The non-asterisked NFLPA, back when it was a labor union, advised incoming rookies to attend last month’s Scouting Combine.
The NFLPA*, now a trade association, reportedly wants those incoming rookie to eschew any invitation to attend next month’s draft.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that "[t]he NFLPA[*] already has contacted 17 top prospects that ordinarily would have received an invitation to attend the draft and informed them not to go.”
The NFLPA* has even considered making the players available on another network for post-pick interviews.
Frankly, we’re not sure how the NFLPA* can tell the incoming rookies to do anything. The NFLPA* no longer has any control over the players. Even when the NFLPA* was the NFLPA, they couldn’t tell players who have yet to be drafted to do anything.
Bottom line? This could get interesting.