This past weekend and for the next two days analysts and draftniks will view and study every detail of the potential pro prospect invited to the NFL combine. The departed collegiate athletes will be assessed, re-assessed for a final floccinaucinihilipilification that drives draftniks abound to a point of mental exhaustion strictly from information overload.

Feb 23, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish speaks at a press conference during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback, was no stranger to the NFL combine. But not in the traditional sense which many associate with quarterback invitees.

In 2002, Romo was named the top player in division I AA. Yet many felt his skills left a lot to be desired from the pro game perspective. So the Eastern Illinois quarterback was invited to the 2003 NFL combine, as a combine arm only.

Much like 2011′s rookie third string Houston Texans quarterback, T.J. Yates, whom helped lead the Houston Texans into a second round playoffs this past season. Romo was only invited to the NFL combine as an extra arm to throw to the wide receivers and defensive backs during both group’s positional drills.

Bill Parcells, being persuaded by former Eastern Illinois alum Sean Payton, signed Romo as an undrafted free agent (UDFA).

The Cowboys offered Tony Romo $10,000. But Mike Shanahan, who at the time was the head coach of the Denver Broncos, offered the Eastern Illinois signal caller $20,000 to sign an UDFA contract.

Romo turned down Denver for a better shot to make the team in Dallas. By 2006, Romo was the number two QB behind Drew Bledsoe.

Already in his five plus seasons as the starter in Dallas, Romo has three 4000+ plus passing yards seasons and owns several of the Cowboys’ passing records. Yet Romo has only managed to lead Dallas to one playoff victory.

Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill impressed and made himself a substantial amount more money yesterday with his size and blazing forty-yard dash time. There is likely a chance at least one combine arm who was throwing to him will do enough to earn themselves a chance to land on some team’s roster.

Out of the three extra arms invited to this years NFL Combine, the names Chandler Harnish of Northern Illinois, Austin Davis of Southern Miss., and former Miami Hurricane  quarterback Jacoby Harris are not exactly household names. (except maybe within each one’s respected regions of the country)

Which one of these guys will perform well enough to catch the one individual’s eye, with enough of the power of persuasion, needed to get a shot at their NFL dream?

Can one of these young arms influence a team enough to get a shot to be this years T.J. Yates or 2003’s Tony Romo?

If there is one of these arms who could land on a roster the safe bet, if there ever was such a thing, is on this signal caller from Northern Illinois Chandler Harnish.

While the Dallas Cowboys are yet to be in the market for a quarterback, the teams window of opportunity with Tony Romo behind center will be closing even more so over the next couple of seasons.

You can follow me on twitter @j0eo1s to talk all things Dallas Cowboys football.

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We take a look back at the career of the young man from Eastern Illinois (photo:chicagonow.com)

Article by: Artie Cappello

When Tony Romo took over for Drew Bledsoe at half-time in October 2006, his first pass was intercepted. We in Cowboys Nation didn’t care, we were tired of Bledsoe. If you watched the game, the game was winnable until Tony’s third interception of the half. Again, and I think I speak for most Cowboys fans, we didn’t care. Tony Romo was new. We were asking for a changing of the guard and we got it.

It’s was OK that he was raw. He was also mobile, fun, and a gun slinger. Always had a smile on his face, our own Brett Favre. For older fans, he reminded us of Roger the Dodger, Roger Staubach. And Romo played well, the game wasn’t too big for the kid. We had found a worthy heir to the Dallas Cowboys QB Thrown. Staubach and Troy Aikman approved, so the bandwagon was quickly assembled and we all jumped on it. The media broke out the anointing oil despite coach Bill Parcells warning them to put it away.

The Cowboys made the playoffs that year, lead by our undrafted free agent out of AA Eastern Illinois. This was a Cinderella story in the making.

Then the fumbled snap… No Cinderella story. (more…)

Why is it breaking news to find out that there are speculations about Jimmy Clausen being 2 inches shorter than previously reported?  Other than being prohibited from riding the new roller-coaster, Gigantus (the only roller coaster made by giants for giants), I can’t see a reason why that would prohibit him from being capable of playing in the NFL.  This story and many like it will be broadcast live in high definition on the NFL Network.  Many may assume I believe 20+ hours of fat guys running in shorts is ridiculous; even more so, someone sitting down to watch fat guys in running in shorts.

Not so fast.  I love the combine.  It is a chance to peer through the white noise and view the soon to be NFL player at his most vulnerable.  Every player at this stage of their career is on a Hall of Fame path.  Unfortunately, every player tells the media that they play hard, they are a hard worker, and they will be a credit to the franchise that takes them.  No one every says they will be a fat slob and they are just looking for one big payday.  The NFL draft is the most optimistic weekend in all of football.  Your team may have just drafted the cornerstones to a dynasty, and the combine is a chance to find out their back-story before your friends.

We all know about Florida’s Tim Tebow’s long windmill like throwing motion, USC’s Stafon Johnson‘s neck injury while working out, and Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount‘s lack of composure, common sense, and the sucker punch.  But do ya’ll know that projected 3-4 linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) has one of the biggest mouths in the draft; he simply can’t stop talking smack.  Tight end Mickey Shuler (Penn State) is the son of a former NFL player, and it isn’t Heath.  Guard Mitch Petrus missed the entire 2008 season for Boston College due to academics (afterall BC is the Harvard of… southwest Boston suburbs?).  Tackle Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)had a viral infection in his thyroid which affected his endurance and play in 2009.  Tiny snippets about the player unfold: their background, their favorite color, whether they are a patient runner, how good are their feet, what injuries occurred during their senior year which will affect their draft position.

After the first 2 rounds, many of the draftee’s are all but anonymous to the average fan.  Even after watching the combine, many remain so. Though giving the Mercutios and Tybalts your focus just enhances the marathon that is the draft.

I fully grant that many of the drills shed light on a players athleticism, and for the most part are worthless.  Jerry Rice ran a 4.6+ forty time at the combine and he was an unstoppable force.  Ditto with Emmith Smith and his forty time of 4.6.  Jimmy Johnson labored over film and saw what Florida fans were treated to, long scoring runs.  The statistics don’t tell the tale, but rather they are the corner pieces to the puzzle.

In 2008, I was guilty of undervaluing Felix Jones.  I was a proponent of Rashard Mendenhal, though I only had influence over my wife.  They ran the same forty time – go with the player who is more than a complementary back.  Thank God Jerry Jones isn’t my wife, because Felix Jones is every bit as fast on the field as he was reported to be.

The combine isn’t a predictor of success.  Jay Ratliff wasn’t invited to the combine, and Tony Romo was only invited as a warm arm to throw to the WR’s.  Meanwhile golden boys talked about how they were going to WOW the world at their pro-day.  Parcells and Co. noticed Romo’s quick release and they were intrigued.  If Romo doesn’t attend the Combine, maybe Sean Payton still scouts Romo because of his ties to Eastern Illinois. It is indisputable, those few days in Indianapolis affected the direction the Cowboys are presently pointed.  And just maybe, that direction is Super Bowl bound.