I was listening again today to Dave Te's podcast and he mentioned a couple of things which were very interesting about the combine.
Now, most old school scouts and GMs have long called it "the underwear olympics" (including Gettleman). There are all the discussions of guys who looked great in the combine but didn't do well when they started playing in pads (Mike Mamula the poster boy).
But Dave's point was that right now the NFL Combine generates $45M in revenue for the NFL across all the days of coverage, sponsorships, etc. The NFL is discussing putting next year's combine in LA and selling tickets.
Because it has become a media circus, he's aware of 3 teams that are not sending their coaches to it because they feel it's a waste of time. You only get about 10 minutes with a prospect and that's it and their time is best spent looking at tape (I think Judge is taking his entire staff). He feels that only scouts and execs should go to this. The real evaluation comes from the game film, the senior bowl practice, and the best individual evaluations at the Pro days.
That said, with the money that the NFL has generated and these other opportunities for the players to be evaluated, he is seeing a future where the top prospects will demand to get paid to show up. We've already seen the case where top QBs aren't even working out. And ultimately, that will trickle down that most players will ask to be paid. The risks are too high for them out there to not get compensated in some way (beyond insurance) for an injury.
Bottom line, the combine is a circus that offers less and less value for evaluators and is a sideshow. And because of that, the players should be paid for all of this. It kind of makes sense really.
Also, it's by invitation, so I don't see why the league doesn't foot the bill (if they don't already).
Plenty of employers pay top prospects' expenses for interviews.
I've considered this, but I think we are at the point that at major professional sports, the same rules that apply to us "regular" people don't necessarily apply to them. I remember Scott Boras was asked about the pay for MLB players and a struggling economy entering free agency. And he said something to the effect that the in place $ that is guaranteed based on TV deals and sponsorships before 1 ticket is sold shows the owners have plenty of profit and will pay the players their value and ticket sales ebb and flow but are gravy.
When I go on interviews, I'm not aware of my potential selling sponsorships to watch me babble about my experience, but I'm sure that makes for riveting viewing ;)
Of course players should get paid to participate in an event that is being used for entertainment purposes, especially since it generates a significant amount of revenue.
No one care's about most peoples' interviews. Nobody is paying to watch me interview.
However, if I found out a potential employer was going to make $50 million televising my interview, I would absolutely negotiate before the interview and try to get some $$$.
I'm fine with paying the players some sort of set fee as long as it's the SAME amount for ALL players.
Maybe they could also pay out money to the top 3 "scores" for each test that done by position group. Some incentive to participate and train. What the heck. Like
Top 3 tallest
Top 3 with largest hands
etc....
I'm fine with paying the players some sort of set fee as long as it's the SAME amount for ALL players.
Maybe they could also pay out money to the top 3 "scores" for each test that done by position group. Some incentive to participate and train. What the heck. Like
Top 3 tallest
Top 3 with largest hands
etc....
How many players get invited? 320ish? So pay them $30K per player. That's $9.6M, or about 20% of the of the revenue generated. Seems reasonable to me...
i don't see the nfl needing to incentivize participation here at their job fair so if i were the nfl i wouldn't be thinking about paying anyone.
i'm not just going to hand out money if the players are going to tryout anyway. that doesn't make business sense. now if participation was issue that would be different, but it's not.
i don't see the nfl needing to incentivize participation here at their job fair so if i were the nfl i wouldn't be thinking about paying anyone.
i'm not just going to hand out money if the players are going to tryout anyway. that doesn't make business sense. now if participation was issue that would be different, but it's not.
The indications were that it is going to start up soon that the top guys (at the least) are going to ask for money to show up. If you are a top 10 pick, these workouts can tend to hurt more than help, which is why they like to do their own things at a more controlled pro day. Like mentioned, the top QBs are already sitting out from certain drills. Kyler Murray showed up to get measured and left. Of course, 30 years ago Deion Sanders came, ran his 40 and left. But as this become more of a blatant marketing event rather than real evaluation, particularly when they start selling tickets, it's a matter of time before it happens.
Now it you are talking about a stipend then yes they should get enough to cover any and all expenses otherwise it's going to start negotiations for the combine and I don't the the NFL wants any part of that.