re: Will Tony Clayton drill Sankey on what makes an athlete “Professional” ?

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Also, what makes the MLB draft different from any other professional draft?

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A person doesn't have to specifically "opt in" or "declare" for the MLB draft. They do for the NBA and NFL drafts. However, in reality baseball isn't a big enough money maker for the overwhelming majority of colleges, so it didn't require the focus of the NCAA and SEC to include that sport in its hastily crafted rule to retroactively prevent this current situation.

If I'm making the argument I'm asking the court what is the difference between a college sophomore or junior who is drafted, and a football/basketball player who is NOT drafted. One can and has always been allowed to play his sports despite being drafted. Yet, the other should not be allowed to play his sport even though he was not drafted? Is it simply because one has to tell the professional league in his chosen sport that he is open to being drafted if a team chooses to do so, while the other doesn't? That's a pretty weak argument.

The SEC KNOWS that. But they also know they would frick up baseball if they applied the same rule to that sport. So they make a carve out to just single out football and basketball players

Sankey is on team "I can't define what a woman is".

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From what i understand (from arguing with Tex-arse fans on Twitter)

No per-diem is paid for un drafted rookies invited to minicamp, but travel, lodging and meals are reimbursed

So money definitely changes hands.

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Surely he signed his name on something as well for this arrangement and to participate in 2 minicamps.

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No per-diem is paid for un drafted rookies invited to minicamp

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I understand this is not your take, but the stipend is around $150-200 per day.

Edit: This is from someone I know who attended as a UDFA. Not the Browns or the Cowboys, so I could be wrong on the Cole Hudson situation. But I’d expect all clubs to have the same or similar policy. The NFL is usually united in these sort of things..for all the hate Goodell gets, they actually have competent leadership. Especially from the Players Association.

Maybe he could explain why "blur the lines", is a problem now and why wasn't it a problem when student athletes became professional athletes and free agents.

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Surely he signed his name on something as well

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Yep like I mentioned early re: injury waivers.

"Oh we didn't mean that kind of contract."

-Greg Stankey (probably)

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Edit: This is from someone I know who attended as a UDFA. Not the Browns or the Cowboys, so I could be wrong on the Cole Hudson situation. But I’d expect all clubs to have the same or similar policy. The NFL is usually united in these sort of things..for all the hate Goodell gets, they actually have competent leadership. Especially from the Players Association.

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Im not saying you're wrong, but i read through the players association bylaws or whatever, and it only stipulated travel, lodging and meals were covered for UDFA rookies. Which to me is still enough. Only veterans were guaranteed a per diem in these minicamps

Again its a distinction without a difference to me and for Sark of all people to sit up there and grandstand about morality? My brother in Christ... do we really wanna go down that road?

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I am probably speaking out of my arse here, but I believe you don't have to register for the MLB draft. They can draft you or I if they want to

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This is the same with college football players out of eligibility.

These 5 for 5 players did not have an opportunity to withdraw because they were technically out of eligibility at the time of the NFL Draft because the NCAA sat on the decision.

Had Chambliss not received his court ruling before the NFL Draft, he would have also automatically been in the Draft pool.

From ChatGPT:

**Short answer:**
Yes. **Any undrafted rookie who participates in an NFL team’s rookie minicamp must sign paperwork**—even if he is only a *tryout player* and not under contract.
This is required for liability, workers’ compensation, and league compliance reasons.

Below is a precise breakdown of what is signed, based on league rules and standard team practices.

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## ?? **What an undrafted rookie must sign for minicamp participation**

### **1. Tryout Agreement (Standard NFL Form)**
If the player is *not* under contract, he signs a **Rookie Minicamp Tryout Agreement**.
This covers:
- Temporary permission to participate
- No salary except per-diem
- No guarantee of future employment
- Team control over medical decisions during camp
- Consent to drug testing under NFL policy

This is the most common document for “invite-only” players.

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### **2. Liability Waiver / Injury Waiver**
All tryout players sign a **waiver releasing the team from certain injury liabilities**.
This typically includes:
- Acknowledgment of football-related risk
- Agreement that the team is not responsible for long-term injury compensation
- Confirmation that the player is not owed salary if injured during tryout

Teams cannot allow a non-contracted player on the field without this.

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### **3. Medical Authorization & Physical Examination Forms**
Before stepping on the field, the player must:
- Pass a team physical
- Sign medical disclosure and treatment consent forms
- Provide medical history
- Agree to team physician oversight

This is required under NFLPA/NFL medical protocols.

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### **4. NFL Policy Acknowledgment Forms**
Even tryout players must sign acknowledgments for:
- NFL drug policy
- NFL conduct policy
- NFL gambling policy
- NFL equipment and facility rules

These are standardized league documents.

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## ?? **If the player *is* signed as a UDFA before minicamp**
Then he signs:
- **Standard NFL Player Contract (3-year UDFA deal)**
- **Injury protection forms**
- **NFLPA membership documents**

But your question is specifically about *invite-only minicamp participants*, and the answer is: **yes, they still sign multiple required documents.**

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## ?? **Bottom line**
Even if an undrafted rookie is *not* under contract and is only attending minicamp on a tryout basis, he **must** sign:
- A tryout agreement
- Liability/injury waivers
- Medical authorization forms
- NFL policy acknowledgments

No NFL team is allowed to put a non-contracted player on the field without these.

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They listed 3 criteria that a player can meet to be considered a professional player. One of which is simply entering the draft and not "appropriately withdrawing".

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Hetson of texas entered the NFL draft