According to recent reports, Percy Harvin and Brandon Tate have tested positive for marijuana use at the NFL Combine. According to sources, Harvin and Tate were the only two "high-profile" players who decided that getting high was more important than being clean enough to make millions of dollars. Harvin (a wideout from Florida) was a likely first-rounder, and Tate (wideout from North Carolina) was probably going to come off the board in the 2nd or 3rd round. Now, you have to question just how much a report like this hurts their stock. There are teams like the Colts -- who could use one of the wide receivers -- who place a lot of importance in personal history when drafting.
The issue at hand isn't necessarily that using pot eliminates players from the board. Sure, some teams might do so, but, I'm sorry, there are likely more than a few NFL players who puff the magic dragon. The problem, at least it would be for me, is the blatant absence of judgment. You know you are going to have to take a drug test at the combine. You know failing the drug test could cause significant damage to your draft stock, which, in turn, will cost you millions of dollars. And yet, toking that joint is apparently still too important to pass up. If the FOXSports.com report is true, then hat's horrifically bad judgment, and that is what would keep me from drafting either player.
We'll find out soon enough whether or not the actual NFL teams feel the same way. The draft is this coming Saturday and Sunday.




