Can the NFL make up its mind?
They’ve suddenly changed course in dealing with COVID-19 in relation to the Scouting Combine.
The league will be employing a bubble setup that limits interaction among the prospects and the scouts.
Likewise, the endless testing by team doctors can cause the drills to drag along.
NBC Sports’ Warren Sharp summarized the flip-flop with this tweet.
NFL's messaging the last 12 months:
NFL season: "COVID's dangerous!"
NFL playoffs: "what's COVID?"
NFL combine: "COVID's dangerous!" https://t.co/UT9Up2lra7
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 21, 2022
It shows how the NFL treated COVID-19 as dangerous during the regular season before dropping testing for the playoffs.
Then, the league reverts to its cautious position for the Combine.
It’s no wonder that player agents and prospects are keen on boycotting the proceedings.
They do have some leverage because the Combine would be a waste of time if it doesn’t serve its purpose of assessing the best aspirants through tangible metrics.
After all, pro days also offer a glimpse of the player’s capabilities.
Watching game tape is more than enough assessment on how the prospect will fare in the NFL.
Getting Deeper Into Anti-Combine Sentiments
Sharp tweeted his thoughts in response to CBS Sports Josina Anderson’s updates from a league source.
Anderson’s three-part tweet shared the grim reality that the prospects need to change their system despite working out for eight weeks.
The lack of direction for the proceedings may cause them to mess up their performance.
The source also cited that there are more considerations involved in letting the young players undergo such a monumental event.
There’s also no point in going if there’s no opportunity to see people, especially scouts, face-to-face.
It’s frustrating that the NFL suddenly reinstated strict protocols during the Combine, an event not too many fans care about.
Where were the same policies during the postseason, when ratings and revenue mattered?
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