Reefer Madness in Draft Class?
by Bruce Raffel on Mar 25, 2010 8:46 AM EDT
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PrintAccording to Don Banks of Sports Illustrated, there are as many as 10-11 prospects labeled as "first round talent" in next month's NFL Draft that are part of what is being called an "epidemic" of marijuana use. The increased number of prospects that have a history of pot use is being looked deeper into to see if this is due to just trying the drug or being "addicted" to it, as one unnamed GM has stated. While I question the comprehension value of the word "addicted" it also seems that this generation of Front Office personnel are not putting as high a value on the so-called issue.
Remember that current Minnesota Viking Percy Harvin had the same tag before he was picked in the first round last year. DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles also had the reputation and with the success by both of those players, along with the trend of states throughout the country headed towards de-criminalization, it shouldn't be a major problem for those players who are looked at as first round talent.
In Banks' article, he says that four NFL GM's, under the cloak of anonymity, said that perhaps as much as one-third of the draft class had experimented in some way with marijuana. Gee, these kids were in college, weren't they? Something tells this writer, a former college student, although in the late '70's, that the percentage is probably a lot closer to 100% than to 33%. However, to label those people as "drug abusers" is ridiculous in this day and age. At the same time, if any of those prospects tested positive for drugs such as cocaine or meth, then that is a serious problem that deserves to be addressed and the label would be deserved.
Read Don Banks' interesting story from Sports Illustrated here.
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Ricky Williams has had a decent career.
"I kill myself in small amounts"
by StuckInUtah on Mar 25, 2010 9:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Wait...
did he smoke pot? Huh, never would have figured….
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Mar 25, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
He was teaching yoga while he was out of the NFL.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I guess they do yoga
in the Himalayas, right? Sitting like a Buddha is yoga anyway.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Mar 25, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Much ado about nothing
Some of these kids from poor backgrounds where worst things are prevalent and so this is not a big deal. What is a big deal is the fact that agents are now advising the kids to get out in front of the media by telling clubs during the interview process the truth. It minimizes the damage done in the press. The other thing is a kid knows is…… what clubs are leaking information to the media ala their wonderlic scores.
Truth be told
I agree wholeheartedly. No big deal, unless the guy is major dealing and plans to continue which would be flat out stupid, but then again, there are always those who just don’t get it….
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Mar 25, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
plenty of fortune 500 companies out there that don’t drugtest. so that should tell you something…
not saying the NFL shouldn’t drug test, but you don’t need to give up on a guy who enjoys a blunt whenever he’s back home with his buddies…
"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden
We owned an inner city nursing home
in the 90’s and we decided to do drug testing but purposely left pot out of the test because we knew we wouldn’t have any employees if we tested for it.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Mar 27, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
So what if they burned one
They had some fun in college, big woop. Rather have these guys with a minor pot charge ether than a DWI or DUI.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Exactly
As long as they’re not reckless or negligent, who cares if they toked a little. As long as when they hit the pros they wise up and clean up their act. Ex. no DWI, no conspiracy of trafficking cocaine (that means you Jamal), no beating your wife/girlfriend, and especially no raping! I don’t care how many rings you got Ben (or Kobe), you guys are role models now, act like it.
"I kill myself in small amounts"
by StuckInUtah on Mar 25, 2010 11:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Wow. I can’t believe how many fans are okay with the occasional use of illegal drugs.
I’d throw my two cents in, but you guys would probably think I’m an uptight jerk… I’ll just stay out of this one.
The only reason marijuana is illegal in the first place is because of the drug companies. In my opinion alcohol is worse for you. Don’t get me wrong, I love my booze, but you never hear about people dying from “marijuana poisoning”, or someone taking out a family because they were “blackout stoned” when they were driving. You may feel differently, but there’s my two cents.
"I kill myself in small amounts"
by StuckInUtah on Mar 25, 2010 1:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not okay with the occasional use of illegal drugs
Cocaine, heroin, Meth, Ecstasy, etc are terrible for you and will kill you on the first time trying. But pot is not fully an illegal drug. There are reasons why it is legal in many states, because it has health benefits and is not something that you can OD on. These players smoked, ate some cheese curls and passed out on the couch. No biggie.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I think you should still offer your opinion.
Who cares what a bunch of internet nerds think about your opinion on weed?
I personally love it. But hey, I’m a democrat.
I'll take a chance on a pot smoker
over a girlfriend-beater, DUI, burglary, other drug use player anyday!
aka 'Rexx'
Then there wouldn't be enough players
to make a team, much less a league, much less any pro league!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Mar 26, 2010 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Your point?
This is the NFL, not the Cornell Football League!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Mar 27, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
You mean compared to taking insane amounts of pain killers
in the grand scheme of things pain killers will lead to the break down of the body more quickly. Also I would consider someone with a history of fist fights and heavy drinking more of a risk.
At least we aren't the Raiders?
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