2011 NFL Combine: Blaine Gabbert Speaks To The Press

The draft eligible quarterbacks have been taking some time to meet with the press and we've had some interesting comments thus far. Cam Newton, who previously declared himself an entertainer and icon, will reportedly meet the press tomorrow. However, another likely first round quarterback has had his own confident-sounding comments. Former Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert spoke with the media today and made it known that he will bust his butt at the next level.

Gabbert has pushed his way up mock drafts in spite of questions about his work in the spread offense. Gabbert has been working on taking snaps from under center and was quick to point to his work ethic:

"I'm going to outwork everybody," he said. "That's how I was raised, that nothing's ever going to be given to you in life, you've got to earn everything you get. That's kind of the mindset I've taken with football. I'm never going to be outworked by anybody else."

Mike Florio actually sounded off on this comment and compared it to Cam Newton's remarks about being an entertainer and an icon. I understand being concerned about overconfidence, but I don't see anything wrong with somebody boasting that nobody will outwork them. A player has control over how hard they work and what they put into learning the QB position. The ability to learn the QB position at the NFL level is essential and I want a QB who will bust his butt day in and day out.

At this point it's just talk, but I think the significant difference between what Gabbert said and what Newton said is that Newton's comments have nothing to do with football. Or at least have nothing to do with his development as a quality quarterback in the NFL. Maybe both comments are unnecessary, but I'll take someone's confidence in their work ethic over confidence in ability to entertain any day of the week.