Don't trust anyone during the pre-draft process

Originally Published: April 8, 2008

Teams are engaging in plenty of mind games as the draft approaches, while prospects are still on the move, writes Todd McShay.

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By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
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Call it lying, call it smoke screening, call it whatever you want, but at this time of year coaches and personnel officials simply should not be trusted. There is no shortage of information leaks regarding the plans teams are making, but the trick is navigating the leaked information properly.

For example, the Cincinnati Bengals have so forcefully spread the news of their trip to Norman, Okla., on Wednesday for WR Malcolm Kelly's belated workout that they would have been better off taking out a full-page ad in a national paper. According to multiple sources, Cincinnati will send a sizable contingent -- including offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard and several members of its personnel department -- to witness Kelly in his first workout for coaches and scouts. Kelly, who is reportedly fully recovered from the quadriceps injury that prevented him from working out earlier, will then travel back to Cincinnati with team officials for a more extensive physical and mental examination.

The team clearly has reasons to evaluate Kelly as a potential target with the No. 9 overall pick with the troubled Chris Henry having been released and Chad Johnson seemingly becoming more disgruntled by the day. However, there is also an ulterior motive. Cincinnati is angling to increase potential trade interest in the ninth pick. The Bengals have a big need at defensive tackle, but realize the odds are slim that LSU's Glenn Dorsey or USC's Sedrick Ellis will fall that far.

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