NFL considers banning academically ineligible players from Scouting Combine

[Stinger]

Per PFT....

In response to the criticism arising from the Aaron Hernandez case, the NFL is considering a change that, in our view, ultimately will have no impact on the decision of teams to take chances on players with questionable backgrounds.

According to Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com, the NFL is considering barring academically ineligible prospects from the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Feldman, citing an unnamed NFL source, reports that the possibility is “being discussed because of the increased scrutiny on the maturity and commitment of the prospects entering the NFL.”

By excluding the players deemed most likely to be drafted from Indianapolis, the NFL would only be making the scouting process more cumbersome and expensive for its teams. The primary benefit of the Scouting Combine comes from bringing all of the top prospects and all of the teams to the same place, reducing significantly the costs of the medical review and creating an opportunity to talk to as many players as possible, either via the normal interview rotation or the loosely-organized (and lesser-known) “train station” conversations, which in theory allows a sufficiently diligent team to register face time with every player.

Besides, academically ineligible players would still be drafted, whether they go to the Scouting Combine or not.

So while it’s good that the NFL is considering ways to prevent future Aaron Hernandezes from being employed by NFL teams when they allegedly commit murder or other mayhem, banning academically ineligible players from the Scouting Combine won’t do anything to accomplish the goal.

Unless the goal is to generate some P.R. that will make the casual fan think the NFL is serious about the problem. If the NFL really is serious about the problem, however, this isn’t the way to solve it.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...mbine/related/

[Discuss Thrower]

Maybe the league should just sack up and pay for a developmental program instead of outsourcing it to colleges.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Maybe the league should just sack up and pay for a developmental program instead of outsourcing it to colleges.

World League of American Football

NFL Europe

NFL Lose Money Yo

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

World League of American Football

NFL Europe

NFL Lose Money Yo

Oh I get that. But that's only because the NCAA is so popular. If every college sport was played by legit student athletes who weren't recruits or there solely to play a their particular sport it'd be a whole new story.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Oh I get that. But that's only because the NCAA is so popular. If every college sport was played by legit student athletes who weren't recruits or there solely to play a their particular sport it'd be a whole new story.

What?

First you state that the NFL should have a developmental league. Been there, done that, failed spectacularly.

Then you say it's because college football is so popular, yet none of those leagues competed with college football because the games were played in the Spring.

Say what?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Who is talking out their ass again? Burfict went undrafted even if he was scouted he went undrafted.

Then why would you need such a rule as is being proposed? Burfict went to the combine and was still undrafted.

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

He could have been drafted fairly early in the middle rounds. We don't know for sure that he will not do something stupid to tarnish the NFL.

You don't know for sure about anyone.

[chiefqueen]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

If the League truly wanted to stop it they would punish the teams for player conduct when said player has a history and teams choose to hire and play them then those teams could be fined or punished in some way for employing those types of people.

I'm not sticking up for NE but they will have to count his signing bonus from his contract extension he signed last year as "dead money" over the next 2 seasons.