More and more NFL teams are choosing not to send a single member of their coaching staff to the Scouting Combine. There may be a very specific fear behind this.

The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off again on 28 February in Indianapolis. Until 6 March, the young players can show their skills in various disciplines in order to convince the 32 franchises of themselves before the draft.

However, by far not all teams will be represented on site. Only 20 of the 32 head coaches will be at the Combine. Matt LaFleur (Packers), Bill Belichick (Patriots), Robert Saleh (Jets), Sean McDermott (Bills), Sean McVay (Rams), Kyle Shanahan (49ers), Brian Daboll (Giants), Dennis Allen (Saints), Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Mike Vrabel (Titans), Brandon Staley (Chargers) and Arthur Smith (Falcons) will not be making the trip to Lucas Oil Stadium.

No Combine because of poaching attempts?

But that’s not all. More and more teams, including the Green Bay Packers according to Sports Illustrated, are deciding to stop even sending assistant coaches to the Combine and instead work out of the team facility.

The reason given in US media is that the absence could be seen as a preventive measure against attempts to poach young assistant coaches. Only recently, the league had rescinded the rule that allowed teams to exclude assistants from interviewing for coordinator positions.