BEREA: Browns rookie strong safety Jabrill Peppers insisted Friday an accusation made on local radio this week about him using illegal recreational drugs is not true.
ESPN 850 personality Sabrina Parr said Wednesday on WKNR’s airwaves Peppers is “on the Lean and the Molly.” Lean is a drink made of promethazine with codeine, Sprite and Jolly Rancher candy. Molly is another term for Ecstasy.
“I’m telling you, I’ve seen it firsthand, Rizz [the Really Big Show host Tony Rizzo], from a different vantage point,” Parr said. “It’s the same thing all over again. How are you already high out of your mind and you’ve only been here for a week?”
The radio station fired Parr over those comments the same day she made them.
Peppers later received an opportunity to defend himself before the first practice of the Browns’ three-day rookie minicamp.
“Whatever drugs [Parr] said I’ve done, I’ve never done in my life,” said Peppers, a first-round pick (No. 25 overall) from the University of Michigan.
“This is my first time in Cleveland since they brought me out here [for an introductory news conference during draft weekend], so I don’t know what she’s talking about,” he added. “I just think people want to say what they say to make stories. I can’t do anything about that. I came here to play football and help this great organization get back to prominence.”
Although Peppers addressed the media Friday, he didn’t practice because he did not sign a participation agreement per the advice of his agent, Todd France, a team spokesman said. The other six rookie draft picks who aren’t under contract signed the agreement that promises their contracts would be honored in the event of injury and practiced, including fellow first-round choices Myles Garrett (No. 1 overall) and David Njoku (No. 29). France did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
“It is [disappointing], and I’m sure it’s disappointing for the young man, too,” coach Hue Jackson said of Peppers sitting out practice. “But that’s just part of it, and we’ll work through that. We’ll get him up to speed. He did a great job in meetings last night. He’s chomping at the bit and ready to go. So we’ll get him out here soon.”
According to ProFootballTalk.com, without a signed participation agreement or contract, Peppers cannot be subjected to drug testing from the NFL.
Drug scrutiny
Peppers, 21, was already under scrutiny because he took a drug test in March at the NFL Scouting Combine, as all prospects do, and submitted a diluted urine sample.
Peppers has repeatedly insisted he consumed several bottles of water because he was ill at the combine, he has a history of cramping and he needed to hydrate while preparing to work out with two position groups — defensive backs and linebackers. He argues too much water led to the diluted sample.
“I do have a history of cramping,” Peppers said. “I was working out for two position groups, and I was informed to hydrate. I know now that too much hydration can hurt, but you know it’s not a big deal for me. I’m not really too worried about it. People can speculate all they want. I’m just here to learn from these guys and be the best person I can be.”
The NFL, though, considers a diluted sample a failed test, so Peppers will begin his career in the first stage of the league’s substance abuse program, something he said he was informed about when he received the test result.
“It’s due process,” Peppers said. “You can’t be frustrated about the process. I’m not the only guy going through that process. You can’t be mad at the system. You just take it on the chin like a grown man and move forward, and that’s what I intend to do.”
Once Peppers is signed, he can be randomly drug tested by the NFL because he’s in stage one of the program. But he also could be freed of the program in as soon as 90 days.
Asked if he’s been told what he must do to exit the program, Peppers laughed and said: “Just do what I’ve been doing — stay clean. There’s nothing more than that.”
A failed test, though, would put Peppers in the second stage of the program, where players can receive four-game suspensions.
Focus on game
Peppers vowed Browns fans will only hear about him playing good football in the future.
“That’s the only thing they’re going to hear from here on out,” he said. “I don’t really get into things outside of football because that’s outside of my control. I never failed a drug test in my life, never been arrested. So [if] people want to speculate on that for other reasons, which we all know what those reasons are, then so be it.”
Peppers said he’s been in the spotlight for a while, so he’s built to handle it well.
“No one’s going to take this moment away from me,” Peppers said. “I don’t care what it is. I’ve worked my whole life to get here. I’m happy to be here. I’m not going to let what people say about me ruin the best moment of my life. Are you kidding me? I’ve been talked about, hated on my whole life. There’s no skin off my teeth.”
Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown has said the organization did its due diligence regarding Peppers’ diluted sample and is confident in its decision to pick him.
“It is certainly a factor for us,” Brown said on draft weekend. “Jabrill understands. I think he has been accountable for it. He understands that it is something that he has to clean up as we move forward. We will spend some time with him on that when he gets here. Mostly, we are really excited to get a real exciting football player. We had gotten comfortable with the background on him to move forward with the selection.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.