Handling of Randy Gregory Looks Bad on NFL, NFLPA

[CCBoy]

I don't know about that. Haven't employees come to work drunk and have been fired? I assume they would have to undergo some type testing to verify they were under the influence of alcohol.

Furthermore, I can imagine the NFL crafting an argument that because of the growing awareness and concern for brain trauma, it's in the best interest of their employees to be free from any mind-altering substances that could make them more susceptible to injury. And since marijuana lingers in one's system and we can't be certain when consumption occurred, it is in the best interest of the NFL to ban its use as a grounds for employment in its league.

Health/Safety is a legitimate reason to ban certain substances as the basis for employment.

Coming to work drunk? The TEAM, not the NFL would immediately have him in an Alcohol Rehab Program...dare him to not complete that! That is on the level of the employer, not league again.

...throwing around excuses does not explain away issues presented.

Health/Safety is not at issue, from the start...only legality of useage.

 

[tyke1doe]

Coming to work drunk? The TEAM, not the NFL would immediately have him in an Alcohol Rehab Program...dare him to not complete that! That is on the level of the employer, not league again.

But that doesn't mean the league can't ban it.

Furthemore, the problem with that team approach vs. the league approach is uneven and unfair treatment unilaterally. This, actually, is why we have more intrusive policies. There used to be a time, for example, when bosses treated employees differently. Maybe a boss in one department punishes/disciplines or doesn't punish his employee one way and a boss in another department punishes/disciplines an employee differently. Once the employee who gets disciplined gets word of the employee who wasn't disciplined, the company gets sued for unequal and unfair treatments. So to protect the company, it establishes comprehensive policies that apply to everyone.

Now let's look at the NFL. Let's assume discipline varies from team to team and something occurs where a player gets on the field tipsy and gets seriously injured. Do you think the family of the player is going to just sue the team? No. The family is coming after the league because it has deeper pockets and because, ultimately, the league is responsible.

Because we live in a litigious society, the league can't relegate this responsibility solely to teams.

 

[Sage3030]

Facts, please? Any historical citations?

Second, I work in a manufacturing industry. We have policies against drug use, including marijuana, because of the impairment associated with the use of drugs.
Drugs have been illegal in society in general because of their ability to impair and impede judgment and because of the impact they have on one's health. And even in the case of prescription drugs, those deem harmful cannot be obtained legally over the counter. We have regulatory agencies and procedures that make it difficult for the general public to obtain these drugs.

I understand those who advocate the legalization or decriminalization of drugs want to make it an issue of self-righteousness, the pharmaceutical companies, racism, idiocy, etc. But the bottom line is ... unlike McDonald hamburgers or tobacco, drugs have a mind-altering effect on their users, and many in our society have determined it's not in the best interest of general society to have our citizens engaging in practices that leave them in a compromised mental state, a state that could negatively impact others in society.

And to my observation in a previous post, we can legalize drugs if that's what society wants (which I believe will occur), but what will happen is that the consequences will merely shift and be absorbed within the framework of a society that finds marijuana use legally acceptable. You can't avoid the inherent consequences of a thing.

Sure:

https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/s/am...ug-war-blacks-hippie/index.html?client=safari

"You understand what I'm saying? We knew we couldn't make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin. And then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities," Ehrlichman said. "We could arrest their leaders. raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did."


From Harry Anslinger himself:

“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.”

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”

Edit: I agree that companies have the right to implement their policies as they see fit. When they can come up with a screen(which it looks like is happening) to determine "stoned now", it would be as fair as the alcohol policies in the states where it's legal.

 

[tyke1doe]

Sure:

https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/s/am...ug-war-blacks-hippie/index.html?client=safari

"You understand what I'm saying? We knew we couldn't make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin. And then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities," Ehrlichman said. "We could arrest their leaders. raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did."


From Harry Anslinger himself:

“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.”

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”

Edit: I agree that companies have the right to implement their policies as they see fit. When they can come up with a screen(which it looks like is happening) to determine "stoned now", it would be as fair as the alcohol policies in the states where it's legal.

Thank you. I have heard this line of reasoning before, but after reading your article, doing further research and remembering a confession a former CIA made about drugs in the black community, I'm inclined to believe you.

However, I still think there is a societal benefit for prohibiting drugs, but it seems those prohibitions are waning. I still think a sober society is more beneficial than a drugged society, but I'm a dinosaur like that.

 

[TheHerd]

Thank you. I have heard this line of reasoning before, but after reading your article, doing further research and remembering a confession a former CIA made about drugs in the black community, I'm inclined to believe you.

However, I still think there is a societal benefit for prohibiting drugs, but it seems those prohibitions are waning. I still think a sober society is more beneficial than a drugged society, but I'm a dinosaur like that.

I think I'm about to drop dead! A stand up guy on the Internet who, when presented with evidence confirmed by personal investigation, makes an informed and public change of stance. Bravo, and a thousand likes.

And it's fine to stump for the benefits of a drug free society.

 

[RamziD]

They didn't exactly buy it........he got a 3 game suspension and fined a 4th game check...which might be worse.....making you play for free

But how many times can you fail for the same infraction.....getting arrested for DUI of marijuana and being in possession of marijuana is the same infraction, not 2 separate cases

If you miss 5 tests in a month it is still one fail, not 5 fails

So, the "couple" of tests Bell missed were all in the same month and were treated as a single incident? How much time lapsed between each of Gregory's infractions that you listed separately? I'm actually curious to know and you speak as if you know the details.

 

[gmoney112]

So, the "couple" of tests Bell missed were all in the same month and were treated as a single incident? How much time lapsed between each of Gregory's infractions that you listed separately? I'm actually curious to know and you speak as if you know the details.

No. He missed a test in December, a test in January, then admittedly slept through another test that following April.

He was suspended 3 games and was not advanced in the program.

Edit: Sorry this was Bell. Gregory's looked to have all happened in the same off-season except maybe the last one.

 

[RamziD]

No. He missed a test in December, a test in January, then admittedly slept through another test that following April.

He was suspended 3 games and was not advanced in the program.

Edit: Sorry this was Bell. Gregory's looked to have all happened in the same off-season except maybe the last one.

Thanks. So those "couple" of tests that OP counted as 1 infraction were actually 3 separate infractions. Good to be clear about this.

 

[windjc]

Jerry should take this to court. Out of principal. Beat the NFL in a court of law.

 

[Nightman]

Thanks. So those "couple" of tests that OP counted as 1 infraction were actually 3 separate infractions. Good to be clear about this.

There is nothing clear about it..... that is the point ......all these fans are whining about Bell without knowing anything for certain......no one for certain when and if Gregory missed or failed tests.....all of this is pieced together from various reports....nothing solid

I don't how the NFL classified Bell's missed tests but they obliviously reached a small settlement with him due to some mitigating factor that Gregory did not present....... Gregory had his appeal and lost....... Bell had his appeal and got one game knocked off but still lost the 4th game check..... Bell was not given any special treatment because he was a Steeler....... just like Orlando Scandrick had his suspension vacated wasn't because he was a Cowboy

The only thing we know for sure is Gregory failed multiple tests before and after he entered the league

 

[RamziD]

There is nothing clear about it..... that is the point ......all these fans are whining about Bell without knowing anything for certain......no one for certain when and if Gregory missed or failed tests.....all of this is pieced together from various reports....nothing solid

I don't how the NFL classified Bell's missed tests but they obliviously reached a small settlement with him due to some mitigating factor that Gregory did not present....... Gregory had his appeal and lost....... Bell had his appeal and got one game knocked off but still lost the 4th game check..... Bell was not given any special treatment because he was a Steeler....... just like Orlando Scandrick had his suspension vacated wasn't because he was a Cowboy

The only thing we know for sure is Gregory failed multiple tests before and after he entered the league

Well, I think the whole point of the article was to criticize the NFLPA for working out a deal for one NFL player and not another. They are similar violations, yet 1 player gets a drastically more severe punishment. That there were some mitigating factors for Bell and not Gregory is just simply conjecture to try to justify the results. It's not like the NFL hasn't been inconsistent in their policies/decisions before.

 

[Everson24]

Ya it's not right and Goodell should be ashamed of himself. I don't have a problem suspending Gregory if everybody is treated the same. Bell can fail what 6 test now and only have 4 game ban. It is what it is but hopefully Gregory gets his life straight above all

Bell should have been suspended 10 games this year and he only got 3. I hate the inconsistencies and the bias the NFL shows towards the Rooneys and Mara's. In fact I'm still ticked off that they stole the 2014 Divisional Playoff game from us.

 

[Cowboys22]

Bell should have been suspended 10 games this year and he only got 3. I hate the inconsistencies and the bias the NFL shows towards the Rooneys and Mara's. In fact I'm still ticked off that they stole the 2014 Divisional Playoff game from us.

Not only that but they cut a deal so that his next failed test is still only a 4 game suspension when it should be 1 year like Gregory just got. Since they kept reducing his suspensions, he hasn't hit the 4 game level yet. Something just isn't right with that situation. Maybe we don't know all the facts.

 

[Broges74]

First, if the majority of the people were for legalization, marijuana would be legal. Unless, of course, people are too stupid to understand the system in which we live and how laws are enacted in our democratic society.

Second, many drugs have medicinal benefits. That's why we used them to treat various ailments. Morphine is a drug that has medicinal benefits, but we don't allow its use in general society.

Third, marijuana IS a mind-altering substance. You keep on changing what I'm saying because you don't want to acknowledge my observations. Mind-altering doesn't necessarily mean "high". But there's a reason why jobs involving health and safety prohibit mind-altering drugs, including but not limited to marijuana. Maybe it's YOU who need to educate yourself and understand how to read posts in proper context.

This is off football and you and the other 42% of uneducated individuals are losing your hold on prohibition. Sorry, you're wrong.

Let's talk football on a football forum. But hey, you seem to not be able to let it go.. so I'll be the bigger man here and move on.

 

[Nightman]

Well, I think the whole point of the article was to criticize the NFLPA for working out a deal for one NFL player and not another. They are similar violations, yet 1 player gets a drastically more severe punishment. That there were some mitigating factors for Bell and not Gregory is just simply conjecture to try to justify the results. It's not like the NFL hasn't been inconsistent in their policies/decisions before.

But what about Bell's teammate Martavis Bryant who was also given a 1 year banishment

He went from 4 games in 2015 to a banishment in the Spring of 2016...he didn't even appeal

Bell took a settlement instead of getting an all or nothing judgement from the arbitrator....that is like making a plea deal.......it is not always equal to what others get by going to court..... Gregory fought his case and lost the judgement, maybe he should have offered up a settlement

I heard they offered Brady 2 games less if he took a deal......he didn't and got the full 4 games

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

There is nothing clear about it..... that is the point ......all these fans are whining about Bell without knowing anything for certain......no one for certain when and if Gregory missed or failed tests.....all of this is pieced together from various reports....nothing solid

I don't how the NFL classified Bell's missed tests but they obliviously reached a small settlement with him due to some mitigating factor that Gregory did not present....... Gregory had his appeal and lost....... Bell had his appeal and got one game knocked off but still lost the 4th game check..... Bell was not given any special treatment because he was a Steeler....... just like Orlando Scandrick had his suspension vacated wasn't because he was a Cowboy

The only thing we know for sure is Gregory failed multiple tests before and after he entered the league

Obviously? You are wishcasting.

The league leaks what is supposed to be classified information as a matter of policy in an attempt to shape public opinion. They made this bed.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

But what about Bell's teammate Martavis Bryant who was also given a 1 year banishment

He went from 4 games in 2015 to a banishment in the Spring of 2016...he didn't even appeal

Bell took a settlement instead of getting an all or nothing judgement from the arbitrator....that is like making a plea deal.......it is not always equal to what others get by going to court..... Gregory fought his case and lost the judgement, maybe he should have offered up a settlement

I heard they offered Brady 2 games less if he took a deal......he didn't and got the full 4 games

Well presumably the would mechanism be an owner lobbying the commissioner's office. Can you really not envisage differential treatment under those circumstances?

Frankly, that you act incredulous that the NFL is arbitrary in it's punishment is absurd. They now operate under the guise of what they can get away with as opposed to rule of law.

 

[Nightman]

Obviously? You are wishcasting.

Did they or did they not reach a settlement???

 

[Nightman]

Frankly, that you act incredulous that the NFL is arbitrary in it's punishment is absurd. They now operate under the guise of what they can get away with as opposed to rule of law.

You don't read no good either....I said they reached a deal that reduced his punishment to avoid an all or nothing verdict... they must have been a little nervous about their "facts"

I just don't buy that Gregory got treated poorly........if you want to write a poem for him and put in under your pillow than knock yourself out

Write one for Bell's teammate Martavis Bryant that also got banished

 

[Nightman]

The league leaks what is supposed to be classified information as a matter of policy in an attempt to shape public opinion. They made this bed.

Some worker of the world got the justice they collectively negotiated but here comes Fuzzy anyways to save the damsels in distress......like a true Internet White Knight would do