Crashing and burning at the Seahawks media combine (updated)

The NFL scouting combine is finishing up Monday after six days, as collegians try to impress the teams and improve their stock for the draft, which takes place in April.

In that spirit, the Seahawks decided to conduct their first annual Seattle media combine Monday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, where they put the media members who cover the team through the same drills the players go through at the scouting combine. Those drills included the 40-yard dash, the shuttle run, the three-cone drill, the vertical jump, the broad jump and the gauntlet.

I accepted the invitation with some trepidation, considering my troubled physical condition. My lower back has been a problem for more than four years, and it went out twice during Seahawks season — once in December and once in January. Nevertheless, despite the risk I decided to jump right in and see what happened. After all, how often does one get an opportunity like this?

Well, I ended up paying the price. I wrenched my back again on my second drill when I planted a foot during the shuttle run. I decided to power through the 40-yard dash anyway, but shut it down after that. A full account of the experience is coming in column form in Sunday’s paper, so look for it then.

But despite the injury recurrence, I was glad I took part. And I want to thank the Seahawks for putting on an event like this. It gave those of us who write about the game a chance to experience a small piece of what the players go through, and I think everyone who took part enjoyed themselves.

Even those who ended up injured.

—- UPDATE, 3:55 p.m.

For those who are interested, here’s the final results of the inaugural Seahawks media combine. Thank you to the Seahawks for not posting the DNFs in the three-cone drill and the vertical jump. I guess I was holding my own until my body gave out.