The Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery has admitted that the scouting combine is an important part of the season for his side ahead of this year's event in Indianapolis.
Emery said that the most important thing that can be taken from the combine is that clubs can see first-hand the physicality of the players and whether they will cut it in the NFL.
"The combine's another piece of the puzzle in terms of putting the complete picture together of the player," Emery told the club's official website.
"A very important piece in the process is the medical aspect. That can't be overstated or undervalued. Seeing players perform under pressure and under the glare of all the sets of eyes from the league and all the sets of eyes on television tells us a little something about how the players prepare and how they attack the task of getting ready for the combine.
"It's very much like attacking the task of getting ready for a game. So it does tell us a lot there."
The Bears finished the 2013 season with an 8-8 record.
Matt Domm
