Live from Indianapolis — Saturday

Hey everyone.

Welcome again to Lucas Oil Stadium. We’re here for a third day to cover the 2011 Scouting Combine. This may be the best one for a few reasons: Cam Newton, Nick Fairley and Mario Fannin are scheduled to appear.

Should be a good time.

• Offensive linemen and tight ends spent the morning and early afternoon working out.

• The NFL Network’s live coverage of the Combine sucks. SHOW THE PLAYERS. Stop showing analysts.

• Yes, my Internet connection here is terrible. I can’t stream NFL.com’s stuff.

**CAM NEWTON SPEAKS**

• He opens with a statement about his icon/entertainer comment from earlier in the week: “I was making the point that I want to be the best possible ambassador for them (UnderArmour) just like I want to be the best possible ambassador for whatever team I’m lucky enough to play for.”

• ”I couldn’t be in a better place than I am right now.”

• On Warren Moon: “He’s been special for me — just to be a hands-on person and his experiences during this time that he was going through. I call Warren, text him and he’s always available. He’s always ears-first and then he tells me what he feels like what his best advice would be.”

• On why he felt the need to open with a statement: “I felt it was somewhat misunderstood. It was partly my mistake of not making myself clear. That was my fault.”

• On why he has chosen to compete in all drills here: “My biggest thing right now is to prepare for the NFL. It’s going to be a challenging transition, but I’ve been working out in San Diego with three unbelievable coaches. During that time, I felt as if I wanted to do something at the Combine. I want to come out here to compete. I want to have fun and compete.”

• On if he’s cocky or just confident: “I’m a confident person. It was instilled in my at a young age. If I don’t believe in myself, who do I expect to believe in me?”

• On what he’s been working on since the BCS game: “I’m trying to be fluid in coming from under center. The three-step, the five-step even the seven-step drop. Me and George have been working day and night in the film room, on the chalkboard or on the field throwing routes.”

• On why he elected to go to San Diego to train: “I felt like it was best for me to be isolated. I know myself. I know how I need to be focused. I know how focused I needed to be, especially at this time. It’s the biggest interview of my life.”

• ”I didn’t know nothing about it, but it’s excellent weather.”

• ”Football is my No. 1 priority.”

• He met with the Cowboys … and a bunch of other teams Friday night.

• ”I’m not going to get particular about which teams I’m interested in. Right now, I’m interested in every team in the NFL that’s willing to take me as a player.”

• On his tribulations with the NCAA: “During this whole process with the NCAA, it’s been somewhat me facing adversity. I owe a lot of my due diligence to my support staff.”

• ”The relationship with my father is one that was already good before this whole adversity thing came up with the NCAA. It has just brought me and my father closer together.”

• ”My father is just like any father. He wants to see his son succeed in every way possible.”

• ”The NFL doesn’t owe anybody nothing. With Cam Newton or without, the NFL will be.”

• On past mistakes: “Everybody has a learning process that they go through. For me, that learning process happened three years ago. The mistakes I made at Florida, the trials and tribulations I went through at Blinn College, has made me the person that I am today. I say that with my chin high to the sky.”

• On what he needs to do now: “The biggest thing going through this whole transition to the NFL is preparation. I admire the guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, who are professionals at what they do. They might not run the fastest 40. They may not jump the highest the Combine. They might not jump the farthest in the broad jump. But you’re not going to outwork them. They’re watching film before the offensive coordinator is watching film.”

• On the specifics of what went wrong at Florida: “What I did in the past is in the past. My sole focus is to perform at this year’s combine. I’m all about the future. I’m trying to prepare today to make my future the best it can be.”

• ”I’m going to continue to focus on Cam Newton and making him the best person he can be.”

***SOME MORNING WORKOUT NUMBERS***

BENCH PRESS (225 pounds)
LEADER Ryan Bartholomew, Syracuse — 34 reps
Marcus Gilbert, Florida — 30
Joseph Barksdale, LSU — 29
Clint Boling, Georgia — 28

40-YARD DASH
Nate Solder, Colorado — 4.97, 4.99 (top OT prospect)
Jarriel King, South Carolina — 5.03
Mike Pouncey, Florida — 5.12
Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State — 5.20
Demarcus Love, Arkansas — 5.29
James Carpenter, Alabama — 5.25, 5.27
Lee Ziemba, Auburn — 5.47
John Moffitt, Wisconsin — 5.52 (All-American G)
Isaiah Thompson, Houston — 6.01 (slowest)

STANDING BROAD JUMP
Lee Ziemba — 7’11″
Derek Sherrod, MSU — 7’6″

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE FORUM