“I think a lot of owners aren’t sold on keeping it on schedule,” one source told the reporters. “Of course the power owners are calling the shots. Plus, add to the fact that April is going to be the toughest month with this virus. It’s really a poor look.”
If the NFL has their way, the draft will continue as scheduled. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini report that the league “plans to stick” with their April 23rd-25th dates. While there’s still time to make a change, the consensus is that the draft won’t be rescheduled.
However, the league’s general managers are pushing back, as the NFL’s GM subcommittee recommended to commissioner Roger Goodell that the draft be rescheduled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, teams are concerned that there won’t be enough time for “player physicals, gathering psychological testing, [and] getting further verified information about the players.”
Further, there’s concern that there’d be a “competitive disadvantage to have some teams in their training facilities during the draft while teams in California, New Jersey and other hard-hit areas would be in lockdown and unable to be in their teams’ buildings.” We learned yesterday that the NFL had ordered teams to close their facilities by 6pm today.
“player physicals, gathering psychological testing, [and] getting further verified information about the players.”
Isn’t that what the combine is designed for? I get the last part, not getting more info. But the physicals and pay testing should have been completed last month. Plus the teams do research on potential players throughout the actual season.
It’s a shame there aren’t videos of the psychological testing on You-Tube…they would be hilarious.
Especially on the GMs.
When I hear that the GM’s want more time to check out these prospects I have to wonder “to what end?” Look back at all the terrible and expensive blunders these people have committed to over the years after supposedly thoroughly investigating the players. What is the big deal?
Exactly.
They’re mostly all just mel kiper jrs at the end of the day
Tons of video and other data on each and every player BUT yet they need more time? For what?
Check the guy’s “dawg” and if he has that, you probably have a player!