The NFL's decision not to invite players to the annual scouting combine who have been convicted of domestic assault or weapons charges "sounds great," but it is just "more PR spin from a league that continuously fails to put action behind words," according to Ann Killion of the S.F. CHRONICLE. There is "no ban on drafting such players," and plenty of players "don't come to the combine at all, preferring to work out at a 'pro day.'" Players with records "would still be allowed to work out for teams away from the combine." Killion asks, "Why will they be banned from the combine? Probably because the combine has become a television show, aired on the NFL Network." The NFL does not "want to put the spotlight on players with criminal records but still appears happily willing to employ them" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/11). ESPN's Jemele Hill said adopting any policy that "holds players accountable -- and to some degree colleges accountable -- is good," and the NFL is "trying to show that they're serious about these types of offense." But Hill said these players can still have pro days and wondered if it is really a deterrent. ESPN's Michael Smith said the combine "does matter" and is "part of the process" toward being drafted. Smith: "If you are not exposed to that process ... it can hurt your ability to make money going into the league." He added, "It's something. I'm not going to sit up here and pat the league on the back about it. ... But it does matter because a player not exposed to this part of the process -- it will compromise his draft stock" ("His & Hers," ESPN2, 2/9). Meanwhile, ESPN's Dan Graziano said, "This is silly and poorly thought out. I wouldn't be surprised to see the NFLPA challenge it on legal grounds in terms of what you're allowed to do in imposing restrictions on people you don't even employ at this point. It also goes against what the league has said for years about them not controlling who goes to the combine. So this one seems a little tone-deaf" ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 2/9).
BASELINE POLICY: In Buffalo, Jay Skurski writes even if Bills RB LeSean McCoy is "not convicted" for his alleged involvement in a brawl at a Philadelphia nightclub on Sunday, there is "still the possibility of NFL discipline." The policy, first implemented in '97 and enhanced in '07, was "strengthened again prior to the start" of the '15 season. It "calls for a baseline suspension of six games without pay" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/11).
