Drug rumors surrounding Arkansas' Ryan Mallett

Former St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers personnel department executive Tony Softli became the latest person to express concerns about the character of Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett. Mallett has a previous arrest for public intoxication. However, the 6-foot-6, 238-pound strong-armed quarterback has been linked to several drug rumors.

Softli weighed in on Mallett on www.101espn.com

"His inconsistency in leading his team to victory or making poor decisions at the most vital time of the game really sends up a red flag," Softli wrote. "Character and drug use issues are starting to rear their ugly head. Heavy rumors of drug use and possible addiction kept him from coming out for the 2010 draft. A lot of people are comparing Mallett to Ryan Leaf. I think Ryan was a better football player, with a cannon for an arm but the immaturity was just too much to overcome. A hair facial test might tell all 32 teams who this person really is." Softli isn't alone in his skepticism about Mallett as a person.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock spoke at length about Mallett during a recent conference call, saying he would have serious reservations about drafting him in the first round.

"I didn't say I have a first round grade on him," Mayock said. "I said that I've got four guys with first round ability. To me there is a distinction there, and people just assume when I say that I think he's a first round guy. Here's what Ryan Mallet is. Ryan Mallett has unbelievable, God-given ability to throw a football. And when he has clear pocket and clear vision, there is nobody in the game better. Comes from an offense where you can see him drop back under center, you can see him play action. And there are two plays in the Georgia game that to me summarize this kid, back to back throws. The first play he throws a 35-yard post against Georgia that was on the line the whole way. Thirty-five yards, on a line, he hit his receiver right in the helmet. It was an unbelievably difficult throw, and he made it look easy."

"Literally the next play on a seven-yard hitch, he made a throw where three Georgia players touched it. An under guy, a linebacker coming under, and a corner from behind. It was one of the worst decisions in throws I've seen on back to back throws. That is the problem with this kid."