| Hoping the opportunity arises QB prospects eager to succeed Favre By BOB McGINN [email protected] Indianapolis - Nine weeks from today, Florida's Rex Grossman, California's Kyle Boller or Louisville's Dave Ragone might be introduced in Green Bay as the eventual successor to Brett Favre. On Friday, the three collegiate quarterbacks met reporters at the scouting combine and didn't back away from what would be a Herculean assignment. "No, I wouldn't be intimidated by following him," Grossman said. "I feel like we kind of play a similar way, maybe. We both like to take chances. It'd be an exciting position to be in. Who knows what's going to happen, though." Southern California's Carson Palmer, the Heisman Trophy winner, is everybody's best guess as the No. 1 pick in the draft April 26 and 27. Then Marshall's Byron Leftwich figures to be gone within the top 10 selections. After that, it could be Grossman, Boller or Ragone next among the quarterbacks. The Packers are one of several teams in the latter half of the first round that could take a quarterback. "I'm aware of who needs a quarterback," Grossman said. "I know what's going on. There's probably a handful of teams where I might end up but I won't break it down. It's way too early." On Sunday, the 17 quarterbacks among the 330 or so invited players at the combine will be asked to run a 40-yard dash, perform various jumps and agility runs and then throw an assortment of passes with almost every scout and coach in the league watching from the seats at the RCA Dome. Ragone will do it all. Grossman, 6 feet 1 inch and 217 pounds, will throw but won't run a 40 until March 19 in Gainesville, Fla. Boller will run the 40 but won't throw until March 13 in Berkeley, Calif. "If you don't (work) it looks like you're hiding something," Ragone said. Ragone, 6-3 and 249, has some idea of what Favre's successor will experience. "I was answering Chris Redman questions for the first 11/2 years at Louisville," Ragone said, referring to his predecessor. "Going into a situation trying to fill a legend's shoes, it's tough. No one will play like Brett Favre. It will be a very tough situation." The 6-21/2 Boller weighed in at 234 pounds, 13 more than he did at the Senior Bowl in mid-January. "They're definitely big shoes and it'd definitely be a challenge," Boller said. "At the same time, it is Brett Favre. He's a guy I compare myself to. If I could learn behind a guy like Brett Favre, I think it would help me tenfold. It'd be awesome to learn from such a great player like him. "I can remember watching him when I was growing up. He has a strong arm. Makes plays. Hopefully, someday I'll get to that point." |