Feb 23, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Riley Reiff speaks at a press conference during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

I’m going to say right up front that I’m not an expert on men’s arms. In the matter of Riley Reiff’s upper extremity deficiencies, I will have to defer to others who have studied the subject more closely. All I know is that, according to people who are up on such things, Riley Reiff has short arms for a left tackle. At the combine, Reiff’s arms were measured to be 33 1/4 inches. Is that an average or are the arms exactly the same length? I think I read somewhere that everyone has one arm longer than the other. I don’t know why that’s important, I’m just throwing it out there.

From what I’ve been able to glean through a cursory look around the internet, there’s some disagreement about the significance of Reiff’s arm measurement. Some suggest the short arms could get Reiff downgraded on draft boards to a right tackle prospect or even (gasp) a guard. Others insist that the arm thing doesn’t matter a lick and point to Joe Thomas as an example of a left tackle who has done exceptionally well despite being part T-Rex.

So maybe the arm length issue isn’t really an issue at all. Maybe it’s just a made-up issue created by people who are trying to manufacture news stories out of meaningless crap happening at the great sucking black hole known as the combine? Well the arm length isn’t the only thing dogging Riley Reiff at the combine. It turns out he also posted a 23 in the bench press which is considered low.

I can live with a man having short arms, but when his short arms are also so girlishly weak that he can only lift a heavily weighted bar 23 times in a row while lying down? Sorry but I’m off that train. I wouldn’t let Riley Reiff wash my car, much less block for my quarterback.

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December 24, 2011; Landover, MD, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs past Washington Redskins defensive tackle Chris Neild (98) at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

Adrian Peterson has been throwing out a lot of highly optimistic predictions about his own rehab schedule. According to Peterson he should be running soon, possibly before the end of February. And there’s no question he will be back to full-speed in time for the season opener. Hell, if you go by Adrian, he might be up to full-speed in time for training camp. That’s how much faith AD has in his body’s ability to bounce back from injury.

Eventually someone was going to have to throw cold water on Adrian’s recovery optimism. On Friday Leslie Frazier took this task upon himself, telling the press that in spite of Adrian’s statements he won’t be running until April at the earliest. Yes Adrian has been pushing things in his rehab, as we suspected he might. The Vikings are naturally concerned about this, and want Adrian to dial it back.

Apparently there has already been a little friction between the Vikings and Peterson over the pace of his rehab. Frazier explained, “Early on, [Adrian] wasn’t quite getting it. This is a serious injury. You’ve got to go at the pace they’re telling you to go.”

All this talk about slowing down is no doubt difficult for Adrian to hear. What’s the only speed AD knows? Full speed. Actually I take that back. AD also knows another speed: Beyond Full Speed (capitalized for a reason). If Adrian had an amp it would go past 11. Nigel Tufnel’s mind would be completely blown.

Frazier’s comments no doubt reflect the position of everyone inside the Vikings organization not to mention the vast majority of fans and just anyone who likes watching Adrian Peterson play football. Slow it down AD. You don’t have anything to prove here. We already know you’re a tough SOB and have a work ethic that would make even a Puritan bow down. Just do what the doctors say. And for God’s sake stay off escalators. Those things are scary.

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Mallett’s main enemy may have been the timing of today’s pressers. Newton was expected to speak yesterday, but postponed his appearance until today. Circumstance placed Newton one spot behind Mallett, who provided the perfect opening act for a quarterback looking to atone after some ill-considered earlier remarks.

Mallett had issues of his own coming into today’s appearances. Questions about his character in general, and about alleged drug use specifically, had been dogging him for awhile. With the bright lights on him, Mallett addressed these problems. It’s safe to say Mallett did not come off like a man ready to handle the media scrutiny that comes with being an NFL quarterback.

Mallett attempted addressing the drug questions. “If people talk about them obviously they can keep circulating or whatever, but I can’t control that and that’s why I don’t even want to talk about it because there’s nothing I can control about it,” he said. Then came the remark that had people scratching their heads: “Obviously, somebody did it for a reason, right before the combine, before the draft. But that’s the last I’m going to talk about it.”

Instead of clarifying his somewhat paranoid-sounding remarks, Mallett opted to walk away from the podium prematurely, leaving the world to make up its own mind. Predictably, the verdict against Mallett came quickly and was very harsh. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com offered perhaps the most blunt response, tweeting: “That was about 10 times worse than Jimmy Clausen last year. You can decline to answer questions in ways that don’t make you look like an ass.”

Speaking of asses…after Ryan Mallett cleared the stage, it was Cam Newton’s turn to face the cameras and microphones.

Newton’s appearance was by far the most anticipated of the combine. Observers wanted to see how Newton would respond to the accusations of borderline-delusional arrogance leveled against him after an interview earlier in the week where he famously declared himself an icon. Newton, as it turned out, would not disappoint.

In contrast to the defensive Mallett, Newton looked smooth and well-schooled. “First and foremost I understand that my obligation is to be the best possible football player that I can be,” Newton said in response to critics. “I know and believe that.” Added Newton, “I was making the point [with my icon remark] that I want to be the best possible ambassador for them just like I want to be the best possible ambassador for whatever team I am lucky enough to play for.”

Obviously, that statement was pure BS dreamed up by a cagey rep. Fortunately for Newton the tactic worked. By presser’s end, Newton’s critics had backed off, and were instead venting their ire against Mallett who has now become the official future Ryan Leaf of the 2011 draft.

After one press session, Newton has gone from being a jerky whipping-boy to a confident, media-savvy prospect with legitimate star power. Mallett, in the meantime, has become a human dart board.

Is any of this fair? Probably not. It does however demonstrate something very important: style points matter. Today Cam Newton won big style points, even though people still perceive him as a bit of a cocky bastard. Mallett, on the other hand, basically shot his own foot off.

The good news for Mallett is that he will still get drafted. So if he can play, and has a good head on his shoulders in spite of everything, that will still get a chance to bear itself out on the field. For right now though, Newton is the one basking in the glory of media approbation, while Mallett is stuck playing catch-up.

Of course that could all change tomorrow.

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