Johnny Manziel’s Extreme Measures to Pass an NFL Combine Drug Test
Reuters
Upon deciding to go pro instead of continuing his college career, Johnny Manziel’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, launched a comprehensive campaign to improve the young player’s image and increase his chances of being drafted in the first round.
Manziel dedicated himself to a rigorous training program in San Diego, refrained from posting anything on social media except for workout-related content, gained weight, and stopped consuming alcohol. Burkhardt hoped that this display of commitment to his craft would lead teams to view Manziel as a valuable asset for their franchise.
“I made sure to drug test him every other week,” Burkhardt revealed in a documentary. “I knew that this would be a concern, and I wanted to provide peace of mind by showing them the numerous drug tests. When I initially signed him, I didn’t know what I was dealing with, but I wanted to reassure teams.”
For some time, Manziel adhered to this plan. However, just a week before the NFL Combine, he made a mistake by partying in California.
“I have little recollection of that night,” Manziel admitted. “I woke up in a hotel room, completely unaware of how I got there.”
Furthermore, Manziel was uncertain if he would pass the drug test required at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Despite Burkhardt’s strong recommendation against attending the NFL Combine, Manziel insisted on participating in the pre-draft event. Burkhardt knew that if Manziel failed the drug test there, his chances of being picked in the first round would diminish significantly, and he might not be drafted at all.
Burkhardt even went as far as instructing Manziel’s parents to fake chest pains and check into the hospital, as a believable excuse for Manziel to leave the combine and avoid the drug test. However, Manziel had a different plan in mind.
“I’m going to drink a gallon of water. I’ll flush it out,” Manziel defiantly declared to Burkhardt. “Trust me, I’ve managed to pass these tests at A&M before.”
Later, Burkhardt discovered that Manziel had only passed those tests at Texas A&M by having the university’s fourth-string quarterback provide urine on his behalf. Nevertheless, Manziel’s scheme was already in motion.
“I acquired three gallons of water, plenty of Pedialyte, and four drug tests,” Burkhardt recounted. “With around six hotels available at the combine, where all the teams were staying, it was crucial to avoid detection. We boarded the elevator, and to our surprise, two general managers and a college scouting director joined us. I concealed the drug tests, anxious not to arouse suspicion. We reached my room.”
“We found ourselves in my hotel bathroom, holding his urine and unsure of its clarity. Johnny was drinking large amounts of fluids in an attempt to dilute the test. On our second test, the urine appeared lighter. He joked, ‘We got this.’ I told him to keep drinking,” Burkhardt added. “By the way, his interviews went exceptionally well. In fact, there were rave reviews of his performance at the combine.”
Manziel regarded the experience as “very, very scary” and claimed that it momentarily snapped him out of his partying and drug use habits.
However, as was often the case with Manziel, successfully overcoming challenges only served to encourage him to “let loose” even more.
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