If it wasn't for a goal-line leap on Nov. 7, Jahvid Best would be a first-round pick. That leap ended with Best landing on his head in the end zone. He was knocked unconscious and taken off the field with the second concussion of his career. The NFL has been ultra sensitive about concussions recently, and it's concerns over Best's durability that make a first-round selection questionable.
Best, however, seemed to think it was a possibility. Asked which teams might be interested in him, he mentioned the Eagles, who are in the market for a running back now that Brian Westbrook is no longer with the team, as well as the Saints, who might part ways with Reggie Bush and his hefty contract.
The 49ers also would be a possibility, especially if Best slips into the second round. San Francisco is especially interested in someone who can lift their flagging return game. Best handled kickoffs in Berkeley and said he took back punts in practice. The last time he handled punts in a game, however, was in high school.
There are a couple of things Best said he would change as a pro. One is his helmet. "It looked the best, but it didn't offer the best protection," he said of his Cal dome. He also said he'd cease making goal-line leaps. "That's not going to be part of my game anymore," he said.
-- Matt Barrows
