Reports and Rumors Surface of Many Positive NFL Combine Drug Tests

Although the purpose of this post was merely to report the existence of rumors of failed drug tests (which was true), and then to comment on this hypothetical situation, I do feel a sense of responsibility to continue to update the post with the latest updates — especially considering that many of the updates suggest that the original reports that I based this post off of were wrong. All of the following are from ProFootballTalk.com:

• Agent says Raji did not test positive
• Website stands behind reports of positive drug tests

And you can some other links to denials below.  It sounds like NFL Draft Bible is standing by their reports, so we’ll see how this plays out.  Continue on to read the original story/rumors that “broke” last week.

Yesterday, SI.com reported that former Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji had failed a drug test at the NFL Combine. The SI.com report does not confirm which drug Raji tested positive for; however, he tested positive for marijuana before his 2008 season at Boston College. Raji also missed the entire 2007 season for Boston College because of academic issues.

BJ Raji is a behemoth in the trenches who ran the 40 yard dash around 5.1 at the Combine in February. His draft stock has recently been trending upward as the focus shifts more to his physical abilities and football talent (8 sacks as a senior), and away from his off-field troubles. This new report certainly throws a wrench in that trend.

Each NFL team receives a list of which Combine participants fail the mandatory Combine drug tests later in April. Any player who tests positive for “street drugs” is then subject to the NFL’s drug program and must submit to random testing. If this report is true, and there is no reason to doubt it, then obviously someone wanted this information to be made public, and to be made so before the official list is delivered to NFL teams.

And this morning, new reports have surfaced that B.J. Raji was not the only player to fail a drug test at the combine; far from it, in fact, if the website NFL Draft Bible is to be believed. As of right now, I have no reason to believe nor disbelieve them. My own eye test on their site tells me this is not some fly-by-night operation, and they certainly have a wealth of draft information. I’ll wait for the facts to make a judgment, but here are the reports/rumors from NFL Draft Bible:

• NFL Draft Bible Report: LB Brian Cushing and LB Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Combine.
• NFL Draft Bible Report: CB Vontae Davis and WR Percy Harvin tested positive for marijuana at the Combine, in addition to DT B.J. Raji. and UTEP K Jose Martinez.

Please go ahead and click through the the reports at the NFL Draft Bible site, because they are original reporters of the rumors. However, you won’t get much more info than what I just posted, other than their claim that the reports were confirmed by “one NFL team”. Literally, each of the posts is one line long. I assume that there will be more info coming.

If these rumors prove true, this would undoubtedly be the biggest NFL Draft drug scandal we’ve ever seen.

For the record, this morning is my first time ever visiting NFL Draft Bible, which I found through a story on the rumors of positive Combine drugs tests at ProFootballTalk. Allow me to echo Mike Florio’s comments:

In mentioning the NFLDraftBible.com reports, we’re not taking a position as to whether the information is true or false. But since the site previously was run by John Murphy, a long-time Internet scribe who now serves as G.M. of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, we think the operation is sufficiently legit to justify at least mentioning the substance of these reports, without taking a position as to whether the information is true or false.

I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly, and will withhold outright judgment until we hear more facts. However, as a general statement, when these reports surface usually where there is smoke there is fire. So as it stands right now, and this is sad to say, I would be more surprised if the rumors and reports end up debunked than if they prove to be true. I hope they are wrong, and that I’ve wasted my time writing this post; but we’ll see.

Update: Not sure where I’ve been (knee deep following the NCAA Tournament, actually) but apparently rumors have already been flying about Brian Cushing’s suspected steroid use:

• Brian Cushing’s growth raises serious questions — (Dr. Saturday)
• Pictures suggest possible steroid use by Brian Cushing — (Niners Nation)

Again, it’s all still in the rumor phase, but becoming more and more believable by the minute.

Major League Baseball also catches the most flack for drug use, but the NFL is right there as well. The NFL has just played the PR game better and somehow always seems to skirt by without significant consequence. But I am no longer a naive sports fan.

Seriously, if these reports are false, why doesn’t each and every player come and say, “These reports are totally untrue. If I failed a drug test it had to be a mistake and I’ll go to whatever lengths are necessary to clear my name.” SI.com said that B.J. Raji declined comment. If he did not fail a drug test, or had not used marijuana, why wouldn’t he come out and say so? I know that there are “legal issues” to be dealt with, but that somehow prevents you from saying that there is no conceivable way you could have tested positive — if that is, in fact, true?

Update: And now, according to PFT, at least one of the NFL draft prospects implicated into the Combine drug test rumors has come out with a denial. Mark Humenik, VP and general counsel at Athletes First, which represents Clay Matthews, said in a note sent to Rick Serritella at NFL Draft Bible that “neither Matthews or his agents have been informed of any failed drug test. Plus, he added that a lawyer for the league office told him that the NFL hasn’t received notification that any players have tested positive for steroids at the combine.”

Update: Representatives for Vontae Davis and for Brian Cushing (including Pete Carroll) have also come out and refuting the reports of positive drug tests. The NFL also denied the report, saying that only the players themselves, but anyone of the teams, have been notified about positive drug tests.

Anyway, enough ranting. The more interesting question is how does this information always get out? The drug tests and Wonderlic scores are supposed to be confidential. yet there are always stories of one or the other leaked out. My best guess is that teams lower in the draft than where the players they like are slotted to go leak the info in hopes the player will fall to them. I don’t really know any other explanation that makes sense.

Update: And, as if in direct answer to my question, Aaron Wilson over at PFT has a posted a new item discussing how the drug test leaks occur.

I’ll keep my eye on this story and update you when there is something to update. As for now, these reports of positive combine drug tests could, if they prove true, be the best thing that ever happened to Andre Smith. If 1/5 or 1/6 of the first round has failed drug tests, Smith starts to look a little less risky, no?

Tags: 2009 nfl scouting combine, drugs, NFL

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