No Lack of Confidence

Calvin Johnson addressed the media Saturday at the Combine and, while not at a loss for the belief in his own skills, he deflected any comparisons to his skill sets to that of Randy Moss or Terrell Owens, saying attitude plays into the equation and he should instead be compared to a player like Marvin Harrison.

Welcome to the NFL, Calvin Johnson.

Even though it’s a shade over two months before Johnson will be drafted into the league, his first chance to address the NFL media assembled in Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine, Johnson wasn’t lacking for confidence in his own ability or the belief that he should be the top pick in the draft.

A rare combination of size, speed and strength, Johnson was asked how he compares to players like former Viking Randy Moss and Terrell Owens – both of whom have had more than their share of problems with the league and with coaches and teammates. Johnson did his best to avoid any such comparisons being made.

"Obviously, this year a lot has been made of Randy Moss and T.O.," Johnson said. "But my character on the field, I'm like Marvin Harrison – just trying to get the job done. I'm more like Marvin Harrison with the attitude."
With the Vikings at pick No. 7, it’s clear that, barring a trade up, the team will miss out on Johnson. As it stands, the seventh pick might be a perfect spot for a trade with a team looking to move up. The top-end talent seems to run about seven or eight picks deep, with Johnson, quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn, offensive tackle Joe Thomas, running back Adrian Peterson and defensive linemen Gaines Adams, Alan Branch and Jamaal Anderson.

SUNDAY NOTES
* Getting the Vikings brass back to Minnesota will likely take some time. The state was blasted by a winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in many areas and as much as two feet in some spots – closing down the airport and leaving thousands of travelers stranded.
* Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is expected to arrive in Indianapolis today.
* Word out of Winter Park is that the Vikings will likely invite all of their prospective draftees at the same time, work them out together and have a dinner scheduled for them in a cattle call of players. In the past under the Wilf regime, the team has brought in players in small groups.
* Miami tight end Greg Olsen solidified his spot as the No. 1 tight end on the draft board by running a 4.51 40-yard dash – a full two-tenths of a second better than any other TE that ran at the Combine.
* The Denver Broncos suffered their second player tragedy in less than two months Saturday night when running back Damien Nash collapsed and died following a charity basketball game. Most of the Broncos front office personnel was in Indianapolis for the Combine, so details are sketchy at this point. The Broncos lost cornerback Darrent Williams in January after he was shot and killed following a New Year’s Eve party.