Source: Up to 155 players will announce Scouting Combine boycott on Monday
That 155 players represents about half of those invited.
Potential boycott of NFL Draft Combine
- Thread starter DJnVa
- Start date
According to Rapoport, main issue is not allowing access to the players complete support team. I can't really blame the players here. While I enjoy the combine, the importance and value of it are not nearly what they once were.
[/quote]Per Rapoport, players being denied access to their full team of coaches and trainers is a main sticking point, and if the NFL does not ease the planned restrictions, many top prospects will only complete medical evaluations at this year's combine. [/quote]
[/quote]Per Rapoport, players being denied access to their full team of coaches and trainers is a main sticking point, and if the NFL does not ease the planned restrictions, many top prospects will only complete medical evaluations at this year's combine. [/quote]
The simple answer is probably 'Because they can'.
The league and it's sponsors had a tremendous financial incentive to have a 'normal' Super Bowl with a full crowd, bonkers halftime show, etc. for public consumption. The combine is an entirely different exercise, one in which the NFL basically answers to no one and believes it can do whatever it wants. I bet they are probably shocked at Park Avenue that the prospects and their representatives have dared to push back. Good for them.
Yep. And the agents are calling them out on it. Super bowl in a state with tougher restrictions and yet super bowl had less restrictions than what the combine will.
Congrats to the new generation of players who are exercising their last chance at actual autonomy for many, many years.
With any luck, maybe they will bring that backbone to future labor negotiations.