DT B.J. Raji tests POSITIVE FOR DRUGS!

[Patler]

Its weed, who gives a fuck

Couldn't have said it better myself. I do it every day, and I'm sure over 70% of all athletes smoke a lot as well. Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams, and others admitted to ganja use in 2007 during their time at college, yet they're never criticized. THC stays in certain people's systems longer than others...so if Raji smoked one bowl a month ago, that THC could still be in his system. Unfortunate.

Who? Well the Commissioner's Office, for one, and therein lies the problem.

The Packers have had players with positive tests for different things over the years. Most teams do. A single failed test doesn't bother me. However, if it is true that he has been caught on a couple drug tests already, it will be necessary for any team drafting him to know for sure the circumstances surrounding his use. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks about any particular drug. The only thing that matters is that it is something for which he could be suspended if caught again. So the question is whether or not he can avoid future failed tests. If it doesn't seem to be a problem, go ahead and draft him.

[Fritz]

I would argue - and this is not a direct disagreement with Patler but an oblique - that it matters not what people think of any drug socially, but it does matter which drug he tested postive for.

If it's steroid, to me that'd be a bigger red flag than pot. Much bigger. Roids suggest the guy's body isn't "real" and the inability to use steroids in his future (okay, this may be my flight of fancy, imagining those guys get caught when they use steroids!) would cause his performance to fall dramatically (see "Mandarich, Tony").

If it's pot, well, that's not good for the aerobic conditoning, for sure. But it's less a performance-killer than a lack of steroids might well be.

Therefore, pot is better than steroids!

Wouldn't it be kinda hilarious if MM and his assistants, when they meet to do the game planning for an opponent, get toked up while they're doing it. Imagine that meeting....

"Yeah, and then we'll run a play where Colledge lines up as an eligible receiver, and we'll have him run a post! No one'll expect that one!"

"Oh, dude, I got it: Let's run the Statue of Liberty - but we'll have Clifton grab it off Rodgers and wing a bomb to Korey Hall down the sideline! That'll fool everyone!""

[Patler]

Wouldn't it be kinda hilarious if MM and his assistants, when they meet to do the game planning for an opponent, get toked up while they're doing it. Imagine that meeting....

"Yeah, and then we'll run a play where Colledge lines up as an eligible receiver, and we'll have him run a post! No one'll expect that one!"

"Oh, dude, I got it: Let's run the Statue of Liberty - but we'll have Clifton grab it off Rodgers and wing a bomb to Korey Hall down the sideline! That'll fool everyone!""

or....
"Coach, can we have snacks on the sideline?"

[Zool]

Its weed, who gives a fuck

Couldn't have said it better myself. I do it every day, and I'm sure over 70% of all athletes smoke a lot as well. Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams, and others admitted to ganja use in 2007 during their time at college, yet they're never criticized. THC stays in certain people's systems longer than others...so if Raji smoked one bowl a month ago, that THC could still be in his system. Unfortunate.

Its not in the fact that he smokes it at all. Its in the fact that its illegal, the NFL will make you sit out games if you're caught with it, yet the retard still smokes it when he has millions of dollars on the line. If he can't resist it now, whats to make him resist during the season when random tests are going on? It brings up a question of common sense in the guy and desire to play pro ball.

[run pMc]

<sarcasm>
well that clinches it. With Raji available at #9, TT will trade down a few spots and draft WR Kenny Britt.
</sarcasm>

For GB, it gives them a shot at Raji. Looks like that "due diligence" just became a lot more important.

For Raji, it's going to mean a lot of extra scrutiny, and some lost $ on that rookie contract.

Raji is generally considered the best NT in the draft by a wide margin. GB needs a NT. I'm not against drafting him if he's there, but I think TT has something else in mind.

[bigcoz75]

Originally Posted by kffl
NFL | Cushing, Matthews tested positive for steroids
Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:23:40 -0700

Rick Serritella, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports Southern California LB Brian Cushing and LB Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to various sources, including one NFL team.

[Partial]

Its weed, who gives a fuck

Couldn't have said it better myself. I do it every day, and I'm sure over 70% of all athletes smoke a lot as well. Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams, and others admitted to ganja use in 2007 during their time at college, yet they're never criticized. THC stays in certain people's systems longer than others...so if Raji smoked one bowl a month ago, that THC could still be in his system. Unfortunate.

Its not in the fact that he smokes it at all. Its in the fact that its illegal, the NFL will make you sit out games if you're caught with it, yet the retard still smokes it when he has millions of dollars on the line. If he can't resist it now, whats to make him resist during the season when random tests are going on? It brings up a question of common sense in the guy and desire to play pro ball.

Yep. Exactly.

[red]

Originally Posted by kffl
NFL | Cushing, Matthews tested positive for steroids
Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:23:40 -0700

Rick Serritella, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports Southern California LB Brian Cushing and LB Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to various sources, including one NFL team.

the same site also says vontae davis and percy harvin also tested positive along with raji for weed

if all this is true then cushing and matthews have to be right off our board, and there has to be some serious investigating done on the other 3

[Fritz]

Given the choice between a steroid user and a pot smoker, I'll take the pot smoker.

Raji, please. And here, buddy, let me hang on to that baggie for ya - I'll keep it safe, promise!

[Guiness]

Originally Posted by kffl
NFL | Cushing, Matthews tested positive for steroids
Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:23:40 -0700

Rick Serritella, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports Southern California LB Brian Cushing and LB Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to various sources, including one NFL team.

No surprise with Cushing. It was widely suspected;

What a fool to get caught. Not like the test was a surprise. I guess his 'clear' didn't work, or he mistimed something.

[Gunakor]

Its weed, who gives a fuck

Couldn't have said it better myself. I do it every day, and I'm sure over 70% of all athletes smoke a lot as well. Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams, and others admitted to ganja use in 2007 during their time at college, yet they're never criticized. THC stays in certain people's systems longer than others...so if Raji smoked one bowl a month ago, that THC could still be in his system. Unfortunate.

Its not in the fact that he smokes it at all. Its in the fact that its illegal, the NFL will make you sit out games if you're caught with it, yet the retard still smokes it when he has millions of dollars on the line. If he can't resist it now, whats to make him resist during the season when random tests are going on? It brings up a question of common sense in the guy and desire to play pro ball.

For every Ricky Williams there's a Warren Sapp. Some players just don't get it at all, while some just need time to grow up. There are indeed players who smoked up in college, got caught, got caught by the NFL, and turned themselves around to make great careers for themselves. HOF careers, in fact. It's a risk, I'm not saying it isn't, but the potential reward makes it a risk I'd be willing to take. We need a NT that badly IMO.

[HarveyWallbangers]

For every Ricky Williams there's a Warren Sapp. Some players just don't get it at all, while some just need time to grow up. There are indeed players who smoked up in college, got caught, got caught by the NFL, and turned themselves around to make great careers for themselves. HOF careers, in fact. It's a risk, I'm not saying it isn't, but the potential reward makes it a risk I'd be willing to take. We need a NT that badly IMO.

With a top 10 pick, I don't think it's worth the risk. Later in the draft? Sure. I think our needs at DE and OT are as big or bigger than our need at DT.

[Waldo]

We don't need a NT that bad. Raji would be one of the least impactful players we could add for the '09 season. Unless Pickett gets hurt, it is doubtful that Raji would beat out Pickett as a rookie. The 3-4 NT is a situational player, even if Pickett only plays 75% of the NT snaps a game, Raji still wouldn't play more than 5-10 snaps a game tops. He's too short and alligator armed to kick out to DE like the bigger NT's (Ngata). Pickett is just entering the prime age for a NT, he should be in his peak for the next 5 years. NT's are like wine, they don't get good for a while typically, and their prime is typically around 30 years old.

Phat Pat didn't get good until he was 33-34 years old. Old Grady is still kicking around at 36, his knees have been shot for several years now. Big Grease is only 29.

Raji has a higher ceiling than Pickett, but is is doubtful taht he reaches it for 3-4 years. By drafting Raji, most likely we actually make ourself worse in '10, no way Pickett is resigned if he has a 5M/yr backup, and Raji is most likely a few years away from being better than Pickett.

Nobody would help our DL like Tyson Jackson. He's definitely the most starter ready 3-4 DL player in the draft. Gilbert and Hood might have a higher ceiling, but it'll be a few years before they surpass Jackson on the field.

[Gunakor]

For every Ricky Williams there's a Warren Sapp. Some players just don't get it at all, while some just need time to grow up. There are indeed players who smoked up in college, got caught, got caught by the NFL, and turned themselves around to make great careers for themselves. HOF careers, in fact. It's a risk, I'm not saying it isn't, but the potential reward makes it a risk I'd be willing to take. We need a NT that badly IMO.

With a top 10 pick, I don't think it's worth the risk. Later in the draft? Sure. I think our needs at DE and OT are as big or bigger than our need at DT.

I guess I am just not so enamored at the prospect of Ryan Pickett being our regular starter at NT. I don't like that thought at all, to be honest. To me, finding someone else to man that position is the #1 priority this offseason. I don't see this defense going anywhere with Pickett on the nose, regardless who they bring in to play DE.

On top of that, I haven't given up hope on Jenkins, Jolly, Harrell, and the other 4-3 DT's that are moving out to DE this year. I'm not entirely convinced we need to spend even a day one pick on a DE.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think Pickett will be fine as the starter at NT. We just need some one to go with him. I don't think we can go into the season with one bonafide NT. However, the RT situation is scary to me and I think we need another guy at DE. Hopefully, a starter. We also could use some depth at CB.