Broken X-Ray Machine Forces Top Prospects to Twiddle Their Thumbs Waiting at NFL Combine

by Luke Hughes on Thu, Feb 21, 2013 at 11:24AM

Hundreds of players are set to undergo intense physical assessments at the NFL combine this weekend, which could ultimately make or break their draft stock. So it is key for everything to be in working order. Too bad the same wasn’t true for the machines used to evaluate those players on Thursday.

The first group of players, including special teamers, offensive linemen and tight ends arrived in Indianapolis, Ind, on time and without a hitch on Thursday morning, but an unexpected hitch — no, not a route — in the equipment held some of the prospects up for nearly three hours.

An X-ray machine at the combine stopped working and was unavailable for close to 2 1/2 hours on Thursday morning, according to Gil Brandt of the NFL Network.

No no-shows today at #nflcombine, but x-ray machine went on the fritz for 2.5 hours. 20 players had nothing to do but wait.—
Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 21, 2013

The unfortunate issue kept a group of 20 players sitting around with nothing better to do than twiddle their thumbs while the machine was fixed.

The combine’s first day usually includes a brief orientation, team interviews and preliminary medical exams, specifically X-rays. Players typically undergo more intensive medical evaluations as the week goes on. But with more than 300 players set to attend and be evaluated in Indy, NFL officials better hope their medical machines hold up.

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