This time of year, we’re very careful about reporting things that could impact in negative fashion a player’s draft stock, even though few teams will be making decisions based on anything other than the information developed via their methods and sources. Whether or not other media outlets exercise similar care is their own business, and since we’re in the business of sharing with you interesting information reported by other media outlets, it’s really none of our business if they are reporting something that possibly isn’t accurate.
When it comes to former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, reports have emerged of late regarding the issue of drug use. No one has reported that Mallet uses or has used drugs. But they’re coming dangerously close to doing so.
On Sunday, Rob Rang of CBSSports.com reported that Mallett will be asked at the Scouting Combine about “so-called lack of leadership and reports of illegal drug use.”
Now, former Rams and Panthers exec Tony Softli, who now works for 101espn.com in St. Louis, has echoed Rang’s report.
“Heavy rumors of drug use and possible addiction kept [Mallett] from coming out for the 2010 draft,” Softli writes.
Again, no one is saying that Mallett has used drugs. But it’s safe to say that he’ll be grilled about it at the Scouting Combine, and that teams will try hard in their allotted 15 minutes to get past the scripted and rehearsed responses he’ll be ready to recite with name, rank, and serial number consistency.
So why do teams care about drug use? Tony Dungy of NBC’s Football Night in America addressed the subject today on ProFootballTalk Live. We’ll post the clip later. Or you can watch the show now.