Cleveland Browns: How serious are Antonio Callaway’s off-field issues?

Examining the depth and details of the off-field issues for the Cleveland Browns fourth-round draft pick, wide receiver Antonio Callaway.

Following the 2018 NFL Draft, a whirlwind of details emerged regarding Antonio Callaway and his off the field troubles. Cleveland Browns fans and media alike were quick to pass judgement on his alleged sexual assault, felony fraud charges and failed drug test at the NFL Combine.

Almost instantly, fans began to think of Josh Gordon and the repeated marijuana-related issues he has had. There is definitely a concern here, but the truth offered by the media has been, much like Callaway’s drug test, a diluted sample.

Keep in mind that, per the NFL policies, a diluted test sample is considered a positive result. If a player drinks too much water, he will test positive for marijuana. Jabrill Peppers knows this fact all too well, as he too tested positive at the NFL Combine with a diluted sample. Personally, I think the league needs to reform its policies on both marijuana and crime, as the absurdities are remarkable — but that’s for another time.

There was also widespread concern about a sexual assault allegation against Callaway. In truth, these accusations seem more news-worthy than factual. The most concerning aspect of this was his admittance of marijuana use during the ordeal.

The truth behind the accusation is that he was cleared. A woman claimed that she was intoxicated to the point that she could not consent, yet had text messages on her phone that contradicted her claims. She did not attend the hearing. She did not appeal the findings. Nor was a police report ever filed.

From ESPN.com

"In his ruling, Schickel wrote that the woman stated “she did not consent because of intoxication and/or force, however the totality of the evidence suggest the contrary and she was not intoxicated to the extent she could not consent.” Schickel also wrote that the woman’s “own text messages indicated that she was pretending to be intoxicated.”"

Let’s leave that in the past, where it belongs.

Next up is the fraud charges. Callaway was indeed involved with a credit-card fraud scandal that included eight other Florida players. He transferred nearly $2,000 from a stolen credit card into his campus bookstore account.

It is troubling that this happened and it certainly raises concerns about his character. That said, I also consider that young men make stupid choices, especially when friends make those choices alongside them. He faced several felony charges, which were reduced following a pre-trial intervention. He has had no similar issues since and hopefully it served as an invaluable life-lesson.

His repeated history of smoking the pot is the most concerning issue I see. He has faced charges for possession and paraphernalia. He has admitted to smoking pot six weeks prior to the Combine as well as during the aforementioned sexual assault situation.

Next: 2019 NFL Mock Draft: Way too early projection for next year

We hope that Josh Gordon has moved forward in his life and will offer valuable mentorship to Callaway. As such, Gordon may actually be the reason John Dorsey and the decision makers found comfort in this selection. Although skeptical at first, I too find comfort in welcoming Antonio Callaway to Cleveland.

Callaway is possibly the best wide receiver in this year’s class and offers phenomenal talent. If he can light it up on the field, and only on the field, the Cleveland Browns have gotten a remarkable steal in the 2018 NFL Draft.