Prospects Dashing for Private Island

This weekend, hundreds of college football players, all professional hopefuls, will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine. Players will perform a variety of physical tests, ranging from bench press, vertical jump and the 3-cone drill. Players will also participate in interviews with team executives and coaches, as well as taking The Wonderlic Test.

Despite grading combine attendees on almost a dozen different measurables, the only test that anyone seems to care about is the 40-yard dash. Speed kills, speed is sexy and this year, thanks to Adidas, speed could win someone their own private island.

Adidas is offering an island to any prospect who breaks Chris Johnson’s 4.24-second 40-yard dash time that was clocked at the 2008 combine. The only caveat, the runners need to wear the company’s new Adizero 5-Star 40 cleats and agree to endorse the company’s shoes for the entire 2017-2018 season.

The fine print of Adidas’ offer states that the company agrees to provide a winner with an island “as soon as reasonably possible” or that they can also just pay the athlete $1,000,000. Either way, a quick search of private-island sales by ESPN.com shows that there are a handful of islands spread around North American with a less than seven-figure price tag.

Johnson’s record time will be challenged on Friday and Saturday, when running backs and wide receivers go through drills but don’t expect that many players to even sniff 4.24. Since 2008, just six players have even come close and only one, Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was drafted #7 overall by the Oakland Raiders, have had success in the National Football League.

Let’s be honest though, do you really need a successful NFL career if you have your own private island?