NFL considers banning academically ineligible players from Scouting Combine
 

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/

That'll solve murders!

If they are going to do this, why not just make it like any other job? If you have a felony on your record it is really difficult to find a job. Maybe crack down harder on them when they make bad decisions. I mean when does it stop?

it would cost some players millions


How about eliminating some players from the drafting process completely?

Felony = auto UDFA

Bad students ALWAYS murder people. ALWAYS!!!

Eh, not sure if this good or bad but I know in college there were a lot of dumb athletes there for no other reason than they could dunk a basketball or play linebacker.

I still remember sitting in a 100 level history course and some basketball player answered the profs question "tell me something about Napoleon" with "he was short." If it was a smart ass answer or just trying to get a laugh it would have been funny but the guy was getting a free ride and that was the extent of his knowledge after 2 weeks of discussing the matter. He was dumb as a rock taking a seat that could be being occupied by a future lawyer, computer scientist, doctor or whatever...someone productive.

And trust me, he was dumb, that wasn't an isolated incident.

If it help makes room for weeding out the glamor of dumb celebrities and athletes I guess I'm game.

There were many smart basketball and footballs players as well but there's a definite "you're just here for your athletic skills" factor.

just set up checkpoints

Andrew Luck would have made millions more with a (small) felony conviction, due to the resulting bidding war for his services.

Cool. Maybe some of these idiots will get better grades and end up working the a career...

It'll never happen because the added expense of flying around the country to workout players that would otherwise be available in the draft would skyrocket.

This is a nice "Trial Balloon" but everyone knows that the NFL is and always has been about the bottom line and more importantly, profit.

Yes, I fully expect all of the football players on the team in which I root for be outstanding citizens and college graduates with character above reproach.

Straight talk. Thank you, it's rarity.

true ... but that's a rare,rare situation


you could make a case that Luck wouldn't be Luck if he was doing a bunch of dumb shit.


can't be drafted until round ???

Duh. The players I just referred to won't play for your team. They won't play for any team. Hence the reason the education helped them acquire a career.

Then half the NFL would be out of work.