Upshaw Says Prospects No Longer Will Be Asked About Past Drug Use During League-Sponsored Interviews
NFL prospects no longer will be asked during league-sponsored interviews about past drug use, according to players' union chief Gene Upshaw.
Upshaw said during an interview Monday with Sirius NFL Radio that he contacted Commissioner Roger Goodell after Pro Football Weekly reported that Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams and Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye admitted to past marijuana use during interviews taped by the league at the scouting combine in February in Indianapolis and distributed to the teams.
"When I first heard about it, the first call I made was to Roger," Upshaw said, according to a transcript of the interview provided by the satellite radio network. "How could we have such a breach in confidentiality of this nature? This is something that was taken from an interview and, I think, after all of this is said and done, that question will be taken off of every form."
Executives from many teams were upset the information was leaked because players are encouraged to be candid during the interviews and now might be reluctant to do so in the future. Upshaw likened the breach of privacy to quarterback Vince Young's score on the Wonderlic intelligence test being leaked during last year's scouting combine.
In the future, Upshaw said, the results of players' drug tests will have to suffice.
"There's no need for it," Upshaw said. "We went through this a year ago with the Wonderlic test. Why would that information get out and why should it get out? It damages a person's reputation. Even if it's true or untrue, you can't get it back. And in this instance, the guys are taking a drug test. That's the real key here. What a guy tried when he was 16 years old, I don't think has any relevance whatsoever in what [he's] doing at age 21 or 22, trying the get into the NFL: 'Have I ever flunked a drug test? Have I ever tested positive? Did I test positive at the combine?' That's the only real test there and I think you'll see this get off of that questionnaire."
Executives from two teams said last week they didn't think the report would affect the draft status of Johnson, Adams and Okoye. All three are regarded as likely top-10 picks this weekend, and there's been no indication that any of the three tested positive during the drug tests administered by the league at the scouting combine.
By Mark Maske |
April 24, 2007; 10:30 AM ET
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Posted by: pack4life | April 24, 2007 10:58 AM
This stuff would never be an issue if the media would let it die. All they do is talk about it... geez.
Posted by: JoeyV | April 24, 2007 11:16 AM
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buncha old white stuffy fuddy duddies who want to and will use anything and everything to scrutinize and analyze the potential effect this new "product" they're acquiring will have on their future bottom line. kids try stuff. especially weed. betcha their kids have, too. look at andy reid. nothing out of the ordinary about any of it.
what i find interesting is that okoye is among the ones to admit it. dude's got a spectacular life story thus far, and this shouldnt put a dent in it. it shouldnt have even had the opportunity to put a dent in it, but anyway... just venting. i hope all three of 'em LIGHT UP the NFL...
heh.