Boston College QB Matt Ryan, who is rated by some NFL experts as the No. 1 quarterback prospect entering the draft, has decided to skip out on the passing drills at the Combine this week.  

Rather than show NFL scouts in Indy that he can adapt to any situation put before him, Ryan will wait until the school’s Pro Day to show off his passing skills and throw to some familiar targets. That doesn’t set well with some scouts. What they would really like to see is how well Ryan passes the ball when put in adverse situations. You can count this as another missed opportunity for scouts to truly evaluate Ryan’s passing ability.  

Ryan pulled out of the Senior Bowl just days before the event was set to kickoff and a month later the Combine. Some scouts are now wondering what Ryan is hiding. Could he be a fraud? Well, at least the three NFL scouts I talked to think so. Saying that Ryan is nothing special and a bunch of media hype ala Ryan Leaf.

One scout said that Ryan is doing nothing to help his cause and that could come to fruition on draft day if he bombs at the pro day. A last impression means everything to scouts. 

The one guy who is taking a smarter approach to prove to scouts that he is the real deal is Louisville QB Brian Brohm.

Like Ryan, Brohm also pulled out of the Senior Bowl last month due to an ankle injury, but will go through a complete workout here in Indy.  

Both quarterbacks came into the media room on Friday and from a physical standpoint, Brohm looked better. He showed up weighing a rock solid 230 pounds while Ryan looked like a pixy stick.

Don’t be fooled by all the draft publications who suggest that Ryan is head and shoulders above Brohm. There are a number of teams who have Brohm rated higher on their draft board. One team being the Miami Dolphins.  

According to a league source, Dolphins Executive VP of Football Operations Bill Parcells has kept close tabs on Brohm since accepting the position with the organization. However, I’m told that the team is not interested in either one of the quarterbacks at the No. 1 slot, but would consider addressing the position if the team were to trade down. As a side note, the Dolphins will be waiting to see what transpires with the Chris Simms’ situation in Tampa Bay.   

Brohm knows the importance of showcasing his skills before scouts.