He's a sizable man. He also is figuring on running a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine next week. That means he's a scary man, too.

"I hope to run a 4.4 right now," he told Yahoo Sports. "That's my goal. On hand times, I've been running 4.4s. I hope I can get a 4.4 at the Combine. A 4.5 I'm not too worried about."

It's not hot air.

He ran a 4.5 during winter workouts last year. Could he be even faster now?

The fastest time for a defensive lineman at last year's Combine was a 4.6, which is wholly impressive — to everyone except Clowney.

"I ain't going to run a 4.6," Clowney said. "I'm probably going to run low 4.5, 4.4."

Last year's fastes timet was 4.27, run by now-Bills receiver Marquise Goodwin. His unofficial time was a 4.21. Defensive end Trevardo Williams from UConn ran a 4.57, followed by Barkevious Mingo of LSU with a 4.58.

Will Clowney best them?


DRAMA IN CLEVELAND


Michael Lombardi, fired this week as Browns' general manager, could join the New England Patriots' front office soon.

NFL.com reports that Lombardi and the Patriots have been in discussions and Cleveland radio station 92.3 The Fan reported that the two sides are nearing an agreement. The specifics about what Lombardi's job would be aren't clear at this point. However, Lombardi does have a history with Patriots' coach Bill Belichick.

Belichick and Lombardi worked together with the Browns from 1991-1995. Lombardi, who has previously worked as an NFL analyst, was hired by the Browns as GM before last season.

According to NFL.com, because of Lombardi's contract with the Browns, he likely will not get any extra compensation for whatever job he holds with the Pats. The Browns still have to pay him.

In other Browns news, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Lombardi and fired SEO Joe Banner were at odds before the team's coaching search that eventually led to the hiring of Mike Pettine.

The "disconnect" reportedly ultimately led to owner Jimmy Haslam firing both Lombardi and Banner. According to the Plain Dealer sources, by the time Pettine was hired, Banner "wanted to fire" Lombardi.

Banner, sources said, had rude encounters with coaching candidates Ken Whisenhunt and Greg Schiano. Haslam also discovered during the process that then-Penn State coach Bill O'Brien didn't want the job "because of either Banner, Lombardi or both." O'Brien is now the Texans' coach.

Josh McDaniels appeared to be the leading candidate for the position, but the Patriots' offensive coordinator withdrew his name from consideration. He was Haslam's first choice, but Banner held "reservations."

Now, McDaniels and Lombardi could be working together in New England.


BORTLES NOT 'FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK'


Blake Bortles carried UCF to new heights. Now, he's on his way to the NFL. His college coach, George O'Leary, says Bortles, while full of potential, is not yet a "franchise quarterback."

"I think a franchise quarterback comes out once every 10 years, and he came out last year in (Andrew) Luck," O'Leary said. "The ones I see succeed are understudies."

Luck has two years in the league, but the point is that when he left Stanford, he did so under the understanding from most that he was a rare and exceptional talent.

O'Leary believes Bortles, who came out a year early, can grow into that type of player in time, saying on Sports Radio 610-AM in Houston that he has "all the tools to get it done but might need more time. Blake has all the things you're looking for in a quarterback as far as size and mental capacity to handle a lot of things. But that first year is tough because those guys are moving a lot faster than the college guys.

"Blake is going to be fine-tuned to what he needs to get done in the pro ranks."

Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien is said to be very high on Bortles, but it is highly unlikely that he'd use the No. 1 pick on him. Jadeveon Clowney and Teddy Bridgewater would vie for that spot with Houston.


WILLIAMS HIRE CLEARED BY GOODELL


Before hiring Gregg Williams as his defensive coordinator for the second time, St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher cleared it with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Williams was part of Fisher's first staff with the Rams in 2012, but only for a few weeks before getting suspended for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal.

Fisher said at a news conference Thursday that he and Williams spent a few days together coming to terms with the past. Williams, who grew up in Missouri, said he hoped this was his last coaching stop.

Williams scoffed at a claim from a player who said the coach bragged about using a stolen playbook to help Tennessee beat Jacksonville in the 1999 AFC championship game. Williams called the story a joke and said he had every team's playbook.


MANZIEL VISITS NIKE


If there is a sports brand in which image means everything, it's Nike. All the so-called concerns about Johnny Manziel's off-field antics and his maturity may not be much of a big deal for Nike at all.

Manziel paid a visit Thursday to Nike headquartes in Portland, Oregon, according to the Portland Business Journal. He met with Nike executives who may, according to the PBJ, be interested in making an offer to Manziel.

Contributor: Rana L. Cash , The Associated Press

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