You must have me mistaken with someone else......
I read the whole thread so I know your other concerns.
My point was simple. Some teams put too much emphasis on 40 times and predraft workouts and use the 40 time as a measuring stick which I think teams might weigh in that factor a little too strongly when ranking players, especially WRs.
2001 was a prime example where based on a workout, Chad Johnson fell, based on I believe a 4.6, and Freddie Mitchell rose up draft boards, based on a 4.4 I believe. Im sure the Eagles wished they took Chad Johnson over Freddie Mitchell. Heck, if you check Kiper's mock draft in 2001, he had Chad Johnson originally going to the Eagles.
And I do believe Chad Johnson ran 4.4's consistently in a private workout with the Bengals.... however those numbers, IIRC, we not what every other team in the NFL had in his scouting report.
Also, as Im sure I dont need to bring this up, Jerry Rice ran a 4.7 Although Im not comparing Jarrett to Rice at all, San Fran was smart enough to trade up to get Rice despite this pre-draft 40 time.
How often are players running (without pads) in a game on a straight 40 yard dash at full speed ahead...... usually either after they have broken something and have a straight shot to the endzone or when something bad happens and they need to chase down a player.
Jerry Rice's times in the 40 (4.62 & 4.67) was the exact same as Dwayne Jarrett. The difference is Jerry ran his on grass while Dwayne ran his on FieldTurf.
I agree San Fran was smart enough to trade up for Rice despite his combine 40 time. Jerry Rice didn't have the luxury of going to pre-draft camps like players today does. Rice was also far and away the best player at the 1985 Senior Bowl. He made some of the best college CBs look very average on game day.