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NFL won’t allow players with domestic violence, sexual assault convictions at combine

The NFL Combine will be held Feb. 23-29.

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Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL has informed teams that prospects who have been convicted of domestic violence or sexual assault will not be permitted to attend the league’s annual scouting combine, according to a memo obtained by USA Today’s Lindsay H. Jones.

The memo, which was penned by the NFL's executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent and sent out last month, stated that all players entering the combine would be required to undergo a background check. If a player refused, or if the background check revealed a domestic violence or sexual assault conviction, that player would be banned from all "league-related events," including the NFL Draft.

“It is important for us to remain strongly committed to league values as we demonstrate to our fans, future players, coaches, general managers, and others who support our game that character matters,” Vincent wrote in the memo, according to USA Today.

Vincent, however, did inform teams that players barred from the combine will be able to work out and interview with clubs on an individual basis with no restrictions.

The 2016 NFL Combine will take place Feb. 23-29 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. More than 300 college players attend each year. The NFL Draft will be held April 28-30 in Chicago.

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