POT USE NO LONGER AN NFL RED FLAG?

TAMPA - In the past, when a college football player would puff
marijuana, many NFL teams would pass on drafting him after discovering
his illegal drug use.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp saw his NFL
stock go up in smoke in 1995 because of alleged marijuana use. Sapp
was expected to be a top-five pick, but he fell to No. 12, where the
Bucs selected him.

Although rumors have circulated about college players who allegedly
have failed drug tests going into this weekend's NFL draft, teams no
longer seem fired up about marijuana use.

"As coaches, we're optimistic human beings and we look to the good
side of all these kids," said former 49ers and Lions coach Steve
Mariucci, an NFL Network analyst. "Even if a kid had an issue and it
was true, we feel like we'd like to be able to help them. We'd like to
be able to put them into an environment that he can change some of his
social habits if he has a problem.

"We take it upon ourselves sometimes as organizations to put an arm
around the kid and say, 'Listen, we can make this kid complete again.
We can help him out. He can overcome any issues that he might have.'"

The issues college football players face are no different than many
Americans.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2006, 14.8
million Americans 12 or older used marijuana (and its active
ingredient, THC) at least once in the month before being surveyed,
similar to the 2005 rate. In addition, 6,000 people a day in 2006 used
marijuana for the first time, and of those, 63.3 percent were under
age 18.

The societal trend might be one reason NFL teams are not scared
away.

"One thing most people don't understand is that when the media gets a
hold of it, your organization already knows that going in. Sometimes
the media gets it a little late," said former Chiefs and Jets coach
Herm Edwards, an ESPN analyst. "You already kind of know about a
player, so it doesn't really shock you unless it happens the day of
the draft, or a guy robs a bank or something.

"For the most part, you have the information. You sit tight on it.
Hopefully it's not something that comes up that you have to deal with,
especially if you draft the player."

Tampa Bay is known for taking chances on players, and last year's
draft was no exception.

The Bucs chose cornerback Aqib Talib with the 20th overall pick,
despite reports he admitted to teams at the NFL Combine that he tested
positive for marijuana three times at Kansas. Talib has not failed a
drug test in the NFL.

"Obviously, we met Aqib Talib and we did a lot of research with our
scouts, the general manager, and not only that, you did it yourself,"
former Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. "You talk to the head coach,
you talk to the support people at the university. At the same time,
you realize that a lot of these players come from some very difficult
backgrounds where they've made some mistakes.

"Some of these guys, they deserve an opportunity to live their life
like you know they can live it, and they need some guidance and they
need some structure around them."

Structure is what Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji, Illinois
cornerback Vontae Davis and Florida receiver Percy Harvin are seeking.

Each has been the subject of reports about failed drug
tests.

"There are 32 teams in this league, all with different mind-sets,"
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "The teams that have been
burned by an off-the-field issue, whatever it might be, they are going
to shy away. If teams have had good success and managed kids properly
once they've gotten into the NFL, they figure, 'Hey, they matured.
This is something we can deal with.'"