NEW YORK, April 20 (UPI) -- Now that they are responsible for their players' off-field misdeeds, NFL teams are likely to be very careful in next weekend's draft.
The league's new conduct policy allows NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to impose lengthy suspensions on misbehaving players and punish clubs with several offenders.
That could have a telling effect on how the draft rolls out.
Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome, for example, said that he and his peers have been feeling additional pressure since hearing of the edict.
He told the Washington Post he may now have to pass on someone because he doesn't want his organization "to be held accountable for a player that I knew had some issues."
USA Today said at least eight players among the publication's top 100 NFL prospects have been arrested or involved in an incident during college that is drawing NFL teams' attention.
