NFL 2013

[Segoris]

You could be a lot worse off at the position, I'll give you that. You could be the Jags, Raiders or Jets. Now THEY have fuckall for wideouts.

 

[Paelos]

The fact the Patriots get to play in that greasefire of a division is almost criminal.

[HaemishM]

You know, Miami might be good this year. The Bills may even be competitive. The Jets though... no. Just... no.

[WayAbvPar]

[Paelos]

I don't see how following the Cowboys has been bandwagon since the 90s, but then again people are still butthurt over that dynasty. 

[tazelbain]

JJ is the quintessential rich douche bag. I don't think ripping on him and anything associated with him will ever cease to be entertaining.

[Nebu]

JJ is the quintessential rich douche bag. I don't think ripping on him and anything associated with him will ever cease to be entertaining.

It could only be better if Trump owned and NFL club.

[sickrubik]

This off season sucks.

Broncos LB Von Miller is facing 4-game suspension for violating NFL policy, per ESPN sources. Case currently in appeals process.

Edit: at least it's not PEDs, but pot + mdma/molly.

[Paelos]

Summer of Drugs.

[sickrubik]

As far as OH GOD DRUGS go, I am so beyond not worried about pot and mdma, but the biggest sign of this is sheer stupidity, given it's right in the period of time when the NFL regularly test for recreational drugs.

Losing Dumervil, two executives popped for DUIs, now this. Just ugh.

[Paelos]

Denver has an image problem atm.

[Nevermore]

Apparently the positive test was from his rookie season back in 2011?  If that's true the league certainly took its time in suspending him.

[01101010]

As far as OH GOD DRUGS go, I am so beyond not worried about pot and mdma, but the biggest sign of this is sheer stupidity, given it's right in the period of time when the NFL regularly test for recreational drugs.

Losing Dumervil, two executives popped for DUIs, now this. Just ugh.

Weed sure... but X? That has such a short half-life and at most would be in your system 5 days. You have to be able to know some kinda testing is coming up so why chance it that close to the testing windows? I don't even....

[Paelos]

Athletes are dumb. Next question. 

[sickrubik]

Apparently the positive test was from his rookie season back in 2011?  If that's true the league certainly took its time in suspending him.

I think that's being misunderstood. I think the report is coming out that he tested positive in 2011 ALSO, which would make, at least, his second offense, which would trigger the 4 game suspension.

The first is usually treatment/fine.

[WayAbvPar]

Pot should be ignored, especially in WA and CO where it is legal. I would be willing to bet it gets written out of the next CBA.

[HaemishM]

Pot should be ignored, especially in WA and CO where it is legal. I would be willing to bet it gets written out of the next CBA.

Not unless it becomes legal at the federal level.

[Cyrrex]

Pot should be ignored, especially in WA and CO where it is legal. I would be willing to bet it gets written out of the next CBA.

I want to get on board with this, but not sure if I can.  Can your employers in those states still legally hold it against you if it comes up in a piss test?  Sure, it is no longer criminal, but your employer can usually set higher standards than the law allows. 

[MrHat]

Pot should be ignored, especially in WA and CO where it is legal. I would be willing to bet it gets written out of the next CBA.

I want to get on board with this, but not sure if I can.  Can your employers in those states still legally hold it against you if it comes up in a piss test?  Sure, it is no longer criminal, but your employer can usually set higher standards than the law allows. 

I think Employee contracts have to be rewritten as they stand on 'higher standards' now still.

[Paelos]

Sorry, I don't want my players smoking dope so much that they can't stop for 5 days for a drug test. I don't care about all the hippy bullshit about what it does and doesn't cause, it's done nothing but exacerbate every guy I know who smoked it religiously into a lazy fuck-up. Even worse, you want these guys are peak performance and smoking in general isn't going to help that at all.

I'm not saying people can't smoke it recreationally, but that's not what I would expect of million dollar athletes who supposedly look for every edge to stay fit.

[sickrubik]

Well, if it was legal, and allowed there wouldn't be need for a test.

[Paelos]

Well, if it was legal, and allowed there wouldn't be need for a test.

The NFL could still restrict whatever substance they deem to be improper to the job. Any job has drug or alcohol policies, legal or otherwise.

[ghost]

I don't care about marijuana smoking, tbh, other than the fact that it is still illegal in some places and could actually (and shockingly so) land someone in jail in the wrong spot.  It's entertainment.  If they can be fried out of their gourd and still catch a football (Randy Moss, ahem) then so be it.

[sickrubik]

Well, if it was legal, and allowed there wouldn't be need for a test.

The NFL could still restrict whatever substance they deem to be improper to the job. Any job has drug or alcohol policies, legal or otherwise.

Did you read where I said "and allowed"? You said "Sorry, I don't want my players smoking dope so much that they can't stop for 5 days for a drug test.", which is what I responded to. If it were legal and allowed, there would be no need for tests. That was my only clarification.

The larger point from that is that there could easily be a similar policy as there is to alcohol under the NFL. If the player smokes too much and it affects his play, that's on him. In addition to that, you have counseling issues just as you do with alcohol. Which isn't any different really as it is now on that end of it.

[ghost]

You know, if the NFL banned alcohol and instated pot instead it would probably help with their off the field violence issues.   

[Paelos]

Did you read where I said "and allowed"? You said "Sorry, I don't want my players smoking dope so much that they can't stop for 5 days for a drug test.", which is what I responded to. If it were legal and allowed, there would be no need for tests. That was my only clarification.

The larger point from that is that there could easily be a similar policy as there is to alcohol under the NFL. If the player smokes too much and it affects his play, that's on him. In addition to that, you have counseling issues just as you do with alcohol. Which isn't any different really as it is now on that end of it.

No I didn't see that. My mistake.

My point about smoking doesn't really have to do with the drug test. If you smoke daily, I'm not sure I want that guy on a pro team. Nor do I want the guy who drinks every day. They are punishing their bodies enough on the field without the off the field poisons that will screw with your healing.

[sickrubik]

What are you expecting to happen if pot is legal, or what do you think a normal person drinks in a day?

[Paelos]

What are you expecting to happen if pot is legal, or what do you think a normal person drinks in a day?

If pot is legal I expect some NFL players will have problems with their newfound freedom in terms of making commitments. It's a multi-billion dollar business, and these guys are unfortunately mostly uneducated labor. Giving people that lack the tools to make good decisions even fewer restrictions isn't going to lead to the best behavior. That's why guys with alcohol problems on NFL teams right now usually get baby sitters. And when they don't you end up with situations like Josh Brent on the Cowboys.

[sickrubik]

That's fine, but that shows there is a need for education rather than outlawing it. There's plenty of people that smoke and drink that have no problem controlling that. The people that have control issues likely already do, and would have problems with something else besides pot if it didn't theoretically exist. That's largely my point, alcohol is not banned, why would it be bad if pot wasn't banned. It just seems you fear something apocalyptic if it was suddenly legal. The dudes that would have issues with it are already smoking it.

[01101010]

As a Browns fan, I hate Jimmy Harrison and the Steelers. However, this picture is causing me some kinda of warped cognitive dissonance.

[Paelos]

That's fine, but that shows there is a need for education rather than outlawing it. There's plenty of people that smoke and drink that have no problem controlling that. The people that have control issues likely already do, and would have problems with something else besides pot if it didn't theoretically exist. That's largely my point, alcohol is not banned, why would it be bad if pot wasn't banned. It just seems you fear something apocalyptic if it was suddenly legal. The dudes that would have issues with it are already smoking it.

You are confusing two things. I have no real problems with pot being legal. I have problems with NFL players using it and pretending it doesn't affect them or their play. Everything you put in your body affects the way you live. Right now it's just one thing they can do in the NFL to regulate their players. Believe me, if the NFL could outlaw booze amongst their guys, they would.

[Nevermore]

It seems like that would be a self-correcting problem, though.  If a player's performance is impacted on the field, he'll be replaced by someone who performs better.

[Paelos]

It seems like that would be a self-correcting problem, though.  If a player's performance is impacted on the field, he'll be replaced by someone who performs better.

Possibly, but in a cap league if you find that out mid-season, you're boned for the year. Also, who's to say teams would bother replacing them? What if they sign a big deal and then hit the bong hard getting lazy and fat? Would other guys get a shot? What about dead money? Right now my understanding is if you volatile the substance abuse policy of the NFL enough, a team can void your guarantees.

Tossing one more thing into the mix for NFL players to have out in the open without any fear of consequence doesn't sit well with me. Maybe it's not logical, but I barely trust them to be functional members of society even with the stuff we have legalized.

[Nevermore]

Possibly, but in a cap league if you find that out mid-season, you're boned for the year. Also, who's to say teams would bother replacing them? What if they sign a big deal and then hit the bong hard getting lazy and fat? Would other guys get a shot? What about dead money? Right now my understanding is if you volatile the substance abuse policy of the NFL enough, a team can void your guarantees.

Well except for the possibility of voiding a contract, you don't need pot for any of that stuff.  Nothing is stopping a player from getting fat and lazy after signing a big contract already, other than losing his job to someone who's not fat and lazy.  Look at Chris Johnson, who's been terrible once he signed that big contract after holding out.  Yes, they gave another player a shot at his job but Javon Ringer turned out to be not much better than lazy Chris Johnson.  Point is, this is the NFL and players who perform poorly for whatever reason (pot or not) don't last long.

[sickrubik]

You are confusing two things. I have no real problems with pot being legal. I have problems with NFL players using it and pretending it doesn't affect them or their play. Everything you put in your body affects the way you live. Right now it's just one thing they can do in the NFL to regulate their players. Believe me, if the NFL could outlaw booze amongst their guys, they would.

I am not confusing anything, my point is as Nevermore is illustrating as well, is that the pot isn't the real problem in that context. There's a reason why it takes the NFL three strikes to punish pot before suspension. As Tom Nalen (former broncos center) said this week, "the NFL wouldn't be able to field any teams if they suspended players for 1st time weed offense."

Pot use isn't going to affect anything, or rather, will affect just as much as alcohol does. While the perception is that there is a MAJOR PROBLEM, in reality, it's still a very small portion of the player base that is getting in trouble.

I'm just not sure why we would expect players suddenly to fall into REEFER MADNESS.