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NFL Combine Update: League Backs Down after Boycott Threats from Draft Prospects

Published 02/22/2022, 8:38 AM EST

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The NFL Combine has been a point of controversy ever since the NFL came out with a memo on Combine safety restrictions. As per Tom Pelissero, the NFL has agreed to change the policies and let the players bring in their team and also move in & out of the facility if need be. 

Pelissero produced a screenshot of the message from the NFL to the players, on Twitter. The message says that the players are “encouraged” to stay inside the confines of the combine. But if they choose to go out in their downtime, they may do so, “at their own risk.”

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The NFL backs down 

Amidst reports of players threatening to boycott parts of the combine, the NFL was in talks with the agents of the protesting prospective players. As reported, it seems that the NFL had to succumb to the pressure asserted by the future NFL players as well as the current players through the NFLPA.  

The NFL had initially proposed that the players can only bring in one member with them to Indy. Players and agents pointed out that the prospective NFL players have a team along with them. 

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NFL Combine Update: Agents of Draft Prospects Threaten to Boycott Combine If “Bubble” Restrictions Are Not Changed

So the NFL has also told players that they can get medical treatment from their “approved medical support personnel” inside the secure areas, they can do so. 

Bring your team to Indy 

Medical support personnel include the physical therapist, massage therapist, or approved athletic trainer. Thus, either the athletes can go out and consult their respective teams on the proceedings or stay indoors and get treatment and advice there. 

Still no clarity on the NFL Combine 

It is still unclear if we will see all the players at the NFL Combine. Firstly, the players or the agents did not confirm or deny if the boycott is off the table. 

Secondly, this message still does not resolve the issue around the scheduling., The athletes’ side does not agree that keeping three events on the same day will be viable.

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Participating in any one of them is draining. Doing them all on the same day is not a suitable option. Also, this removes the most integral distinctions between a pro-day and the NFL Combine. 

The next move from the players will decide if the event is a successful outing for the parties involved.

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The Combine returns after two years and is scheduled for March 1st through March 7th. The venue will be the Lucas Oil Stadium and Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indianapolis.

NFL Combine 2022 Location Revealed! Exciting Potential Locations for 2023 Combine Also Out

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Written by:

Utsav Khanna

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Utsav Khanna is an NFL sports writer at EssentiallySports. He did his PGDM from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and went on to work in Public Relations. A deep interest and love for the sport of NFL drew him towards working in Sports Journalism.
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