Jonathan Dwyer will overcome bad pre-draft rumor (UPDATED)
Jonathan Dwyer should be a solid NFL player and will be an early draft pick. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
(Updated below with new information.)
It’s not uncommon in the weeks leading up to NFL drafts that we read and hear rumors — factual, fictional or somewhere in between — that affect a player’s draft stock.
A prime example of this came back in 1983, when rumors of recreational drug use led to Dan Marino not getting drafted until the 27th pick (and the sixth quarterback taken). Even then Steelers coach Chuck Noll admitted years later the team was scared off by the rumors. We’ll never know to what extent the Marino rumors were true, but he went on to become an NFL Hall of Famer.
What happened to Jonathan Dwyer Sunday was something completely different — to say nothing of completely unfair. Fox Sports reported that the Georgia Tech running back was among the high-profile players to fail a drug test at the NFL scouting combine. AJC.com picked up the story, then followed it up later, explaining the drugs actually was prescription medication, which the NFL was aware of.
Dwyer eventually confirmed to our Doug Roberson that he has been taking medication for ADD for several years. That hardly makes him unique in sports — or for that matter, anywhere in the United States.
(UPDATE: Dwyer told Doug Roberson today that, while he informed the NFL well ahead of time of the medication he was taking, one of the league doctors mistakenly did not include him on the exemption list. As a result, Dwyer’s name showed up on the list among those players who tested positive.)
I don’t know Dwyer outside of talking to him after Tech games and on a few other occasions. My impression: a good kid, a smart kid. He’ll be a solid NFL player. It’s unfortunate that his name ever was connected with a negative string of words like “failed drug test.”
When I asked Dwyer’s agent, Adisa Bakari, about pre-draft rumors of players and how it compares to Dwyer’s, he responded: “This is not a conventional story. Typically, there’s a story where there’s something that suggests some culpability on the part of the player, whether it’s marijuana use or steroids or an unknown injury. This story lacks a story. The NFL was aware of it.”
You can understand why Dwyer, his family and his agent might be upset by this. Fortunately, once his name comes off the board this week, it will quickly be forgotten.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and on Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
146 comments Add your comment
dawgdawgdawg
April 19th, 2010
1:01 pm
by the way, we have every right to talk crap about tech – we beat them in every sport they care about this year! don’t get on here and act like you guys live and die for the freakin’ GT baseball team. You’re football and basketball all the way – and we beat that a** twice this year! Keep calling us a joke – we’ll laugh it off and keep beating you!
by the way – didn’t Calvin Johnson frequently enjoy his weed?
supersize that order, mutt
April 19th, 2010
1:10 pm
shane, if you want to go back to all those this-poll-that-poll crap, then GT has 6 (SIX) national championships which is still more than the 5 that you come up with for UGAG. However, the NCAA only recognizes 1 (ONE) of those you listed for UGAG, while it recognizes 4 (FOUR) of those which are listed for Tech.
dawgsbaby, I bet you were on here all last year bragging about the mutts’ wins over Tech in baseball in 2008-2009, but now that you are not only the worst basebal team in the state of Georgia, but the worst in the southeast, baseball doesn’t matter. RIGHT, you go on thinking that way. And as far as dawg gymnastics being more important, they didn’t even do too well at that this year, now did they? And anyways, who cares about a bunch of Olympics wannabes? You want to know who cares? NOBODY ANYWHERE !!!!
JSS
April 19th, 2010
1:10 pm
Let’s see, the first forward pass was in 1906, Georgia Tech won its 1st Mythical NC in 1917… Shane, do you work for Goldman Sachs? By the way, AP, UPI and everyone with any sense and not wearing a hooded white robe and burning a cross had USC (10-1, Rose Bowl Champs) as the Mythical NC in 67.
dawgdawgdawg
April 19th, 2010
1:18 pm
Hey supersize – I’d like to see you talk crap face to face with some of the Olympic “wannabes” on the track & field team.
Keep hiding behind that computer, little man.
dogcrap
April 19th, 2010
1:19 pm
shane, go beat you meat and maybe your sister or cousin will feel sorry and give you some. You idiot.
dogcrap
April 19th, 2010
1:21 pm
hey dog,dog,dog, go talk your crap to someone’s face and see how long your face remains in tact.
Cobb Jacket
April 19th, 2010
1:24 pm
Shane,
Even using your own standard it still comes up SIX to FIVE. Does the taste of failure ever leave your mouth, or do you just get used to it? Perhaps you can find some sanctioning body that will recognize all of the NC’s you HYDRANT SNIFFERS claim every spring. You guys would probably have about 15 if you didn’t have to go to Jacksonville every October. You guys would be a great team if the rest of the SEC would just not be so good.
Actually
April 19th, 2010
1:27 pm
Well, as usual, we have gotten completely off topic, and into a childish pi$$ing contest. I’m not a Tech fan, but Dwyer is a good back, and I’m sure the GM’s of the NFL teams recognize the difference in his situation and someone who is doing real drugs.
Cobb Jacket
April 19th, 2010
1:29 pm
dog,dog,dog.
Yes you did defeat us head to head this year, congratulations. Proof that on any given day, virtually any team can beat a better team. The proof lies in the fact that these were the two lone highlights for both of your seasons.
MR
April 19th, 2010
1:36 pm
I was reading a earlier blog about this and there was nothing negative from the UGA fans. I was pleasantly surprised and then you JS write the same thing and the ding bats come out. I guess the unemployeed got up late just to read you Jeff.
supersize that order, mutt
April 19th, 2010
1:38 pm
dawgdawgdawg, where in what I typed did I make any mention at all of track and field athletes? I only referred to the mutt gymnastics team as being made up of Olympics wannabes and Olympics has-beens (although I didn’t include the latter in my original post). Women’s gymastics at the collegiate level is totally worthless. Women gymnasts reach their prime before the age of 18 (the college level). Any member of the UGAG women’s gymnastics team was either never good enough to make an Olympics team, or did and is now pretty-much washed up. Field a men’s gymnastics team which can compete with the likes of Iowa and then maybe you will have something to brag about.
MR
April 19th, 2010
1:39 pm
The AJC should be proud allowing idiots to continue to post their blog. Trash mouth punks is all that we see. Vulgar post are continued to be allowed, which have nothing to do with the subject. Hard to find and adult site to discuss true issues.
Alex McRee's Merry-Go-Round
April 19th, 2010
1:49 pm
Is it true the starting time of next Tuesday’s GT-uga baseball game at Turner Field has been moved to 5:35?
supersize that order, mutt
April 19th, 2010
1:49 pm
Lloyd, typical redneck xenophobic mutt remark
Cobb Jacket
April 19th, 2010
1:49 pm
I suspect today that all real dog fans are reading about the news out of Athens and discussing the teams quarterback situation, good luck on getting that worked out. Unfortunately, there are enough idiots out there who don’t really care about football and the rational discussion thereof, they only want to sling insults and stir up s**t. This analysis goes for all the “tech fans” that are over there screwing up the Georgia blogs.
supersize that order, mutt
April 19th, 2010
1:50 pm
Alex, according to all the mutts on here, what difference does it make? According to them nobody cares about baseball. YEAH, RIGHT !!!
MettenRAPIST
April 19th, 2010
1:50 pm
Who, me? Ooops. Now all you loser mutts want to say that I wasn’t any good the REST of the off season, when you were all ready to BLOW me after the G-Day game (just like that hooker in valdosta)!!!!!
Tech Fan in Athens
April 19th, 2010
1:51 pm
Anyone ever heard of HIPPA guidlines? Sure, potential employers have the right to your medical records (if you dont consent to a drug test, you dont get hired). But it’s illegal to “leak” or release anyone’s medical information without consent. Someone in the NFL should be found culpable and punished, not this young man simply applying for a job – even if the job is as “public” as professional sports. Oh, and it IS still just a GAME, isnt it?? Seems like a lot of vindictive peeps out there – doesnt matter if they wear Red or Yellow (Goldenrod… sheesh)
suwaneedawg
April 19th, 2010
1:52 pm
On behalf of the fair and balanced UGA fan base, I wish this kid well and this was an unfortunate situation but, not his fault. I am sure he will do very well in the NFL.
supersize that order, mutt
April 19th, 2010
1:53 pm
Cobb Jacket, I don’t go to the UGAG blogs myself, so I only respond to the crap which mutts post on our blogs. I found it interesting that one of them earlier said that Mettenberger (sp?) was not the guaranteed heir to the QB position; according to him, he was more-or-less only on the depth chart. And yet even the Augusta paper (a TOTAL UGAG rag) said this morning that Mett had had the best spring and would have been the starter. Most of the mutts who post on here are so delusional.
JSS
April 19th, 2010
1:59 pm
Dwyer will be fine… The only he’ll have to worry about is being tagged as having a attention deficit… It might scare some teams with complex play calling terminology.
Cobb Jacket
April 19th, 2010
2:01 pm
Could not agree more supersize, I never read the UGA stories, live and die for my Jackets.All the UGA guys in my office are devastated by this. UGA graduate from class of 83 even went so far as to predict another 6 and 6 year.
Not Disappointed
April 19th, 2010
2:02 pm
I’m so glad ajc corrected as soon as they did. this could have with to the crapper in a hurry!
ramblin wreck!
supersize that order, mutt
April 19th, 2010
2:11 pm
Cobb Jacket, I wish I could say I feel sorry about it, but the obnoxious mutt fans who post all their malicious and delusional crap on these blogs have put me way past the point of feeling anything for UGAG except contempt. It wasn’t always like that. When I was a kid, I pulled for both teams, except I pulled for Tech when we played UGA. Those days are long gone for me.
Paddy
April 19th, 2010
2:12 pm
No shane only an idiot would believe the crap you are spewing. As far as I can tell, Tech players will just fine in the NFL. But the big picture is CPJ is hired to win games at Tech. Thats a college program not the NFL. I still wish CPJ was coaching somewhere else. Go Dawgs
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 19th, 2010
2:21 pm
Now, another Georgia kid gets arrested. A Vols player from Ga. was arrested for underage drinking and thrown out of a bar. Is it just SEC kids that think they are Gods since they play football or is it just kids from the State of Ga.?
Dawglasville
April 19th, 2010
2:28 pm
GT Steve- That is funny. It sounds like they were out to get you. I’m sure Dwyer is a good young man and I know he will do well in the NFL. He is a bruiser.
4 ncs are better than 1
April 19th, 2010
2:29 pm
Hey shane, you forgot 2008- ugay 10-2 – ugay fans are outraged at the injustice of being past over for the national championship game! Their argument is that any team that is unable to win their half of the conference and wears silver pants should automatically be given the title! So they are proclaiming themselves 2008 national champs!
Colorado1990champs
April 19th, 2010
2:44 pm
I hate to burst your bubble Techies but….using the same sources that Ga Tech uses to claim 4 national football titles also gives UGA 5 national titles.
The AP (Associated Press) has NEVER recognized Georgia Tech as national champion!
Joe Hamilton
April 19th, 2010
2:45 pm
I likes to DUI and hits other peoples car wit my car and flee da scene while smoking pot! I is one of da all time Georgia Tek grates!
UGA Student
April 19th, 2010
2:46 pm
This is the most ridiculous blog comment section I have ever read. Everyone on here except maybe three posters should be ashamed of themselves. Grow up everyone.
dwyerfan
April 19th, 2010
2:46 pm
I could care less about uga or gt football, but I certainly care about a good kid like Jon Dwyer getting trashed by a bunch of losers. Some of these comments are really irresponsible and slanderous. This is a good kid from a good family that my son was fortunate enough to play hs ball with. It is unfortunate that the doctor who was responsible for putting him on the excluded list made a mistake and that the nfl doesn’t have a system in place to double check medical exclusion before they release the names of those who fail. This kids reputation is taking a beating when the professionals in the nfl are at fault. The media should have gotten all the facts from the start . I have to sign a release form at my doctors office to share my medical information with select people and Jon is being forced to share his with the world just to shoot down an inaccurate rumor. It’s really pathetic.Hang in there Jon…this is just a bump in the road. You have a bright future and we’re proud of you.
UGA Student
April 19th, 2010
2:47 pm
This is the most immature blog I have ever read. Congratulations to fans of both schools.
BigTimeTECHFan
April 19th, 2010
2:48 pm
Jonathan Dwyer will be my 1st pick in next years fantasy draft, hope the Chargers get him.
GT
April 19th, 2010
2:50 pm
You read this story and wonder how a hood like Vick past the mustard but Dwyer is questioned. Tech is no cakewalk on the academic side but we are flattered to be thought of in the same athletic breath as these other football factories. It is like an ugly girl being caught in a sex scandal. The reality doesn’t fit the story, there is no disperate recruiting at Tech, we start with the handicap of an education, which 9 out of 10 times ends with a thing call character.
Cobb Jacket
April 19th, 2010
2:52 pm
Colorado,
News flash. Using the standard you guys used to arrive at 5 championships, Tech has six. Not all of them were unanimous, just like four of the five UGA claims. Therefore using one standard, Tech 6, UGA 5. Perhaps you can look around and change the criteria and make the total work out for your favor, but if you count a NC regardless of what sanctioning body recognized it, Tech 6, UGA 5. Thanks for playing, we have some lovely parting gifts for you.
MettenRAPIST
April 19th, 2010
2:53 pm
Roethlisberger is my hero. How come 2 weeks ago, every inbred hick around LOVED me, and now they say that I really wasn’t going to start anyways? Jesus, do you guys not realize that uga will be lucky to go 8-4 next year with ANOTHER new qb? Richt doesn’t control his teams, or his affection for little boys (he is catholic, right?)
LAW Guy
April 19th, 2010
2:58 pm
If I was JD I would sue the NFL since their Doctor made a mistake that will hurt JD financially.
It's your turn to draft for Falcons (and why not Thomas?) | Jeff Schultz
April 19th, 2010
3:07 pm
[...] Jonathan Dwyer will overcome bad pre-draft rumor [...]
Sportsrealist
April 19th, 2010
3:10 pm
About the national championships, It’s all up for debate. But the real fact that I see is that GT fans are grasping for some hope that they will be better than they’ve been over the last 15 years. The real fact is that Georgia has been absolutely dominate, and until the jackets can fix that, the Georgia Bulldogs will continue to be the only relevant team in the state. Granted, Coach Johnson has restored some credibility to the program, but that only plays into the joy of beating you that much more. You continue to argue about NCs and we will continue beating your tails year in and year out. GO DAWGS
Tech Fan in Athens
April 19th, 2010
3:30 pm
Hey Sportsrealist: No doubt UGA has dominated GT in football the last few decades (I suffer like none other – the Athens newspaper runs more stories about Big 10 football than on a school 60 miles down the road). Worst mistake Dodd made was to leave the SEC. But, that has nothing to do with the promise Ball Johnson brings to the Flats. Also… I’m sure you’ll agree… You meant to say, “dominant.” Let’s just play the games….
Sportsrealist
April 19th, 2010
3:39 pm
MettenRAPIST
At least you use slanderous comments about UGA instead of doing what all the other GT fans do when arguing that their football program is actually good. I mean, it’s such a pointless argument……GT football……good?……pfft
dawgdawgdawg
April 19th, 2010
3:44 pm
for those of you that think Zach Mettenberger is the only “alcohol drinkin’ thug” in the SEC…
http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/vols-safety-myles-of-474324.html
ty
April 19th, 2010
4:13 pm
Given the fact that Yech proudly kept a thug busted in an FBI drug sting that extended as far as California, I’m pretty sure the shameful Yech community (can’t bring myself to lie and call it a nation) wouldn’t bat an eye at another one of their hoodlums busted with illegal substances.
Junes
April 19th, 2010
4:15 pm
Tech fan in Athens,
Dodd didn’t just leave the SEC, the tucked tail and ran out of it like the coward that he is. He couldn’t handle the Bear (going 1-6 against him) and going 3-4 against UGA during the same time frame, which made him act like a pansy and run away from the battle.
He is a fine representative of your typical tool fan.
bawahahahaha!!!!
April 19th, 2010
4:16 pm
Another Yech golden boy busted committing a crime!!!! SHOCKING!!!!!
5 NCS are better than 4
April 19th, 2010
4:21 pm
The very same polls that gave 4 ncs to Georgia Tech in “ancient” history give 5 ncs to UGA. Those are just the facts!
PS. GT has only ONE official NCAA team national championship and it is……….
……….WOMEN’S TENNIS!!!!
Reality
April 19th, 2010
4:22 pm
GA Tech is the only Div I team in the state of Georgia that currently has a player that was charged with RAPE.
The fact is....
April 19th, 2010
4:23 pm
Alabama’s Bear Bryant ran Dodd and Tech out of the SEC.
supersize that order, mutt
April 19th, 2010
4:31 pm
Reality, all charges were dropped, you a***le. Therefore, Tech has NO player who was charged with rape. The fact that a charge was made and later dropped completely does not constitute a charge. Ask the Duke Lacrosse players about that, even though they are still suffering from those false charges.