Report: No Positive Combine Drug Tests for Raji, Davis, Cushing, Matthews
Since I posted a few weeks ago about reports by SI.com and NFLDraftBible.com that a number of projected first round picks had failed drug tests at the Combine, I feel compelled to update that report now as the truth begins to come to light.
According to ProFootballTalk today, at least four of the players initially linked to rumors of failed drug tests did not, in fact, test positive at the Combine. As of this afternoon, BJ Raji, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, and Vontae Davis have all been apparently vidicated by PFT and its sources.
Raji, a defensive tackle from Boston College that may end up being picked by Cleveland at #5, was the first player to have rumors of a failed drug test (reportedly for marijuana) attached to his name. SI.com even created a mini-controversy by posting the report, then taking the story down. It appears as if Raji will be vindicated and SI.com will have some ’splaining to do:
Well, SI.com perhaps will now officially retract its report regarding Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji.
Per a league source, Raji’s name did not appear on the list of players who tested positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine.
~ Raji Didn’t Test Positive — (Pro Football Talk)
Soon after the Raji rumors came out, NFLDraftBible.com posted its stories about numerous other players testing positive, including Cushing, Matthews, Vontae Davis, and Percy Harvin. It appears as if at least a few of those rumors have proven to be untrue:
Per a league source, none of the players who reportedly tested positive and then denied testing positive actually tested positive.
This means that Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis did not test positive for marijuana, and that USC linebackers Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing did not test positive for steroids.
~ Davis, Cushing, Matthews not on Positive List Either — (Pro Football Talk)
I haven’t yet seen anything contradicting the reports about Percy Harvin, so we’ll have to wait and see on that one. Certainly Harvin’s draft stock appears to have taken more than a few hits as NFL teams conduct their due diligence. Whether or not a failed Combine drug test is one of the reasons remains to be seen.
According to PFT earlier today, the list of players who tested positive for drugs at the Combine includes less than 10 names. It had previously been speculated that the list could be as long as 25 names.
More to come.
Tags: 2009 nfl draft, clay matthews
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