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A few weeks ago, the NFL revealed that they will apply changes to the 2023 NFL Combine. This week, former player and NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent came forward to suggest a few more changes to the process.
However, NFL owners are apparently not happy with the way Vincent put forth his views. The NFL EVP reportedly compared the combine to a 'slave auction'.
Of course, this is not the first time the combine has been criticized. It has been seen as ethically dubious, with many believing there has to be a better way to evaluate players. As teams are now million dollar businesses, many believe they no longer need this invite-only event to get to know prospective players.
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Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, known for promoting diversity, was allegedly unhappy with the implication that the event could be racist. Blank has focused on inclusivity for two decades, and did not like the idea of people thinking he could be involved in such an event.
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney had his own perspective, which was more about the teams getting to know the players and gathering information. However, Rooney declined to comment directly about the situation.
Buffallo Bills owner Terry Pegula apparently spoke on a different tangent, hinting that the weigh-ins are ultimately what people want to see. Pegula even brought up women's tennis, and how sometimes they are encouraged to wear revealing outfits.
As per CBS Sports, sources thought Pegula's comments were incoherent.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones chimed in, but he stated that it was a privilege to play in the NFL. After all, thousands of college players play football, but only 300 get an invite. Ultimately, not everyone can be drafted.
What exactly did Troy Vincent say during the meeting?
While the actual meeting and its details are mostly private, Vincent did go on and speak with the media later on:
"We just feel like the overall experience, talking to the players, we can be better in that particular aspect. So there was, I would say, a good discussion around what that looks like, where we could be, keeping in mind that the combine is the player's first experience with the National Football League, and in that experience, there has to be dignity."
He added:
"It's a great opportunity for the young men, but there has to be some form of dignity and level of dignity and respect as they go through that process."
Furthermore, the meeting also touched upon making calls about roughing the passer reviewable. This also included a discussion about hitting a defenseless player or the QB, making it reviewable or warranting automatic ejection.
When and where is the 2023 NFL Combine?
Next year, the NFL Combine will be held in Indianapolis from Sunday, February 26 to March 6. Indianapolis has been the venue for the combine for four decades. Considering various inputs from players, the schedule has been moved around again. This time, the bench press will be after on-field workouts and a 40-yard dash.
