Randy Gregory, Top NFL Prospect, Says He Failed Drug Test At Combine
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Randy Gregory, a potential top 10 pick in the upcoming NFL draft, says he tested positive for marijuana at February's scouting combine.
The defensive end out of Nebraska revealed that he failed the test and spoke about his history with the drug in a candid interview Wednesday with NFL Media's Kimberly Jones.
"I blame myself," he said. "And I know it sounds cliche, but there's really no one else I can blame."
Gregory acknowledged he's "worried" about how this will affect his position in the draft, where a significant drop would mean millions in lost salary. He's projected as a top-10 selection in the three latest mock drafts posted by CBSSports.com: No. 5 to Washington (Pete Prisco), No. 8 to Atlanta (Dane Brugler) and No. 9 to the New York Giants (Rob Rang).
"At the same time, I'm confident," Gregory said. "I know I'm going to be all right in the end."
"I'm trying to set myself apart from all the other edge rushers in the class," he added. "I want a team to draft me and feel like this is a guy we can put anywhere on the field and he's going to help us."
The 22-year-old struggled with marijuana at Nebraska -- something he said he owned up to in every one of his 29 interviews with teams at the combine -- but he's "making strides to get better, as a person and as a player." He claimed the positive test came from traces of the drug still in his system from December.
"(Marijuana) could end my career," Gregory told NFL.com. "This incident right now is a step toward ending my career. The last thing I want to do is fail another drug test and be out of the league.
"I want it on the record. I want people to understand I know I messed up. I'm owning up to it. I realize it. But at the same time, I'm taking the right steps to get better and to fix it."
The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder had 120 tackles, 17.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in two seasons with the Cornhuskers.
Day 1 of the NFL draft is scheduled for April 30 in Chicago.
