Quincy Carter: Marijuana had role in releaseBy JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR

[CrazyCowboy]

Quincy Carter: Marijuana had role in release


[SIZE=+1]Former Cowboys QB acknowledges mistake, signs with CFL team
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[SIZE=-1]11:28 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 4, 2006

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[SIZE=-1]By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News[/SIZE]
IRVING – Quincy Carter, the last quarterback to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs, on Tuesday said that marijuana use played a role in his abrupt release from the team before the 2004 season.
Carter, who did not play football last year, spoke to The News after signing a one-year deal with Montreal of the Canadian Football League.

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"I made a mistake in the past. That mistake was for marijuana. I'm excited about getting a fresh start with Montreal, and I want to put the things in the past behind me," said Carter, who spent a portion of last year at John Lucas' treatment center in Houston. "When you walk around and people think you're on cocaine or bipolar, it hurts. None of that was the case.
"I had some issues, but I've worked on them, and I'm happy about the way I've picked myself up and faced my situation."
Carter, a second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2001, passed for 3,302 yards in 2003 and helped coach Bill Parcells lead the Cowboys to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
But the Cowboys signed veteran Vinny Testaverde in June 2004, and Carter didn't handle the competition well. Three months earlier, Dallas had signed quarterback Drew Henson to a long-term contract.
Six days after the Cowboys reported to training camp in 2004, they released Carter. Parcells and owner Jerry Jones never divulged their reasons for releasing Carter.
"I want you to know – on my part – this was not a difficult decision at all," Jones said at the time. "It is, though, very disappointing."
Carter filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association for wrongful termination. The case remains unresolved. A few weeks later, he signed with the New York Jets and played in seven games.
Eugene Parker, Carter's agent, said he's glad Montreal general manager Jim Popp has given Carter an opportunity to prove he can still be a productive quarterback.
"It's a situation that Quincy definitely wanted to take advantage of because they have one of the top programs in the league," Parker said. "Jim has done his homework. He knows about Quincy."
Carter said he will spend the rest of the CFL's off-season in Canada familiarizing himself with the rules and the offense. Montreal has its first minicamp in May.
"This is the best way for me to get my career started and show how serious I am about playing the game I love. For me, I have to play football. It's been my life and my passion," Carter told The News . "I'm happy right now. I'm proud of picking myself up, and now it's time for me to go on with my career and show the NFL that I'm a playoff-caliber quarterback and a starter in the NFL.
"For now, my career has taken me in other directions. At the end of the season, if anyone wants me, I'm free to go. If not, I'll explore all of my options."

 

[THUMPER]

It's a good thing marijuana isn't addicting otherwise people might choose it over their careers and ruin their lives. :bang2:


It is nice to see Quincy get another shot at playing. I never thought he was a bad guy just dumb, kinda like Leon Lett.

 

[big dog cowboy]

IRVING – Quincy Carter, the last quarterback to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs, on Tuesday said that marijuana use played a role in his abrupt release from the team before the 2004 season.

I wonder if that is the whole story. I'm sure it did play a role, but where is the rest of the story?

 

[THUMPER]

I wonder if that is the whole story. I'm sure it did play a role, but where is the rest of the story?

I said at the time that there had to be something in Quincy's contract that allowed them to release him for any drug related problem because it would be a violation of league rules otherwise. Jerry said that he had no hesitation in letting Carter go but was disappointed, that told me that he felt very confident that they had not violated the league rules regarding the drug policy meaning that they had it in writing ahead of time and it had been approved by the NFLPA as well as the league office (as all contracts have to be).

It appeared all along as if something had triggered an automatic release clause.

 

[PJCOWBOYS]

Anything can be addicting. Cigarettes, Alcohol, McDonalds Hamburgers, Cake and Ice Cream, Pizza, Sex, whatever.

I hope everything works out for Quincy.

It's a good thing marijuana isn't addicting otherwise people might choose it over their careers and ruin their lives. :bang2:


It is nice to see Quincy get another shot at playing. I never thought he was a bad guy just dumb, kinda like Leon Lett.

 

[baj1dallas]

It's a good thing marijuana isn't addicting otherwise people might choose it over their careers and ruin their lives. :bang2:

It's not any more addictive than a woman who's bad for you or staying up too late to finish watching the Monday night football game.

 

[the_h0wey]

I thought it was pretty common knowledge at the time we cut Quincy Carter that drugs were involved. I honestly couldn't care any less that Quincy is still playing football. All Quincy Carter is to me is another wasted draft pick

 

[dcboy]

Unlike most, I still like Carter and wish him the best. I don't believe that weed was the only drug involved but it doesn't really matter. I will be watching a few Montreal games.

 

[deadrody]

It's not any more addictive than a woman who's bad for you or staying up too late to finish watching the Monday night football game.

Come on now. The puritans in the audience KNOW BEST. Don't be clouding their limited view of reality with actual logic. Now, we just need to return to the days of prohibition (but all those naughty things, booze, strippers, porn, foul language, Howard Stern and Desperate Housewives) and everything will be just dandy!!!

 

[jterrell]

I am afraid Quincy is still not being honest with the media or himself.

I heard anurse come on the air and state Quincy was using marijuana to self-medicate because he is bi-polar and has trouble with depression. His actions and few live interviews lead me to believe her statements. He is now denying any issues other than marijuana which frankly worries me for the guy.

Stepnoski used plenty of marijuana as well. It isn't just pot giving him problems. Its his mental makeup IMHO which I now think is a slippery slope that doesn't appear to be improving over time.

Its a tragedy really.

If it was just drugs then it would just be ashame he ruined his life over something so small but I am afraid it is much more than that.

 

[notherbob]

Anything can be addicting. Cigarettes, Alcohol, McDonalds Hamburgers, Cake and Ice Cream, Pizza, Sex, whatever.

I hope everything works out for Quincy.

This is true, there's a whole class of behavioral addictions, cracking your knuckles, nail biting, eating, bolemia, politics, argueing, feeling you have to have a particular lover at all costs, running, religion - just look at any Muslim or Catholic or Bhuddist or evangelical Christian who has no room for reality in their lives or life outside their particular religions.

Life is full of addictive traps.

 

[Gfunk]

Quincy is BS'n, it was coke

I know players that smoke, they know when in the season they can and cannot smoke​

 

[burmafrd]

Its only addictive to those that are not strong enough to quit. Nicotine and certain hard drugs are very addictive. Pot and all the rest are not that tough to quit if you really want to. Q was just a weak individual.

 

[the_h0wey]

Quincy is BS'n, it was coke

I know players that smoke, they know when in the season they can and cannot smoke
​

So I know players and pimps that smoke

 

[dcboy]

On a side note. I have a friend who is now married to a football player, whose name I wont reveal. He was a superbowl mvp. One day she called me panicing because he had a drug test coming up very soon and had recently smoked some weed. I found a masking agent for him and he passed the test. We had to find the best stuff to get and a store that had it in the city that he lived in.

 

[Kittymama]

I wish Quincy nothing but the best. Drugs are a tough monkey to get off your back (Darryl Strawberry, anyone?).

What I am still burned about is the hypocrisy of the "New York Times" at the time (altho why should that be a surprise, since it's the "Times"). When Q was signed by the Jets, one of the sportswriters there wrote a column talking about how wonderful Herm Edwards was to sign Q & calling Parcells & Jones racists for cutting Q. He even wrote that they were telling people it was drugs (which they never did--Parcells has never said anything, while Jerruh only alluded to it last year), & that they were lying because they were racists who didn't want a black QB. That's what the writer wrote. Ironically, just a few months later, the "Times" itself was writing that Q had been cut by the Jets--& they flat-out said it was because of drugs!!! Interestingly, that writer never had a followup column on what a racist Herm Edwards was for cutting Q.

The real tragedy is that Chad Pennington had to come back & play sooner than he should have, ended up reinjuring (or aggravating the injury) himself, & may never be the player he could have been. That IS because of Q--& for that Q should be very ashamed. Whether it's marijuana or cocaine or whatever, it was his unreliability at backup that forced Pennington back in before he had fully recovered from his shoulder injury.

 

[Mash]

Best of Luck to him....

I'm hoping to see him play up here.....He has all the tools and I actually enjoyed watching him play as our QB. Alot more enjoyable then the past two years IMHO.

Pot is pot....its like having a few drinks of alcohol....the diff is it isn't legal. Carter seems to have bigger issues than that.

This could be a great stepping stone for Carter....renew his confidence and deal with his issues in a foreign city making about 40 grand a year canadian. This will humble him I hope and keep him clean and straight.

The CFL rules and field is a great place for him....he will pass alot and has a strong enough arm to throw it all over the field.....also with the CFL you dont have to be pin point accurate in this league....Carter has the physical tools to be a star here.......joining former cowboys BJ Tucker and McGarity

 

[kilz]

I wish Quincy all the best on and off the field.

I look forward to watching him light up the CFL. :laugh2: (Pun intended)

 

[kartr]

I wish Quincy nothing but the best. Drugs are a tough monkey to get off your back (Darryl Strawberry, anyone?).

What I am still burned about is the hypocrisy of the "New York Times" at the time (altho why should that be a surprise, since it's the "Times"). When Q was signed by the Jets, one of the sportswriters there wrote a column talking about how wonderful Herm Edwards was to sign Q & calling Parcells & Jones racists for cutting Q. He even wrote that they were telling people it was drugs (which they never did--Parcells has never said anything, while Jerruh only alluded to it last year), & that they were lying because they were racists who didn't want a black QB. That's what the writer wrote. Ironically, just a few months later, the "Times" itself was writing that Q had been cut by the Jets--& they flat-out said it was because of drugs!!! Interestingly, that writer never had a followup column on what a racist Herm Edwards was for cutting Q.

The real tragedy is that Chad Pennington had to come back & play sooner than he should have, ended up reinjuring (or aggravating the injury) himself, & may never be the player he could have been. That IS because of Q--& for that Q should be very ashamed. Whether it's marijuana or cocaine or whatever, it was his unreliability at backup that forced Pennington back in before he had fully recovered from his shoulder injury.

Pennington didn't have to come back because of Q's drug problem, he came back because he was afraid for his job. Carter helped Santana Moss put up pro bowl like numbers for three straight weeks, that's why Gibbs traded Coles for Moss. Even Mike Irvin thought that the Jets should have let Quincy play in more games;and he thought that because Pennington posed no threat to Pittsburgh and or New England defenses with his weak arm. I read everything printed about the Jets at that time and the Jets players were very supportive of Carter the whole year and even Pennington admitted that Carter could make throws he could never dream of making.

 

[kartr]

I am afraid Quincy is still not being honest with the media or himself.

I heard anurse come on the air and state Quincy was using marijuana to self-medicate because he is bi-polar and has trouble with depression. His actions and few live interviews lead me to believe her statements. He is now denying any issues other than marijuana which frankly worries me for the guy.

Stepnoski used plenty of marijuana as well. It isn't just pot giving him problems. Its his mental makeup IMHO which I now think is a slippery slope that doesn't appear to be improving over time.

Its a tragedy really.

If it was just drugs then it would just be ashame he ruined his life over something so small but I am afraid it is much more than that.

Where are you getting this? This, meaning that it has to be more than marijuana and all these other issues. None of us had any clue that Carter had a drug problem while he was here. The drug test the caused his release from Dallas wasn't an NFL test, it was a Jerry Jones in-house test, which was illegal by league rules, which makes it a non-issue as far as the league is concerned. In Carter's leaving the Jets, it was never stated that he had failed a drug test while there, it was said that he went to a facility after the season, that doesn't tell us the depth of his problems. Today, when someone fails a drug test, it is stated that they failed, ala Ricky Williams and Travis Henry,etc. We never hear anything about Quincy having run-ins with the law on drug raids or being stopped by the police like Mike Irvin. In fact, we hear almost nothing about him. That doesn't sound like a guy with a major drug problem. I heard that Mike Shanahan tried to get league to give him a status on Ricky Williams drug status and was told that it was confidential. So I believe that real reason Carter has had trouble finding another NFL job has more to do with confidentiality being a double edge sword. Teams don't want to take a chance on a player without knowing the depth of his problem, yet the league has confidentiality rules that protects the players record, yet hinders them from getting another job.