Zach Boyer: Bashaud Breeland Busted With Pot

[Elephant]

I find it especially stupid that the NFL is still enforcing this rule when it is legal in two states. I get why the players have to all follow the same rule, but this is one the NFL IMO should just look the other way and stop enforcing when the movement nationwide is clearly one towards legalization. These pot suspensions are not only stupid for the players to acquire, but they're stupid on merit alone for the league to hand out. Our country needs to grow up about this "substance".

But the use of opiate based meds is ok...

However, there are rules in place, until changed...the player is obligated to follow them. Its a simple discipline, to follow rules. Unfortunately, many of these kids know nothing about following rules since they have never been forced to learn discipline.

 

[McD5]

Interesting article a few weeks back about that, CT:

Josh Gordon and the NFL?s Drug Problem «

From that article. The depth of the testing is staggering:


• In addition to the yearlong penalty for any positive test, part of his inclusion in the Stage III program means Gordon may be tested up to 10 times a month.

• Players who enter the Stage III drug testing program remain there for their entire career.

• Florio’s source said Gordon had passed at least 70 drug tests.

 

[MikeSr619]

Gordon needs the extra policing. He has a drug issue that needs the extra watching and enforcing.

 

[Special K]

Just catching up all on my news for this past week... What an ass clown. How hard is it to abide by the "no pot" rule, both in the NFL AND the real world? These types of idiots kill me.

All that said, I'm still really salty about Ray Rice getting off with a 2 game suspension for beating the hell out of his fiancee and everyone else getting 4-game suspensions for pot possession. That's insane and reflects terribly on the NFL. I agree with you, James, it's something that has got to be addressed.

 

[CounterTrey]

But the use of opiate based meds is ok...

However, there are rules in place, until changed...the player is obligated to follow them. Its a simple discipline, to follow rules. Unfortunately, many of these kids know nothing about following rules since they have never been forced to learn discipline.

I wouldn't disagree at all that the rule needs to be followed if it's there. My point is it's a stupid law and a stupid rule, it's not even a PED. Why is the NFL testing for it? Punish anyone actually busted for it legally the same way you do a DUI for alcohol but why are they testing for it? Do they force breathalyzers after a DUI? TOTALLY stupid.


To be clear I also don't disagree that it is monumentally stupid to get busted on weed when you have this on the line, I just think the system making it an issue is profoundly stupid.

 

[CounterTrey]

Interesting article a few weeks back about that, CT:

Josh Gordon and the NFL?s Drug Problem «

Bah! He had me until the Name change reference. Turd!

 

[Boone]

To be clear I also don't disagree that it is monumentally stupid to get busted on weed when you have this on the line, I just think the system making it an issue is profoundly stupid.

It's illegal. The NFL has the right to address employees who violate the law. I understand your point - but it doesn't mitigate the fact that it's still illegal to possess and/or use pot in most of the US.

And a rookie player ignoring that reality IS stupid.

 

[ntotoro]

I wouldn't disagree at all that the rule needs to be followed if it's there. My point is it's a stupid law and a stupid rule, it's not even a PED. Why is the NFL testing for it? Punish anyone actually busted for it legally the same way you do a DUI for alcohol but why are they testing for it? Do they force breathalyzers after a DUI? TOTALLY stupid.


To be clear I also don't disagree that it is monumentally stupid to get busted on weed when you have this on the line, I just think the system making it an issue is profoundly stupid.

Why? Two reasons:

1) It's illegal in Virginia.
2) They can.

Even if it was legal, they still can, just like any employer. It could even be at the team level if not the league level. It shows piss-poor judgment on the part of the player, though. Dude is out trying to score some weed when he's at a camp trying to make the team. That alone is enough to worry a staff.

Nick

 

[Goaldeje]

Just catching up all on my news for this past week... What an ass clown. How hard is it to abide by the "no pot" rule, both in the NFL AND the real world? These types of idiots kill me.

All that said, I'm still really salty about Ray Rice getting off with a 2 game suspension for beating the hell out of his fiancee and everyone else getting 4-game suspensions for pot possession. That's insane and reflects terribly on the NFL. I agree with you, James, it's something that has got to be addressed.

Yeah. I don't want to take this thread too far off base... maybe we could rename it the dumbass thread?

The name change things irritates me to no end but it isn't enough for me to stop watching my favorite team I think. But this cluster**** with Ray Rice might do it. I can not tell you how disappointed I have been with the NFL's response. Absolutely absurd. Having a teenaged daughter has made me quite the feminist.

 

[CounterTrey]

Why? Two reasons:

1) It's illegal in Virginia.
2) They can.

Even if it was legal, they still can, just like any employer. It could even be at the team level if not the league level. It shows piss-poor judgment on the part of the player, though. Dude is out trying to score some weed when he's at a camp trying to make the team. That alone is enough to worry a staff.

Nick

Doing something just because you can doesn't necessarily make it sensible or even intelligent. I agree that the kid's judgement is horrible and the bust is incredibly stupid, but that doesn't marginalize my point at all that it's a stupid rule and a stupid law and that testing for something that ISN'T a PED up to ten times a month (and is actually legal in 2 states across the board and legal for medicinal use in several more) is illogical. It's self defeating IMO. If the person shows a performance reason for testing and then gets flagged then I get it. But I've ALWAYS been against what I consider draconian measures without cause, Random testing is BULLSH#@. If they're operating heavy machinery, OK I get it, but playing a sport? What benefit is brought from randomly, aggressively testing for weed other than busting the people who may have indulged at SOME point in the past several weeks? The hypocrisy is incredible when you consider the frequency and level of severity of Alcohol problems (let alone the the actual partnership with and promotion of alcohol the NFL has). You don't see teams making players and employees take breathalyzers up to ten times a month if they admit to or get caught having had a beer or two over the weekend -or even get a DUI, they can return to work and drinking without a problem. Our Safety and his stupidity doing ANYTHING but focusing on football during camp is a problem but the level in Josh Gordon's blood means he either DID get it via second hand, or he smoked it a long time ago, i.e. he's not a habitual, chronic user (stupid maybe but that's a different story). The passing 70 tests also backs that but whatever, he went positive so lets ban him a year! Brilliant!

Like I said, our country needs to grow up about this substance. The daily barrage of pro alcohol media along with how openly our society embraces something that is proven to be much more damaging and dangerous and DOESN'T have the medicinal and commercial benefits this substance does, is beyond absurd. The fact that we're even still talking about the legality of it proves how effective propaganda can be and just how genuinely stupid our Government is as a whole. It's taken more than an entire generation for that crap that stretched from the 30's through the 80's to be seen in the mainstream as the absurd, comical farce it has always been. Reefer madness...hah!

 

[ntotoro]

The name change things irritates me to no end but it isn't enough for me to stop watching my favorite team I think. But this cluster**** with Ray Rice might do it. I can not tell you how disappointed I have been with the NFL's response. Absolutely absurd.

That's a whole other degree of stupid and the fan reaction to him at their first preseason game speaks volumes about "Charm City" in-general.

Nick

 

[ntotoro]

Doing something just because you can doesn't necessarily make it sensible or even intelligent.

It doesn't matter what you think, I think or what the price of milk is in China. It's their league, their rules. It's the same reason why people were rightfully upset about Ray Rice getting a slap on the wrist. Their rules. Even if marijuana was legal in every state and you could smoke up in the middle of Burger King, the sanctioning body can still make their own rules.

Nick

 

[CounterTrey]

Right and I and others can continue to point out the stupidity of it until it someone with influence notices and starts doing something about it like in Colorado and Washington and soon, other states as well. I have to laugh at the premise that the NFL is doing it for "safety" reasons. Nothing's stopping them from banning alcohol other than their multi-billion dollar contracts with the beer and liquor companies. It's downright comical.

 

[MikeSr619]

Well..pointing it out is cool and all but those who break the rules will continue (and should continue) to get suspended.

 

[Goaldeje]

That's a whole other degree of stupid and the fan reaction to him at their first preseason game speaks volumes about "Charm City" in-general.

Nick

Yeah, when they cheered him at training camp, I was sick to my stomach. Stay classy, Baltimore.