But that didn't stop NFL teams from expressing their interest in the SEC record-setting passer.

Murray interviewed with several teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, while in Indianapolis.

In all likelihood, Cincinnati will draft a quarterback and create competition at the position. The Bengals have shown a fondness for Georgia players and Murray likely would be a contender for the backup position behind Andy Dalton.

“I'll play anywhere, but the chance to get to play with A.J. (Green) again would be incredible,” Murray said. “He's an unbelievable receiver and one of the best in the NFL. We had a good relationship and chemistry in college, so it would be nice to hook up with him again.”

Murray connected with Green for nine touchdowns during their 2010 season at Georgia. Fullback Orson Charles, who is expected to play more of a role in the Bengals new-look West Coast offense, was another of Murray's weapons at Georgia.

The 6-foot, 207-pound Murray has a quick release with good velocity and throws a tight spiral. He's poised in the pocket, accurate and can make plays passing or with his feet outside the pocket. Murray has a vast knowledge of the game and is not pigeonholed to one type of offensive scheme.

“We did pretty much everything on offense at Georgia,” Murray said. “On one play we could be in the Pro-I and next play we'll be in the spread offense. The coaches do a great job of having a variety of things for me to do as a quarterback, which I think has definitely helped me out and prepared me for the next level. Whatever team picks me I'll be ready to go.”

The Bengals are believed to have legitimate interest in Murray as someone to groom behind Dalton.

According to Bengals safety Shawn Williams, another teammate at Georgia, Murray is a great leader and commands the huddle. He said Murray is a competitor and team guy. Williams added that teams are sleeping on Murray due to size and not having a rocket arm.

“As a quarterback you're seen as a leader,” Murray said. “I have to be that leader in the huddle and take over, be vocal and outwork everyone else. That was my goal from day one at Georgia.

“Right now, I have to get healthy and feel by my Pro Day April 16 I will be. I have to impress the coaches with my knowledge of the game and go from there.”

Today, Mike Smith (head coach of the Atlanta Falcons) talked about his hopes for the team in the new season including where they need improvement. In addition, the coach told the media about his experience with the Senior Bowl and how he felt it gave his team an advantage over others. Here are some tweets from his time at the podium:

"We have to improve our running game" Mike Smith @Atlanta_Falcons head coach #NFLDraft #NFLCombine

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

"The tight end is a position that's evolving ... That position is a hybrid" Mike Smith @Atlanta_Falcons #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/xfIrAr9Lcw

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

Will you spend more time with the juniors (than seniors) this week? "Absolutely!" Mike Smith @Atlanta_Falcons #NFLDraft #NFLCombine

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

Big C also caught up with Ray Farmer, new GM for the Cleveland Browns, who was not scheduled to put in a media appearance. Ray Farmer talked about his philosophy and vision for the team.

Interview with @Browns new GM Ray Farmer - "we're focused in building a better product all the way around". #NFLDraft #NFLCombine

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

Ray Farmer, @Browns GM, "1st and foremost I'm looking for a guy that can win football games" #NFLCombine #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/OgrEv3Gmae

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

"I think every position on this team is up for competition" Ray Farmer @Browns GM #NFLDraft #NFLCombine

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

"A big part of team building is chemistry" Ray Farmer @Browns #NFLDraft #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/hsjwm7J2EH

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

Take the best player or one that fits a position? Ray Farmer: "You definitely want to make sure you're finding the best player" #NFLDraft

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

Some promising NFL prospects from day 1 were Kadeem Edwards from Tennessee State and Russell Bodine an Form North Carolina.

Here are some tweets from the Big C interview with Kadeem:

"It's just a blessing to get picked" Kadeem Edwards said when asked about where he'd like to go in the draft. #NFLDraft #NFLCombine

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

I asked Kadeem Edwards if he interviews with the @Bengals and he said no. #NFLDraft #NFLCombine

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

Here is a tweet from the Big C interview with Russell:

"Whoever wants me is where I want to be" & "I just want to play" Russell Bodine said when asked about teams #NFLDraft #NFLCombine

— Carlos Holmes (@BigCScout) February 20, 2014

For more from Big C's interview with Russell Bodine click here.

Tomorrow, look for:

• Thomas Dimitroff - Atlanta Falcons General Manager
• Mike Zimmer - Minnesota Vikings Head Coach and former Cincinnati Bengals Coach
• Marvin Lewis - Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach

Stay tuned for a feature story from interview with former Cleveland Browns running back Eric Metcalf.

North Carolina guard Russell Bodine is a prospect to keep an eye on. He was impressive during his interview with the media on Day 1 of the NFL Scouting Combine. Bodine acknowledged he patterns his game after longtime Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, who also attended UNC.

On tape, Bodine demonstrates some of the same traits as Saturday. He's versatile, great inside/outside zone blocker and show good quickness. He plays with power and mean streak mixing it up in the trenches.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Bodine was recruited by former Browns head coach Butch Davis and helped clear the way for Bengals running back Giovani Bernard in college.  Bodine said he would welcome the opportunity to create running lanes for Bernard again, saying he's special.

And count on slot receiver Andrew Hawkins being the X factor, posing matchup nightmares for Houston's defense. The Bengals' sputtering offense will look for him to spark the attack.

“We have some polishing to do, especially on offense,” Hawkins said. “But we're on a little run right now and want to stay on top of that momentum into the playoffs. My job is to go out there and make plays when they count. The season has been practice for the playoffs. This is the real game time now and we have to do everything in our power to get this win.”

Hawkins has come into his own with Cincinnati, finishing third on the team in receiving with 51 catches for 533 yards and four touchdowns.

The 5-foot-7, 180-pound Hawkins plays bigger than his size would indicate. He's a playmaker with speed, quickness and ability to run after the catch. He is a good route-runner with good hands and shows heart catching passes over the middle. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in determination and toughness. He credits his position coach for his development from the Canadian Football League to NFL practice squad player to Bengals receiver.

“Coach [James] Urban always preaches to the receivers to do what you have to do to make plays,” Hawkins said. “Scratch, claw or do whatever, that's been my goal. Urban has done an incredible job with us. He makes sure that our minds are right in teaching us the nuances of the game. That's just a little bit of the things he does. He's made me a much better receiver than I was when I came here.”

Urban has developed an elite corps of young receivers. Soon you will hear Urban's name mentioned for offensive coordinator vacancies around the league. He has a creative mindset, he's a motivator, and players love playing for him.

As for Hawkins, he's ready to make the most of his opportunities.

“It's a dream come true to be with this team,” he said. “I thank God every day for where I am now because it was a long road to get here. I have to pinch myself sometimes because I'm here with my childhood team, the Bengals. Now we're in the playoffs two years in a row.

“We worked hard every day in practice and came to play on Sunday. We just have to keep the same mindset we have, believing we can win the Super Bowl. I couldn't ask for anything more.”

Defensive tackle Geno Atkins led the way with 12 1/2 sacks, the most for a Bengals interior lineman in club history.

“It meant a lot for us to break the record,” Atkins said. “It means we're working as a unit and everybody is involved in making plays. We have a lot of guys contributing and it has been a defensive team effort throughout the season.”

The 6-foot-1, 300-pound wrecking ball has been dominant rushing the passer, recording 20 sacks as a two-year starter. He's totaled 116 tackles, 23 sacks and six forced fumbles in three seasons with the Bengals.  Atkins is considered undersized by NFL standards but plays with great strength, quickness, power and leverage. He's been a beast in the middle of a rambunctious defensive line.

Cincinnati may have rolled the dice selecting Atkins in fourth round of 2010 NFL draft out of the University of Georgia, but the gamble appears to be paying off with his game evolving.

“I reevaluate everything I've done after each season and think of the things I can do to get better,” he said. “It's important for me to improve my game and still focus on the little thing I do well. I still watch film on guys like Warren Sapp and John Randle to see how they rushed the passer. I watch them to see how I can put it to use in my game rushing the passer.”

Atkins was elected to his second Pro Bowl this season and humbled by the fact, but he is eyeing a much bigger prize.

The Bengals are in the playoffs and will travel to Houston for a wild-card showdown with the Texans on Saturday. The two hooked up under the same scenario last season and Houston recorded a lopsided 31-10 victory. The outcome could be much different this go-round with Cincinnati going in on a high.

“It feels good to be recognized by your peers, coaches and fans, but I'm hoping we go to the Super Bowl,” Atkins said. “Everybody's record is zero in the playoffs and I like our chances. We won seven of our last eight games and feel we have momentum in our court. We wanted to finish out the regular season strong and carry that momentum into the playoffs.

“We have a hard road ahead of us no matter who we play, but this team has heart and believe. We're not going to make it easy for anyone and we're ready to make that journey.”

The Cowboys have been walking a tightrope since the last time they made the playoffs in 2009. Quarterback Tony Romo was made scapegoat for the disappointing end to that season, but is now credited with the success of this season.

After a dreadful first-half of the season, Romo bounced back to throw 17 touchdowns versus three interceptions in the last seven games. The quarterback brought a struggling offense from depths of despair with four come-from-behind victories during that stretch.

Sunday's game could be the turning point in Romo's career with a stellar performance. A Dallas victory would likely erase some of the bonehead mistakes he made in the past in pressure situations. The Cowboys will need Romo to be Romolicious against Washington with a repeat performance of last week when he passed for 416 yards and four touchdowns against New Orleans. He posted his third 400-yard game of the season and became the first Cowboy to top 4,500 yards in a season.

The Redskins are ranked 30th against the pass and have allowed 29 touchdowns through the air this season. Cowboys' wide receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten should come up big against the swiss cheese secondary. However, the offense will also need a big day on the ground by running back DeMarco Murray, who had a critical fumble last week. 

Romo will need help from the banged up defense more than ever.

The Cowboys defense is wearing thin with four starters on the injured reserve. That doesn't include nose tackle Jay Ratliff who has missed 10 games and cornerback Orlando Scandrick, who broke his hand against Washington on Thanksgiving. Despite the injuries, the 19th overall defense must find a way to harass rookie quarterback Robert Griffith and force him into mistakes.

The key to victory for Dallas is bend but don't break.

Cincinnati wants to avoid getting pushed around by big brother when it plays in the Pittsburgh playpen. Pittsburgh leads the overall series 53-32 and is 27-14 as the home team. The Steelers have won five straight, but this Bengals squad believes.  

Growing pains  

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has pressed some this season. Just when Dalton appears to be reaching the next plateau as a passer, he's stymied with a mental lapse in judgment. There are times when he tries to do too much and force the issue making ill-advised passes resulting in turnovers.

The second-year QB must show more consistency throwing the ball in pressure situations. Cincy is not a very good second-half team and third-down conversion percentage is 35.4 and even lower on the road at 33.6. He also has to be careful locking onto his primary target, A.J. Green, and make quicker reads delivering strikes to his second and third options. Tight end Jermaine Gresham is a matchup problem for any defense and should play a big part on offense.  

Dalton is coming off a dreadful performance against Philadelphia where he was sacked six times in the game. Unlike previous Bengals teams, the collective unit found a way to win. Pittsburgh's defense will bring the heat, rushing the passer after watching that porous offensive line play in Philly. However, they may want to note Dalton's pocket awareness and mobility avoiding the rush. He can hurt you with his feet.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, who had a key interception against Dalton, offered some insight on the Bengals offense when facing them.

"They thrive off the deep ball," Carr said during a one-on-one interview. "We took that away and made them push the ball in front of us. They tried to hit us with some razzle-dazzle type plays but we stayed discipline. Our game plan on defense was simple, execute, play fast and make plays."

It is important for Dalton to play a near flawless game and with the swag head coach Marvin Lewis has been calling for. In three games against Pittsburgh, Dalton has completed 40 of out 82 passes for 410 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions.  

There is no better time for Dalton to stake a claim as the franchise quarterback than to perform confidently against the rival Steelers.

Don't be scared

Things may hinge on the play of the quarterback but an effective running game could be the key to success on offense. 

Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis had churned out some yardage in his last five games rushing for 543 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers defense is stout against the run allowing 92.7 yards per game, but the facts must not deter Cincinnati from establishing its run game. The offense may need to get Green-Ellis more involved in the passing game this week. He's an excellent receiver out of the backfield and could neutralize the rush of Blitzburgh with screen passes.

Punk'd

The mystique of Pittsburgh's intimating defense may be fading despite its No. 1 overall ranking now that there are two bullies on the playground in the matchup. The Bengals defense is ranked No. 6 and takes a back seat to no one after roughing up many of their opponents this season. No reason to believe that will change on Sunday. 

Cincinnati's aggressive defensive front is expected to wreak havoc on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who will depend on a makeshift offensive line for protection. The Bengals lead the league in sacks with 43 and are on pace to break the franchise record for sacks which is 48.

When Roethlisberger finds time to throw he will look to strike deep with speedy receiver Mike Wallace. This plays to the strength of the Bengals secondary due to their ability to defend the deep pass. In Week 7, the Bengals held Wallace to 52 yards receiving and his longest catch was 12 yards. The secondary is made up of crafty veterans who are playing extremely well.

There is no love lost between these teams so we can expect a slugfest. The overall edge in this matchup goes to Cincinnati for playing better football at this point in the season.

“I talk to Fred (Taylor) throughout the week and he says go out there and draw your own picture,” Green-Ellis said. “I'm the guy driving the car now and need to make things happen on the field. I pride myself in being a student of the game and contributing to the team. That's all I really do is come to work, play ball and go home.”

Taylor was a former teammate of Green-Ellis in New England. Green-Ellis has rushed for 974 yards and five touchdowns this season, needing 26 yards to eclipse 1,000.

The Dallas Cowboys entered last Sunday's contest against Cincinnati with a run-stifling game plan.

“We knew they wanted to establish the run because their running back has been on a roll,” Cowboys linebacker Ernie Sims said. “We knew if we could stop him and get them in manageable position on third downs we could let our pass rushers go. That's what it came down to at the end of the game.”

Dallas pulled out a 20-19 win with a last-play field goal. The Cowboys held the running back to 89 yards on 12 carries.

“We were able to do some things successfully, but obviously not good enough to win the game,” Green-Ellis said. “That's the depressing thing about it. We have to continue to stay focused on each and every play. Our thing is, take one play at a time and show the focus that we need throughout four quarters. Everyone is hurt over the loss but we have to have a quick turnaround with a game on Thursday. We have to put the loss behind us.”

The Bengals face Philadelphia and its 17th-ranked run defense Thursday night. Green-Ellis could be poised for a productive night providing the offense can keep the Eagles, ranked 14th overall on defense, off balance.

What Cincinnati's offense does best is exploit mismatches. Operating in their sub-personnel alignment, the Bengals create matchup problems for defenses that deploy base personnel.

“That gives us a chance to make plays in the passing game with them keeping their big guys on the field against some of our skill guys,” Green-Ellis said. “That's the thing we have to try and take advantage of.”

Note: The Philadelphia Eagles announced yesterday they have promoted FB/TE Emil Igwenagu (pronounced eh-MEAL ig-wen-AH-goo) from the practice squad to the active roster. To make room on the 53-man roster, the team placed DT Mike Patterson on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list. The team also signed DT Ronnie Cameron to the practice squad.