NFL Teams Can No Longer Ask Draft Prospects If Their Mother Is A Sex Worker

MOBILE, Ala. — NFL prospect Jake Andrews fielded questions from groups designed to probe his character and perspective extra than simply his soccer IQ.

These questions — corresponding to, would you moderately be a Tremendous Bowl champion or Corridor of Famer? — are normal situation for groups vetting potential draft picks main as much as all-star video games like Saturday’s Senior Bowl and on the NFL mix. What aren’t deemed acceptable anymore: the outlier questions {that a} participant may discover demeaning or embarrassing, a nod to the higher consideration being paid to psychological well being issues amongst athletes.

Andrews, a Troy offensive lineman, and different gamers mentioned former NFL working again Brian Westbrook spoke this week emphasizing the adjustments within the 21 years since he arrived within the league.

“When he first got in the league, if you wanted to see a psychiatrist or something, if you were having a down day, when it was time to negotiate that next contract, you knew (general managers) were going to bring that up,” Andrews mentioned. “And that stuff just can’t happen in this day and age.

“I think it’s a good thing. A lot of people struggle with mental health and it’s really important to keep that in check. The questions can really expose people, so I think it’s a good thing that they protect us.”

The league warned groups in a memo final January they might be pressured to forfeit a draft choose between the primary and fourth spherical and be fined a minimal of $150,000 for out-of-bounds questions. Particular person membership staff may additionally face fines or suspensions.

There have been remoted stories lately of inappropriate questions being requested of draft prospects.

In 2010, then-Miami Dolphins normal supervisor Jeff Eire apologized to Dallas Cowboys first-round draft choose Dez Bryant for asking throughout a pre-draft go to whether or not his mom was a intercourse employee.

In 2016, then-Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn apologized to Eli Apple as a result of one in all his coaches requested the cornerback about his sexual desire.

Two years later, former LSU working again Derrius Guice mentioned one workforce on the mix requested about his sexuality and one other inquired if his mom was a intercourse employee.

“Whether you’re a professional athlete or not, there’s a level of dignity and respect that comes with an interview,” NFL govt Troy Vincent mentioned on the homeowners conferences in December. “I think we all can appreciate that.

“Sometimes they (players) share things with you and you scratch your head. Other times, you’re embarrassed. These are things we can fix.”

Psychological well being professionals say the transfer is a step ahead at a time when the highlight has shined on the psychological well-being of athletes like Olympians Simone Biles and Michael Phelps, NBA star Kevin Love and former NFL receiver Brandon Marshall.

“Certainly, organizations look to protect their integrity and financial investments in players,” Dr. Stephen Ferrando, director of psychiatry for the Westchester Medical Heart Well being Community in New York, wrote in an e mail. “The efforts to uncover such problems, however, do not justify intrusive questioning of athletes. In fact, such questioning is likely to lead athletes to hide their problems out of fear of reprisal.

“Furthermore, such intrusive questioning may be based on assumptions, and this is likely to compound negative emotions. The NFL has taken a major step to reinforce boundaries when interviewing players.”

Joshua Norman, a psychiatrist at Ohio State Wexner Medical Heart, mentioned “it’s important to preserve prospective employees’ dignity” in any kind of job interview.

“Throughout the years in the NFL, there was always these kinds of offhand questions coming out of the interview process as college prospects were coming up through the ranks,” mentioned Norman, who works with Buckeyes athletes. “I think it’s good they’re putting a little bit of structure behind that to kind of preserve players’ dignity. And also to be respectful of any type of mental health condition.”

Each Ferrando and Norman mentioned research have proven that athletes have about the identical incidence of psychological well being struggles as the remainder of the inhabitants.

Illinois security Sydney Brown is OK with going through robust questions from NFL groups, saying his worst infractions quantity to previous parking or rushing tickets.

“I think at the end of the day as a player, you’ve got to be ready for those questions and whatever you’ve done in your history is going to trail with you,” mentioned Brown, enjoying within the Senior Bowl together with teammate and brother Chase Brown.

“If they’re not asked today, they’re going to be asked eventually. It’s nice that they have our backs, but these are informal job interviews. This is football, right? You’ve just got to be ready for anything that’s thrown your way.”

Kansas defensive finish Lonnie Phelps mentioned he hasn’t been requested any questions that struck him as unsuitable, however he appreciates the efforts to guard gamers.

“I see that they actually care about the players’ mental health,” Phelps mentioned. “They’ve got psychiatrists and stuff like that for free.

“They really care about the mental health.”