Just about all the information has been squeezed out of the deluxe prospects at the NFL's

annual Indianapolis meat market and now it's time to decide how much is unvarnished truth or

propaganda.

In a quarterback class which is supposedly very thin, there seems to be all manner of

opinions about the top four — Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame,

Colt McCoy of Texas and Tim Tebow of Florida.

Bradford, who might have been a top-five pick had he not suffered an injury to his passing

shoulder which destroyed his season, will undergo extended inspections up to draft time in

late April. Tebow, who some teams already have categorized as a tight end, will be working on

his altered passing style in an effort to convince more prospective employers that he can

function successfully as a pro quarterback. He will make himself available for inspection

close to draft day.

Clausen, who played through a painful injury to his toes last season, has a different

problem. A large number of teams think his extreme cockiness is a serious flaw. Funny, but Jim

Kelly had a similar reputation when he came out of the University of Miami but it didn't keep

him from steering the Bills into four Super Bowls and led him to a place in the Pro Football

Hall of Fame.

The knock on McCoy is something which he is unable to correct. He stands 6-foot-1

in a league where the desired height is between 6-3 and 6-6. As he says, "I'd like to be 6-4

but that's what God gave me."



The Longhorns' McCoy quarterbacked his team to more victories than any other quarterback in

the 2010 draft and when he was injured early in the first quarter of the national championship

game against Alabama his team's chances flowed quickly into the sewer. He also has a role

model to whom the drafters might refer: Drew Brees, who quarterbacked the New Orleans Saints

to victory in last month's Super Bowl. Brees is no taller than McCoy.

Will all of these four last until the ninth pick of the first round when Buffalo

makes its selection? And if they do last, would the Bills have a positive conviction about any

of them?



Clausen has been awarded to Buffalo in several mock drafts, but even more offensive

tackles, another Bills' need, have been their fantasy destination. A first-round designation

isn't necessary for a quarterback to reach major success in the pros. Brees was a second-round

pick and so was Brett Favre. Joe Montana, Dan Fouts and Fran Tarkenton were drafted in the

third round but they made it to the Hall of Fame.

Mock drafts are just that, mock. Most pro scouts will tell you that it's difficult to tell

how most young prospects will turn out until their third season. That's why the Bills' recent

designation of wide receiver James Hardy as their representative for the Ed Block Courage

Award was such a surprise. Hardy hasn't done much in the two seasons since Buffalo made him a

second-round draft choice but the Block award is serious business in the NFL. It sounds like

the new deep thinkers in the football department consider Hardy salvageable.

On the other hand, The Sporting News publishes a draft magazine which should be on the

stands in early April. Their selectors rank the best players at each position. Three years ago

their top quarterback prospect was Brian Brohm of Louisville. Brohm is now No. 3 on the Bills'

quarterback depth chart.

Larry Felser, former News columnist, appears in Sunday's editions.