INDIANAPOLIS: Browns General Manager Tom Heckert is not attending the NFL Scouting Combine because he is recovering from a major surgery, radio host Mike Trivisonno reported Friday on the team’s flagship station, WTAM (1100-AM).
Trivisonno said Heckert’s operation was also the cause of his absence last month at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
On Thursday, the Browns said an illness was forcing Heckert to miss the combine, which runs through Tuesday.
“Tom’s personal medical issues are his private affair and not for the club to comment on,” Browns vice president of media relations Neal Gulkis said Friday after Trivisonno’s report became public. “As we said yesterday, he’s doing fine.”
Trivisonno said Heckert is expected to make a full recovery.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Thursday he does not think Heckert’s absence at the combine will harm the Browns’ draft preparation.
NFL teams are permitted to interview as many as 60 prospects at the combine. Shurmur said Heckert would use Skype to participate in the interviews, which also will be taped, and watch the prospects work out on TV.
Shurmur said director of player personnel Jon Sandusky, director of college scouting John Spytek and assistant coaches will assume any responsibilities Heckert would have had at the combine.
