The 2010-11 NFL Draft was one of the most thrilling drafts in years, and more than a few incoming players have created a buzz this offseason. While players such as Tim Tebow are lighting up the media circuit for questions regarding playing ability, still others have illuminated Levitra Professional the scene because of off-field antics.

Behavioral problems are becoming more and more evident in the National Football League, and Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it a point to reprimand players who don’t satisfy the league’s requirements of being solid role models. Ben Roethlisberger recently got slapped with a six-game suspension for his current legal troubles regarding female relations, and a couple players who haven’t even made their NFL debuts yet are also in the spotlight for background issues, as well.

Perhaps the biggest news story this offseason when it comes to rookies with baggage is wide receiver Dez Bryant, a first-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys. Bryant’s troubled past was illuminated earlier this offseason and was quickly exploited by the media, stemming from a 10-game suspension he took last year for lying about a meeting with mentor Deion Sanders. Labeled a troublemaker, Bryant’s stock suffered in the days preceding the NFL Draft, and his less-than-privileged background made him a media target.

After being labeled a ‘diva’ and a ‘troublemaker’ Brand Viagra by various outlets, Bryant spoke to Yahoo! about how he was being portrayed, saying, “It’s crazy how I’m getting ripped up, and I just don’t get it. Before this started, I didn’t know I was such a ‘bad guy.’ I promise you, I didn’t. When I hear these things – I’m not a hard worker, I’m not tough, I’m a diva – I look at it like they’re talking about somebody else, because that’s not me.”

The Dallas Cowboys braved his bad rap and took Bryant in the first round of this year’s draft, and since then he’s been apologized to by Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland, who asked Bryant a very inappropriate question regarding his past at a pre-draft visit. According to ESPN, Ireland asked Bryant during a background interview if his mother was a prostitute (she’s not, for clarification). Bryant’s background had been an issue with teams recruiting him prior to the draft, as the WR was born to a 15-year-old named Angela, who later spent time in jail for dealing crack cocaine.

If anything, Dez Bryant’s hard knocks in the NFL this offseason will give him ammo to perform well this year. Bryant is sure to be a top seller of NFL tickets this season, and he’s already been embraced by the Cowboys community.

While Bryant’s off-field issues have been probed by the media with intensity this offseason, he’s not the only rookie with behavioral problems being brought to light. Another incoming rookie whose less-than-clean background has recently been explored is Aaron Hernandez, a fourth-round pick for the New England Patriots.

Hernandez was originally projected a late first or second round draft pick, but news of him failing multiple drug tests while playing football for University of Florida surfaced just before the draft, lowering his stock significantly. While it’s yet to be reported just how many drug tests Hernandez failed for testing positive for marijuana use, the tight end recently attempted to clear things up, telling the Boston Globe he notified recruiters of his one and only offense: “I was as candid as I could possibly be about everything, including my one single violation of the team’s substance testing policy over the course of three years at the University of Florida.”

Hernandez has a lot to prove this year with the Patriots, and he’ll take the Dez Bryant approach of proving haters wrong as he suits up to begin his NFL career with an uphill climb.

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