Several Draft Prospects Fail Combine Drug Tests

by KevinE on Apr 3, 2009 10:01 AM EDT in News Comment 40 comments

Update 4/3/09 6:24 PM [LaTimes]: Pete Carroll is denying the rumors involving the USC players:

"These rumors are absolutely false," Carroll said. "If they were found positive, Clay and Cush would have been notified three weeks ago, which they weren't and all of the NFL teams would have been notified too, which they weren't."

Note: This information is, as of right now, completely unconfirmed by [MTD]....waiting to hear back from some folks, but we'll see.

NFLDraftBible.com reports that Southern California linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews III tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine in March.

The site is also reporting that B.J. Raji of Boston College, Vontae Davis of Illinois, Percy Harvin of Florida and Jose Martinez of UTEP tested positive for marijuana at the combine.

More on these accusations as they develop today.

This source is from our SBNation blog, MTD. That sucks because we selected Cushing in the mock draft, although there was no way of us knowing it, obviously. So, looking back at the draft board, who should we have taken?

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/section/sb-nation-writers-mock-dra?page=2

Poll

Who should the Skins select with the #13 pick based on who is on the board? (Note: All the DEs and OL are gone)

Brian Cushing (still)

83 votes

Rey Maualuga (USC)

208 votes

Mark Sanchez (USC)

71 votes

Other

88 votes

450 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 40 comments

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Comments

SO great....

Cush is on those “Path to the Draft” Commercials for either ESPN or NFL Network…all about his workouts and preparations for the combine and draft. I wonder when they show us the “Injection” commercial in that series?

Also, I love Matthews’ pedigree…how do you not like his uncle Bruce Matthews or even his dad Clay (LB from the Falcons)? Both were guys who were easy to like to watch.

I wonder…anymore, is NOT doing roids more about not caring or what? For example, was I the only one who read the Mitchell Report and thought, “There are about 10 guys I can think of off the top of my head who have no excuse not to be on this list the way they have been playing the last few years!”

Cush will play in the NFL, and probably at a high level (no pun intended). But I guess you can’t burn a 13 on him….unless….it makes him a cheaper 13? I don’t know. Snyder will f it up somehow anyway.

by Ken Meringolo on Apr 3, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Andre Smith's character isn't looking so bad now is it?

boo yah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Apr 3, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

best bang for the buck if he falls to 13th

by cooley4 on Apr 4, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

I have a feeling that if Sanchez falls (he probably won’t get past Denver) Snyderato won’t pass up on the “big name” of the draft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Apr 3, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

What’s so different than Colt now (1-year of NFL under his belt) and Sanchez?? Front office has no idea what they’re doing if they continually draft at the same position. It’s all for not til the Skins are on the clock and can see who’s there….assuming of course they don’t trade their #1 pick next year to trade up and get Stafford. lord help us.

by KevinE on Apr 3, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could Snyderrato be so ingenius

that all of this trade talk with Denver and Chicago is really just posturing to fuel the facade that we really want another QB? Now it seems more believable and the teams below us in the draft will definitely want to trade up if Sanchez falls to 13!

by VA_Skin on Apr 3, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow..yes

That would be ingenious…BUT…if they were so genius, we wouldn’t have only 4 picks this year.

And don’t forget we offered the Bungles a 1st and 3rd for Ocho Stinko that the Bengals rejected. Can you imagine if we had no picks 1-4 this year (and had Ocho with no Devin, Malcolm, or Fred). Lord. They are not that smart to pull this off…especially since we did make a legit offer to CHI to dump Campbell.

by KevinE on Apr 3, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it’s not much of a “facade” if they really did offer JC for a 2nd rounder. I could sorta, kinda, maybe begin to think it was all part of a big plan if they had asked from something ridiculous (say two 1sts or even a 1st and 2nd rounder), but JC for a 2nd rounder seems like it could very easily have been accepted.

by superjuan on Apr 3, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The people have spoken.

by smutsboy1 on Apr 3, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Ray Maualuga is our only option at #13

I’ll be very disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Apr 3, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rey ran a 4.65

at USC’s pro day.

That change anyone’s mind?

Oh, and the article has NO “zeroing in” on Cushing at 14. Of course, this was before the drug news. Seems like a pretty good target at # 13. You know, other than the drugs.

by TexSkins on Apr 3, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure

He only plays MLB, so that means our 1st day pick rides the bench year 1? That doesn’t help us though we do need to start grooming a backup for London. tough call.

by KevinE on Apr 3, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still think...

he could play SLB for 1 year. Imagine him and London chasing down ball carriers.

by TexSkins on Apr 3, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's too risky @ 13

to expect a career MLB to automatically adjust to playing OLB (especially in the NFL).

by VA_Skin on Apr 4, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no he sucks lick all USC players you need to stop watching larry michaels he doesn't know anything

by cooley4 on Apr 4, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

Yeah, Larry Michaels is a nice guy but he’s a company man with his head in the clouds. It’s hard to get an honest evaluation of talent from him.

However, there are some pretty great USC players that have made it BIG in the NFL over the years (i.e. Junior Seau, Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Reggie Bush, etc.)

Rey Maualuga might end up being great also, but unfortunately right now we are set at MLB with London Fletcher and H.B. Blades.

by VA_Skin on Apr 4, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hibachi is right

Rey won’t fit in the defense like some people may think. Watch some games of USC I live in Cali I watch them all and he is always chasing the play and is out of position a lot. Now if the play is coming right at him he is great but way over valued at 13 we can do much better here. I say move up and get Curry he will be the star of this draft maybe not this here but will be the best def. player to come out of this draft.

by RedskinCali63 on Apr 3, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

We can’t afford to sacrifice picks to move up.

by smutsboy1 on Apr 4, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

so we move down!

I like Ayers and Oher later on in the first round. The real question is, would anyone want to move up to 13?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Apr 4, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree with..

Ayers or maybe Maybin..Oher will be gone if they move down too far

by terpsez11 on Apr 5, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about Bennie

I like Wells with the 13th pick we are going to need a replacement for CP.

by RedskinCali63 on Apr 7, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beanie Wells at 13?

Too high. Waay too high.

Insert witty and/or humorous signature here.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 10, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In light of these revelations

I hope that you can all agree that if/when Curry, Orakpo, and the top 3-4 OTs are taken before 13, our best bet is to trade back, if possible.

by VA_Skin on Apr 3, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Especially with Cushing being juiced up.

by KevinE on Apr 3, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ld probably have to agree with that.

Unfortunately, it seems the Skins get MUCH less for moving back in the draft then many other teams.

by superjuan on Apr 3, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We got decent value moving back last year

the problems was that the picks (appear) to suckk.

by smutsboy1 on Apr 3, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not convinced that

Kelly, Thomas and Davis are busts. It generally takes 2-3 years for a WR (and most players) to adjust to the speed of the NFL. Occasionally, WRs like Calvin Johnson and DeSean Jackson emerge as instant, impact players. But that is rare.

by VA_Skin on Apr 3, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I'm not condeming them.

Just saying it wasn’t a good start.

Not displacing James Thrash and Fred Davis is a bad start.

by smutsboy1 on Apr 3, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops, mean Yoder, not Davis

by smutsboy1 on Apr 3, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

You hit it on the head second hardest position to learn to do well with a new team new off. and new QB they will be fine.

by RedskinCali63 on Apr 3, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We should wait till next year to draft a qb thats when all the good one's will be coming out of college.I would prefer Tim Tebow because he reminds me of big ben,but if not graham is there also along with about 5 other possible 1st rounders

by cooley4 on Apr 4, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad choices

Come on Cooley4 now you are talking about two system QB’s, we already have one the bench that I think is a better football player than both you have picked here. I know he is smaller but has more heart than Graham and is a lot better QB than Tebow (not running back) QB! Let’s see how the year goes for Graham this year without Crabtree and we know what Tebow will do 4000 yards rushing and 1000 passing. But the U will win the ACC this year.

by RedskinCali63 on Apr 6, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I’m specifically bitter about how it seemed the Eagles got better value for trading out of the 19th spot (they ended up with a first rounder this year) than we got for the 21st spot (we got two 2nd rounders but had to give up a 3rd rounder as well) last year.

by superjuan on Apr 3, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pissed too, but that Eagles trade was highway robbery

no way they should have gotten all that.

by smutsboy1 on Apr 3, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

13th pick

If andre smith is still there and our front office doesn’t pick him I will boycott the team this year

by cooley4 on Apr 4, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sanchez as 1st rd pick

that is a joke he will be the biggest bust of the draft if you ever watched this kid play you would know he sucks.He woould be a waste of a draft pick in the 7th rd let alone the 1st.If snyder and cerrato take this bum we’ll all know for sure there idiots.

by cooley4 on Apr 4, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs