The NFL combine: does it predict performance in the National Football League?

The authors investigate the correlation between National Football League (NFL) combine test results and NFL success for players drafted at three different offensive positions (quarterback, running back, and wide receiver) during a recent 6-year period, 1999-2004. The combine consists of series of drills, exercises, interviews, aptitude tests, and physical exams designed to assess the skills of promising college football players and to predict their performance in the NFL. Combine measures examined in this study include 10-, 20-, and 40-yard dashes, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 20- and 60-yard shuttles, three-cone drill, and the Wonderlic Personnel Test. Performance criteria include 10 variables: draft order; 3 years each of salary received and games played; and position-specific data. Using correlation analysis, we find no consistent statistical relationship between combine tests and professional football performance, with the notable exception of sprint tests for running backs. We put forth possible explanations for the general lack of statistical relations detected, and, consequently, we question the overall usefulness of the combine. We also offer suggestions for improving the prediction of success in the NFL, primarily the use of more rigorous psychological tests and the examination of collegiate performance as a job sample test. Finally, from a practical standpoint, the results of the study should encourage NFL team personnel to reevaluate the usefulness of the combine's physical tests and exercises as predictors of player performance. This study should encourage team personnel to consider the weighting and importance of various combine measures and the potential benefits of overhauling the combine process, with the goal of creating a more valid system for predicting player success.     

脊柱骨折合并脊髓损伤患者血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平与术后预后不良的关系研究

摘要 目的：研究脊柱骨折合并脊髓损伤（SCI）患者血清神经突起因子（Neuritin）、神经丝轻链（NFL）、S100B蛋白水平与术后预后不良的关系。方法：将从2018年12月-2019年12月我院收治的60例脊柱骨折合并SCI患者纳入研究,记作损伤组,另取同期我院收治的单纯脊柱骨折未合并SCI患者60例作为无损伤组,再取同期体检的健康志愿者60例作为对照组。检测并比较三组血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平。此外,将损伤组患者按照术后预后的不同分作预后不良组25例和预后良好组35例,分析两组血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平以及临床资料的差异,并以多因素Logistic回归分析明确脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良和各项影响因素的关系。通过受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线明确血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平联合检测预测脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良的效能。结果：损伤组及无损伤组血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平均明显高于对照组,且损伤组上述三项血清学指标水平均高于无损伤组（均P＜0.05）。预后不良组椎管侵占率高于预后良好组,且血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平均高于预后良好组（均P＜0.05）。经多因素Logistic回归分析可得：椎管侵占率以及血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平较高均是脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）。血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平联合检测预测脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良的曲线下面积、灵敏度、特异度、约登指数均高于上述三项指标单独检测。结论：脊柱骨折合并SCI患者血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平较高,且随着上述三项血清学指标水平的升高,患者预后不良风险更高。