Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Jets can't risk using sixth overall pick on Nebraska pass-rusher Randy Gregory

Here's some news that certainly will affect the top of the New York Jets' draft board.

Nebraska's Randy Gregory, regarded as one of the top pass-rushing prospects in the draft, told NFL.com that he tested positive for marijuana last month at the scouting combine. What's more, he admitted in the interview that he has a long history of smoking marijuana.

This apparently was well-known among NFL teams. Gregory said he discussed his marijuana use with every team at the combine.

"I was worse at Nebraska than I've ever been at any other time of my life," he told NFL.com. "But I know how I am now. I think if teams really look at how I am now more so than the past, they'll see I'm making strides to get better, as a person and as a player."

He also said, "I don't wake up every day saying, I'd really love to go smoke. It's not a struggle for me every day [now], it really isn't. In the past, hell yeah, it's been a struggle. It really has been."

Gregory's candor, quite frankly, is stunning. While his honesty is admirable, this will undoubtedly hurt his draft stock. We had the Jets selecting Gregory in our first mock draft, but that will change.

The red flag makes him a considerable risk for teams in the top 10. The Jets, picking sixth, can't take the chance. The pick is too high (no pun intended) and the money is too great (a guaranteed contract of about $17 million) to roll the dice.

Because of the positive test, Gregory will be in stage one of the NFL’s substance-abuse program, meaning he will be tested frequently and is closer to a drug suspension than those with a clean record.

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