Video, highlights from the 2017 Seahawks.com Media Combine

RENTON – The Seahawks.com Media Combine is, among many things, a nice dose of perspective.

For example: the winning time in the 40-yard dash this year was 4.97 seconds, run by one particularly athletic participant who also had the best mark in another event. He couldn’t weigh more than 185 pounds. The best time among offensive linemen at last year’s NFL scouting combine – you know, the actual one – was 4.94 seconds, that belonging to a tackle (Indiana’s Jason Spriggs) who’s listed at 6 feet 6 and 301 pounds.

Think about that. Even the most able-bodied of us media types – by far, in many cases – still isn’t as fast as a fast NFL offensive lineman, a mountain of a man who plays a position that doesn’t require a lot of straight-line speed.

Not that any of us needed a reminder of how relatively unathletic we are compared to the professionals, but we all got one Wednesday as the Seahawks hosted their version of the combine for the second straight year.

Actually, we got six of them. In addition to the 40-yard dash, participants were tested in five other athletic events: the vertical jump, three-cone drill, bench press, broad jump and gauntlet, a pass-catching drill. There was also the debut of the Pearson Cognitive Assessment, a Wonderlic-style test named after the team’s PR director, Dave Pearson.

Fourteen local media members participated, including writers, radio hosts and TV folks. Two Sea Gals also took part along with Blitz, the Seahawks’ mascot. The 710 ESPN Seattle/710Sports.com contingent included Mike Salk, Danny O’Neil and yours truly while James Osborn (Boy Howdy) was on hand to document it all on Twitter. Thank god.

Danny was again suited but this time properly booted, opting for sneakers after slipping out of his dress shoes last year. Salk posted a nice time of 5.40 in the 40, a good deal faster than mine even though I got some pro tips beforehand from Seahawks guard Mark Glowinski, one of a handful of players who popped into the team’s indoor practice facility to watch. The electronic timer had me at 5.62, which was odd because I was counting in my head and had it at 4.42 (unofficially).

.003 seconds away from his sub 5.4 goal! @TheMikeSalk turning heads at the #MediaCombine. Hat tip to coach @BrockESPN pic.twitter.com/ty2ExFyEbo

— 710 ESPN Seattle (@710ESPNSeattle) February 22, 2017

Shave a second off and he could be an NFL RB! @BradyHenderson #MediaCombine pic.twitter.com/EEQuWHvoIX

— 710 ESPN Seattle (@710ESPNSeattle) February 22, 2017

A pair of nurses from Virginia Mason were on hand in case anyone got hurt, but the extent of the injuries were just some sore hamstrings that required ice packs as well as a tweaked back – mine. It happened on the bench press. Players lift 225 pounds at the actual combine but it was only 65 for us – that’s the bar and a 10-pound weight on each side – which made it as much of a test of endurance as strength. I put everything I had into rep No. 92, my back especially.

Seahawks.com has the full list of results as well as a photo gallery of the 40-yard dash.

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