After a one-year hiatus, the NFL will as soon as once more maintain its annual scouting mix from Indianapolis. However this 12 months’s mix will probably be totally different from those that had been held in a pre-COVID world. 

On Saturday, the mix knowledgeable prospects that they’re permitted to ask one “medical help particular person” — primarily a coach — that should be absolutely vaccinated. All meals and snacks will probably be offered by the mix, as prospects will spend their time in Indianapolis in a “bubble” atmosphere, with restricted exceptions. Gamers who violate the mix’s new insurance policies will probably be disqualified from additional participation and will probably be despatched house, in response to a memo attained by NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero. 

Together with the brand new COVID-related insurance policies, the mix has additionally revamped it exercise schedule. The mix, which can start on Tuesday, March 1, may have gamers do measurements, bench press and on-field exercises throughout the identical day. In earlier combines, measurements, bench press and on-field exercises had been carried out on separate days. 

The modifications to the exercise schedules has led to skepticism from each prospect brokers in addition to NFL crew executives. 

“You are gonna have guys afraid to get damage,” an AFC crew government mentioned in a narrative written by CBS Sports activities NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. 

The NFLPA additionally despatched a letter to each agent commenting on the plans for this version of the mix, by way of NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport:

“We now have spoken to a number of brokers to bolster our lengthy standing opposition to the NFL Scouting Mix and agree and help the selections by these to not attend. The mix of the NFL’s proposed “bubble” and undeniable fact that we nonetheless have an antiquated system of each crew physician inspecting gamers and having them carry out but once more wants critical modification or elimination. Whereas we don’t characterize these gamers we have now advocated for his or her rights to truthful remedy.

“Our union has at all times inspired gamers to take management of their careers from the very starting and we recognize that brokers are taking a look at methods to help that aim.”

Prospects will spend 4 days in Indianapolis. Medical exams will take up the primary day, adopted by media interviews on the second day. Measurement, bench and exercises will happen on the third day earlier than gamers depart on the fourth day. Prospects may even get an opportunity to talk with NFL groups in preparation for the upcoming draft.