The Brandon Thomas ACL injury while engaging in a private workout for the Saints has prompted some agents to take a close look at whether they’ll allow their clients to further risk injury after: (1) completing a collegiate career, with bowl games; (2) finishing all-star practices and game(s); (3) running and cutting and lifting and jumping at the Scouting Combine; and (4) doing some of the same stuff at a Pro Day workout.
But with the draft moved from late April to early-mid May, the two extra weeks means more private workouts.
While teams have limits on the number of players they can bring to town for non-workout visits, there’s no restriction on the ability to travel to campus and ask a player to show what else he’s got. Other than, you know, time.
This year, there are 14 more days of it. Which means more private workouts.
At some point, the process needs to end. Why limit the number of guys who can be brought to town to merely talk and hang out and not limit the number of guys who can be put through the injury-risking paces on their own turf?
If anything, teams want more, not less, access. The Eagles proposed last month a new bylaw that would allow workouts of up to 10 players per year at team facilities.
For now, players can simply decline the invitations, risking that it’ll hurt their draft stock. Perhaps the union of which those players aren’t yet members can do provide barriers that would protect the kids without compelling them to decline.