In less than two weeks, NFL teams and invited players will begin descending on Indianapolis for the 2022 NFL Combine. Yet, although the start of the 2022 NFL Combine is so close, there are still a ton of unanswered questions on how decision-makers will run this year’s event. As we inch towards the 2022 NFL Draft, here’s the latest on the situation that’s still very unclear.
Update: On Saturday, February 19, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed the Scouting Combine will include players in a bubble environment. Players will be allowed one “medical support person”, all meals will be provided, and players who break the bubble will be disqualified from partaking and sent home.
2022 NFL Combine: Players in a bubble?
As I first reported from Shrine Bowl practices, the word is that players will be in a bubble for the duration of their time in Indianapolis. I’m told this means they will be relegated to the players’ hotel, the Crowne Plaza, and Lucas Oil Stadium (where the workouts take place). Players won’t be able to meet up with their trainers or agents or even take to the city for a bite to eat while they are in Indianapolis.
The restaurant at the Crowne Plaza — a favorite hangout for players and their agents — will not be available.
Fewer players to run the 40 this year?
Something that goes on behind the scenes at the NFL Combine, which is unknown to fans or the viewing public, is the training stations players use in the lead-up to their workout on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Training facilities from around the country and the people who run them come to the Combine and set up shop in conference rooms they rent at the Indianapolis Convention Center or hotels such as the Omni Severin in the downtown area. Players who have been training at these facilities make regular visits to these conference rooms for massages, to get stretched, or to work on their starts for the 40 and shuttle runs.
Anyone that’s been to these areas is familiar with strips of tape on carpet to measure a 10-yard split of one end of the shuttle. I’m told trainers who regularly attend the NFL Combine each year are canceling plans for 2022, as they won’t be able to work with the players prior to workouts.
Additionally, I’m told many of the speed players at positions such as receiver, defensive back, and running back are expected to bypass running at this year’s NFL Combine. The reasoning is that they won’t receive the pre-workout attention they feel is necessary to time well in the 40, shuttle, and three-cone.
Will teams be in a bubble at the 2022 NFL Combine?
Though I’ve not received confirmation just yet, word is that NFL teams will not be in a bubble during the Combine and will be free to move about Indianapolis. Teams usually meet with representatives of pending free agents at the Combine to talk shop.
As we’ve stated in the past, the Senior Bowl is the unofficial start of free agency. But free agency really kicks into gear at the Combine, just before the official tampering period begins.
What about player interviews?
Again, there’s been no confirmation, but word is that player interviews at the Combine will be virtual. This will not sit well with a lot of teams, but it makes complete sense. You can’t place the players in a bubble, let teams run loose in Indianapolis, then let team representatives meet with players.
Granted, there’s been no official word from the NFL, who has the final say. And while this can all change overnight, this is the word trickling out not only from teams but NFS, who runs the Combine.
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