NFL COMBINE

INDIANAPOLIS – Vince Young wasn’t among the quarterbacks who went through a series of workouts yesterday at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his draft status was widely discussed after rumors circulated he scored a 6 out of a possible 50 on the Wonderlic test administered earlier this week.

The Wonderlic test is a 12-minute exam designed to measure a person’s overall intelligence. It is given to all the NFL prospects invited here even those like Young who chose not to work out in front of the league’s coaches and general managers who are evaluating talent for the upcoming draft.

Rumors of Young’s score began circulating Saturday night with one NFC coach noting it “raised a red flag.” But Texans GM Charlie Casserly yesterday said he was told by a reliable source the rumor was inaccurate.

“I don’t know [for sure] because we haven’t gotten the results, and we don’t get them until next week,” Casserly said. “But I’ve been told it’s inaccurate by a source good enough for me to stand up here to quote it.”

The Texans own the first pick in the NFL Draft and are believed to be targeting USC running back Reggie BBush after signing quarterback David Carr to an extension last week. The Saints, who select second, and the Titans drafting No.3, both need QBs, as do the Jets, who have the fourth pick.

The Jets figure Young – a junior who led Texas to the national championship – will be gone by the time they select, and have focused much of their attention on Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler, who ran a 4.77 in the 40-yard dash here yesterday and impressed scouts with his footwork and arm. But Young’s unwillingness to work out and the intrigue around his Wonderlic score could cause his stock to drop.

Meanwhile, the Jets’ QB situation remains Uncertain. There was no agreement announced in the club’s negotiations with Chad Pennington to restructure his contract. The two sides have through Thursday to work out a new deal or the Jets must decide whether to pay Pennington a $3 million roster bonus or release him. Since he would cost $12 million against the cap this year, it seems unlikely Pennington will be released. But his health after two shoulder surgeries makes obtaining another quarterback (possibly Matt Leinart or Cutler) a priority.

Casserly said a bad Wonderlic score would not scare him off since it is only one of several methods of evaluating a player.

“We have a Wonderlic score and then you evaluate how the player plays on film. . . . You talk to his coaches. That’s part of the mental evaluation,” Casserly said. “You give him your football mental exam . . . put him on the board or take him on the field.

“The [Wonderlic] number to us is insignificant. It’s the other areas that we put more weight on.”

Young likely will take the Wonderlic test again when he holds private workouts for scouts next month in Texas. Scouts also want to see his drop-back mechanics since he operated exclusively out of a shotgun offense with the Longhorns.

“It doesn’t make any difference what the test score is for us,” Casserly said. “I can point to players who have high test scores and couldn’t necessarily learn football.”