What NFL team executives should have said to Calvin Johnson, Amobi Okoye and Gaines Adams. All three admitted in private interviews, according to Pro Football Weekly, that they have used marijuana in the past. We don't know how team executives did respond but we know in the past that drug rumors have caused prospects (Dan Marino, Warren Sapp and Randy Moss - though Moss had other issues) to slide way down the draft board.
"Young man, we want to thank you for your honesty. We were all young once and we understand that young people make mistakes. And if occassional marijuana use is the worst thing about you, then any organization would be lucky to have such a good player and good young man. But marijuana is illegal. And it is forbidden by league rules. As you know the league currently has a major image problem and the last thing we want is our first round draft pick to fail a drug test. And the last thing you want is to have a promising career derailed by failed drug tests and the subsequent suspensions. We assume from the fact that you've disclosed this information to us voluntarily that you realize using marijuana was a mistake, one you don't plan to make again. We will not use this against you in evaluating you; in fact your candor is viewed by us as a positive in regards to your character. But we also want to remind you that this is the NFL, that stands for Not For Long, and without guaranteed contracts, it wouldn't be wise to make that mistake again."
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