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Chicago Bears to give Kenny Britt private workout
Rutgers receiver impresses scouts at 'Pro Day'

By Vaughn McClure | Tribune reporter
March 25, 2009

The Bears will conduct a private workout Thursday with Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt, according to an NFL source.

Britt, considered a late first-round or early second-round pick, worked out for 41 scouts representing 27 teams at Rutgers' Pro Day on Monday. Bears scout Rex Hogan attended the session, according to school records.

Britt (6 feet 3 inches, 210 pounds) showed up 8 pounds lighter than he weighed at the NFL combine last month. He ran the 40 in 4.40 seconds, much improved from the 4.56 he posted at the combine. Some scouts have questioned his ability to separate from defenders.

The Bears could target a receiver with the No. 18 overall pick of the draft, and Britt's combination of size and speed could make him the ideal complement to Devin Hester. The last time the Bears held the 18th pick was in 1983, when they selected speedy receiver Willie Gault.

Britt caught 87 passes for 1,371 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He was suspended one game last September for violating a team rule, but Britt's polite demeanor during interviews at the combine indicated a player eager to prove he won't be trouble for a team.

The Bears reportedly scheduled a workout with North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks, who has drawn criticism lately for gaining weight. Some draft experts have the Bears selecting Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey, a player whose draft stock soared after he ran a 4.30 at the combine.

Britt did his part to put all doubts to rest during an impressive performance at Rutgers' Pro Combine yesterday in front of 41 NFL scouts representing 27 different teams. It was a performance that may make Britt the first Scarlet Knight to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft next month.

"I think right around the cusp of the first round is where I've heard the scouts talking about (Britt)," said NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock. "Off tape, that's about where I think he belongs.

"My ultimate take on him is that I think he's going to go somewhere between 25 and 40."

Britt said he's not thinking about where he'll go in the draft. He has spent the past two months training in Arizona with other top prospects from across the country, and has also been working out with former Denver Broncos receiver Rod Smith.

"Kenny has shown in this time between the end of our season when he decided he was going to come out (for the NFL) and now that he's all business," Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said. "I think that says a lot. A lot of guys get distracted, but not Kenny."

Those sessions have appeared to pay off for a chiseled Britt, who came in at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, eight pounds lighter than he was at last month's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The trimmer Britt was timed as fast as 4.40 seconds during the 40-yard dash drill. He ran the 60-yard shuttle in 11.56 seconds.

Britt also participated in receiver drills with Tiquan Underwood and QB Mike Teel. During the drill, Britt dropped just one pass. Too many drops were one of the common criticisms Britt has received from draft experts.

"On the tape I watched this year, I thought his hands were a little inconsistent early in the year and I thought he caught the ball real well at the end of the year," Mayock said, noting that it wasn't the longest pass-catching drill he had seen among his 8-10 pro day visits over the past few weeks. "So what I wanted to see was how naturally he catches the football in person. He had one drop on a real difficult pass and everything else I think he handled real well."Mayock also felt Britt "ran solid (receiving) routes."

Other criticisms Britt has drawn from experts and scouts are about his work ethic and character. It's a claim that Britt, who was suspended from a game against Morgan State in September for violating team rules, disputes.

"People have been saying a lot of things about my game, especially about my attitude which we know is not true," he said. "Let them keep saying what they're saying. I've got to prove them wrong."

Chewie wrote:And what's the deal with Britt's teammate, Tiquan Underwood ??

He's 6'2", 180 and ran the 6th fastest 40 for a WR at the combine of 4.41 and he bettered that at the Rutgers pro-day with a nice 4.34 !

emperorjones wrote:

Chewie wrote:And what's the deal with Britt's teammate, Tiquan Underwood ??

He's 6'2", 180 and ran the 6th fastest 40 for a WR at the combine of 4.41 and he bettered that at the Rutgers pro-day with a nice 4.34 !

At 6'2" I think your skelton should weigh 150lbs

He's likely to blow away in the wind man. Come on. 180??? He's at LEAST 15lbs underweight.

Chicago Bears to give Kenny Britt private workout
Rutgers receiver impresses scouts at 'Pro Day'

By Vaughn McClure | Tribune reporter


The Bears will conduct a private workout Thursday with Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt, according to an NFL source.

Britt, considered a late first-round or early second-round pick, worked out for 41 scouts representing 27 teams at Rutgers' Pro Day on Monday. Bears scout Rex Hogan attended the session, according to school records.

Britt (6 feet 3 inches, 210 pounds) showed up 8 pounds lighter than he weighed at the NFL combine last month. He ran the 40 in 4.40 seconds, much improved from the 4.56 he posted at the combine. Some scouts have questioned his ability to separate from defenders.

The Bears could target a receiver with the No. 18 overall pick of the draft, and Britt's combination of size and speed could make him the ideal complement to Devin Hester. The last time the Bears held the 18th pick was in 1983, when they selected speedy receiver Willie Gault.

Britt caught 87 passes for 1,371 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He was suspended one game last September for violating a team rule, but Britt's polite demeanor during interviews at the combine indicated a player eager to prove he won't be trouble for a team.

The Bears reportedly scheduled a workout with North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks, who has drawn criticism lately for gaining weight. Some draft experts have the Bears selecting Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey, a player whose draft stock soared after he ran a 4.30 at the combine.

Cliff Levingston wrote:Wouldn't mind trading down to the bottom of the 1st with New York (for example) and grabbing Britt there, then either a good tackle of safety earlier in the 2nd.

fleetwood macbull wrote:Mark Bradley had the same knock (questions about how good his hands were). Had some smallish hands too if I recall. Same area of the draft. When you think of receivers, that is a tough knock to have.