Woodson's words reassure Silva

gustoonarmy · Feb 27, 2008

It seems we ahve more holes than Swiss cheese , but I would really really love this guy on the team. Playmaker written all over him despite being slow small etc......

08:06 AM EST on Wednesday, February 27, 2008

By SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

Even though he wasn?t looking forward to it, Jamie Silva still wanted to post a good time in the 40-yard dash yesterday, and when he didn?t, he got a little encouragement from an unexpected but excellent source.

?I didn?t run as well as I was hoping, but they said I did all right in the drills,? Silva said. ?So I?m happy; it?s over with. ? Eventually I can get the real football stuff started.?

The Boston College star safety, one of a few hundred prospective NFL players taking part in the annual scouting Combine over the last week, sounded exhausted ? and admitted to being so ? when reached last night at the Indianapolis Airport.

Silva?s day became longer when he learned that his flight to Orlando, where he has been training, had been delayed for four hours because of thunderstorms and tornado warnings in central Florida.

A member of the 11th and final group to complete the on-field drills, Silva took part in the vertical leap, broad jump, shuttle runs and position-specific drills in addition to the 40-yard dash.

Though he said more than once over the last few days that he?s not a track star or weightlifting champion but a football player, Silva was still hoping for a best-case scenario of posting a time in the 4.50-4.59 seconds range; more realistically, he believed he?d be in the 4.6s.

NFL Network posted his unofficial time as 4.82, though one coach told Silva he clocked him at 4.75 seconds.

But Rod Woodson, a sure-fire Hall of Fame defensive back and NFL Network analyst, pulled Silva aside after his workout.

?He came up to me and said, ?Don?t worry about this stuff. They know you?re a football player, they know this isn?t your thing. You came out and did well in the drills,? ? Silva said. ?It was cool that he took time out to say that; I?m sure he said it because he meant it. It was nice that he had encouraging words.?

While he was headed for Orlando last night, Silva won?t be there long ? he is changing training sites and will head to Philadelphia today on the advice of another East Providence native and former Journal All-Stater.

?Matt Sherry said his trainer?s awesome, so I?m going to go there and work for a couple of weeks,? Silva said.

Sherry played at Hendricken and went on to Villanova, where the tight end was named Colonial Athletic Association Football Student-Athlete of the Year with Delaware?s Mike Byrne. Sherry led the Wildcats in catches (37) and receiving yards (461), adding five touchdowns; he also boasts a 3.84 grade-point average in Villanova?s MBA program, having graduated last May.

He was not invited to the Combine, but Sherry is working out in hopes of either being drafted or getting picked up by a team as an undrafted rookie.

But Silva will only return to the gym after taking a couple of days off, as the Combine, with its workouts, tests and interviews, left him drained.

?I?m glad it?s over,? he said. ?I?m glad that I went and whatnot, I?m glad I was invited, but I was hoping to ? just basically run better.?

Silva is looking forward to BC?s Pro Day next month, where he can do more football-specific activities, and knows that the tapes of his play show what kind of safety he can be.
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Jetfanmack · Feb 27, 2008

Matt Sherry! Beast!

Woodson's words reassure Silva

gustoonarmy 2006-2007 TGG.com Best International Poster of the

Jetfanmack haz chilens?

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Woodson's words reassure Silva

gustoonarmy 2006-2007 TGG.com Best International Poster of the

Jetfanmack haz chilens?

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