John Niyo: NFL insider

Campaign of misinformation

Somebody's lying.

And while that's to be expected this time of year, with the annual cloak-and-dagger routine preceding the NFL draft, there's a seamy side to it as well.

We caught the first whiff of that last week with the leaked stories about alleged positive drug tests from the combine. SI.com posted a report that Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji failed a drug test at the combine in February. After denials from Raji and his camp escalated, that story was removed from the Web site.

Another report by NFLDraftBible.com cited unidentified sources in reporting Raji and three others -- Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis, Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin and UTEP kicker Jose Martinez -- tested positive for marijuana, while Southern California linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids. Representatives, including agents and coaches, for all those players, except Harvin, at last check, have come out with strong denials.

The league issued a statement in their defense as well.

"Neither the 32 clubs nor the league office know the results of drug or steroid tests taken at the 2009 Combine," it read. "The independent medical advisors who administer the tests have notified in writing those players and only those players who tested positive at the Combine. Unfortunately, rumors about draft-eligible players, including rumors about test results, begin to circulate every year at this time. Many of these rumors are circulated for self-serving reasons and they are terribly unfair."

We'll know soon enough -- on draft day, at the latest -- who did or didn't test positive. Until then, it's mostly people blowin' smoke.

Deceive and obfuscate

So is the fervor over reported prospect workouts and interview schedules leading up to the draft.

Some of it is true, some of it is agent-manufactured, and some of it is misdirection by the teams. All of it is essentially useless in deciding which player a team will draft. (Did I mention USC's Mark Sanchez is coming to town for a visit Thursday night?)

"Well, I see a ton in the paper," Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said. "I see guys that we've worked out and guys that are coming in here that I'm calling my scouts saying, 'Did you work this guy out?' and they are like, 'No, I didn't work that guy out.' 'Are we visiting this guy?' 'No, we're not visiting this guy.' So I think there's a lot of misinformation out there. Even from our own people."

Extra points

Several teams, including the Lions, indicated they'd like to add a veteran backup QB. But the free-agent options are dwindling.

Jeff Garcia landed a job in Oakland, and Kyle Boller signed with St. Louis. And arguably the best available among those still unemployed, Byron Leftwich , was scheduled to visit Tampa Bay this week after visiting Washington. Rex Grossman 's agent insists he'll get his client signed soon. After that, the next-best option might be former Bills first-round pick J.P. Losman .

... Already, the trade to Chicago is paying off for Jay Cutler . Remember that $100,000 workout bonus he was getting docked for missing the Broncos' voluntary offseason program? Well, he'll collect on it with the Bears, who started workouts Monday.

By the numbers

2 Rookies to make Pro Bowl in 2008 -- Jake Long (Miami) and Chris Johnson (Tennessee)

10 Players from 2007 draft class to have made a Pro Bowl to date

30 Lions draft picks from 2003-06 -- only three remain on the roster

No. 1 quarterbacks

With the top pick in the draft, the Lions could take Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford. A look at quarterbacks selected No. 1 in NFL history:

Feeling a draft

Some teams figure to be busy at the draft, while others won't. A look at teams with the most -- and fewest -- picks

Most picks

• Philadelphia (12): 1st round (2 picks), 2nd (1), 3rd (1), 4th (1), 5th (4), 6th (2), 7th (1)

• Denver (11): 1st (2), 2nd (1), 3rd (2), 4th (1), 5th (2), 6th (1), 7th (2)

• Cincinnati (11): 1st (1), 2nd (1), 3rd (2), 4th (1), 5th (1), 6th (2), 7th (3)

• Dallas (11): 2nd (1), 3rd (1), 4th (2), 5th (3), 6th (2), 7th (2)

• New England (11): 1st (1), 2nd (3), 3rd (2), 4th (1), 5th (1), 6th (2), 7th (1)

Fewest picks

• New Orleans (4): 1st (1), 4th (2), 7th (1)

• Carolina (5): 2nd (1), 3rd (1), 4th (1), 5th (1), 6th (1)

• Cleveland (5): 1st (1), 2nd (2), 4th (1), 6th (1)

• Washington (5): 1st (1), 3rd (1), 5th (1), 6th (1), 7th (1)

Key dates

• Friday: Signing period ends for restricted free agents

• April 24: Deadline for clubs to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents

• April 25-26: NFL draft, New York

• June 1: Deadline for clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights if player is unsigned by another club by July 22

• June 15: Deadline for clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights

• July 22: Signing period ends at 4 p.m. for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender

• Aug. 9: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio

• Aug. 13-17: First exhibition weekend

• Sept. 10: Season opener

john.niyo@detnews.com (313) 982-3810