Face Time Critical For A.J. Nicholson

Former Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson has a big chance at next week's combine in Indianapolis to impress the NFL.Make no mistake, the meet-and-greets are critical for him.

Maybe even more so than his 40 time.Nicholson, the Seminoles' leading tackler as a junior and senior, was sent home a day after arriving in South Florida for the Orange Bowl for a violation of an unspecified team rule and amid a sexual assault allegation. Seven weeks later, Hollywood police continue to investigate. No charges have been filed, and the state attorney's office in Broward County is not yet formally involved.

"There's a ton of footage for NFL people to evaluate, but the opportunity he missed was to be in front of NFL decisionmakers and coaches so they could look him in the eye and ask him what went on and get a better feel for him as a person," said Gary Wichard, Nicholson's agent. "He's going to get another bite at the apple."