By Brad BiggsMOBILE, Ala.-- If Clemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford has a time in mind for the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine next month, he's not sharing it.
"Just the fastest time that these legs can let me run," he said after the North squad's practice for the Senior Bowl this morning at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. "I don't want to say any times because then if I don't, then someone might be upset. I don't want to jinx myself."
When the conversation turned to a time Ford was comfortable with, then he was able to commit to a number.
"A 4.2?" Ford said. "I can guarantee a 4.2."
Photo: Jacoby Ford practices with the North squad Tuesday in Mobile, Ala. (Chip English/AP)
Did you say guarantee?
"Yes, sir," Ford responded. "It's just running. It's second nature to me. I'm just naturally good at running. That's why if anybody asks me if I am a track guy that plays football, I can answer that question easily. I'm just a football guy that just so happens to run track."
For the record, the unofficial one anyway, Ford said he ran the 40 in 4.126 seconds in 2005 when he was at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.
Also for the record, he already has met with the Bears this week. No one can pass on that kind of speed.
"Yes, sir," Ford responded. "It's just running. It's second nature to me. I'm just naturally good at running. That's why if anybody asks me if I am a track guy that plays football, I can answer that question easily. I'm just a football guy that just so happens to run track."
For the record, the unofficial one anyway, Ford said he ran the 40 in 4.126 seconds in 2005 when he was at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.
Also for the record, he already has met with the Bears this week. No one can pass on that kind of speed.
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I would not be too surprised to see the Bears try to pull out some sort of a trade involving a current player. We do have some players with trade value and Angelo might feel that he can find better options in the draft (especially after the untimely death of Gaines Adams...R.I.P). As to who that players might be, it is anyone's guess. Could it be Urlacher, Briggs, Hester...or maybe some type of a sign and trade involving one of their free agents perhaps? Something like this is certainly hard to gauge, especially with the type of thinking that is involved inside the walls of Halas Hall these days. I love the Bears. I bleed Orange and Navy all year long. I am not one of those people who are going to gripe and complain too much, although I would love to see them get back on the right path and start winning. A winning season will quiet the naysayers, while getting to the SuperBowl would shut them up! At least for one season. Just remember that the Colts, Patriots, Saints, and Steelers (including the Bill Cowher years) had losing seasons, but once they started winning, suddenly they were the best teams in the world. Personally I would love to see Cowher come to coach the Bears at some point because I think his teams play the type of football the Bears fans are used too. Best wished on finding the right OC and DC to lead us through (even if it might be for one season). GO BEARS!!! Keep your head up Bears fans, it could always be worse...we could be like Buffalo, Oakland, Detroit, St Louis, or any other lowly team that seems to have had a multitude of down years. We may not have to have faith in the current regime, but we dont need it to define our identity or love for one of the most storied franchises in the history of the league either!
With what draft pick?
Do the fans really know more about building a football team than the people in town who are paid to do it and write about it?
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Yes. Outside of new management and coaching, they need O and D line; period! What good is another speedster going to do (being that they already have 3)when the O line can't give them time to get open. Think about the logic of your question.
I'm on the verge of turning in my tickets and articles like this are not helping.
"Also for the record, he already has met with the Bears this week. No one can pass on that kind of speed."
Sorry man, but this says it all. Read the other comments, do the fans really know more about building a football team than the people in town who are paid to do it and write about it?
This is sad...
When I saw the heading of this article, I assumed they were talking about a fast change of pace guy to compliment Forte.
Another speedy WR geez. The bears have 2 burners as is how many do they need? WR corps is fine. Also they need taller WR's not another little guy, just ask Cutler.
They need to focus on the O-line and FS. I'd love a pass rusher too but that isn't going to happen with where they are picking. Angelo better not pick any friggin projects either like Gilbert or Melton!
Angelo needs his best draft ever to save his a$$.
JA: Don't lose any more picks by trying to go up the draft. Work free agency and take your lumps in the draft this year. We have too many holes on both sides to be giving away the few draft picks we do have. JA seems to pick better in the mid-rounds anyway.
How in the heck is he going to be available in the 3rd round for the Bears. Does Angelo have anything to trade up?
Look articles like this make me angry. Frankly, I DON'T CARE ABOUT HIS SPEED! I don't care about that at all. The point is that this man is 5'8". With the towreing CB's and DB's at 6'0" and taller this man will not have the height to match up to the DB's and CB's to catch a pass.
Additionally, with Knox being in the probowl, Devin Aromashodou showing good potential, and untested Iglesias, coupled with the notion that Cutler likes taller WR's, this...what..ummb...what...Jacoby Ford discussion is a *&*&@ waste of time.
Look the Bears need to focus on....
1. Getting an OC that will implement and emphazise a a strong running game where running the ball is the focal point of the offense.
2. Get some more DB's to shore up this Cover-2 defense they want so much to play.
3. Get another MLB because Urlacher is getting older.
4. For crying out loud people...the OFFENSIVE LINE..DARN IT THE STINKING OFFENSIVE LINE needs a revamp!
And the Bears are salivating over some...what...short WR who may end up being eaten alive by taller DB's once he gets in the NFL?
No...the Bears need to redo their priorities..really.
Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are both 4.2ish. Do we really need another speed merchant who isn't a good all around WR?
The Bears need defensive players and offiensive linemen and a speedy RB before they go after another speedy receiver.
Dont we already have a pro bowl WR thats fast?
Great....another Airese Curry! LOL
Another speed receiver? How do you call yourself a sports writer? Every Bears fan knows that exactly what they DO NOT need. How about someone on the line who can create a hole to run through, or stop a D-lineman from smashing Cutler on every play? Ever thought of that one?
If he is as fast as he claims, Al Davis will reach for him in the first round before the Bears pick. Besides, why a wide receiver? The Bears lines are awful on both sides of the ball...plenty there to keep the management busy this off-season.
Must be a slow news day. Don't we already have two blazing, 6-foot receivers? How about getting some offensive linemen to give the quarterback time to throw it down field? What good is to have a receiver running a 4.0 40 when your quarterback is on his back in 2.5 seconds?
How many 5 8/5 9 175 pound recievers do they need on one damn team. Hey guees what we found another guy to return kicks. We're also looking at strong safety's instead of free safety's cause it will be awesome if we convert one, one of these days, months, years, decades.
Gosh let me think. What do the Bears? I don't know maybe a Guard who can block, or a RT, how about a Center, or a running back. We could use a reciever, if he is 6 3.
Or maybe on defense, or is it year 3 in the just wait till Tommies knee feels better project? Or a pass rushing DE, one thats good at it. Or a FS, or a Corner cause Tillman is not getting any younger.
But no lets look at a 5 8 175 pound future kick returner. That will help the team.
Also, how about getting and OC first before looking at another WR.
Maybe instead of looking for blazing speed, we should focus more on guys like Bennett who can run a route and get open. Reggie Wayne is not a sub 4.4 guy, but gets open on nearly every play, no matter who is covering him.
We already have Knox and Hester who are not very good route runners with breakaway speed, so adding another guy for the bubble screen and fade route doesn't make a lot of sense. Especially when you need solid protection to give Cutler the time to get the ball down the field to the aforementioned speed receivers. If Ford is there in the 5th or 6th round, then fine, but we had better draft a center, a guard, and a tackle this year. Preferably with our first three picks.
Biggsy:
Why would the bears need another speed WR who is under 6 feet tall? They have two of those slight speed guys now. Don't you think a big physical #1 type of guy would make more sense? Plus, unless they get rid of a couple of guys, they won't have any room at WR. They have Devin A, Devin H, Knox, Bennett, Iglesias and Davis right now. You figure Davis is gone, that's still 5 WR's on the roster. Not sure I understand your title of filling a speed need for the Bears...
We already have two tiny speedsters for wide outs Hester and Knox this dude is listed as 5 10 in college, sounds like 5 8 we need a dude who is 6 3 at least like D.A. I think he is 6 2ish and J.C. has said he prefers bigger targets. It would be beneficial for the Bears to listen to Cutler on this. We don't need another kick off guy please.......