Combine bans just make NFL look bad
Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson’s agent took exception Thursday to the NFL’s decision to rescind a Scouting Combine invitation to the NCAA’s all-time leading sacks leader.
Safarrah Lawson released a statement to multiple outlets outlining what every rational person already knew: The league’s rule banning players convicted of any incidents involving violence at any time from this pivotal evaluation process is nonsensical and counterproductive. Some might say it’s just plain stupid. Ferguson was convicted of simple battery during his freshman year after a fight at a local McDonald’s.
“We disagree with the NFL’s position with regards to Jaylon Ferguson,” Lawson said in the statement. “Jaylon is a great person who made a mistake four years ago before he started playing college football. He was involved in a scuffle that resulted in him being charged with misdemeanor simple battery. He received a deferred judgment and $189.00 fine, a proper punishment for a fight between two teenagers. Since that day, Jaylon has been a fine and upstanding student athlete that personifies the things we are trying to teach our young people today.”
Ferguson broke Terrell Suggs’ NCAA career sacks record this season and racked up 67 1/2 tackles for loss in 50 career games. He earned Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors after recording 17 1/2 sacks and 26 tackles for loss.
The Combine is supposed to give all 32 teams an opportunity to properly vet prospective employees. It seems as if the league is more concerned with erasing players with off-field transgressions from their TV show rather than doing what’s best for teams that need this time to get valuable information during the pre-draft evaluation process.
It makes little sense to deny teams and players an opportunity to ask and answer questions about past transgressions.
Although interested teams will attend Ferguson’s Pro Day on March 19 and invite the possible first-round pick to their respective facilities for pre-draft visits, it’s silly to deny both parties from engaging during the Combine.
“As opposed to penalizing and vilifying the future players of the league,” Lawson added in the statement, “we would hope the league would allow Jaylon and other similarly situated players the opportunity to prove to potential employers that they are remorseful, and have learned from their mistakes, accepted responsibility, want to be good role models and are better people for it.”
Ferguson isn’t the only prospect to be banned from participating in the Combine. Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and Colorado State receiver Preston Williams have also been excluded due to off-field incidents.
Ferguson, who played well in the Senior Bowl a few weeks ago, is one of the more intriguing players projected to be selected on the first day of the draft. In case you’ve been a cave dweller, the Jets and Giants could use some edge passrushing help these days.
“You got to have a nastiness to play football,” Ferguson said. “It’s an aggressive game. It’s a game of gladiators. You strap on pads, put your helmet on and go hit somebody as hard as you can on every play.”