Kelly says he won’t close Irish practices to NFL scouts because of agents

Notre Dame coach won’t shut out scouts

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said he won’t ban NFL scouts from practices as a way of combating unscrupulous agents, adding that he would tackle the issue by educating his players.

“Security for your football team is very important, but I don’t believe that banning the NFL scouts from your team is going to help with the agent problem,” Kelly said Friday.

Alabama coach Nick Saban, who participated this week along with several other high-profile college coaches in a conference call with the NFL to discuss unscrupulous agents, said he has temporarily blocked access to Crimson Tide practices for NFL scouts.

Saban hinted earlier this summer that was a possibility because of the agent issue. He also said access would be reopened sometime after Aug. 25.