As strongly as Spencer Long felt the pull of the NFL combine, and the urge to go there and perform at a high level, the former Nebraska offensive lineman also realized it was a race he could not win.
And one that he had best not even run.
Long has instead tried to stay on schedule with his recovery from the knee-ligament injury he suffered last October. That has called for patience with the left knee, and following the plans of NU athletic trainer Mark Mayer rather than any of his own whims.
“You want to — you want to go as fast as possible — but then again you don't want to be stupid,” Long said. “You work real hard, but you don't want to go too fast and screw something up. It's a delicate situation.”
It would be a non-issue now if not for the NFL combine invitation that Long received last month, along with former Husker teammates Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Quincy Enunwa. If not for that opportunity, Long would be OK with pointing toward being full speed by April.