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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-22-2009 @ 1:46PM
Puck said...
Oh please let Harvin fall to a lower pick so the Lions can get him...then I wouldn't care if they take Stafford or Curry with the top choice...or one of the offensive linemen...weed's going to be legalized within 10 years and taxed so we can pay off our debts to the Chinese and Saudis anyhow.
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4-22-2009 @ 3:10PM
MAMD said...
If the NFL, the only league to test for marajuana didn't, this stupid problem wouoldn't exist. It is not a performance enhancing drug and the only thing wrong with it is it is illegal. It can be prescribed in pill form (Marinol) which I regularly do for my patients with anorexia getting chemotherapy and it doubles as an excellent anti-emetic and anxiolytic. Eight states have de-criminalized it. If the NFL wants to drug test its players, and it probably should for performance enhancing drugs, stop testing for marajuana and focus on substances that matter.
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4-22-2009 @ 7:14PM
Master Matias said...
both good point but push come to shove.... millions=no smoke..... millions less=smoke.... both are idiots....
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4-22-2009 @ 8:26PM
fourklines said...
The two who tested positive either had bad "test kits" or didn't know how to use the test kits they had....Almost all of the players smoke weed....yeah, they do....and it doesn't affect their play in a negative manner at all. Who says otherwise?
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4-22-2009 @ 9:18PM
espadon58 said...
Failed drug test ,should be charge with something.....
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4-23-2009 @ 3:54PM
shadydaze7 said...
I can't see into the future but have seen in the past that guys who have gotten caught before have a pretty good track record. A couple come to mind. Warren Sapp and Randy Moss. I would be willing to bet that if Harvin falls to the Bears in the 2nd round the Bear fans would grow him a garden. I have to agree it is really dum to smoke weed when you know they are going to test you but with that being said Harvin is going to be one of the best players to come out of this draft if he keeps his bong empty and his head in the game.
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