In the fifth round of the NFL draft the Green Bay Packers selected Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless, a talented player with a long history of off-field issues. But Packers G.M. Ted Thompson says he made the choice only after making sure Quarless’s off-field issues were behind him.
“The kid seemed pretty forthright with everything that’s happened,” Thompson said, per the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “We feel confident that he’s on the right path now.”
Those off-field issues include a citation for underage drinking, a charge of driving under the influence and the discovery of marijuana in an apartment he shared with three other Penn State players.
Quarless says he hasn’t had a drink in two years and that he told every team that considered drafting him that he’s a changed man.
“I sat down with these teams and really spoke from the heart and let them know that I wasn’t that guy that I used to be, that I’ve grown from those situations,” Quarless said. “I think everyone was pretty pleased with the way I responded.”