If NFL prospects want to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, they’ll have to undergo a background check reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Florio reports a prospect must adhere to the check, otherwise they’ll be refused an invitation to the upcoming draft combine.
The prospect must provide authorization to the NFL during the Scouting Combine registration process. If the prospect refuses to provide authorization, the prospect’s invitation to participate in the Scouting Combine will be revoked, according to the memo sent on January 25 to all team presidents, General Managers and coaches.
The NFL has taken a more strict approach into which players are allowed to attend the combine. Just last week it was revealed the NFL changed its policy so players with convictions for domestic violence, sexual assault or weapons offenses weren’t allowed to attend the event.
Florio reports the new policy doesn’t prevent teams from scouting players on their own. He says players will gladly sign papers to get into the event.
As a practical matter, players will gladly sign whatever paperwork they need to sign in order to participate in the Scouting Combine. Still, the mandatory background check represents yet another thing that is required of players as part of a lengthy preemployment process that, via the Combine, provides plenty of free entertainment and TV content for the NFL.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said its important for the league to be committed to strong characters.
“It is important for us to remain strongly committed to league values as we demonstrate to our fans, future players, coaches, general managers, and others who support our game that character matters.”
Florio reports the NFLPA didn’t comment on the policy.
The move seems to be about values of future players. Only the best-behaved players will get an opportunity to show what they have at the combine while rule and law-breakers will have to stay home, which seems totally fair.
