Back in 2021, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick had social media buzzing due to his Netflix limited series where he criticized the way the NFL evaluates players. One scene from Colin in Black and White featured him narrating a segment in which the scouting combine process is compared to slavery.
That was an extremely controversial statement at the time, but he wasn’t and still is not part of the league anymore.
The next person who brought up that same topic is currently in a high position.
NFL Executive Vice President Troy Vincent reportedly caused a stir at league meetings this week when he also compared the scouting combine to a “slave auction.” It said that several owners that including Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, voiced their displeasure to the “slave auction” label. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly talked about the “opportunity” to play in the NFL.
According to CBS Sports, Vincent told owners the combine would have a less rigorous medical evaluation process.
“We just feel like the overall experience, talking to the players, we can be better in that particular aspect,” Vincent told media later in the day. “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.
“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. That was the overall theme around our combine [discussion.]”
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The report added that Steelers owner Art Rooney II noted that the teams need the necessary information at the combine to make informed decisions. When Bills owner Terry Pegula took the microphone to speak, he reportedly “didn’t condone the combine weigh-ins, but seemed to play a devil’s advocate role that it’s ultimately what people want to see.” He brought up women’s tennis in comparison to bemoan the revealing outfits that women tennis players are encouraged to wear. His statement was described as “incoherent.”
Some of the questions asked of players during the combine have drawn criticism for being offensive and relying on racial stereotypes. It was reported some time ago that a Dolphins GM once asked Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute.
“They asked me if my mom’s a prostitute,” Bryant told Yahoo’s Michael Silver. “No, my mom is not a prostitute. I got mad – really mad – but I didn’t show it. I got a lot of questions like that: Does she still do drugs? I sat and answered all of them.”
Former LSU Tigers standout Derrius Guice said in 2018 a team asked him at the Scouting Combine if he likes men. A Falcons assistant coach also inquired about the sexual orientation of cornerback Eli Apple.
As you can see, none of those type of questions have anything to do with whether these men can play football or not.
