Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, who has the talent to be selected early in April's NFL draft, reportedly wasn't invited to the NFL scouting combine because he was involved in an incident in which he hit a female student in the face when he was a freshman in 2014.
Mississippi quarterback Chad Kelly, a late-round prospect who was kicked off the team at Clemson for conduct detrimental to the team earlier in his career, reportedly wasn't invited to the combine because he was involved in an incident outside a bar in 2014.
Mixon, who was suspended for his freshman season, and Kelly, the nephew of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, are among a small group of players who were not invited because the NFL has a combine participation policy that bars players convicted of a violent crime, sexual crime or a crime involving a weapon.
The policy has become somewhat of a lightning-rod issue and league personnel are split.
Some understand the league taking a stand.
"We're not trying to be pious and put ourselves above anything," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. "But at the same time we're in a position where a lot of people look at what we do and what we say, and this is one of the things I believe the league made a decision that they feel they had to make and they're going to stand firmly behind it."
Others think the policy is hypocritical because the same guys barred from the combine are allowed to be scouted at the pro day at their school, and they'll eventually be allowed to play in the NFL. Further, some contend the policy wipes out a major purpose of the combine.
"The history of this event was initially to get medical evaluations on a large group of players in the most efficient manner we can do it," said Duke Tobin, Cincinnati's director of pro personnel. "Not having players who were talented enough to be here, not getting medicals, presents us with a challenge."
Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn drew national criticism earlier in the week for his comments on Mixon, who some think might not be drafted because of his baggage.
Quinn said, in part, "for him not being here because of those issues, personally I don't think that's real fair, because we have a lot of investigation that we want to do on him. To get him in one spot for all the teams would have been great."
That was enough for Dolphins coach Adam Gase. He was asked his thoughts on the policy and declined to answer the question.
"No chance you're getting me to answer this," he said.
Others weren't so guarded.
"When you come to the National Football League combine, it's not a right; it's a privilege to come here," Kansas City general manager John Dorsey said. "With that being said, I think the NFL has set some guidelines in place with regards to the player conduct policy, which I totally support those policies."
But being that this is the NFL, a group that spares little expense in scouting, it's safe to say Mixon, Kelly and others in their situation will get a sufficient look. Teams will either attend the pro day at their campus, or have the prospects visit their facility, or both.
"I think most of those guys will probably have an opportunity," Kansas City coach Andy Reid said. "The coaches and the scouts and general managers are going to have to go to them, or have them come to their facility to take care of business.
"I'm sure, I don't know who they are, I don't know all the guys that are out there, but I'm sure they'll get a look."
