Is the NFL drug policy too soft?

[cml750]

Do you like watching the NFL?

Because if you institute a one strike policy, it's not going to be the same product on the field.

And the NFL isn't a normal job. It's more like a trust than a normal employer, and it's in the entertainment industry. Should someone be banned from their collective profession because they failed a drug test? It might make sense in the case of liability and malpractice, but this isn't such a career.

Really, the only reason drug testing is enforced in this instance is for PR purposes for the league, and maybe to a slight extent throwing some hesitation into some guys that might get tempted to adopt a partying lifestyle now that they're getting paid.

There are plenty of professions that don't drug test regularly. In fact, most non corporate jobs just see it as an added expense.

I think overall positive test would decrease very significantly if the enacted such a policy. The current policy offers a lot of chances. If they did not have those chances I think it would decrease positive test significantly. There is a lot of money at stake for these players.

 

[agorr101]

Owners are never subjected to the same things employees are. That's true in any walk of life. Get used to it because it's been that way since forever and will always be that way.

Very few high income jobs (over $1M+) are subject to random drug tests. We demand it of athletes, but not Wall Street, doctors or lawyers.

 

[cml750]

Very few high income jobs (over $1M+) are subject to random drug tests. We demand it of athletes, but not Wall Street, doctors or lawyers.

Valid point but the players are still "the working class" of the NFL and the "working class" has to deal with this across the country.

 

[agorr101]

Valid point but the players are still "the working class" of the NFL and the "working class" has to deal with this across the country.

How are NFL players any different than i-bankers, lawyer, doctors who work for for a firm? These i-bankers, lawyers and doctors all have a boss and work for a corporation, but they aren't subject to random drug tests. Even other entertainers don't have random drug tests. Successful comedians, singer nor actors have to submit to a random drug test.

 

[Hardline]

Why aren't NFL and team execs randomly tested for drugs? Shouldn't they be subject to the same standards as players.

That's a damn good question.

 

[cml750]

How are NFL players any different than i-bankers, lawyer, doctors who work for for a firm? These i-bankers, lawyers and doctors all have a boss and work for a corporation, but they aren't subject to random drug tests. Even other entertainers don't have random drug tests. Successful comedians, singer nor actors have to submit to a random drug test.

But they do have to submit tot random drug test just like many American workers. I am not arguing about legalizing drugs or how executives are not submitted to the same stanfards rather if the NFL had a policy like many American companies, one strike and your out, would it deter drug use?????

 

[Kevinicus]

Sorry way off topic, I'm here to talk football and not to argue drug policy. I don't want this thread to close, but you really should read up on what is going on with Marijuana:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/
I also have friends in Colorado who are seeing the benefits of Marijuana, their little girl has epilepsy and has been taking cannabis oils to help with her seizures. They say it is working, and I believe them.

Here is an interesting interview with the senior director of enforcement at Colorado Department of Revenue:
http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/...rwedidntanticipateproblemswithpotedibles.html

Jim Mcmahon (not the best source but interesting).
http://larrybrownsports.com/football/jim-mcmahon-marijuana-painkiller/294553

The medical improvements that are occurring right now with medical marijuana are a direct result of the wholesale change of attitude that Colorado made when they approved marijuana for use for everyone over 21.

Is it perfect in Colorado? No, absolutely not, but I think my friends would say that there is absolutely no regrets for giving their child a chance in this world. In fact the movement has created a whole set of families who left their families behind to give their children a chance at a better life.

http://www.wcpo.com/video/newsv/ohi...r-daughters-medical-marijuana-weed-revolution
https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/wisconsin-family-to-move-to-colorado-so-daughter-117202093802.html
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/10/health/medical-marijuana-refugees/

I could post hundreds of similar articles they are out there, but people need to educate themselves.

I have a good friend who moved from Kansas City to Colorado Springs so that she could get the cannabis oil for her daughter who has suffered from seizures since she was 5 (she is 11 now). It's crazy that she has had to pick up and move away from everyone she knows in order to try and get help for her kid.

 

[Doomsday101]

Very few high income jobs (over $1M+) are subject to random drug tests. We demand it of athletes, but not Wall Street, doctors or lawyers.

what can I say life is not fair. If players choose to play in the NFL they are subjected to drug test and this has been approved by their own union.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Well then, better hunker down there in Canada I'd say.

weak

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I think overall positive test would decrease very significantly if the enacted such a policy. The current policy offers a lot of chances. If they did not have those chances I think it would decrease positive test significantly. There is a lot of money at stake for these players.

This has been very well studied given our nation's incarceration policy. I'm sure you are familiar with mandatory minimums and the like which use the same rationale you are here. Get them off the street!

I guess it depends on what your goals are. Sounds like you are approaching it from the puritan "no drugs at no time" standpoint. Notions of ideological purity as basis for policy bore me at this point.

The NFL is about making money and the labor pool is scarce with 32 teams and world theory. You have to raise a real stink for them to care.

I don't see why you cannot allow the individual clubs make their own policy when it comes to issues that don't affect competitive balance.

 

[agorr101]

But they do have to submit tot random drug test just like many American workers. I am not arguing about legalizing drugs or how executives are not submitted to the same stanfards rather if the NFL had a policy like many American companies, one strike and your out, would it deter drug use?????

This has been very well studied given our nation's incarceration policy. I'm sure you are familiar with mandatory minimums and the like which use the same rationale you are here. Get them off the street!

I guess it depends on what your goals are. Sounds like you are approaching it from the puritan "no drugs at no time" standpoint. Notions of ideological purity as basis for policy bore me at this point.

The NFL is about making money and the labor pool is scarce with 32 teams and world theory. You have to raise a real stink for them to care.

I don't see why you cannot allow the individual clubs make their own policy when it comes to issues that don't affect competitive balance.

Well stated. One strike policies/mandatory minimums for non-violent drug use have been disastrous (mostly b/c prison costs $20k per inmate). Do we really care if a player is using drugs as long as its not impacting his job performance?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Owners are never subjected to the same things employees are. That's true in any walk of life. Get used to it because it's been that way since forever and will always be that way.

Sorry but I don't find that acceptable.

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.

Following WW1 and the destruction of the Ottoman Empire, slavery was sanctioned by no nation state in the world. You can go back to ancient Sumeria and there had been state sanctioned slavery in one form or another for at least 10,000 years.

There are always going to be people that want to place themselves over their fellow man but we've come a long way since the dawn of man. The millennials are the most egalitarian US generation yet. They are already starting to dismantle corporate middle management structures and the like.

 

[muck4doo]

Didn't all this testing come about because of steroids with Matuzak and Alzado? Pot wasn't the problem.

 

[csirl]

In answer to the OPs question - YES.

The NFL's drug testing is a joke PR exercise. The delays in HGH testing are proof. NFLPA is even worse. They should be advocating tougher testing in favor of their clean members and for player welfare reasons, not objecting.

NCAA football testing is also useless.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Sorry but I don't find that acceptable.

Certainly your prerogative. However, doesn't change that fact that what I stated is true.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Certainly your prerogative. However, doesn't change that fact that what I stated is true.

You can predict the future? That's cute. I'm glad I don't feel quite so helpless and I never teach others that they should feel that way too.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

You can predict the future? That's cute. I'm glad I don't feel quite so helpless and I never teach others that they should feel that way too.

I can look at 200,000 years of existence and see that it has always been this way. I see no reason for it to change anytime soon. You are right though, my Wife tells me every day that I am about the cutest damn thing she's ever seen. I guess there is no accounting for taste right?

If you like, you can follow this post up and paint a picture of exactly how great things will be when that specific reality changes. If you feel like it, go ahead and make a prediction as to when that particular change will come as well.

For my part, what I originally said is still the truth and you can like, hate or whatever in between. Wont change the simple truth of it.