Brian Brohm and Andre Woodson are used to calling the shots. But while waiting for NFL draft day, they're learning to deal with having no control.

The experts' projections of where they will be selected not only keep changing; they may not be reliable in the first place. Some teams that like a quarterback may play down his talents in order to sour other teams.

As Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards put it, "We're playing poker here."

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome was staying tightlipped about his thoughts yesterday at the NFL scouting combine. The Ravens are in the market for a quarterback. But Newsome declined to talk about specific players.

"I work for (Ravens owner) Steve Bisciotti, and I only give that information to Steve Bisciotti," Newsome said. That kind of secrecy from the coaches and front-office folks who drafting players could keep a fellow flustered until the draft starts April 26.

But Brohm isn't worried.

"As a competitor you want to be the first position taken, that's what all the players want," said the former University of Louisville and Trinity High School quarterback. "At the same time, you can't be worried about what other guys are doing.

"I'm just going to worry about myself and go out there and perform."

His counterpart from the University of Kentucky agreed. Woodson said it's more important to get picked by the right team.

"If I go first round and go to a poor system, it possibly won't work out for me," Andre Woodson said.

Woodson, who measured 6 feet 4 and weighed 229 pounds, partially blamed playing in an unfamiliar system for his Senior Bowl performance in which he went 3 of 6 for 27 yards and a touchdown and was sacked twice. He won't fully get to set things straight until UK has its pro day March 5.

Woodson said yesterday he had a slightly pulled hamstring and would not participate in the running and throwing drills at the combine. He submitted only to the medical and psychological tests.

Newsome indicated that would not hurt Woodson, just as not playing in the Senior Bowl would not hurt Brohm.

"At the end of the day you have to go back to the tape," Newsome said. "How does a guy play during a football game?"

Brohm, who measured 6-27/8 and weighed 230 pounds, said he planned to participate fully in the combine's drills but didn't feel the workouts were "do or die."

"Most of the grade is already in with game film and all the games played," Brian Brohm said.
Hardy, Urrutia hopingto pick up speed

You can't teach height, but you can teach speed. At least that's what receivers James Hardy and Mario Urrutia are banking on.

Both face similar questions about their 40-yard dash times entering the NFL scouting combine, so both have tailored their training around getting faster.

Urrutia, who had 35 receptions for 501 yards and three scores last season for U of L, said speed was a matter of technique.

"They just try to open out my stride more, make me use my long legs to my advantage," said the 6-5 Urrutia. "It's just a lot of little things I had to change, like keeping your feet straight while you're running instead of turning them out."

Urrutia is graded as a fourth-round pick by the NFL advisory committee. He said his speed and his hands were the perceived weaknesses, but he's confident about both.

Hardy, who stands a shade below 6-6, has been projected as a first-round pick. He finished as Indiana University's leader in receptions (191), yards (2,740) and touchdowns (36) after just three seasons.

"I feel I am the best receiver in this class. Now I just have to make everyone else feel that way," he said.
Stick to your day job

Armed with an NFL Network microphone, Harry Douglas blended in with reporters surrounding the podium whilea Brohm spoke.

Douglas twice tried to get a question in, but Brohm wasn't looking his way, and Douglas was cut off by louder questions.

Brohm finally recognized his former U of L teammate, and Douglas asked what he thought about the crop of receivers.

"That No. 85 guy I'm not too sure about," Brohm joked.

Douglas wore No. 85 at U of L.

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