Joey Bosa & Ezekiel Elliott: Drug Concerns

marchetta

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Teams Have Hard-Party Drug Concerns with Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott

Updated March 15, 2016
By Charlie Campbell - @draftcampbell

Eastern Kentucky edge rusher Noah Spence was a standout pass-rusher at Ohio State before positive tests for the party drug ecstasy led to him being kicked out of the program. At the Senior Bowl, teams interviewed Spence about his issues at Ohio State, and while he wouldn't name names, he said that he wasn't the only Buckeye player who was using ecstasy while partying. In speaking with sources at multiple teams, two of the players that teams suspect for that type of partying are defensive end Joey Bosa and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

To be clear, neither player had a positive drug test for ecstasy or molly (MDMA). However, Bosa was suspended for the opening game of the 2016 NFL season. Ohio State didn't clarify the exact offense for the suspension, but Bosa told teams during the NFL Combine interviews that he was suspended because he refused to take a drug test. That counted as a positive and thus he was automatically slapped with the suspension.

Bosa told teams that he wouldn't take the test because he was going to test positive for adderall. He is said to have ADHD or ADD, so teams wouldn't have held that positive test for adderall against him and they feel he should have just gotten a prescription for the medication. Teams believe that Bosa knew he was going to test positive for worse drugs and that is why he refused to take the test. Bosa wouldn't admit to using ecstasy or molly, but he did admit that he likes to attend raves. He claimed that he likes going to raves for the "music," which teams found to be very questionable. Molly and ecstasy are common drugs used at raves.

At Ohio State, Bosa was a roommate with Ezekiel Elliott. Apparently, their shared place was a party destination, and Bosa told teams that he had to move out and get his own place to get away from all the parties that Elliott had going on. Sources say they suspect that Elliott was also using molly and ecstasy while parting. A number of Elliott's teammates in the Combine interviews told teams that Elliott was a partier, and a unique individual. They said they hung out with him some, but he rubbed some the wrong way. Sources from multiple teams said that Elliott didn't interview well at the Combine, while Bosa had mixed feedback. The skepticism of why he goes to raves and the refusal of the drug test bothered some evaluators.

Lastly, teams said they don't expect these concerns to have an impact on the draft stock of either player. They firmly expect Bosa to go in the top 10 and Elliott to be selected in the top 20. Sources don't believe either is a candidate to slide. Teams in the 20s expect Elliott to be long gone, while sources with the Titans have said that Bosa is still in the running for the No. 1 overall pick to Tennessee, but Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey is the current leader with the Titans (see below). While teams suspect Bosa and Elliott of using those drugs, they don't have view them as risks like Randy Gregory last year. Teams don't think that Bosa and Elliott are serious candidates to be landing suspensions and testing positive in the NFL. Thus, both should be high draft picks in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Read more at http://www.BAN-INCOMING-IN-3-2-1/nfldraftrumormill.php#Sw6m8UJt8OKV67hA.99
 

reddyuta

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I am slightly worried about this after the Gregory Fiasco,other sources have indicated that Bosa might have a drug problem .The FO must be very careful with this,its one thing taking a risk with the 60th pick but a top 5 pick is all together different,Invite both guys to Valley Ranch and grill them.
 

marchetta

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I am slightly worried about this after the Gregory Fiasco,other sources have indicated that Bosa might have a drug problem .The FO must be very careful with this,its one thing taking a risk with the 60th pick but a top 5 pick is all together different,Invite both guys to Valley Ranch and grill them.

Yeah, I got gut-punched when I read the article. Zeke is my #1 choice bar none. But, when I read that Bosa said he moved out to get his own place because Zeke partied to hard for even him, that scared the crap out of me. Then, on top of that, the poor interview along with players saying they got a bad vibe from Zeke, makes me start to re-think my draft day wish. I just hope there's no fire with all this smoke.
 

thunderpimp91

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I am slightly worried about this after the Gregory Fiasco,other sources have indicated that Bosa might have a drug problem .The FO must be very careful with this,its one thing taking a risk with the 60th pick but a top 5 pick is all together different,Invite both guys to Valley Ranch and grill them.

Agreed. I'm fine with either at 4, but I'm doing my homework on them first. If this really is going on in college why would it stop after they get paid? Can't afford to miss on this pick.
 

thunderpimp91

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Honestly who didn't party when they were 20ish?
No problem with these guys going out to party. you can party without ecstacy though, especially during the season.

I live in the middle of buckeye country, and my one concern about taking a bosa/elliott is the lifestyle these kids live on campus. They are treated like celebrities, and think they are untouchable. Lots of stories come out both in the media and just word of mouth around town that back that up. I would assume that's similar to most of the bigger schools anymore though.
 

Vinnie2u

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Go ahead and fall to 2nd Zeke... I don't want spicolli.. Bosa..
 

JBS

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These kids don't rave often without taking ecstacy...

Skip a drug test on top of it and that's all I need to see
 

tm1119

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This sounds like a whole bunch of speculation and dot connecting to me. If you got to enough length you can pick a part pretty much any college kid's behavior. From all accounts both showed up and did their jobs on the practice field and on game days plus kept their grades in check enough to remain eligible. When you're off the field habits affect the on field product that is when fans should care, until then I don't give a damn.
 

reddyuta

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This sounds like a whole bunch of speculation and dot connecting to me. If you got to enough length you can pick a part pretty much any college kid's behavior. From all accounts both showed up and did their jobs on the practice field and on game days plus kept their grades in check enough to remain eligible. When you're off the field habits affect the on field product that is when fans should care, until then I don't give a damn.

It did in the case of Bosa as he was suspended for a game.They better do their homework thoroughly on both is all i am saying
 

ccb04

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Disappointing for both if true. The linked article doesn't paint a good picture...particularly of Elliott, which is a shame...as he's one of a handful I would have considered early. That said, the Boys don't need anymore issue. They've already went through the suspensions of Scandrick, Hardy, R. McClain, and now Gregory. Three of which, being for drugs.
 

JoeyBoy718

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While teams suspect Bosa and Elliott of using those drugs, they don't have view them as risks like Randy Gregory last year.

I'm sorry but do people realize how opposite the effects of molly/ecstacy and weed are? I'd be much more cautious about a raver who gets down with X all the time than a pot head who sits around and plays video games. I don't care what anyone says. This weed thing is getting out of hand. Gregory is more of a risk because he failed tests for weed while Elliot is living college like Don Juan meets Macauly Culkin?
 

Bigdog

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Well that is a concern and maybe Elliot can drop to us in the 2nd (highly doubt it). I wish writers would do better homework though. To let everyone know a therapist or psychiatrist can not diagnose someone with ADD. It is not in the DSM-V. It has not been in the psychiatric disorder mannuel since the DSM-3.
 
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