NFL Veterans Combine:Boom or Bust?
NFL Veterans Combine:Boom or Bust?
With the first ever NFL Veterans Combine in the books, the big question looms “Was it a success”? It may be too soon to answer that question right now but I do believe a clear answer will be eminent in coming weeks. There has been a handful of signings that can be directly traced to this event already, most of which being small school standouts who were either cut after training camp or spent time on a team’s practice squad last season.
The buzz heading into the event was surrounding notable veterans participating such as Michael Bush, Felix Jones and even the controversial Michael Sam who all disappointed. This fact alone causes you to question the selection process used in how the roughly 105 participants were selected. The NFL stated that front office personnel from various teams did have some input into who they wanted to see, but the league has already stated that their current process for identifying and maintaining available free agent talent is very much flawed.
In the way things are currently ran, I usually see the same players getting opportunities with various teams around the league because of their names and due to the fact that other teams are interested versus the fact that they can actually play. It’s the “same soup warmed over” so to speak. I would’ve personally liked to have seen more fresh faces. More guys who maybe didn’t get drafted or signed right after the draft the last couple of years who are still working out and staying in shape for an opportunity.
Maybe they got invited to a rookie minicamp and didn’t flash enough in that 3 day session to get signed immediately or got signed but was released before they had a chance to put the pads on in training camp because of needs at other positions.
I know this to be a fact because I was a victim to these circumstances in 2013 with New York Giants. I know there is a substantial amount of talent in this niche and if the NFL is truly about helping players get opportunities and not just about extra ways to make more money they will explore this option.
If not, continue giving extra chance to guys who have already been able to make money in some way shape or form in the league and won’t truly cherish the opportunity like a guy making sacrifices every day to keep his dream alive.
Written by: John Stevenson Jr – Former New York Giants defensive back – Follow him on Twitter @thereal_jsteve
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