Playoffs
Hall of Fame
Aaron Hernandez could be the poster boy for a league-wide SEC drug policy
The Globe quoted one "longtime NFL executive" who suggested that Hernandez had failed as many as six drug tests at Florida.
Last week, Sports Illustrated reinforced that story, reporting that "Hernandez also admitted to NFL teams that he failed numerous drug tests prior to the 2010 NFL Draft."
OK. So how many games did Hernandez miss in his three years at Florida?
One.
If one school in the league has a three-strikes-and-you're-out drug policy, and another requires four failed tests before dismissal, that can give the second school an edge in keeping its best players on the field.
That's assuming each school sticks to its stated drug policy in every case. Hands up if you believe that.
Anyone?
Consider the curious case of former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu. USA Today reported that, according to an NFL assistant coach, when asked by that team how many drug tests he failed at LSU, Mathieu said he "quit counting at 10."
Asked about that report, LSU coach Les Miles said, "I don't really have the numbers there."
Mathieu was suspended for one game during the 2011 season, reportedly for failing a drug test for synthetic marijuana - he was later dismissed from the team before the 2012 season - but typically, it takes multiple failed tests for a player to miss even one game. Again, that number differs from school to school.
Why?
With millions of dollars at stake based on winning SEC and BCS championships, there's incentive for a school to maintain a softer policy that helps keep players on the field. There's also incentive for a school to bend its policy for a star player.