Claude Wroten says he has finally learned his lesson, albeit the hard way.
Wroten, a former Bastrop High standout and LSU All-American, was suspended for the entire 2008 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Wroten’s pro career has been marred by an arrest and failed drug tests.
A projected first-round pick, Wroten’s stock dropped following a drug-related arrest in Sterlington. Though charges were later dropped, Wroten wasn’t taken until the third round (68th overall) of the 2006 draft.
Shortly afterwards, he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine. Another positive drug test led to Wroten being suspended for the first four games of the 2007 season. As the Rams were set to open training camp on July 24, the league announced Wroten’s year-long suspension.
Wroten will not be eligible for reinstatement any earlier than May 30, 2009.
Meanwhile, Wroten says he is busy battling to repair his life and prepare to return to the NFL.
“I know this sounds crazy, but something has to come down to the worst-case scenario for me to get the picture,” Wroten said. “This is the eye-opener. The NFL has zero tolerance when it comes to drug abuse and I have to suffer the consequences like I am now.”
Wroten has overcome adversity in the past. Signing with Northwestern State University out of high school, Wroten eventually landed at Gulf Coast (Miss.) Community College after failing to meet the NCAA’s academic requirements. Making the most of his second opportunity, Wroten took care of his business academically and athletically at Gulf Coast. By the time he left the junior college, he was being recruited by numerous big-time programs.
On the down side, Wroten says he smoked weed for the first time during his second year at Gulf Coast.
“I was introduced to marijuana during my sophomore year in junior college,” Wroten said.
It was a mistake that haunts Wroten to this day. Instead of playing in what should be his third NFL season, Wroten is back in Bastrop dealing with the consequences of his mistakes.
“I regret it dearly,” said Wroten, who turned 25 Tuesday. “I’m not doing what God put me here to do because of the decisions I have made off the field. I’ve let a lot of people down. Not just myself, but God, my family and my friends.”
These days, Wroten can hardly bear to watch NFL games on TV.
“I feel terrible than I’m not out there playing,” Wroten said. “It hurts watching those cats on TV, knowing I’m better than they are.”
In financial terms, Wroten has paid dearly for his actions.
Wroten is under suspension without pay, costing him his $445,000 base salary. In addition, the Rams have filed a grievance in an effort to recover one fourth of Wroten’s $805,000 2006 signing bonus (a figure that would have been significantly higher had he been drafted in the first round).
Though he acknowledges the monetary loss, Wroten says being estranged from football is more painful.
“I have lost a significant amount of money,” said Wroten, who has one year remaining on his contract with the Rams. “Just losing the money is an eye-opener in itself, but it’s not about the money. I love to play the game. Very few people can say they have played in the NFL.”
And, Wroten says he is determined to play in the NFL again.
“I know this is my last chance,” Wroten said. “I have to salvage this opportunity to get back in good graces with the league. I’m not going to lose it over a temporary high.”
Wroten says emphatically that he is staying clean.
“I have finally learned that drugs are not the way to go,” Wroten said. “This year has allowed me to mature mentally and physically. I have eliminated marijuana, and even drinking, from my life.”
Wroten plans to go to Houston or Phoenix at the end of the month to begin training for his comeback. In the meantime, he is sharing his story with area youth groups.
“I’ll speak at churches, schools, anything positive,” Wroten said. “Everything from here on out is going to be positive. I’ve surrounded myself with people who are positive, goal-oriented and drug-free.
“I know people are probably thinking, ‘He’s going to do drugs again, he’s washed up.’
I want to show everybody in Bastrop that I’m not washed up at all. I am only at the beginning of my career. I plan on playing in the NFL for the next 10 years.”
By then, Wroten plans to be known for his accomplishments on the field, rather than his problems away from it.
“I’m going to come back bigger, faster, stronger and wiser,” Wroten said. “People are going to see a 180-degree change on the field and off. That’s my word.”
Bastrop, La. —
