Agents Of NFL Prospects Threaten To Boycott Combine Over COVID Rules

The NFL never seems to be able to make a decision on COVID-19.

It seems to have gotten it right during the playoffs, announcing prior to the divisional round that neither vaccinated or unvaccinated players would be subject to daily testing. Agents representing more than 150 draft projects boycotted the NFL combine in Indianapolis just one week ago. The NFL uses bizarre COVID protocols.

Under penalty of being sent back, any of the 324 potential attendees will be required to spend all of their time in combine venues. After word spread, there were threats of boycotts.

Mike McCartney represents Aidan Hutchinson, a former Michigan defensive player. He will probably be drafted number 1.

“As an agent, I struggle with the combine,” McCartney tweeted. “Players get optimal nutrition and rest for games. What is the combination? The opposite. Inadequate rest and nutrition are then test in sterile conditions. It’s part of why guys test better at pro days. And somehow, the NFL has now made it worse.”

Please explain to me why these men (mostly college-aged) are being treated like children who must be threatened with timeout in order to behave. It’s been said before, but it’s worth saying again: it makes absolutely no sense.

Although the NFL is certainly not to blame for the negative consequences, it’s still disconcerting that athletes and employees have to contend with this idiocy every day. Could you imagine working for an employer who literally has no idea what it’s doing and does everything possible to make employees miserable – all while saying it’s for their “safety?”

NFLPA supported potential boycotts, and took advantage of this to critique the whole combine.

“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.”

It is not surprising that this type of stupidity is expected from America’s most successful sports league. However, it can still be annoying to see how it makes life very difficult for anyone who wants to work with it.