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Rosenfels on why NFL was wrong to rescind Chad Kelly's combine invite

Butch Dill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football.

This offseason is in full swing yet there are plenty of stories this week to be dissected. Currently, college hopefuls are preparing for the combine which is two weeks away. Current players who are free agents, as well as on the chopping block, are scanning the league for job openings. The Super Bowl is only two weeks old, yet the NFL engine is already revving up its motor again.

Let's look at a few of this week's main topics.

Chad Kelly

The NFL is making an attempt to clean up the public view of its players by cracking down (or making an attempt) on players who have committed crimes in the past. They have created a panel to help deal with domestic violence, and are penalizing players for off-field violent behavior. It's a major concern for the league. Even though it knows the sport is extremely dangerous on the field, the league expects players to be upstanding members of society. I am in full support of cracking down on players who commit illegal and violent acts off the field, but I also want the rules to be consistent and fair.

Chad Kelly hasn't even played a down in the NFL and is already feeling the pain which many players have felt under commissioner Roger Goodell's watch. Kelly, who is a talented quarterback out of Ole Miss, was recently invited and then uninvited to the combine. This very instance shows the inconsistency with Goodell's "judge, jury, and executioner" role as player disciplinarian. Kelly was invited to the combine, and even though nothing happened after this offer was made, he was subsequently asked not to attend. I checked to see if the NFL has policies in place for blocking combine wannabes, and sure enough, they do.

The NFL policy on banning players from the combine states "Draft-eligible prospects will not be permitted to participate in any aspect of the combine if a background check reveals a conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving violence, sexual offense, or sexual assault."

Kelly was arrested and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after an incident outside a Buffalo, N.Y., bar in which gun violence was a part of the report. While I think this is a very important matter, he did not plead guilty nor was he convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence. The result of Kelly pleading guilty to disorderly conduct meant 50 hours of community service and all other charges dropped.

The reason this bothers me is multifaceted. First, other players in this draft have been accused of or committed grievous acts which are worse than Kelly's. Yet they are still attending the combine. As an example, Dede Westbrook, one of this year's top wide receiver prospects, was accused of throwing the mother of his two children to the ground in 2012, and punching her with a closed fist in 2013. Though he was never convicted, these are extremely serious allegations. Westbrook will be at the combine and his 40 time will be must-watch television on NFL Network.

Second, in my opinion, Kelly's behavior doesn't match up to what the policies have defined as disqualifying actions resulting in a combine block. Though his original arrest is troubling, the finality of the case didn't cross the threshold of the NFL guidelines. This is the latest example of current, and now prospective, NFL players feeling like there are no precise rules, and that the commissioner's office tests the waters of public opinion before it makes decisions. The Kelly mess also spotlights the lack of communication and consistency of Goodell's leadership.

Last, the NFL combine is the perfect place for Chad Kelly to be, come the first week of March. As somebody who has attended the combine, the running, lifting, and throwing drills are only part of the experience. The rest of the four-day circus is doctor visits and team-run interviews. These interviews are gold for NFL teams. For a quarterback, they are as important as the workouts. They are the best opportunity for all 32 teams to do their own investigations on Kelly with a key witness, Kelly himself. Each team can not only interrogate Kelly as to what happened in his past, but also decide for themselves if his regret is genuine. If you want to impose some sort of penalty for being arrested in college, don't let him workout. If teams are interested (which most will be) they will attend his private workouts at Ole Miss. His initial combine interviews may help a team decide to send a scout or coach to Oxford, or take Kelly completely off their board.

There are roughly 335 players invited to the combine. I promise you, many have a checkered past. The major difference is some got caught and some didn't. America is a country of second chances. I don't condone the behavior of Kelly, but completely shutting him out of the combine makes little sense. We have no idea how Kelly feels about his past. Listening to his own words, not his agents', will help everyone make a better judgment on his future.

Tony Romo's future

It seems every few years, a veteran starter with some quality years still left in the tank, somehow becomes available. Either their play doesn't match up with their huge contract, there is too much friction between the player and the team, or the franchise has decided to go with a younger alternative. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it becomes an important story.

I had a feeling this situation was looming after I watched Dak Prescott play a full game on Sept. 18. After only seeing highlights of his first start against the Giants, I closely evaluated his performance against Washington the following week. Before the game ended, I felt strongly that Prescott was going to be a legitimate NFL starter which meant Romo's days in Dallas were numbered.

So now what's next for Romo? One key aspect of his future is his relationship with his past. Romo, Jerry Jones, and Jason Garrett all have tremendous respect for one another. There is little to no bad blood between them. This means that the goodwill Romo has built over his career in Dallas will probably be cashed in as to how he is released or traded. Jones will do what teams rarely do, put Romo and his interests first. This doesn't mean Jones won’t try to get some sort of compensation. It only means he will be happy to compromise more than usual to allow Romo to move on.

There are a lot of teams who will have interest. Obviously, he is coming to the end of his career so he isn't a long-term answer. Much of this situation relies heavily on what Romo is looking to accomplish. Yes, most people say that Tony wants to go somewhere and win now. I'm sure this is true. Nobody has ever said they can't wait to sign with an uncompetitive franchise. The more important question is how much money will Romo (or his agents) want for his services. Many times, the teams which are the most talented, yet still need a QB, have fewer resources available.

If Romo wants to win now, he should take less money. If we notice that his agent is chasing every dollar, light will be shed on Romo's urgency to win a Super Bowl. Houston seems to be an obvious choice for multiple reasons. The Texans have a top-rated NFL defense and one of the worst quarterback situations in the league. With $19 million already guaranteed to Brock Osweiler, there is little chance the franchise can carry Romo at a high price tag. Romo would have to take less, or GM Rick Smith would have to be creative with the contract by kicking the can down the road (Osweiler can be off the books in 2018). If Houston is the answer, look for a multi-year contract in which Romo's guaranteed money can be counted against the cap after Osweiler has been released.

T.O.'s Hall of Fame snub

I wanted to make my personal opinion known about Terrell Owens and his lack of inclusion into this year's Hall of Fame class. While the NFL has often stated that off-the-field issues don't matter as it relates to the Hall of Fame, I completely disagree with this view. The Hall of Fame is sacred ground. If a great NFL player has a checkered past, whether it's legal or not, those concerns should be taken into account. A part of becoming a legendary figure, which the Hall of Fame is identifying, means your contributions to the league should cover all 360 degrees of your life. I understand nobody has lived a perfect life who gets inducted, but being respected by teammates and writers as a person should be important.

T.O.'s play was good enough to make the Hall of Fame. If I had a vote, his nonsense off the field would make me want to leave him out for at least a year. Players who make it to the HOF on the first ballot are extra special. Not including Owens into this fraternity is the perfect penalty for him being a less than satisfactory employee/teammate during his career. He will get in, but his bruised ego may be the highlight of watching him speak on the Canton stage.

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