Drug Problems in NFL

Sports Illustrated had a very illuminating piece yesterday on what NFL coaches are calling a marijuana "epidemic" in this year's draft class. According to several high-profile coaches and managers, a high majority of potential first round draft picks in this year's draft have been red flagged for marijuana use in their past. This only reassures what many people have been reporting lately: drug use is still on the rise among college students, especially athletes.

Some of these coaches admit that earlier in their careers if a player failed a drug test his name would immediately be taken off the draft board and his hopes of playing professional football would be shot. Sadly, the situation is different today. Many teams will excuse an athlete's drug problems if they feel it falls under "experimentation" rather than addiction. Players are even coming forward and admitting to drug use in hopes that it will alleviate any potential setbacks in their career.

Last year's NFL Rookie of the Year, Percy Harvin, was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings even though he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine. His success and the success of others like him have led NFL teams to relax their drug standards.

Twenty years ago, college athletes risked their entire career by taking drugs. Today, they know that they can enjoy recreational drugs and get away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. It used to be that athletes were respected for keeping their bodies pure. Now, between steroids and pot, we have no idea what athletes are putting in their bodies. They are tainting themselves and the game.