Dreams do come true
Adam Hayward is relaxed as the NFL draft starts on Saturday
By: Nathan Hellman
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Sports
Adam Hayward is just hours away from landing his dream job. He is as close as he will ever be to learning whether a lifetime of devotion and taxing labor is enough to earn him a promotion to the NFL. This should be an extremely nerve-racking time for the former Portland State standout, but in the days leading up to the draft he is already taking it all like a professional.
Draft day can be one of the best or worst experiences ever for an NFL prospect. It's really a spectacle defined by the ring of a phone. If a prospect's phone lights up, there is most likely a coach on the other end willing to transform years of grueling workouts into loads of cash and an NFL future. But, if the phone remains without a hint of action, he will be forced to fight his way through training camp in hopes of making the roster. The anticipation of that special phone call can be too stressful for many. Hayward, who clocked a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, is a different breed. With one of the most significant days of his life on the horizon, he is just trying to pass time.
"Coming into the weekend, I feel all right. You know, a lot of my family and friends are more excited about me and the whole experience than I am right now," said Hayward. "I'm just trying to do stuff-like the other day I went to Sea World--to keep my mind off the draft. It's a business, so you never know what is going to happen. I try not to think about it too much."
During the past few weeks, the hard-nosed linebacker has been occupying his time meeting with coaches and players in team visits. Hayward has accumulated a short list of teams with which he has met, including the Seahawks, Buccaneers, Giants and Packers.
"The visits were kind of cool, seeing the facilities and history of the teams. It was also cool to meet with the coaches and attend position meetings, and also breaking down film with the NFL teams--it was interesting to see how it goes down in the NFL. When I visited with Tampa Bay," said Hayward, "I got to meet head coach Jon Gruden, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and Joe Barry, linebackers coach."
Draft day can be one of the best or worst experiences ever for an NFL prospect. It's really a spectacle defined by the ring of a phone. If a prospect's phone lights up, there is most likely a coach on the other end willing to transform years of grueling workouts into loads of cash and an NFL future. But, if the phone remains without a hint of action, he will be forced to fight his way through training camp in hopes of making the roster. The anticipation of that special phone call can be too stressful for many. Hayward, who clocked a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, is a different breed. With one of the most significant days of his life on the horizon, he is just trying to pass time.
"Coming into the weekend, I feel all right. You know, a lot of my family and friends are more excited about me and the whole experience than I am right now," said Hayward. "I'm just trying to do stuff-like the other day I went to Sea World--to keep my mind off the draft. It's a business, so you never know what is going to happen. I try not to think about it too much."
During the past few weeks, the hard-nosed linebacker has been occupying his time meeting with coaches and players in team visits. Hayward has accumulated a short list of teams with which he has met, including the Seahawks, Buccaneers, Giants and Packers.
"The visits were kind of cool, seeing the facilities and history of the teams. It was also cool to meet with the coaches and attend position meetings, and also breaking down film with the NFL teams--it was interesting to see how it goes down in the NFL. When I visited with Tampa Bay," said Hayward, "I got to meet head coach Jon Gruden, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and Joe Barry, linebackers coach."
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