The NFLPA will no longer put its incoming players in an impossible bind, as it announced Monday it will not boycott next month's draft.
Instead, it will host a three-day Rookie Debut event April 28-30 in New York City that will not interfere with the actual draft. The NFLPA will host a private reception for the draft prospects and their families, and it has also scheduled media and marketing appearances, a "Let Us Play" charity event and other parties that will help the incoming rookies socialize with NFL veterans.
There was talk over the last few weeks that the NFLPA would ask draft prospects to boycott the draft, and such a request would put the incoming rookies in a tough spot. On one hand, they've worked hard to get to this point, and they deserve that one opportunity to attend the draft and celebrate with their families. But on the other, they were worried about how they'd be received in the locker room if they attended the draft against the NFLPA's wishes.
"You obviously don't want to walk into a locker room the first day and [see] everybody who is a part of the Players Association and be that one guy who decided to go against them," said Boston College tackle Anthony Castonzo, who will likely be invited to the draft because he is expected to be taken in the first round. "That would be a tough decision to make."
With Monday's announcement, that will no longer be an issue.
