What are odds of Randy Gregory playing this season

[GenoT]

I think if the NFL-NFLPA get a new CBA hammered out by the start of the season they could immediately institute a new marijuana policy that could clear the way for Gregory to play.

I use cannabis myself and am 100% for decriminalization. I also believe the NFL should relax its position on cannabis.

Having said that, the only way the latter might happen is if the current NFL regulations are changed — which can only happen by negotiation of and within the next, or a future, CBA.

There’s roughly 1,696 (32x53) players under full contract each NFL season. For argument’s sake, let’s say that 96 (a generous number) are in violation of the league’s pot rules during any specific season. That leaves 1,600 players who are not, at any given time, affected by pot rules.

Negotiating a new CBA is mostly about money; this affects all players. Then there comes other issues (working conditions, player safety, FA, etc), which also affect all players. Unfortunately, way down the list is cannabis; an issue that affects relatively few players.

The bottom-line is, you get NOTHING in negotiations without giving up something in return.

IMO, the majority of NFL players are NOT likely to be willing to negotiate to take less on issues which affect the majority, in order to gain rights for a small minority.

 

[Rockport]

Sorry if repost but anyone thinks he gets reinstated during the season?

BTW.....didn't know Cowboys gave him a small extension. Wonder how/if that affected additional years?


https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/07/dallas-cowboys-randy-gregory-player-profile-2019/

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By: C.C. Boorman | June 7, 2019 9:47 am ET

The days are counting down to the 2019 season and the Dallas Cowboys have reason to feel self-assured about their defensive line. Additions via free agency, a opportunistic trade and a line-centric draft have stocked the position group to a level that has not been seen in Dallas since the glory days of the early 1990s.

While the added firepower provided by veteran additions Robert Quinn, Christian Covington and Kerry Hyder along with rookies Trysten Hill, Joe Jackson and Jalen Jelks is enough to get giddy about, there is still one other key talent that could cause even more excitement and that is Randy Gregory.

It is easy to categorically dismiss Gregory in terms for the season if one takes the “indefinite” terminology that was rolled up in his most recent suspension by the league literally. His continued struggle with his inner demons and an admitted dependence on the use of marijuana makes it difficult to depend on his availability. He has been suspended on four separate occasions and it has limited his career to a mere 28 games of football since became a Cowboy in 2015

I think he plays. The Cowboys beat writers do as well. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Let him go. Find another player to take his place.

 

[the_h0wey]

Sorry if repost but anyone thinks he gets reinstated during the season?

BTW.....didn't know Cowboys gave him a small extension. Wonder how/if that affected additional years?


https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/07/dallas-cowboys-randy-gregory-player-profile-2019/

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By: C.C. Boorman | June 7, 2019 9:47 am ET

The days are counting down to the 2019 season and the Dallas Cowboys have reason to feel self-assured about their defensive line. Additions via free agency, a opportunistic trade and a line-centric draft have stocked the position group to a level that has not been seen in Dallas since the glory days of the early 1990s.

While the added firepower provided by veteran additions Robert Quinn, Christian Covington and Kerry Hyder along with rookies Trysten Hill, Joe Jackson and Jalen Jelks is enough to get giddy about, there is still one other key talent that could cause even more excitement and that is Randy Gregory.

It is easy to categorically dismiss Gregory in terms for the season if one takes the “indefinite” terminology that was rolled up in his most recent suspension by the league literally. His continued struggle with his inner demons and an admitted dependence on the use of marijuana makes it difficult to depend on his availability. He has been suspended on four separate occasions and it has limited his career to a mere 28 games of football since became a Cowboy in 2015

Slim to none.

 

[CouchCoach]

Talkin Cowboys and Cowboys Break have both hinted that Gregory might be available for the start of the season. They site words and phrases from JJ that leads them to believe that.

Are those words anything like what he said about Elliott not being suspended?

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

I use cannabis myself and am 100% for decriminalization. I also believe the NFL should relax it’s position on cannabis.

Having said that, the only way the latter might happen is if the current NFL regulations are changed — which can only happen by negotiation of and within the next, or a future, CBA.

There’s roughly 1,696 (32x53) players under full contract each NFL season. For argument’s sake, let’s say that 96 (a generous number) are in violation of the league’s pot rules during any specific season. That leaves 1,600 players who are not, at any given time, affected by pot rules.

Negotiating a new CBA is mostly about money; this affects all players. Then there comes other issues (working conditions, player safety, FA, etc), which also affects all players. Unfortunately, way down the list is cannabis; an issue that affects relatively few players.

The bottom-line is, you get NOTHING in negotiations without giving up something in return.

IMO, the majority of NFL players are NOT likely to be willing to negotiate to take less on issues which affect the majority, in order to gain rights for a small minority.

I don't know what the players' priority list is, but money is undoubtedly 1. and 2. That said, the new CBA would be an excuse for the league to relax the rules - I think most owners want them changed as much as the players but have been unwilling to give up any potential bargaining chips with the new CBA on the horizon.

 

[GenoT]

I don't know what the players' priority list is, but money is undoubtedly 1. and 2. That said, the new CBA would be an excuse for the league to relax the rules - I think most owners want them changed as much as the players but have been unwilling to give up any potential bargaining chips with the new CBA on the horizon.

I agree about the owners...and hope that is the case. If they’re onboard, it might well happen.

 

[JD_KaPow]

But to regulate the policy to prevent abuse? A required prescription from team AND LEAGUE doctors? Obvious some issues they have to sort through.......

What issues? Why should the league care about marijuana use by its players? Why should they be different from any other industry in this regard?

Drug/alcohol use matters (from an employer's perspective) when it (a) creates liability risks for the company--people operating heavy machinery under the influence is really bad and you may want to take extra measures to protect against that--or (b) when it interferes with an employee's job performance.

For the NFL, (a) is primarily PR risk around performance-enhancing drugs. It's hard for me to believe that guys on weed are somehow putting other players at greater risk; probably the opposite. There's also PR risk around people misbehaving off the field, but that usually revolves around alcohol and you don't see them cracking down on that.

And (b) you deal with primarily through offering support in the form of resources and treatment: you'd rather invest a bit in getting guys clean than letting them go and having to find and train someone else (not to mention that it's the right thing to do, given how we have health care tied to employment in this country).

Getting back to the original question, I'd say there's zero chance Gregory plays this season. Partly because of the league, partly because I don't see much evidence that he's reached a point where he's stable enough to keep it together. I hope I'm wrong, particularly on the second point.

 

[Whirlwin]

One word........addiction
From my understanding, it's not a word put in the same sentence with weed very often....

It should be

 

[DUO_CORE]

The only way he is playing this year is by taking the "S" out of "sky" and the "F" out of "weigh".

 

[Typhus]

I can’t help but to think that everyone’s realizes that testing and punishing for marijuana is a fool’s errand and in nobody’s best interests. And I wonder if this isn’t simply ended as a ‘peace offering’ to the players for the upcoming CBA negotiations?

Listening to sports last night, and there was an update that the players are actually seeking an agreement and are pushing to have a new contract done.
So maybe they know a bit more on the inside, and the Marijuana issue is obviously just as important if not more than the other top negotiating CBA priorities.

 

[Reid1boys]

What issues? Why should the league care about marijuana use by its players? Why should they be different from any other industry in this regard?

Drug/alcohol use matters (from an employer's perspective) when it (a) creates liability risks for the company--people operating heavy machinery under the influence is really bad and you may want to take extra measures to protect against that--or (b) when it interferes with an employee's job performance.

For the NFL, (a) is primarily PR risk around performance-enhancing drugs. It's hard for me to believe that guys on weed are somehow putting other players at greater risk; probably the opposite. There's also PR risk around people misbehaving off the field, but that usually revolves around alcohol and you don't see them cracking down on that.

And (b) you deal with primarily through offering support in the form of resources and treatment: you'd rather invest a bit in getting guys clean than letting them go and having to find and train someone else (not to mention that it's the right thing to do, given how we have health care tied to employment in this country).

Getting back to the original question, I'd say there's zero chance Gregory plays this season. Partly because of the league, partly because I don't see much evidence that he's reached a point where he's stable enough to keep it together. I hope I'm wrong, particularly on the second point.

Gregory played just fine. How's that for evidence he can play. Did he go nuts during a game? Did he lose it at practice? Have you ever heard anything bad about besides using pot? If pot were not an issue, he'd be playing each and every week.

 

[Stash]

Listening to sports last night, and there was an update that the players are actually seeking an agreement and are pushing to have a new contract done.
So maybe they know a bit more on the inside, and the Marijuana issue is obviously just as important if not more than the other top negotiating CBA priorities.

I see stopping marijuana testing as an inevitability. Something both sides want and something that both sides know has no value as a bargaining chip in negotiations. There aren't enough players who have issues gaming the current system to warrant giving anything up at the negotiating table. And the owners and league have finally realized that there's nothing to be gained in testing, only players to lose.

There's no point in it any more, and both sides know it.

 

[Cowfan75]

But to regulate the policy to prevent abuse? A required prescription from team AND LEAGUE doctors? Obvious some issues they have to sort through.......

Especially since you can only acquire a prescription from a doctor in a legal state, which wouldn't be valid in an illegal state. A player could have a prescription and still get arrested in any number of states for possession.

 

[DallasEast]

IMO, the majority of NFL players are NOT likely to be willing to negotiate to take less on issues which affect the majority, in order to gain rights for a small minority.

I have recited this same assumption from time-to-time. It is why I am highly interested in final wording of the next collective bargaining agreement.

In regards to marijuana, the next owners/players union compromise will include either complete or major changes or minor or zero changes to the league's substance abuse policy in my opinion. I would not be surprised with either outcome.

League owners and the commissioner fashion themselves as pseudo stalwarts of American decency. I am certain they recognize and acknowledge the increasing number of states changing their legal stance on marijuana use. I am also certain they continue seeing and hearing degrees of public dissent for the drug's ever increasing legalization.

Thus, I would not be surprised if the league modified both its position and drug policy to reflect the growing legal change in perspective for the drug. lol. On one hand, I can foresee the commissioner making a public statement saying the National Football League has 'changed with the times' and will become a very visual standard bearer for said change--even though the NFL has dragged its feet on the issue up to that point. On the other hand, I can envision the commissioner announcing publicly that the league will maintain its position on the drug if-and-until marijuana's federal legalization had been achieved--in effect not alienating that portion of its product base remaining steadfast in their belief the drug is a vice that would stain the Shield.

I must be honest. I have been highly critical of the league's CBA since the 1993/1994 ratification. Even so, the lingering right-and-wrong discussion of marijuana has made me highly anticipate (and impatient) for what the newest version will ultimately bring.

 

[Diehardblues]

As long as it’s a Federal illegal substance I’m for banning Marijuana. It’s time for this nation to end Prohibition on consumption . Until then...

Rise up America..set your bongs down get involved and elect the Representatives who support legalization.

 

[Reid1boys]

As long as it’s a Federal illegal substance I’m for banning Marijuana. It’s time for this nation to end Prohibition on consumption . Until then...

Rise up America , set your bongs down , get involved and elect the Representatives who support legalization.

Who cares what federal laws there are. Just don't test for it. NBA doesn't, they got smart. Nobody cares.

 

[Diehardblues]

Who cares what federal laws there are. Just don't test for it. NBA doesn't, they got smart. Nobody cares.

The rest of the country cares. And the NBA still cares.

“The NFL suspended six players during the 2017/2018 NFL season, while the NBA suspended two players for marijuana related violations of the substance abuse policy. The policy requires a player to enter the Marijuana Program. A second violation results in a $25,000 fine and the player must re-enter the Marijuana Program. The third marijuana related violation results in a five-game suspension and the player’s re-entry into the NBA’s Marijuana Program. A fourth (or any subsequent) violation involving marijuana will result in a suspension that is five games longer than the player’s immediately preceding suspension.”

 

[BaybeeJay]

DSM-5 305.3: Cannabis Use Disorder

Fairly common.

Associated with dependence and/or addiction.

I don't think you can say "fairly common." Cannabis is not associated with the physiological consequences of addiction, much like alcohol, hypnotics, stimulants, and opioids. There are risks to using cannabis, and one can develop behavioral/psychological dependence on the substance. It is not clear what all of these risks are, and we need more research to understand them better. We also need more research in the benefits of cannabis, including it's use for chronic pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

[Typhus]

I see stopping marijuana testing as an inevitability. Something both sides want and something that both sides know has no value as a bargaining chip in negotiations. There aren't enough players who have issues gaming the current system to warrant giving anything up at the negotiating table. And the owners and league have finally realized that there's nothing to be gained in testing, only players to lose.

There's no point in it any more, and both sides know it.

Agree, but then the question would be how Goodell initiates this new CBA if the weed issue is ratified.
Are players like Gregory already grandfathered in on punishment, or, are all players currently under discipline immediately waived free.