How to ruin your draft stock 101

by Dan Kadar on Mar 22, 2010 8:51 AM EDT in 2010 NFL Draft

Miami (Fla.) cornerback Sam Shields is loaded with potential. After playing wide receiver for three years at Miami, he switched to cornerback.

After a shaky start to his season, Shields rounded out as a defensive back toward the end of the year. He's not great, but a very good sleeper.

That's due mostly to his size 6-foot and 190 pounds and his speed (reportedly in the 4.24 40-yard dash range). With those measurables, he would almost assuredly get drafted for his special teams ability.

Instead, his draft hopes may be up in the smoke (turn a phrase).

Shields was charged last week with possession of marijuana. It's telling he got himself caught while he's auditioning for what is likely the most important job of his life.

The Miami pro day is on Friday and Shields will have plenty of questions to answer. How he answers them may determine his NFL fate.

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He had no shot of getting drafted regardless of this incident.

Coach Shannon screwed the pooch on this kid. If he would have switched positions in his sophomore year or atleast his junior year, things might be different. That’s too bad.

"I'm tired of hearing
about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok."

Shaquille O'Neal

by JP 23 on Mar 22, 2010 9:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I agree, I don’t think he was going to be drafted anyways

by microwave donut on Mar 23, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope he goes undrafted and signs with the Ravens. 4.24 speed on 420! I’ll take that. Also, it’s just 420, it’s not the white stuff.

by BmoreBlitz on Mar 22, 2010 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

Count me in as one on board Blittz (with the idea)

I can think of worst things for a kid to do. What’s the saying about speed—— it kills. I’d be williing to find a spot for this kid.

by Ravens One on Mar 22, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

HA

i dont know a football player who doesnt smoke weed. Didn’t this happen last year with a couple of florida players too??

by Nick_Keith on Mar 22, 2010 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

there is a difference between smoking weed, and getting caught with it days before your audition for a job. it is like testing positive on a piss test…even though you knew the piss test was coming.

The point is, it shows the mental capacity of this kid. he is a knucklehead.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Mar 22, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Percy Harvin last year.

Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.

by TheRealSlimShady on Mar 22, 2010 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

a) when was percy harvin caught? Was it this close to his pro day, his audition for a chance at the pros?

b) had percy harvin been suspended from the team before. this guy had been suspended multiple times in his career. at least once because he didn’t qualify academically.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Mar 22, 2010 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Seems almost meaningless to me

A large portion of NFL players smoke weed I’m sure, I wouldn’t move him down 1 spot on my draft board because of it.

by Brendan Scolari on Mar 22, 2010 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

what about the fact that he just might not have common sense…

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Mar 22, 2010 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

A whole heck of a lot of football players don't have common sense

It’s not exactly a requirement, unless you’re a quarterback. Listen to some NFL players talk (I’m looking at you, Emmitt).

by Brendan Scolari on Mar 22, 2010 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

well…

when a guy is suspended from the team multiple times in his career (at least once for not performing up to the minimum standards academically to be on the team and was temporarily suspended) AND then is caught with marijuana the week of his PRO DAY, his AUDITION for the pros, it will tend to worry some people. this guy wasn’t a huge name prospect but late in the draft, teams just pass on a guy like this when they see suspensions, and marijuana.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Mar 22, 2010 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps

I didn’t even know who he was before this post, so…

by Brendan Scolari on Mar 22, 2010 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Warren Sapp will be his next agent

Seeing as how getting caught with pot totally killed Sapp’s football playing career.

Oh wait, that’s not what killed Sapp’s career. It was going to Oakland as a free agent. Ooopsies…

Relive the shocking NOOOOOOOO of April 25 2009 at Witty's Draft Review and laugh laugh laugh...

by witty on Mar 22, 2010 7:31 PM EDT reply actions

is this guy warren sapp? is this guy even a surefire lock to be drafted before this? he had good speed but he was more of a midround prospect.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Mar 22, 2010 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on brah

You got to be smarter then that. Never carry more weed than you can eat in about 10 seconds. Rookie mistake. Either that or come to Cali and get a script.

by Foilhat on Mar 22, 2010 9:55 PM EDT reply actions