NFL personnel men concerned by marijuana 'epidemic' in draft class

[mix]

According to one veteran club personnel man, 10 or 11 players who carry first-round draft grades on their board this year have been red-flagged for marijuana use in college, an estimate echoed by two clubs' head coaches. Another NFL head coach estimated that "one-third'' of the players on his club's draft board had some sort of history with marijuana use and would thus require an extra level of evaluation as part of the pre-draft scouting process.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/03/23/nfl.draft.marijuana/index.html

[madinmaryland]

1. They're worried about a bunch of stoners coming into the league.

I would rather they have stoners than raving drunk assaulters.

[mix]

2. Now that teams are being more reasonable about this,

I wonder if the league will follow?

The penalties for pot use in the NFL are draconian.

[rpannier]

3. Please Let Us Find Out That Tebow is one of them

I'd laugh myself straight into the grave if that happened

[mix]

7. nah

he's not that righteous

[MrSlayer]

4. Wow, kids smoke pot in college?

Color me shocked.


Seriously, the prohibition of marijuana is one of the most ridiculous laws we have in this society.

[Auggie]

5. If I'm giving up millions and an important draft position to one player

I'd want to know the full story. Not that I'd care what anybody does privately, unless there's potential for abuse that would impede athletic performance, focus, or commitment.

[mix]

6. There you go again.

Siding with management and owners.

[Auggie]

8. Didn't Reagan say that once?

:)

[joeybee12]

9. I think the NFL needs to be more concerned about spousal abuse...

...can't recall the name of the Cinncinnati guy who was killed last season if they're looking for private behavior that will affect the player's peformance. Far too much of that.

[JonLP24]

10. What does Chris Henry have to do with spousal abuse?

Hint:He was never arrested, charged, or convicted for domestic violence.

He was busted for cannabis. (Also violated the league's substance abuse policy twice)

He was busted for DUI (he wasn't very much high over the legal limit-- 4-5 beers w/ his body type usually puts someone over the .08 limit)

He was busted for providing alcohol for underage people.

Most recently he was busted for punching someone who he claimed was a case of mistaken identity because he thought it was someone who owed him money.

Other cases he was charged with he was found not guilty and even in one where a woman claimed 'sexual assault' she retracted her story and herself was convicted of filing a false police report.

I agree domestic violence is bad and should never happen whether it's an NFL player or the average person but I'm wondering why you bring that up in the context of Chris Henry? He's made bad decisions for sure but at least get what he did wrong correct. By all accounts this past season to the case of "mistaken identity" he's been doing the right thing.

[joeybee12]

14. We are apparently talking about someone different...

...the guy who fell off the truck...he had jumped on chasing his wife or girlfriend...she was trying to get away from him.

[JonLP24]

15. Same guy

However that was a domestic dispute, not violence. Big difference. Not sure what she was trying to do or what he was trying to do because there hasn't been anything said in regards to what she told police but she was there bedside with him until the moment he died.

Besides there is nothing in regards to scouting or what not that could of seen this coming in regards to drafting.

[joeybee12]

17. No, there were other incidents, but I think nothing else came out

because the guy died...what was the point?

As for regards to scouting, there probably are incidents of some guys in college (Peyton manning comes to mind with his settled lawsuit) or records of inicidents of such things that recruiters could be looking at...there would be a paper trail in some cases, maybe not in his, but they seem to be concerning themselves with pot smoking and stupid stuff that essentially ain't gonna affect performance or cause off-the-field problems.

[JonLP24]

20. Well...

If you have links to information other than what I already posted because I'd be interested in seeing them. I followed the issue very closely because there was a possibility she could be charged (I was HOPING it was purely an accident because it would be awful for the kids to lose their father and having their mother locked up in a short period of time) and while she wasn't, police also didn't rule out the possibility either. As far as what I've found the only other things they were doing was planning a wedding.

As far as things such as getting in trouble in college I have no doubt scouts already make a record of it and put red flags up. :)

[joeybee12]

21. From what I recall, witnesses said it was clear she didn't even know

he was on the truck.

I don't know about them putting up red flags, I tend to think some of the stuff they might pass of as "boys will be boys" and not see that there might be something serious there.

Anyway, my original point...yeesh, caring if someone smokes! I'd be more concerned if they smoked cigarettes...more addictive and obviously is gonna lead to health problems and performance issues.

[JonLP24]

22. You're right about the witness

It's unclear to what she actually said to police but it doesn't matter anymore.

As far as to everything else I agree but I do recall "character issues" hurting Randy Moss's stock where I wanted the Cardinals to draft him soooooooooooooooooooo bad but he fell to the early 20's in the first round. Guess who the Cardinals drafted? Andre Wadsworth. You've heard of him? I haven't heard from him since the Cardinals drafted him. :mad:

[joeybee12]

24. Can't say that name rings a bell...

...hee-hee.

[Auggie]

16. Any reason that would jeopardize my multi-million dollar investment

would arouse my interest Joey.

[joeybee12]

18. If you are personally able to make a multi-million dollar investment...

...I HAVE to be nicer to you!

[JonLP24]

19. Not sure what you would want to know

and how you would use that information. You got a guy like DeSean Jackson who was suspected of use in college who fell to the second round and was the 7th receiver taken who is argurably the fastest receiver in the NFL.

I recall last year watching the draft and when the analysts were discussing Percy Harvin(who I thought was VERY good from watching him in college) mentioned he has
"character issues" without elaborating I immediately looked online and found out he tested positive at the combine I said you got be fucking kidding me, character issues for that? Candidate for rookie of the year if he did not win it which I think he did on the NFC side for offensive players.

What I'm getting at the drug itself is fairly benign. The harmful side effects are illegality (which in most states is a misdemeanor or decrim) and those UA's where they do keep players around if they do test positive. As far as athletic ability I'd be much more worried about tobacco or frequent amounts of alcohol. Focus? There are millions of people that maintain a job and most people don't even know they use because they don't fit the stereotype.

Now what would you do if someone tested positive at one time or another or was suspected of use? Pass on players like Randy Moss, Harvin, DeSean Jackson, or better yet Tim Lincecum? Not exactly sure what you're getting at. :)

[Auggie]

23. I'm talking about vetting a player so you know exactly what you're getting...

especially when a lot of money is at stake and, in the case of football, a really valuable draft position. The potential for drug abuse is worth concern, agreed? That's the issue. Some guys can use and play at the pro level. So can others with behavioral and social problems or handicaps. What the scouts/GMs are saying here is that they're concerned with the guys who might not be able to juggle use and football or show signs of future abuse that would threaten their investment.

It's not just drugs. Vetting a player for signs of commitment, integrity, work ethic, demeanor, etc, has been rigorously practiced by teams for decades. It was huge with Bill Walsh.

[JonLP24]

25. .

The potential for drug abuse is worth concern, agreed?
Yes. When it comes to drugs such as alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, etc. It's a worthy concern because they are addictive and the more you use the withdrawals become nearly uncontrollable and sometimes require hospitalization to deal with them. With addictive drugs like that it often times repeatable effects in terms of drug abuse. Though it is possible to do such drugs recreational and still maintain your life. When compared to cannabis the casual factors are not there. Generally don't feel like you need it all the time and while it can be psychological addictive it isn't in that sense as other drugs are. Also the withdrawal effects are slight irritability that lasts no more then a week and nothing more.

I can go on forever but if someone uses 'ok' you want to know that. However when it comes to issues such as commitment, integrity, work ethic, etc should be judged independently on whether they use or not. Also keep in mind it stays in people's system much longer than salt based substances such as cocaine and they don't bother to check for alcohol so those players are more likely to cheat the system than a cannabis user.

[JonLP24]

26. Let me add

Cannabis can be used to alleviate pain. Players could use some those Monday mornings after being sore and bruised after game days! :smoke:

[Auggie]

27. I don't want to get into a pot debate...

I don't care either way. But some people do. And right or wrong, it's worth understanding why.

[Forkboy]

11. Me too, it's cutting into my supply.

:yoiks:

[JonLP24]

12. Damn players with mult-million dollar contracts

Buying most of the cannabis that's available. That Lincecum guy too!

:hide:

[Forkboy]

13. I was dry all last August because of Tim!

Even Tommy Chong was smoking ratweed over that guy..... :rofl: