Clock malfunction could have cost Isabella

The point is moot considering it didn’t take long for the technological mishap at the NFL Scouting Combine to be fixed. It is interesting to ponder — for whatever reason — what could have been for Andy Isabella if the problem on March 2 was not addressed. “You could have been talking a lot of money,” said Ross Bandiera, who coached Isabella at Mayfield. Isabella is a record-setting AllAmerica wide receiver from UMass who entered the Combine with buzz generated from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in February. There he was the North team MVP, and during the week of practice he revealed to reporters he once ran the 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds. So when on March 2 in Indianapolis Isabella’s first 40-yard dash attempt came in at 4.56 seconds — during NFL Network’s broadcast of the Combine — it was more than a shock. As quick as that time was posted, the negative takes on social media about Isabella’s draft prospects made their rounds. That didn’t last long, and fortunately for Isabella, that was great news — even though he said he didn’t find about the mishap until his day at the Combine was over. “The thing that was so unusual about (the 4.56) is that’s not Andy,” said Bandiera. “He’s much faster than that.” A short time later, it was revealed a laser used to gauge times for the 40 malfunctioned during Isabella’s sprint. Credit those at the Combine for being on top of what could have been potentially devastating for Isabella’s draft hopes.

“Yes, I was definitely in freak-out mode,” said Isabella in a text to The News-Herald. “But all the scouts in the stands were texting me saying they had me at a high 4.2. I was just really confused.” Had a time of 4.56 seconds stood for Isabella, it would have been difficult recovering from that. A difference of .25 seconds might be like a blink of an eye, but for NFL decision makers it’s a monumental gap — at least for NFL wide receivers these days. It could have meant going from perhaps a secondround pick to a fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round pick. That’s thousands of dollars in a signing bonus. Isabella also did well in other speed categories. He posted times of 6.95 seconds in the 3-cone drill, and 4.15 seconds in the 20yard shuttle. As for his initial social media reaction, Isabella missed out and that’s unfortunate for a player who could use every advantage come the NFL Draft. Positive tweets and posts trickled in after it was revealed his time was actually 4.31, but had it been correct from the start the buzz generated would have likely been big from the start. It might have been similar to the buzz when Ohio State’s Paris Campbell ripped off his 4.31 time on March 2, and when another wide receiver D.K. Metcalf of Ole Miss posted a 4.33. That prompted reaction such as this from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. on Campbell: “He is now in the discussion for Day 1.” When the receivers were done at the Combine, the unit made a collective impression, especially to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, who said on ABC, “A bunch of receivers made money today.” Fortunately for Isabella — who at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds must overcome what many consider shortcomings as a receiver — he didn’t lose money or his draft standing at the Combine.

DARRON CUMMINGS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Northeast Ohio native Andy Isabella posted a time of 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.