Agents Organizing A Boycott Of The NFL Combine Over Restrictions

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At least 155 players are reportedly planning on boycotting the NFL Combine.
The NFL sent out a memo outlining combine restrictions and the agents didn’t agree with them.
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On Saturday, the NFL sent out a memo to draft prospects and their agents explaining what restrictions will be in place for this year’s Scouting Combine.

The players will be kept in a “bubble” and will be restricted to just one guest, limiting their access to their personal trainers, doctors, nutritionists and agents, reports ESPN.

They will be allowed to only have one guest who can provide medical treatment, but that’s it.

The NFLPA just sent this memo to agents, reinforcing the union’s “long standing opposition to the NFL Scouting Combine” and expressing support for those who don’t attend in light of the “bubble” environment this year. pic.twitter.com/ktjv346B2J

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 20, 2022

These new and restrictive guidelines have been deemed unacceptable by dozens of players and their agents.

As a result, 155 players represented by 13 different agencies, reports Pro Football Talk, say they are prepared to boycott the Combine unless some of the restrictions are lifted.

The NFLPA supports prospects boycotting this year’s NFL Combine

If the boycott holds, it would mean almost half of the 324 invited prospects would be absent and miss out on all of the drills and interviews with teams. Instead, they would only participate in the medical evaluations.

As an agent, I struggle with the combine. Players get optimal nutrition & rest for games. The combine? Almost the opposite. Improper rest & diet, then tested in a cold, sterile environment. It’s part of why guys test better at Pro Days. And somehow, the NFL has now made it worse.

— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) February 21, 2022

While these prospects are yet to be official members of the NFL Players Association, they do have the union’s full support if they do boycott the Combine.

“We have spoken to several agents to reinforce our long standing opposition to the NFL Scouting Combine and agree and support the decisions by those to not attend,” the NFLPA said in an email that was sent to agents. “The combination of the NFL’s proposed ‘bubble’ and the fact that we still have an antiquated system of every team doctor examining players and having them perform yet again needs serious modification or elimination. While we do not represent these players we have advocated for their rights to fair treatment. Our union has always encouraged players to take control of their careers from the very beginning and we appreciate that agents are looking at ways to support that goal.”

According to ESPN, discussions. looking for some kind of middle ground, between the NFL and the agents were still taking place on Monday morning.

With Major League Baseball also currently in a shutdown, this is not news NFL fans wanted to hear.

While I think all those restrictions are a bit excessive I think the NFL might win this battle. These are draft prospects they haven’t made it yet. Ok so these 150 don’t want to show up then they will bring the next 150 that will.

— RAVENFANINSD (@GibsonGroup1) February 21, 2022

Because it’s hypocrisy from the @nfl they relax the restrictions for the entire playoffs and had packed stadiums and had over 70 plus thousand at the super bowl but want combine prospects to be in a bubble

— Dominic Woods (@domiwoods11) February 21, 2022

Lol NFL saying this is Covid related. This is part of the larger move to monetize the combine further, by totally controlling the process. Teams hate this. Players should skip and do less of the drills or demand to be paid since the NFL wants to make this a TV ratings event.

— Nik Athans (@NewEnglandNik) February 19, 2022

The NFL just had hundreds of the thousands of people together over the playoffs and super bowl and none of them were wearing masks. Make the double standards stop! Just move on people.

— Nick Allen (@NickStixx) February 19, 2022

This is ridiculous. Why wouldn’t they be able to go through these protocols for a week. Slight inconvenience outweighs health risks?

— Sportsforallsorts (@bengalsrico) February 21, 2022

Oh cool, now that the Super Bowl is over and its 70,000 maskless celebrities and rich people are done partying covid can become a "public health crisis" again

— Vin Okaw (@VinnyOkaw) February 19, 2022