An Open Letter to Potential NFL Draft Picks

Dear potential NFL draft picks,

I was never good enough even to consider playing big time college football.

Hell, I wasn’t good enough to consider playing small time college football.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to know that I’m going to be drafted by an NFL team in a few short weeks.

Some of you are just a few short weeks away from potentially making more money than most of us will make in our lifetimes.

So how about growing up a little?

Is it too much to ask to avoid the pot for the couple of months between your bowl game and the draft? Seriously? How could any of you test positive for pot at the combine?

At the COMBINE, of all places!

The stupidity of that is astounding.

If I’m an NFL GM, how can I trust that you won’t be the next Ricky Williams? You couldn’t stay away from pot for three months! That shows me an amazing lack of self control, and an even more insane lack of intelligence.

The official list of players who failed the combine drug test hasn’t been released yet. I’m not going to participate in the irresponsible journalism that's been running wild the last few days (Whenever you hear "ESPN is reporting..." you can assume either someone else reported it first, or it's irresponsible journalism).

I’m not going to repeat rumors I've heard. I'm not going to name names.

But suffice to say, some names will be on the list.

And I’m dumbfounded by this.

If you're one of the players whose name is about to show up on your first ever NFL drug test under the “Failed” column, I implore you: grow the hell up.

Don’t waste your talent. Don’t screw up a good thing.

You’re about to enter a profession that will pay you very well. Your career will likely last between three and eight years. You’re telling me, for millions of potential dollars, you can’t stay off the weed for eight years?

I’m writing this not as a critic, or one of those holier than thou, anti-drug crusaders.

I’m writing this as a fan.

Speaking as a fan, I want to enjoy your NFL career.

I want to watch great NFL players live up to their potential. I have no interest in reading about how my team’s first round pick is going to miss the first four games of the season.

So if you can't do it for yourself, do it for the millions of people who would trade places with you in a heartbeat. Do it for the poor chumps who paid to see you every Saturday, and will continue to pay to see you on Sunday.

Otherwise, don't waste my time.

Best Regards,

Sean Crowe
The New England Patriots Examiner

This article originally appeared on the New England Patriots Examiner page. To read more articles like this one, check them out here.

Sean Crowe covers the New England Patriots for Examiner.com and writes a bi-weekly column for Sports-Central.org.

He is a Senior Writer and an NFL Community Leader at Bleacher Report. You can email him at [e-mail].