Stafon Johnson’s draft diary: ‘I have to learn to be patient’
Article By Unknown on 10th March, 2010
Stafon Johnson, for Sporting News
I knew I wasn't going to be 100 percent, the way I wanted to be, when I went to the Combine. But through this whole process and on toward the draft, I just want to go out and show I can compete, even when I'm not 100 percent.
For the first time since his injury, Stafon Johnson did 13 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press at the NFL Combine. I can still compete and stand out under this kind of competition. That's what I want to show: Even if I'm hurt, I'm going to be tough enough to do the things I need to do. I'm not going to back away.
It's funny, at the Combine the teams mainly wanted to see if I could interpret defenses and make sure I'm not a character-issue guy. A lot of them actually didn't even know I was going to work out there—the players, too.
Everybody asked the same questions: Are you going to train? Are you really going to do this? Are you really going to do what everybody else is going to do? And I'm like, "Yeah, why not?" Whatever I did was a plus, and only a good thing.
I'm not scared to fail because I know in the back of my mind all of this is a plus for me. I know I've got less than a month left for everything to be on line for the pro day at USC. I can't get there on March 31 and say, "Well, I wasn't ready."
In the coming weeks, I'll work on the little things I've seen that I can work on. A lot of what I've done so far is just the evaluation stage for me. The Combine was the first time I did 225-pound (bench press) rep since before my injury. That was the first time I was able to run a time for a 40-yard dash.
A lot of things I'm trying to build off of, but it's hard sometimes. I'm typically used to getting in the 4.4-4.3 range in the 40, and when you come in in the 4.6s, well, I'm mad because of my expectations.
I'm like, "I know this is not m...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
For the first time since his injury, Stafon Johnson did 13 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press at the NFL Combine. I can still compete and stand out under this kind of competition. That's what I want to show: Even if I'm hurt, I'm going to be tough enough to do the things I need to do. I'm not going to back away.
It's funny, at the Combine the teams mainly wanted to see if I could interpret defenses and make sure I'm not a character-issue guy. A lot of them actually didn't even know I was going to work out there—the players, too.
Everybody asked the same questions: Are you going to train? Are you really going to do this? Are you really going to do what everybody else is going to do? And I'm like, "Yeah, why not?" Whatever I did was a plus, and only a good thing.
I'm not scared to fail because I know in the back of my mind all of this is a plus for me. I know I've got less than a month left for everything to be on line for the pro day at USC. I can't get there on March 31 and say, "Well, I wasn't ready."
In the coming weeks, I'll work on the little things I've seen that I can work on. A lot of what I've done so far is just the evaluation stage for me. The Combine was the first time I did 225-pound (bench press) rep since before my injury. That was the first time I was able to run a time for a 40-yard dash.
A lot of things I'm trying to build off of, but it's hard sometimes. I'm typically used to getting in the 4.4-4.3 range in the 40, and when you come in in the 4.6s, well, I'm mad because of my expectations.
I'm like, "I know this is not m...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
