Testing Positive for Pot: Should It Affect NFL Draft Status?

WRs Percy Harvin and Brandon Tate are the only two big name prospects to fail the drug test. Teams got the results earlier this week on who had failed the drug test. Good news is less than a dozen failed, but Harvin and Tate have to feel like they took a blow in their draft status this Saturday.

But why should they feel this way?

Grant it they could be subject to the league's Substance Abuse Program but should that really effect their draft status? One image that everybody in America still has fresh in their head and has laughed at is the picture of Michael Phelps partaking at a party.

If Michael Phelps can win eight gold medals while partaking, I am pretty sure Harvin and Tate can still be pretty good NFL players. They won't miss anytime on the field as long as they comply with the intervention policy of the abuse program. Which states they would face discipline action but if compiling with the demands will only be monitored and counseled.

Harvin is a projected first round pick and is considered a home run threat every time he touches the ball. As a GM do I say he is less of a home run threat on the field because of something that only probably took place at a party or can he still be a playmaker?

Answer is obvious. Send him to counseling meetings, randomly test him for drugs if felt needed, but let his draft status be valued off of his play and athletic ability rather than his after school activity that with proper attention can be prevented.

Same goes for Tate, both of these WRs are good with playmaking ability. Teams should not pass on them because of this incident but rather measure up their value by what matters on the field.