Malcolm Kelly Workout Leaves Bills Unimpressed

by Kurupt on Apr 9, 2008 5:14 PM EDT

Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, considered in many mock NFL drafts as the most likely choice of the Bills at #11 overall in the first round of the April 26th NFL draft, may have seriously jeapordized that status with a poor workout Wednesday at his Pro Day in Norman, Oklahoma.

Kelly ran 40 times of 4.75 and 4.68 on a field turf surface, which is nowhere near the sub 4.5 times he has run in the past. Kelly, the Sooners gifted All American, said after the workout he was upset with the setup, and blamed officials at Oklahoma University. He said he had been training on the faster Astroturf surface
and didn't know until Wednesday the site of the workout had been changed.

"I had everything set up for where I wanted to do it at," Kelly said. "I get up here this morning and it's a whole different deal. This is my life. It's got to do with me and my family. This is what I do, play football, and I'm supposed to run as fast as I can. I was slipping all over the place during my drill work. I can't say I'm pleased with anything today."

Unless he has another workout soon with much better results, it's hard to imagine the Bills would consider using the #11 pick overall on Kelly. Many scouts feel that would be a reach anyway, although Kelly's size (6-4, 227) is ideal for the Bills' needs opposite Lee Evans.

There are some reports out there already that the Bills are more interested in Michigan St. wide receiver Devin Thomas, a 6-1, 215 pounder who was dominant in his only year as a starter. Thomas is also an outstanding kick returner.

Uh Oh, he's making excuses for running poorly. I wonder if any of the other players who worked out had similar comments....

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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And from Chris Brown

Link

MALCOLM KELLY BLAMING OU: Bad enough that Kelly did not perform as well as expected at his pro day when it came to his 40 times (4.68 and 4.75), but after the workout he blamed OU for his results saying they changed the location from Astroturf to Field Turf and he didn't know until this morning. That according to The Oklahoman.

"People want to say surface is surface, but it's a lot more to it than that," Kelly told The Oklahoman. "You have to think about how much ground time you have running on this mushy surface here and how much ground time you have on Astroturf. Just a little bit of time could mean a whole lot of draft money."

While he's right about losing a lot of money as he'll likely now be a second-round pick, Kelly should also realize that there are no astroturf fields in the league anymore. You might as well run on Field Turf which is the surface of more than half the fields in the league with the other fields being grass.

Blaming his workout on the school and the last minute venue change won't do much to win over NFL clubs. They're probably all flying back to their respective NFL cities wondering how Kelly will handle real adversity as a rookie in the NFL, if a last minute venue and surface change bugged him. Talent evaluators take the surface into account anyway. Even if he ran a faster time on astroturf, scouts would take it into account, knowing it's one of the faster surfaces and it's a surface that no longer exists in the NFL.

For what it's worth he's been widely reported to have done well on his receiving routes, but the 40 times will carry weight.

I can't believe he's talking about money after this. That really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. And good point by Chris Brown about there being no Astroturf fields anymore...

by Kurupt on Apr 9, 2008 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

bad form

you're right... bad form blaming the grounds staff changing the surface...

he should've just said that he couldn't sleep before the pro-day because he was so anxious and didn't get any sleep or something... a few players used that excuse at the combine and I thought it was the most benign of all the "excuses"

by osmanBAE on Apr 9, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Who cares

Did you read the part that he did well on his receiving routes. Thats is that aspect of receiving that most rookies struggle with. Kelly has ran 40 times in the past with no problem and his performances in college tell you the type of competitor he is. He's a kid, his hopes and dreams were doused in the span of a few minutes and everyone is saying that him blaming OU looks bad on his character and ability to handle adversity. He faced adversity his whole college career and before this everyone was raving about what a class act he was. And can you blame him for talking about money. Football is the skill he was blessed with, most with it never make any money from it and he's only looking out for the interests of himself and his family no different than any one of us.
Give the kid a break Chris Brown, he was just publicly embarrassed and watched everything he worked so hard for not pan out. It was an initial reaction. We should draft this kid, mark my words players as talented as Kelly with a chip on their shoulder this early will play their whole careers like they have something to prove.I like that, he'll be better because of this.

It's not delivery, It's DiGiorgio!

by poz on Apr 9, 2008 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

Who cares

I still would rather have Harvey, but I agree completely.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Apr 9, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

character

"and before this everyone was raving about what a class act he was."

I've never heard a positive report on Kelly's character. Character hasn't been mentioned in any of the scouting reports I have read. Have you read that he is a good teammate or leader or something?

The only thing I have seen that is at all character related is OU fans ripping on him for skipping the Fiesta Bowl this year when the doctors cleared him to play.

by kaisertown on Apr 9, 2008 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

i with you...

i don't get why people are making a big deal about it, especially chris brown, who i've come not to like at all anymore.

He gives the rationale that teams play on field turf anyways, but that's not the point. I have never seen a news service publish a 40 time like this: "Lee Evans - 4.35 - astroturf" So unless they do, chris brown is an idiot.

As far as Kelly goes. Yeah it sucks, but I don't see his comments being bad.

Who knows, maybe this is good for Buffalo. Maybe they can get him for a steal in the second round. The guy is a good run blocker. Good route runner. Has good size and great hands. Since when did a 40-time ever help Jerry Rice catch a ball?

John I.

by jri111 on Apr 9, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Who cares

"Give the kid a break Chris Brown, he was just publicly embarrassed and watched everything he worked so hard for not pan out. It was an initial reaction. We should draft this kid, mark my words players as talented as Kelly with a chip on their shoulder this early will play their whole careers like they have something to prove.I like that, he'll be better because of this."

Totally agree with poz.

Actually, I think so highly of Kelly as a player and as a person that, even after calling him out for a poor Pro Day performance, I'd still draft him no matter what. He is a special kid, and will have a great NFL career.

Bills fan half way around the world

by moncheri on Apr 10, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe the Bills will finally consider Sweed

I like Sweed more than Kelly, and I think he would be more ready to contribute now than Kelly can, especially with Kelly's injury history on top of this most recent thing to have annoyed him. I don't like this kids attitude much.

I think Sweed is the best choice if we gotta go WR right this moment, with Thomas as a somewhat more distant 2nd. My reasoning being the kid only produced big in ONE season, Sweed and Kelly as well, have succeeded over several years.

So how done was Pat Williams when we let him go Tommie boy??? Stick a fork in him level right?

by WABillsfan on Apr 9, 2008 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

Doubt it

If this drops Kelly from the top spot of Buffalo's WR list - which I'm still skeptical about - then they'll target Devin Thomas.

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Apr 9, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Kelly's fall from grace

Pissing and moaning about anything other than how he did will not sit well with Jauron. Maybe Buffalo does go CB in the 1st now or DE and hopes as someone earlier suggested he plays with a chip on his shoulder....if Buffalo takes him in the second. As an aside I really hate it when athletes cry about their families. He could go in the 7th round and still make 5 times what the average college grad pulls down.

by Ron From NM on Apr 9, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Bills less likely to trade down?

Does Kelley's poor performance mean the Bills would be less willing to trade down? It seems like this could mean the Big Three is down to two (or one if the Bills really have no interest in Sweed). In this case, moving down would be much more of a risk now if they were planning on going wideout.

On another note, I think we should give Kelley a break on the money comment. Yeah, it was stupid to bring up the change of venue and all that, but dude just lost millions. I'd be upset too if .15 seconds kept me from earning an extra 8 million; wouldn't you?

I'm the jolly little baker and you'll find me on the label of Kaufman's Rye Bread

by DCRumbler on Apr 9, 2008 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

He didn't have to run

he turned the water into wine and got everyone so drunk they didn't care anymore!!!

by Joe P. on Apr 9, 2008 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

Kelly

The Bills need to do one thing with the number 11 pick and thats pick Malcolm Kelly. So what he didn't have an extremely fast time. This guy dropped one pass in two years and can catch anything he can touch. If they dont draft him it will come back to haunt them. It also was OU's fault

by denniskirby on Apr 10, 2008 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

Just checking

But are you going to be Kelly agent?

I don't want Kelly, but I will say that I wouldn't drop him because of this 40 time.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Apr 10, 2008 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

thats a good spin

But 4.68 is actually extremely slow. I mean that literally also. Kelly's time would have been the extreme low at the combine for ALL WRs that will get drafted in the first 6 rounds!

The surface wasn't slow. LBs like Curtis Lofton and Ian Pleasant ran the times that everyone was expecting. In fact, Lofton's 4.67 and Pleasant's 4.63 were faster than Kelly. 306 pound DT Steven Coleman ran a 4.76.

by kaisertown on Apr 10, 2008 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I think

the stink has hit the fan on this one.

I will say this.

As it keeps coming back to over the last 2 months as we speculate on #11.

"We can all agree, that Malcolm Kelly is not worth the #11 pick."

Some of us believed that before the 40 time some believe it only after, and some of us just think there are better options out there.

BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.... The Bills MUST come up with a top tier WR in this draft at some point in the first 2 rounds. Or else make a trade. We just all agree that at #11 the answer is not there.

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Apr 10, 2008 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

First Post: IMO Kelly

I was happy with Kelly at #11 before his pro-day. Now I want him in Rd 2. This guy can catch the football. His higlights show him adjust to bad balls thrown outside his body, even in the opposite direction of his route. D. Thomas's highlight reals show him catching almost every ball in stride. Smooth route running will work well with Trent Edwards (not so much losman).
Now taking Kelly in round 2 effects my opinion on taking a 2nd rd TE like Fred Davis or Dustin Keller (Davis is my #1).
I hope for a trade down in Rd 1 and a trade up into Rd 2 to get a top TE.
Rd 1 - A. Cason, just listen to his interviews versus other top corners. IMO This guy speaks with intelligence, unlike Mckelvin.
But I want to Draft 2 WR's, hopefully to reduce the impact of the WR draft gamble.

To finish I read this site alot, and am football 24/7/365 guy.

Would you rather win one superbowl or Lose four in a row? Which defines your teams place in history more ... 1yr wonder or Perennially 2nd best?

by Rudy916 on Apr 10, 2008 9:24 PM EDT reply actions