We have come a long way since I was a youth on the farm and thought a combine was just an enormous farming tool.
We now know that the other Combine is also enormous, definitely, but more generally identified as the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
We are in the midst of a one-week talent show, a demonstration of abilities by some of the greatest college athletes in America.
The players are competing in physical drills and going through interviews and mental gymnastics for coaches, scouts and virtually all player personnel from all 32 NFL teams.
But one of the reasons we know all this, once again, is through the magic of television.
Pro football is the most popular viewing sport in American history, and nothing marries pro football to its success like television.
Back before 1982, teams had to make appointments to do individual drills and interviews with the players.
But that year, in 1982, the Combine began. At the time, there were virtually no media members present.
But it grew, like every great idea in America, and television soon picked up the scent.
Now the invitation-only Combine is broadcast on NFL Network and, this year, on ABC, which will air a two-hour special produced by ESPN that will also feature action from quarterback and wide-receiver workouts. The coverage is not quite 24 hours a day, but it sure seems like it.
And that is a good thing for football fans.
Take a look through photos of Broncos players performing drills at NFL Scouting Combines from recent history.
SMU's Emmanuel Sanders runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Nebraska running back Andy Janovich runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - In this March 4, 2018, file photo, North Carolina State defensive lineman Bradley Chubb runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Chubb is expected to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Boston College defensive back Justin Simmons runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston College defensive back Isaac Yiadom participates in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Utah offensive lineman Garett Bolles stretches at the NFL football scouting combine Friday, March 3, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Domata Peko of Michigan State crosses the finish line in the 40-yard dash during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2006. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston College defensive back Isaac Yiadom runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina's Darian Stewart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami defensive back Jamal Carter catches a pass during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 6, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Washington linebacker Keishawn Bierria runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton participates in the Bench Press at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Nebraska running back Andy Janovich runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Boise State center Matt Paradis performs the vertical jump at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Penn State wide receiver Daesean Hamilton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Lamar defensive back Brendan Langley runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 6, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles competes in a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Friday, March 3, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Penn State wide receiver Daesean Hamilton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Lamar defensive back Brendan Langley competes in the long jump at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 6, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Arizona State offensive lineman Sam Jones participates in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Ohio State defensive back Bradley Roby runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli participates in the Bench Press at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Billy Turner runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Boston College defensive back Justin Simmons participates in the vertical jump during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum throws passes during the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
SMU's Emmanuel Sanders runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Syracuse defensive back Shamarko Thomas runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
North Dakota State offensive tackle Billy Turner runs the 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Delaware defensive lineman Zach Kerr runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon running back Royce Freeman runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Arkansas tight end A.J. Derby, Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman, and Rutgers tight end Tyler Kroft look on during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
South Carolina State tight end Temarrick Hemingway runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Auburn linebacker Jeff Holland runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
USC linebacker Su'a Cravens runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Missouri offensive lineman Connor McGovern runs the 40 yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Cincinnati defensive lineman Derek Wolfe runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami safety Jamal Carter competes in the broad jump at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 6, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Missouri offensive lineman Connor McGovern runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Carolina State defensive lineman Bradley Chubb runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
South Carolina's Darian Stewart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Southern California linebacker Su'a Cravens runs a drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Boise State center Matt Paradis runs the 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Oregon running back Royce Freeman runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Utah running back Devontae Booker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Washington linebacker Keishawn Bierria participates in the broad jump during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arizona State offensive lineman Sam Jones runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
The Combine was first televised in 2004 and with extensive coverage from NFL Network, ESPN and so many other media outlets, the entire week has something of a mini-Super Bowl feel.
The number of journalists coming to the Combine has increased by the hundreds since the it first began, and for fans following the game and wondering who their favorite teams will select, more coverage has been essential.
Once again, we see that the big picture provided by the media and by television in particular put us front and center for all the action.
After all, everyone gets to be Mel Kiper Jr., without needing to see a hair stylist!
Gone are the days when BLESTO, an early scouting organization, was a mystery to most fans.
It was Tex Schramm of the Dallas Cowboys who first suggested to the NFL's competition committee that the league should have a national evaluation hub, and that was clearly a great idea, just as the NFL Network's idea to bring it live to the American sports public was.
Some marriages are perfect, and the Combine once again shows that football and television provide the sports version of a perfect union.
