Next Thursday Round 1 of the NFL Draft kicks off. As we get closer stories will be emerging on prospects leading to their rise and fall on draft boards. Just one year ago, Laremy Tunsil and a video of him appearing to be smoking from a gas mask hit the internet literally as the draft was going on.
Ex-Alabama Linebacker Reuben Foster was a leader and standout on the best Defense in College Football last season. Many experts projected Foster as a top 10 pick early in the draft process. Currently, a failed drug test at the NFL Combine has put a damper on Foster’s draft prospects. He spoke with Ian Rapoport on the unique circumstances which led to his failed test.
Last month, Foster was notified that his urine sample obtained in Indianapolis during the combine was reported as dilute. Based on the provisions of the NFL’s policy and program for substances of abuse, “this will be treated like a positive test.”
Reuben Foster won’t fall ‘too far’ due to positive drug test. In discussing his trying few months, Foster disclosed the test results to NFL.com because, he says, “This is something that’s going to get out. I don’t make excuses. I’m a real dude. I try to be a good person. … I just hope the coaches understand and that’s all I can hope and pray for.” Foster has already been on the phone talking with teams telling them himself.
As for why the test came back dilute, Foster explained in detail. He said he was sick before the combine. He was throwing up, had diarrhea, couldn’t keep anything down and was cramping. One adviser offered to have a doctor put him on IVs to hydrate, but he didn’t want that. He saw a doctor, got some medication and started hydrating himself. Foster believes it was food poisoning.
“I couldn’t eat much, but I had to drink water and Gatorade,” said Foster, who began the process as the consensus top linebacker based on his game tape and measurables. “Then a few coaches said something about me being too light. And I’m a coach-pleaser. I don’t care what everybody thinks, but I care what coaches think. So I drank and ate as much as I could without throwing up. Then I went in there, drinking and drinking water, trying to flush out my system from whatever was making me sick and trying to keep my weight up and took the test.”
For me, Foster should be able to provide receipts on the medication doctors were issuing him at the time of the combine. Ultimately he probably will go round 1, as mentioned earlier with Laremy Tunsil, he may slide down the draft a bit but talent usually always wins out.