></p><p>Mitchell's frustrations didn't stop there. Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mitchell delivered a long monologue on his problems with the league as it stands, from the overabundance of flags thrown to the leadership of the league and the player's union to criticism from television analysts.</p><p><span>"If you want to see flag football, then let's take our pads off. That would make it easier for me, because now I don't have to wear heavy s---. Give us flags for me to pull off so that way I know what we are playing," Mitchell said.</span></p><p><span>"I signed up to play full-speed, contact football, and we're not doing that. I feel like I've got to ask a guy, 'Hey, are you ready for me to hit you right now before I hit you?' That's crazy. I'm going to mess around and get hurt trying to protect an offensive player because he's running an over route. Dammit, your quarterback shouldn't have thrown the ball messed up."</span></p><p><span>Mitchell also discussed a fine he received two years ago for a hit on Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, claiming that the only reason the hit on Eifert was illegal was because he had to dive to catch a poorly thrown ball from quarterback Andy Dalton. Mitchell explained how he felt that both the punishment and the fallout from the media after the play was unfair to him.</span></p><p><span>"That's $50,000 out of my pocket because Andy [Dalton] throws a bad ball. Make that make sense," Mitchell said. "</span><span>And at first you're taking our money but now I've got a--holes like Matt Hasselbeck calling me a dirty player and trying my character, and we've never met before. I donate more money to Cincinnati to underprivileged kids than probably the people on the Bengals. So don't give me that name."</span></p><p><span>After taking a breath and noting that he was a bit flustered, Mitchell finished his speech, refocusing on the inconsistencies of punishments and pushing for better negotiating on the part of the players heading into the next CBA.</span></p><p><span>"We can't have a guy where you just hand out discipline how you see fit. There needs to be a set guideline on how we do what we do. There's no way I see two people get post-play infractions that don't have to do with football and you get the same suspension as the guy who's making a football play in a football game. It's absolutely absurd."</span></p><p><span>You can watch Mitchell's comments below.</span></p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>So gronk elbow drops a guy off the top rope like Dusty Rhodes and gets same suspension as a guy getting a penalty making a football play. Okay cool <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNNFL</a> can't wait to see what you come up with next.</p>- Mike Mitchell  (@iammikemitchell) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/938121176869756930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Mitchell absolutely killing it. Must watch. <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthleticPIT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAthleticPIT</a> <a href="https://t.co/SwcvJMJyHy">pic.twitter.com/SwcvJMJyHy</a></p>- Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkKaboly/status/938509336242020352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pro-golfer-intense-standoff-tiger-woods-us-open-2017-7">What it's like to go into sudden death with Tiger Woods</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/w0BYeu3t-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Steelers safety Mike Mitchell gave an impassioned rant about the NFL's punishment policies

<p>Wild Card Weekend saw all four home teams bounced from the playoffs, so it's only fitting that all four home teams this weekend are favored. </p><p>Does Wild Card Weekend ever disappoint? We had a cold weather game, a dirty game, a vintage Aaron Rodgers performance, one of the most heartbreaking missed field goals you'll ever see, and a game in which a quarterback threw four interceptions and lost a fumble and still wasn't benched.</p><p>Football is the best.</p><p>Without further ado, here are my picks for the divisional round of the playoffs. Let's hope these games as fun as last weekend's.</p><h3>Kansas City Chiefs (+7) @ New England Patriots</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e866789dd7cc16008b7e05-3360-2336/gettyimages-462638274.jpg" alt="Tom Brady" data-mce-source="Christian Petersen/Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Christian Petersen/Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The NFL needs to start testing for synthetic marijuana so that players will stop using it in lieu of the non-synthetic stuff. Chandler Jones' bugged-out antics, which included reportedly showing up to the police station on his own with his shirt off and voluntarily getting on his knees with his hands behind his back, led to Cris Carter to wonder on Mike &amp; Mike if Jones was actually smoking PCP.</p><p>Now, I have no idea what Jones did or didn't do, but it's generally a bad look for everyone involved (Jones, Carter, the Patriots, the NFL) when PCP is casually being floated around as an explanation for something. Especially during the playoffs!</p><p>Anyway, I think Kansas City manages to keep things close in New England, but assuming Edelman and Gronk are healthy for the Pats, the Chiefs aren't winning. Still, K.C. has a stingy defensive front that should make things interesting against a wonky Pats o-line. Not to mention that a team riding an 11-game win streak is scary, even if these wins didn't come against great teams, and even for Bill Belichick.</p><p>Ultimately, though, Tom Brady is Tom Brady and he's 8-1 after a playoff bye. That's not changing this weekend, though don't expect the Patriots to do to the Chiefs what the Chiefs did to the Texans. </p><p><strong>The pick: Patriots 27, Chiefs 23</strong></p><h3>Green Bay Packers (+7) @ Arizona Cardinals</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5689f2ebc08a8036008b682e-2503-1669/gettyimages-461346602.jpg" alt="Aaron Rodgers" data-mce-source="Al Bello/Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Al Bello/Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p> Aaron Rodgers and the Packers looked great last weekend, sure, but remember the last time these two teams played in Arizona? The Cardinals barely needed to use their offense and still cruised to a 38-8 win. </p><p>The Packers obviously have some restored confidence after their road win last weekend, and the playoffs inevitably means closer games. If there's a quarterback you'd want in this situation, it's Rodgers. But the Cardinals just seem to be the all-around better team, they're coming off a bye, and I just won't ever bet against Bruce Arians, so long as he keeps wearing his suede Kangol.</p><p><strong>The pick: Cardinals 30, Packers 21</strong></p><h3>Seattle Seahawks (+1.5) @ Carolina Panthers</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56994780e6183e263a8b99bc-1280-930/gettyimages-501311574.jpg" alt="Michael Bennett" data-mce-source="Rob Carr/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Rob Carr/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>You have to be more than a little upset if you're a Panthers fan, right? A 15-1 regular season record gets you home field advantage and ... the Seahawks?</p><p>Luckily for Carolina, this is a particularly mercurial Seattle squad that needed some Russell Wilson black magic, a timely Adrian Peterson fumble, and a miracle missed field goal to beat Minnesota. There are plenty of big brother/little brother narratives that you should expect to hear FOX tell you all about (Russell Wilson/Cam Newton; Richard Sherman/Josh Norman) and these two teams have plenty of history. This is one of those rare instances where both teams will think of as a revenge game: Seattle because they blew a 4th quarter lead against Carolina earlier this season, and Carolina because the Seahawks bounced them from the playoffs last year.</p><p>Ultimately I think Marshawn Lynch will be the x-factor here. If he's healthy, he makes Seattle's offense really scary. I want to pick at least one underdog this weekend, and while it feels like a cop out to pick Seattle - the team everyone's picking - I like them too much to bet against. Sorry, Cam.</p><p><strong>The pick: Seahawks 27, Panthers 24</strong></p><h3>Pittsburgh Steelers (+7) @ Denver Broncos</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/568e8909c08a80e3098b7245-1280-853/gettyimages-503295098.jpg" alt="Peyton Manning" data-mce-source="Doug Pensinger/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Doug Pensinger/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The Broncos should make sure to send Vontaze Burfict a thank-you note after this one. A hobbled Roethlisberger will be without Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, and DeAngelo Williams in this one. Aside from Williams, Burfict is to thank for all these injuries. </p><p>Which is a bummer, because these two teams played one of the best games of the regular season. I don't think this one will be nearly as close, but Peyton Manning could throw five interceptions. It's certainly possible!</p><p><strong>The pick: Broncos 24, Steelers 14</strong></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-owners-send-rams-back-los-angeles-football-sports-st-louis-chargers-raiders-new-stadium-2016-1">Rams owner will have to pay $500 million to move his team to LA  </a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="cxMHc1MDE6pIDU118D9ZCunjmohqZp6E" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'cxMHc1MDE6pIDU118D9ZCunjmohqZp6E',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

 NFL Divisional Playoffs - our official picks for who wins this weekend 

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/565dcefdc28144b7018b65b4-4398-3114/gettyimages-498872618.jpg" alt="Cam Newton" data-mce-source="Ronald Martinez/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Ronald Martinez/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Conference Championship Sunday, or, the last day of the season with multiple football games! </p><p>I'm a Giants fan, so I am contractually obliged to love the years in which dark horse reaches a Conference Championship game, but there's also something fun about a season like this year, when the top two teams in each conference advance all the way through. Think about the NBA right now - no upset in the playoff is going to be better or more fun than the possibility of having the Spurs and Warriors play in the Western Conference Finals. Sometimes you just root for the best teams to win because it'll make for the best games, as evinced by this weekend's matchups.</p><p>We've got Brady-Manning playing for the 17th time, in case you hadn't found their rivalry tiresome yet. And that's followed by a sneaky-fun coaching showdown between Bruce Arians and Ron Rivera. Oh right, and Cam Newton. Here's hoping that the Pats/Broncos game comes down to a last-minute drive so that we can hear commentators exalt either Vintage Brady or Vintage Manning, and then that Arians and Rivera attempt to outsmart one another by never punting. It should be great.</p><p>Enjoy the games, and if you're about to get crushed by the blizzard, make sure you have your priorities straight and find a place on Sunday to watch the football!</p><h2>New England Patriots (-3) at Denver Broncos</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56a28356c08a80e3098bb4b0-1280-853/505284512.jpg" alt="Bill Belichick Tom Brady" data-mce-source="Maddie Meyer/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Maddie Meyer/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>I've seen and heard a lot of people complaining that this should be the later game on Sunday, and since it's (likely!) the final installment of the Brady/Manning Bowl, I guess I understand the complaint. But here's why it shouldn't be the late game: it's not even going to be close!</p><p>The Broncos stole a win at home against the Steelers last weekend, despite the fact that the Steelers played without their two best running backs and their best receiver (thanks again, Vontaze Burfict). The Patriots are more dangerous than the Steelers, full stop. They have a better quarterback, a better coach, comparably terrifying wide receivers, and a better defense than Pittsburgh. And Pittsburgh should have won! </p><p>The Patriots are going to another Super Bowl, and Peyton Manning will (likely!) end his career falling just short against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Same as it ever was.</p><p><strong>The pick: Patriots 31, Broncos 17</strong></p><h2>Arizona Cardinals (+3) at Carolina Panthers</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56a28d5cc08a80bd448b7fbb-1280-853/505544600.jpg" alt="Cam Newton" data-mce-source="Patrick Smith/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Patrick Smith/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Carson Palmer looked pretty shaky last weekend, while playing indoors, at home, against an average Packers defense. His interception in the end zone was inexcusable.</p><p>This week he's on the road, against a team that hasn't lost at home since November 2014, in a stadium that's about to get slammed with snow, and will be cold and windy on kickoff. Not great!</p><p>But ... there's something about this Cardinals team - Bruce Arians, probably - that makes me at least feel this game will be close. Seattle's second half against Carolina showed Arians how to go about attacking Carolina, and if Arizona can do that while avoiding an embarrassingly awful first half, we could be in for a good game!</p><p>Ultimately I think Cam in Carolina is too much for Arizona. But don't expect the Cards to go softly.</p><p><strong>Panthers 35, Cardinals 31</strong></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-biggest-secrets-mob-football-2016-1">Surprising NFL secrets that even the biggest fans don't know</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="QzMDdodzoeMezISt_IhrCIpG5TFSePKp" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'QzMDdodzoeMezISt_IhrCIpG5TFSePKp',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Here are our picks for who will win this weekend

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/512cdd5a6bb3f7262a000003-800-600/tyrann-mathieu-nfl-combine.jpg?maxX=400" border="0" alt="tyrann mathieu nfl combine" width="400" /></div><p class="source"><keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> Network</p></div>The <keyword id="1757266" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL-Combine">NFL Combine</keyword> is a workout camp where <keyword id="1608031" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL-Draft">NFL draft</keyword> prospects exercise in front of NFL scouts and coaches.</p>
<p>It's hugely influential even though the vast majority of the drills only have a tangential relationship to the game of football.</p>
<p>Here's a perfect example of how the Combine is dumb:</p>
<p><keyword id="1752229" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tyrann-Mathieu">Tyrann Mathieu</keyword> — the former LSU Heisman Trophy finalist who was kicked off the team for using marijuana — only bench-pressed 225 pounds four times yesterday.</p>
<p>That number tied for the weakest weight-lifting showing of any defensive back at the Combine.</p>
<p>Even though bench pressing is meaningless when it comes to playing cornerback, the NFL world was extremely disappointed.</p>
<p>Michael David Smith <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/26/tyrann-mathieus-bench-press-may-call-his-work-ethic-into-question/">at PFT said</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"It’s easy to scoff at the bench press as irrelevant to what a defensive back does on a football field, but an extremely low bench press is indicative of a player who isn’t working hard enough in the weight room."</p>
<p>The twisted logic here: Even though the bench press is irrelevant, it reflects poorly on Mathieu that he didn't work harder at the bench press, which is irrelevant.</p>
<p>NFL.com's Gil Brandt viewed it different. He says that <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/306408729174228993">the poor bench can only be remedied by a strong 40-yard dash</a>:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Tyrann Mathieu about to run his 40 at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NFLCombine">#NFLCombine</a>. Had just four bench reps and needs to run well today. Instinctive player good on returns.</p>
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/306408729174228993">February 26, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>This is the stupidity of the NFL Combine in a nutshell. </p>
<p>The point of the Combine is to do well at the Combine. Everyone, <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/26/tyrann-mathieus-bench-press-may-call-his-work-ethic-into-question/">like Smith</a>, concedes that the drills themselves are "irrelevant." But at the same time the drills come to represent something incredibly meaningful to NFL insiders.</p>
<p>Suddenly the bench press at the NFL Combine isn't about judging strength, it's about judging "work ethic" — which is actually more important than strength. </p>
<p>Since the drills themselves tell you nothing from an objective football standpoint, you make the drills stand-ins for something the they were never meant to quantify. </p>
<p>Last year linebacker Vontaze Burfict — a standout at Arizona State — <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/27/vontaze-burficts-rough-combine-continues/">did horribly at the Combine</a>. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">He was slow and out of shape and petulant, and he went undrafted as basically a direct result of being awful at these drills.</span></p>
<p>Eight months later, he was starting for the Bengals and playing better than any linebacker on the team. </p>
<p>NFL commentators take banal exercises and construct false (yet meaningful) narratives out of them at the Combine.</p>
<p>In reality, the fact that Mathieu can't lift weights well means nothing. But in the context of the Combine, it will legitimately affect on NFL people view him, which is awful.</p>

What Happened To Tyrann Mathieu Shows Exactly Why The NFL Combine Is Awful

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/528ce3d1ecad04ee65969d2a-1200-900/star-lotulelei-1.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="star lotulelei" width="480" /><p class="source">AP</p></div><p></p></div>At this time last year Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was a consensus top-three <keyword id="1608031" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL-Draft">NFL Draft</keyword> pick.</p>
<p><keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword>.com wrote <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000097747/article/2013-nfl-draft-utah-dt-star-lotulelei-primed-to-go-no-1">an article</a> about whether or not he'd be the first player taken. ESPN's Mel Kiper had him as <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8703244/2013-nfl-draft-jarvis-jones-holds-top-spot-big-board">the third-best player</a> on his big board, and others <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2012/12/18/3780242/2013-nfl-draft-top-100-big-board">had him even higher</a>.</p>
<p>All of that hype was based on his on-field dominance.</p>
<p>But in February he had to pull out of the <keyword id="1757266" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL-Combine">NFL Combine</keyword> because a doctor discovered a heart condition that required more tests.</p>
<p>His draft stock plummeted. On draft night - six months after he was in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick - he slipped to the <keyword id="1440417" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Carolina-Panthers">Carolina Panthers</keyword> at No. 14. Four defensive linemen were taken ahead of him.</p>
<p>Now Lotulelei is the frontrunner for the defensive rookie of the year award. He's the <a href="http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/80551/midseason-first-round-nfl-rookie-rankings">best rookie in the league</a> according to almost every evaluator, and he has helped turn the Carolina Panthers into <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-twelve-2013-11">a darkhorse Super Bowl contender</a>.</p>
<p>So why did he fall in the draft?</p>
<p>The "heart condition" is seemingly the big reason. But it was actually debunked as a non-issue before the draft.</p>
<p>A Utah cardiologist put out a statement after he evaluated Lotulelei. He said the condition that kept him out of the NFL combine was caused by a "viral infection." <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/04/02/star-lotulelei-heart-test/2047363/">From USA Today</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"A treadmill stress test showed normal response of the heart to exercise and an ambulatory EKG monitor revealed normal findings. This evaluation suggested that the initial heart function abnormality was likely transient, resulting from a viral infection."</p>
<p>It's understandable that NFL teams were initially scared off by the words "heart condition." But at the time of the draft Lotulelei had taken and passed nine heart exams and a doctor concluded that his condition was likely an anomaly.</p>
<p>In addition, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000152283/article/star-lotulelei-helps-2013-nfl-draft-stock-at-pro-day">he blew away the scouts</a> who came to watch him at his Pro Day in March. There was nothing physically wrong with him.</p>
<p>The only thing that changed between November 2012 (when he was billed as a No. 1 pick) and April 2013 (when he fell to No. 14) is that he missed the NFL Combine.</p>
<p>The combine is a week-long camp in Indianapolis where draft prospects exercise for scouts.</p>
<p>In theory it's useful because it gives you an idea of the raw physiological baseline for each player. But in recent years the combine has become an influential part of the draft evaluation process.</p>
<p>Back in February some commentators said that Tyrann Mathieu's ineptitude at the bench press was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-nfl-comine-is-dumb-tyrann-mathieu-2013-2">a function of his lack of work ethic</a>. He's now <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tyrann-mathieu-steal-nfl-draft-2013-11">the best rookie defensive back in the league</a> after getting taken in the third round.</p>
<p>Two years ago linebacker Vontaze Burfict <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vontaze-burfict-shows-how-little-nfl-combine-matters-2013-2">exercised so badly</a> at the combine that he went undrafted - only to sign with Cincinnati and become their best linebacker.</p>
<p>The combine can build hype as well. Dion Jordan <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000144982/article/dion-jordan-impresses-in-nfl-combine-40yard-dash">blew people away</a> with his 40-yard dash time at February's combine. He got taken 3rd-overall and now <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dion-jordan-dolphins-gm-ireland-2013-11">he can't even make it onto the field</a>.</p>
<p>So while Lotulelei was sitting at home, other defensive linemen were surging past him on draft boards because they were exercising impressively. Those four NFL teams that picked defensive linemen ahead of Lotulelei ultimately picked guys they were more comfortable with, and seeing them at the combine is a part of that.</p>
<p>The combine is fun. People jump high and run fast. But it shouldn't be central to the evaluation of any player, and a player shouldn't be deemed an "unknown quantity" if he doesn't participate.</p>
<p>Ultimately Lotulelei is as good as he was thought to be at this time last year - before the machinery of the NFL Draft evaluation process knocked him down for reasons that had little to do with football.</p>

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