http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2015/01/22/college-prospects-sexual-assualt-domestic-violence-jameis-winston-senior-bowl-les-snead/22187973/ MOBILE, Ala. — An NFL prospect who might have faced an allegation of domestic violence or sexual assault while in college would have long warranted a red flag in his personnel file.But after a turbulent year in the NFL in which the league, its teams and players faced massive criticism for the way violent crimes — especially against women — were handled, draft-eligible players can expect to face even greater scrutiny now about their personal lives and criminal histories."The past means something. If there is a pattern in the past — and maybe us as scouts can't answer it — but we need to know, why is that pattern there and is there a chance that we can discontinue that pattern? Then you weigh the risk and the reward," St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead told USA TODAY Sports.The risk of drafting a player with a history of domestic violence or sexual assault has gotten even greater. The new personal conduct policy unanimously passed by NFL owners late last year includes a provision that a player's actions before he enters the NFL could lead the league to consider him a repeat offender, which means a first violation while in the league could result in at least a one-year ban.First-time offenders will receive a six-game punishment under the new policy, which also stipulates that players charged with domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse be placed on paid leave while their cases are pending. Before levying punishments, the NFL will also conduct its own investigations.Now NFL teams will find themselves deciding if they need to do the same when digging into the pasts of college players."It's so difficult because you've got kids in college," said Snead. "You've got to get through to 'OK, what really happened?' "No player is likely to face greater personal scrutiny in coming months than Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. As an underclassman, he was not eligible to attend this week's Senior Bowl, but there was buzz about him, especially as he compared to the less-heralded quarterbacks who are participating in the practices leading up to Saturday's game, an important audition during the pre-draft process.Winston was accused in 2013 of sexual assault. Though he was cleared by both law enforcement in Tallahassee and by Florida State, he can expect to be grilled by NFL scouts, coaches and executives in the coming months as they try to determine if he's worthy of a top pick.One AFC scout, talking to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to comment on prospects, called Winston a "no-brainer" when it comes to football talent. But he had serious reservations about the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner due to his off-field history, which he said could cause some teams to leave Winston off their draft boards.San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin said teams would likely not have been as inclined to pass over such a talented player because of off-field concerns when he entered the league back in 2003.But Boldin, who saw two former teammates — ex-Baltimore Ravens tailback Ray Rice and ex-49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald — caught up in domestic violence investigations last year, said the NFL climate has changed."When I came out, did they do background checks? Definitely," Boldin told USA TODAY Sports."But I think when I came into the league, they were a lot more lenient about guys who had been in trouble in the past. They were willing to give guys a pass. But I think now, because of the path the league has taken, teams will be less apt to be as lenient on a guy."Boldin, who was named a finalist for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, said he's never met Winston despite their shared ties to Florida State. But he's concerned that Winston either hasn't had someone explain to him the responsibility that comes with being a star athlete or that Winston just isn't listening."He just wants to be a kid. But that's one of the things that comes with being a star in this league — you don't have that opportunity anymore," Boldin said. "Somebody needs to have that talk with him, because if it's not drilled into him and he doesn't understand that part of it, he will kill his career quickly."NFL teams will get their chance to interview Winston at the scouting combine in Indianapolis next month. For players participating in all-star games like the Senior Bowl and last week's East-West Shrine game, that process is already underway.They should expect detailed questions about their personal lives, their family backgrounds and their relationships. For players with character concerns, teams want to know if they've learned and matured enough to avoid similar bad choices in the future.For Snead, his goal is to determine if any player he drafts is going to be reliable."He may be your best player, but if all of a sudden right before you're supposed to play a big game, he's arrested or been suspended — what now?" Snead asked."You take the guy you're relying on, and he becomes unreliable. Reliability is as (important) as talent."***Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones
