NFL: Pop pills all you want but you can't smoke the weed

5/9/2018

Now first of all this is my site and I do whatever the hell I want so let me start off by saying, I'm not a marijuana person. I did it a few times when I was younger, in college or whatever - didn't like it. I don't knock anyone who does it, loves it, needs it, whatever, to each their own, it's just not for me. That being said, I do also believe that it can and should be used as a natural painkiller. (Sidenote: My mom has severe pain basically 24/7 from various health issues from a hip replacement to fibromyalgia and she doesn't want to take painkillers because she a) doesn't like the way they make her feel, regardless if her pain is relieved and b) she doesn't want to get addicted.)

Now, long story short, free agent running back Mike James has almost the same issue as my mom - he developed a dependence on painkillers from using them often as a result of football, and his doctor told him weed would be a safer alternative (yanno, rather than developing a life-altering addiction to pills). The NFL said nope you can't smoke weed here, keep taking the pills though.

This isn't a "weed should/shouldn't be allowed in the NFL" debate. This is a "the NFL prefers you get addicted to pills rather than a healthier alternative" debate. I get it - once you let one person use weed as a painkiller in the NFL - you have to let everyone. And the NFL has a history of having a horrible, terrible, no-good very bad time admitting when they are wrong about anything. But they're digging their own grave here.

James said it best - "I hear it all the time from retired players who say, 'I was so scared to say something when I was playing. We are the engine that drives this league. If we can't get onto the field with a less harmful medicine and we can't live our life after football, how are we going to tell our kids to play this game?"

buzz-worthy:

Kurt Warner is out here starting rumors again, saying he talked to a coach this season about returning to the field. I'm chalking this up as a 'slow news day' story, but he'd still be better QB than Matt Ryan.
Baltimore Ravens defensive end Zach Sieler was not only drafted in the seventh-round this season - he was also Ozzie Newsome's last pick ever as a GM. He's using that as motivation - “To me, it means a lot to come here, give it my all, make Ozzie proud, make my coaches back home proud, my family, everyone that’s been with me all these years. It makes me even more passionate – if that’s possible.”
Tony Romo posted a heartfelt 'open letter' to former Cowboys teammate Jason Witten, calling him the "best I every played with, and my favorite person to listen to Taylor Swift with in the weight room." (I added the last part, but it is true.) It was honestly too long and very small print for me to read so you can if you want.
NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson thinks Denver Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb is a shoo-in for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Chubb (what a name) was the fifth overall pick in this year's NFL draft, and has some great company in Von Miller.
The Detroit Lions picked up some new running backs in the draft (Kerryon Johnson) and in free agency (LeGarrette Blount) and Theo Riddick is fine with the competition. "I love it. I love competition. That’s why you play the game. I think we all do.”
The Minnesota Vikings have some bright ass lights and now they're turning them off because the neighborhood is whining about it. Normally, I'd laugh about this, but I have kids in my neighborhood that jump on the trampoline at like 7am on Saturdays so I'm plotting to set their trampoline on fire one day soon.
New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram has been suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the 2018 for PEDs. I don't think they're working, as he still can't catch up to Alvin Kamara.
Three Oakland Raiders got their college degrees this past weekend (including Amari Cooper).
Former Towson Tiger and Baltimore Raven (and Cleveland Brown, if that even counts) Terrance West visited the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday. West was a healthy scratch often in 2017 for Baltimore as Alex Collins took over the position. Philly looooooves Baltimore sloppy seconds, don't they? Courtney Upshaw also visited Tuesday.
Pittsburgh Steeler Alejandro Villanueva poured a beer all over himself while shirtless at the Washington Capitals game Monday night. It is the only time I've been able to relate with a Steeler.