Another player with a clouded past to go early was Eric Wright, a cornerback from UNLV chosen by Cleveland in the second round with the 52nd pick. The Browns traded up to take Wright, a projected first-rounder by some scouts. Wright left Southern California after being charged with rape. That charge was later dropped.

“We did the background check which includes police reports. ... We were comfortable with where we were (or) we would have taken him off of our board,” Browns general manager Phil Savage said. “We left Eric Wright where we thought he should be.”

Wright was grateful, and said Sunday what happened at USC has made him wary of “the people I associate myself with.

“I grew up in a strong household and was an honor roll student my entire life. I went to an all boys Catholic school. I really need to present myself in a proper light so people can really know who I am. I think this organization has done all they could to get the proper information. That’s why I think they were comfortable in picking me and trading up to get me. I really appreciate that.”

Wright could represent the other side of Goodell’s “get tough” policy.

While the rookie commissioner has made it clear he will crack down on continued transgressions, he’s also emphasized a willingness to forgive one-time mistakes.

Last week, when five prospective first-round picks visited his office, he apologized to two of them, Calvin Johnson and Gaines Adams, for reports they had answered “yes,” to a question at the scouting combine as to whether they ever used marijuana. He also ordered the question no longer be used in questionnaires, said he will punish teams who leak information, and pledged to apologize to a third player named in the report, Amobi Okoye.

Johnson was chosen second overall by Detroit, Adams fourth by Tampa Bay and Okoye 10th by Houston, an obvious sign the answers didn’t hurt them.

Actually, neither the misbehavior nor the leaked reports are new.

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In 1995, there were erroneous reports before the draft Warren Sapp had used cocaine. Bill Polian, now president of the Colts and then general manager of the Carolina Panthers, jumped to Sapp’s defense publicly and although Sapp fell to 12th overall — lower than he would’ve been taken without the report — he’s not been in off-field trouble during his 12 NFL seasons.

No one really knows the career paths of Wright, Jarvis Moss, Thomas and the handful of other players with histories who were drafted this weekend.

As for Randy Moss in New England?

He will be a test of the theory that players who are surrounded by men of good character play their best. Being on a team with veteran leaders such as Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel might well temper Moss’ ’tude. The Patriots were already are a preseason favorite to win their fourth Super Bowl in seven years. If Moss plays to his ability, New England becomes even more formidable.

If Jarvis Moss and Thomas play as well as they did on a national championship college team, Denver might be title contender, too.

Yes, character issues work both ways.