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NFL made right call keeping Scouting Combine in Indianapolis

By Bryan Perez

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 04: Defensive back Trayvon Mullen of Clemson runs the 40-yard dash during day five of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 04: Defensive back Trayvon Mullen of Clemson runs the 40-yard dash during day five of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The NFL Scouting Combine will remain in Indianapolis for the next several years, as it should.

The NFL announced Thursday that it will keep the annual Scouting Combine in Indianapolis through 2021, with a series of annual options beyond that, according to NFL Network’s Judy Battista.

Battista also confirmed the NFL will move on-field drills to afternoon and prime-time slots, making the event an even bigger part of the league’s offseason calendar.

The NFL Draft has exploded into one of the best off-field sporting events in the nation. It pulled an average of 6.1 million viewers across the country as well as 600,000 people who flocked to Nashville for what turned into a three-day party.

The explosion in interest and popularity makes this decision to move the Combine to prime time a logical one, but it’s an even better decision to keep it in Indianapolis.

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I’ve had the good fortune of attending the Combine over the last few years and the setup in Indianapolis is simply perfect. Every major hotel is connected by Indianapolis’ famed skywalk, allowing prospects, team personnel and media to freely move from one location to another without facing the outdoor elements.

Indy is a great host, too; the city essentially turns into restaurants filled with a Who’s Who of NFL personalities.

Change is good, most of the time. But when there’s already a perfect setup in place, there’s no reason to search for a replacement. Indianapolis is perfect.

There was speculation the NFL would turn the Combine into a traveling event much like they did with the Draft, and while cities across the country would certainly love to welcome thousands of football-related people for the week of sprints, jumps and lifts, it isn’t as much of a celebration as the Draft is.

The Draft is a party; it’s the culmination of months of hard work that players and fans can celebrate together. There’s an excitement in the air. Fans want to be there and share in the fun.

The Combine is a job interview. It’s all about business. And the best thing for the NFL is to keep that as its primary focus rather than sellout to bids or cities willing to play host at a discount.

This was the right call by the league, and one that draft purists hope will remain the case for many years to come.

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