If reports by Fox Sports are correct, wide receivers Brandon Tate of North Carolina and Percy Harvin of Florida tested positive for marijuana use during the NFL Combine in February.
Whether or not there’s actual fire beneath that smoke, the impact on their draft status this weekend will be minimal if recent precedents are followed.
Just two years ago during draft week, Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson and Clemson defensive lineman Gaines Adams admitted using marijuana in pre-draft interviews at the combine. Johnson still was the No. 2 overall selection, going to Detroit, and Tampa Bay took Adams at No. 4.
Last season, there were reports that Kansas defensive back Aqib Talib tested positive and was taken at No. 20 in the first round by Tampa Bay.
The message is clear enough — at least some NFL teams don’t place a lot of stock on the drug tests.
There’s another issue that should be considered, and that’s stupidity. If these guys were dumb enough to show up while using for a draft camp, can they be trusted to concentrate on the playbook, much less a game plan? All that’s at stake is a few million dollars in signing money.
Remember, these guys are not naive 16-year-olds. Most of the pro picks are in their 20s and supposedly have undergone drug tests throughout their college careers.
But hey, no where is it written that you have to be smart or clean to run a 4.4-second 40. A fast 40 can buy a guy a lot of second chances.
Comments
How do one heal?
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 11:47 — jeromfitzNot everyday medicines can cure athletes from injuries. It take natural resources from different herbals that have enzymes to re-growth certain blood cells back to it's original without destroying your humane system. Man just can't live off fresh air alone at times. Being too healthy can lead to more injuries. Old fashion remedies in the athletic world was to smoke a blunt for majority of the black training track athletes. It's not like you smoke everyday and every hour either. Just on a random day before you start running to increase you wind flow capacity while jogging or excercise. I had to test the system a few times and find out it makes athletes excell in performance of a sport sometimes. It's still like a 50/50 chance anyways. Athletes that are hurting feel like you're a 100% cured of you injury for periodic moment. I felt that testing sometimes is meaningless for talented athletes. They should only test for cocaine uses. They marijuana is in a vegetable classification that is being smoke. I heard you buy cooking prepare items from marijuana like cookies and all sort bread bakery items. The problems is clean people don't like to see someone with a little trash in their system keep winning on them. I think Tate and Harvin can really go far if he heals properly. Should be drafted highly before the third round in the NFL. The fellows will learn that they have to do without in professional sports to maintain a contract.
2007 Tests
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 16:40 — ApexJacketIt was not that Calvin Johnson flunked the test, he was just honest and admitted in the combine interviews that he had used marijuana in the past. (As did probably a lot of defenders in the ACC after having to cover him.)