A report at ProFootballWeekly.com indicates that three potential top 10 draft choices have admitted to using marijuana. Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson, Clemson DE Gaines Adams and Louisville DT Amobi Okoye admitted to having used the substance, whether through experimentation or regulary, it was not reported.

Johnson’s stock is not expected to be affected negatively; he is still a great athlete with a strong character. In any case, the Raiders are not a team notorious for backing off a player because of character issues. They already took a chance with the troubled Randy Moss two years ago — didn’t pay off, but they still took a risk. I am certain they are fairly un-phased by these developments.

But the biggest problem here is that Roger Goodell recently laid down the law in terms of judging the character of the NFL. Recently, both Pacman Jones and Chris Henry were severely punished (full season and 8 games, respectively) because of run-ins with the law. Teams may place greater emphasis on character than ever before.

“The commissioner is going to be all over any team that drafts players with borderline character,” a team official said. “You are not going to see a draft like, for instance, Cincinnati’s (in 2006), where they took four criminals in one draft, because the owners are going to start getting fined.”

Keep an eye on this story because it could have ramifications on this year’s draft.

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