The Combine Starts Today

Today more than 330 draft prospects decend upon the RCA Dome in Indianapolis for a series of mental and physical tests to help determine where they should be taken in the draft this April. While most fans will focus on the results from the on-field drills, the interviews and medical tests will be highly scrutinized by NFL clubs. Virtually all prospects go through the interview process, even if they don't plan to take part in many of the physical drills. This is a chance for teams to determine the mental makeup of each player. The medical tests are critical to prospects carrying injury concerns and can have a major impact on where they get selected.

NFL teams have a pretty good idea of how the seniors measure up, the combine is often the first real chance to get measurables for the underclassmen. That is unless you consider their measureables from their respective schools to be accurate, which most scouts do not.

Don't think the combine really matters? Think again. Since the turn of the century just 12 players have been taken on the first day of the draft that didn't attend the combine, and there hasn't been a single first-round pick selected who didn't attend the combine.

NFL Network's day-by-day TV coverage:

Thursday, Feb. 23
2 p.m. ET -- NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT -- NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine

Friday, Feb. 24
2 p.m. ET -- NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT -- NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine

Saturday, Feb. 25
11 a.m. ET -- Workouts: Offensive linemen and running backs (LIVE) (re-airs 8 PM ET/PT)
2 p.m. ET -- NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT -- NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine

Sunday, Feb. 26
11 a.m. -- Workouts: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs (LIVE) (re-airs 8 PM ET/PT)
2 p.m. ET -- NFL Scouting Combine press conferences (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET/PT -- NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine

Monday, Feb. 27
11 a.m. ET -- Workouts: Tight ends, defensive lineman (LIVE) (re-airs 8 PM ET/PT)
7 p.m. ET/PT -- NFL Total Access from the Scouting Combine

Tuesday, Feb. 28
11 a.m. ET -- Workouts: Linebackers, defensive backs (LIVE) (re-airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT)

Wednesday, Mar. 1
8 p.m. ET/PT -- 2006 NFL Scouting Combine wrapup show