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By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Former UT running back Ramonce Taylor pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession.
University of Miami safety Brandon Meriweather explains that he got "caught up in the emotions." North Carolina State defensive tackle Tank Tyler claims he's "learned to keep my nose out of places I'm not supposed to be." Florida defensive tackle Marcus Thomas admits he once thought he was "above everything." Former Texas running back Ramonce Taylor made "a bad decision [being in a] bad place at the wrong time with the wrong people."
They, as well as several other players, are looking for a second chance come draft day.
But these days, NFL prospects are being weighed by more than their 40-yard dash times, their 225-pound bench presses and their vertical jumps. Character now counts.
In the wake of the arrests of more than 50 NFL players in the past 15 months, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently unveiled a stiff code of conduct policy. It includes holding teams responsible for players' off-field behavior.
"Obviously, it is a lot riskier now, because of the steps taken by commissioner Goodell," New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese said in a news conference last week. "Obviously, he slapped some hands, broke some plates, so with those high-risk character guys, you have to be a little bit more careful about taking those picks."
In 2006, the Cincinnati Bengals had nine players arrested, some of whom offered warning signs in college. Chris Henry's bio on nfl.com in 2005 said: "His maturity level is sorely lacking... Has had problems with the coaching staff ever since he arrived at WVU, struggles with his academics and has had more than a fair share of on-field antics."
Henry, drafted by the Bengals in the third round, recently was punished by Goodell for his four arrests in a 14-month span. He will have to sit out eight games in 2007.
"At this point, as much as any club, we can't afford to take a chance on a guy who has had any kind of history, which eliminates many prospects," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said at the combine. "That's the way it is right now."
That could spell trouble for Meriweather, Tyler, Thomas and Taylor as well as Texas cornerback Tarell Brown, Louisville linebacker Nate Harris, Alabama linebacker Juwan Simpson, UCLA kicker Justin Medlock and UNLV cornerback Eric Wright, among others. All have questionable backgrounds, with an arrest and/or a suspension on their record.
Taylor, for instance, pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession. He was academically ineligible to play last season after transferring to Texas College.
"If they do [punish me], it's my own fault, because I put myself in that situation for the outcome to come like that," Taylor said at the combine.
Teams will have to decide before the draft Saturday and Sunday what they are willing to risk on risky players. Meriweather still is projected as a top pick despite firing shots at an assailant during an attempted robbery and getting suspended for a game after stomping on several Florida International players during an on-field brawl last season. But Thomas' stock has dropped after he was dismissed from Florida last year after failing to attend drug education classes required for reinstatement after he was suspended for a positive marijuana test.
"I know it will drop me down a lot," Thomas said at the combine. "... But my only little situation was marijuana. I've never been arrested. I've never had any police, off-the-field issues. That was just something being dumb, hanging around with the wrong people."
Some teams, though, would rather play it safe. They have decided the risk is not worth the possible bargain.
"Off. Off. Off," Saints coach Sean Payton said at the owners meetings. "If he's a bad apple in the first round, he's just going to be a less expensive bad apple [later]. It doesn't hurt as much if it doesn't work out. But in my mind, there's still that responsibility we have to the current roster to bringing in that right person. Those players in that locker room are counting on that. That's where I kind of feel that sense of responsibility."
IN THE KNOW
Bad Boys
NFL teams will have to wrestle with what they are willing to risk for several prospects who have met trouble off the field:
Tarell Brown, CB, Texas: Since September, he twice has been charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. Brown was suspended for the Ohio State game last season after being charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, a misdemeanor.
Nate Harris, LB, Louisville: He was headed to the University of Miami until he was charged with armed robbery as a high school senior in 2002. He accepted a plea, spending six months in a boot camp.
Justin Medlock, K, UCLA: Medlock was suspended for the 2005 Sun Bowl after pleading guilty to misdemeanor DUI resulting in an injury. He received probation and was ordered to perform community service and attend a nine-month alcohol-education program.
Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami: He fired shots at an assailant during an attempted robbery. The assailant was not struck, and Meriweather, carrying a legal gun, was not charged. He was, however, suspended for a game after stomping on several Florida International players during an on-field brawl.
Juwan Simpson, OLB, Alabama: He agreed to enter a pretrial drug program last summer after being charged with receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana and carrying a pistol without a license. He was suspended for one game last season.
Ramonce Taylor, RB, Texas: He pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession and received a 60-day jail sentence, which he served in a Bell County work-release program. He was academically ineligible last season after transferring to Texas College.
Marcus Thomas, DT, Florida: He was dismissed from the team last season for failing to attend drug education classes required for reinstatement after he was suspended for a positive marijuana test.
Tank Tyler, DT, North Carolina State: He was arrested in 2005 for assaulting a Raleigh police officer. He also has been cited for being intoxicated and disruptive in a public place. Last season, he was ejected in the Southern Mississippi game for spitting toward an official.
Eric Wright, CB, UNLV: He left Southern Cal after being charged with rape. Authorities also found the drug Ecstasy in an apartment he shared. Charges were dropped when the woman failed to testify.
Source: NFL Draft Scout player biographies.
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760 cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Former UT running back Ramonce Taylor pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession.
University of Miami safety Brandon Meriweather explains that he got "caught up in the emotions." North Carolina State defensive tackle Tank Tyler claims he's "learned to keep my nose out of places I'm not supposed to be." Florida defensive tackle Marcus Thomas admits he once thought he was "above everything." Former Texas running back Ramonce Taylor made "a bad decision [being in a] bad place at the wrong time with the wrong people."
They, as well as several other players, are looking for a second chance come draft day.
But these days, NFL prospects are being weighed by more than their 40-yard dash times, their 225-pound bench presses and their vertical jumps. Character now counts.
In the wake of the arrests of more than 50 NFL players in the past 15 months, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently unveiled a stiff code of conduct policy. It includes holding teams responsible for players' off-field behavior.
"Obviously, it is a lot riskier now, because of the steps taken by commissioner Goodell," New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese said in a news conference last week. "Obviously, he slapped some hands, broke some plates, so with those high-risk character guys, you have to be a little bit more careful about taking those picks."
In 2006, the Cincinnati Bengals had nine players arrested, some of whom offered warning signs in college. Chris Henry's bio on nfl.com in 2005 said: "His maturity level is sorely lacking... Has had problems with the coaching staff ever since he arrived at WVU, struggles with his academics and has had more than a fair share of on-field antics."
Henry, drafted by the Bengals in the third round, recently was punished by Goodell for his four arrests in a 14-month span. He will have to sit out eight games in 2007.
"At this point, as much as any club, we can't afford to take a chance on a guy who has had any kind of history, which eliminates many prospects," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said at the combine. "That's the way it is right now."
That could spell trouble for Meriweather, Tyler, Thomas and Taylor as well as Texas cornerback Tarell Brown, Louisville linebacker Nate Harris, Alabama linebacker Juwan Simpson, UCLA kicker Justin Medlock and UNLV cornerback Eric Wright, among others. All have questionable backgrounds, with an arrest and/or a suspension on their record.
Taylor, for instance, pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession. He was academically ineligible to play last season after transferring to Texas College.
"If they do [punish me], it's my own fault, because I put myself in that situation for the outcome to come like that," Taylor said at the combine.
Teams will have to decide before the draft Saturday and Sunday what they are willing to risk on risky players. Meriweather still is projected as a top pick despite firing shots at an assailant during an attempted robbery and getting suspended for a game after stomping on several Florida International players during an on-field brawl last season. But Thomas' stock has dropped after he was dismissed from Florida last year after failing to attend drug education classes required for reinstatement after he was suspended for a positive marijuana test.
"I know it will drop me down a lot," Thomas said at the combine. "... But my only little situation was marijuana. I've never been arrested. I've never had any police, off-the-field issues. That was just something being dumb, hanging around with the wrong people."
Some teams, though, would rather play it safe. They have decided the risk is not worth the possible bargain.
"Off. Off. Off," Saints coach Sean Payton said at the owners meetings. "If he's a bad apple in the first round, he's just going to be a less expensive bad apple [later]. It doesn't hurt as much if it doesn't work out. But in my mind, there's still that responsibility we have to the current roster to bringing in that right person. Those players in that locker room are counting on that. That's where I kind of feel that sense of responsibility."
IN THE KNOW
Bad Boys
NFL teams will have to wrestle with what they are willing to risk for several prospects who have met trouble off the field:
Tarell Brown, CB, Texas: Since September, he twice has been charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. Brown was suspended for the Ohio State game last season after being charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, a misdemeanor.
Nate Harris, LB, Louisville: He was headed to the University of Miami until he was charged with armed robbery as a high school senior in 2002. He accepted a plea, spending six months in a boot camp.
Justin Medlock, K, UCLA: Medlock was suspended for the 2005 Sun Bowl after pleading guilty to misdemeanor DUI resulting in an injury. He received probation and was ordered to perform community service and attend a nine-month alcohol-education program.
Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami: He fired shots at an assailant during an attempted robbery. The assailant was not struck, and Meriweather, carrying a legal gun, was not charged. He was, however, suspended for a game after stomping on several Florida International players during an on-field brawl.
Juwan Simpson, OLB, Alabama: He agreed to enter a pretrial drug program last summer after being charged with receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana and carrying a pistol without a license. He was suspended for one game last season.
Ramonce Taylor, RB, Texas: He pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession and received a 60-day jail sentence, which he served in a Bell County work-release program. He was academically ineligible last season after transferring to Texas College.
Marcus Thomas, DT, Florida: He was dismissed from the team last season for failing to attend drug education classes required for reinstatement after he was suspended for a positive marijuana test.
Tank Tyler, DT, North Carolina State: He was arrested in 2005 for assaulting a Raleigh police officer. He also has been cited for being intoxicated and disruptive in a public place. Last season, he was ejected in the Southern Mississippi game for spitting toward an official.
Eric Wright, CB, UNLV: He left Southern Cal after being charged with rape. Authorities also found the drug Ecstasy in an apartment he shared. Charges were dropped when the woman failed to testify.
Source: NFL Draft Scout player biographies.
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760 cjwilliams@star-telegram.com