Saving the Combine

February 22, 2022 Saving the Combine

By: Carlos Alvarez

NFL Amends COVID-19 Policies After Agents & Players Threaten Boycott

The NFL scouting combine is coming to Indianapolis for the first week of March, but Monday’s scare put the event in jeopardy. The agents of more than 150 marquee players on the invite list threatened to boycott the event due to the NFL’s COVID-19 safety protocols. Simply put, the league’s organizers created tight “bubble” restrictions for the safety for incoming players. The agents of more than 1/3 of the participants called foul on the level of lockdown, and the NFL obliged.

 

Why It Matters

The agents of top-level prospects provide their athletes with trainers, nutritionists and other special staff throughout combine week, making the number of the event’s attendees greater than just players on the field. The level of concern still remains, though. Last year’s NFL combine did not take place because of the pandemic, and that certainly altered draft positions and scouting reports for everyone.

 

Crisis avoided, for now.

 

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Players No Longer Forced to Stay in ‘Bubble’ as Boycott Threat Avoided

The Athletic: NFL Combine Changes Policy After More Than 150 Draft Prospects Plan Boycott

 

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images