NFL fates can change in less than 5 seconds

INDIANAPOLIS - Running backs and wide receivers will be clocked in the 40-yard dash today at the NFL scouting combine, where millions of dollars can be made or lost in a fraction of a second.

At the RCA Dome today, it could be the most important sprint of a college prospect's career, with tenths of a second separating players in draft positions and lucrative contracts.

With so much to lose, it can be considered a risk to run, especially if a time falls short of expectations. Instead, many prospects opt to run the 40 in Pro Days at their schools.

Manyof the top prospects, however, plan to run today. Perhaps spurred by wide receiver Calvin Johnson borrowing a pair of shoes to run a time of 4.39 seconds in 2007 that solidified his status, players plan to take their chances today.

"I am running and doing everything - all of the drills," said Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall. "I hope to run a sub-4.5."

Mendenhall is a projected firstround pick, as is Darren McFadden, arguably the top prospect in the draft. The Arkansas tailback looks fast on the field, but it needs to translate into a good 40 time to validate what's seen on film.

"I might not go through the full workout, but I will do some parts of the workout," McFadden said.

When asked if part of the workout would include running the 40, Mc- Fadden answered with an affirmative: "Yes, sir."

Forty-yard dash times can become legendary or simply urban legend. The fastest verified time, according to nfldraftscout.com, belongs to former Los Angeles Raiders running back Bo Jackson. He ran the 40 in 4.12 seconds when the combine was held at the Superdome in New Orleans in 1986.

The fastest 40 time at the RCA Dome since electronic timing was implemented by the NFL belongs to Rondel Melendez, a wide receiver from Eastern Kentucky who clocked in at 4.24 seconds in 1999. Melendez was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round and later cut.

Prospects are understandably guarded about their goals in the 40.

The embarrassment of promising a blistering time and finishing considerably slower is hard to live down.

"It's kind of personal," Cal wide receiver DeSean Jackson said of his target 40 time. "Everybody will notice (today). I want to keep it to myself because I don't want to put something out there and then not reach what I want to get. But I'm definitely going to open up some eyes with my testing time."

Jackson spent the past month training in Pensacola, Fla., training for the combine. He dealt with injuries and said his health would not be questioned after his workout.

Texas wide receiver Limas Sweed could be a player who goes ahead of Jackson in the draft. He missed seven games with a wrist injury.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Sweed plans to use the combine to show he's not a plodding target.

"That's one of the biggest questions - just how fast I am," Sweed said. "So I plan on showing them how fast I am."

Though it's a high-profile event, the 40 won't be the only drill players will face.

"To be honest, the 40 and those times have never been that big of a deal," Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "I like the other side of it, especially getting to meet the players and the information you can gather from just seeing how they go about their business.

"The medical information, the background information, obviously that's important to us as well. I think it's the total picture you get from the combine. Whether this guy's a tenth of a second faster than that guy, that's never really been that huge to me."

But you never know how much money is to be gained or lost in less than five seconds.

Read Jason Jones' Raiders blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.