Should The NFL Test For Marijuana (1 Viewer)

[GregR_2]

I'm just as I read this thread. It's been said several times but since it doesn't seem to be getting through, let's say it again.

The NFL testing for illegal recreational drugs is about PROTECTING THEIR IMAGE AND THUS THEIR PRODUCT, not about ENFORCING A LAW, and not about PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT.

Please, can we put an end to all the comparisons to adultery or speeding or any other illegal act the NFL does not deal with. Drop the comments that insinuate the testing is done to keep performance from being enhanced by drugs. These have nothing to do with why the NFL tests for maijuana.

If a player does something that hurts the league's image, the league is going to take steps. This includes doing illegal drugs, committing other illegal acts that the public will frown upon (assault, beating your wife, etc), talking negatively about officials, gambling on football, and anything else the league feels is going to hurt their product.

If you want to debate whether the public does, or should, react negatively to a player doing marijuana, fine. If you want to debate if the NFL has a right to protect it's image, fine. Or for that matter whether any company has a right to do the same, whether that means testing for drugs, requiring you to wear a suit or a uniform or business casual or whatever.

But could we please just get past the misguided view that the NFL's actions are based on enforcing laws, or that they are testing for recreational drugs as performance enhancers. Half of the thread is taken up with this crap and it just drowns out legitimate converations on the topic.

 

[The Redbeard]

I'm just as I read this thread. It's been said several times but since it doesn't seem to be getting through, let's say it again.

The NFL testing for illegal recreational drugs is about PROTECTING THEIR IMAGE AND THUS THEIR PRODUCT, not about ENFORCING A LAW, and not about PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT.

Please, can we put an end to all the comparisons to adultery or speeding or any other illegal act the NFL does not deal with. Drop the comments that insinuate the testing is done to keep performance from being enhanced by drugs. These have nothing to do with why the NFL tests for maijuana.

If a player does something that hurts the league's image, the league is going to take steps. This includes doing illegal drugs, committing other illegal acts that the public will frown upon (assault, beating your wife, etc), talking negatively about officials, gambling on football, and anything else the league feels is going to hurt their product.

If you want to debate whether the public does, or should, react negatively to a player doing marijuana, fine. If you want to debate if the NFL has a right to protect it's image, fine. Or for that matter whether any company has a right to do the same, whether that means testing for drugs, requiring you to wear a suit or a uniform or business casual or whatever.

But could we please just get past the misguided view that the NFL's actions are based on enforcing laws, or that they are testing for recreational drugs as performance enhancers. Half of the thread is taken up with this crap and it just drowns out legitimate converations on the topic.

Well thanks Big Guy. ANything else in our lives that is misguided you would like to illuminate for the rest of us? Maybe, just maybe, we do understand this point (league image - as it has been mentioned several times) and are continuing a further discussion as to why our society and the NFL do not really care so much about things like alcoholism, reckless driving, adultary and spousal abuse (see Kobe Bryant, Randy McMichael, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jason Kidd, Derrick Coleman, Steve McNair, etc.). Maybe, we are trying to have a discussion about a society that sees an "image" problem with sitting in your home smoking a joint, but is actually kinda okay with operating a motor vehicle while drunk as long as you only do it once and apologize afterwards. But hey, no one will probably even bother to come back to this topic now that your diffinitive post has been written and we can just stop all our misguided, misinformed sophmoric rehtoric and go back to replying to the 47th Detroit Lions QB thread.

 

[GregR_2]

...

If you want to debate whether the public does, or should, react negatively to a player doing marijuana, fine. If you want to debate if the NFL has a right to protect it's image, fine. Or for that matter whether any company has a right to do the same, whether that means testing for drugs, requiring you to wear a suit or a uniform or business casual or whatever.

But could we please just get past the misguided view that the NFL's actions are based on enforcing laws, or that they are testing for recreational drugs as performance enhancers. Half of the thread is taken up with this crap and it just drowns out legitimate converations on the topic.

Well thanks Big Guy. ANything else in our lives that is misguided you would like to illuminate for the rest of us? Maybe, just maybe, we do understand this point (league image - as it has been mentioned several times) and are continuing a further discussion as to why our society and the NFL do not really care so much about things like alcoholism, reckless driving, adultary and spousal abuse (see Kobe Bryant, Randy McMichael, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jason Kidd, Derrick Coleman, Steve McNair, etc.). Maybe, we are trying to have a discussion about a society that sees an "image" problem with sitting in your home smoking a joint, but is actually kinda okay with operating a motor vehicle while drunk as long as you only do it once and apologize afterwards. But hey, no one will probably even bother to come back to this topic now that your diffinitive post has been written and we can just stop all our misguided, misinformed sophmoric rehtoric and go back to replying to the 47th Detroit Lions QB thread.

If maybe, just maybe, that's what you were talking about, then why would you feel any umbrage at my post? It agrees that those are the real issues in this and encourages that discussion.

 

[Dave Baker]

Having pot illegal is a silly law (inasmuch as alcohol should be illegal). But I suppose since it is illegal, it's reasonable to test for it. But should they? Absolutely not.

But I'm generally opposed to drug testing in any profession unless it is for airline pilots, surgeons, etc. whereby you are putting others ilves into your hands.

But no matter what, testing for marijuana is just wrong.

 

[The Redbeard]

...

If you want to debate whether the public does, or should, react negatively to a player doing marijuana, fine. If you want to debate if the NFL has a right to protect it's image, fine. Or for that matter whether any company has a right to do the same, whether that means testing for drugs, requiring you to wear a suit or a uniform or business casual or whatever.

But could we please just get past the misguided view that the NFL's actions are based on enforcing laws, or that they are testing for recreational drugs as performance enhancers. Half of the thread is taken up with this crap and it just drowns out legitimate converations on the topic.

Well thanks Big Guy. ANything else in our lives that is misguided you would like to illuminate for the rest of us? Maybe, just maybe, we do understand this point (league image - as it has been mentioned several times) and are continuing a further discussion as to why our society and the NFL do not really care so much about things like alcoholism, reckless driving, adultary and spousal abuse (see Kobe Bryant, Randy McMichael, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jason Kidd, Derrick Coleman, Steve McNair, etc.). Maybe, we are trying to have a discussion about a society that sees an "image" problem with sitting in your home smoking a joint, but is actually kinda okay with operating a motor vehicle while drunk as long as you only do it once and apologize afterwards. But hey, no one will probably even bother to come back to this topic now that your diffinitive post has been written and we can just stop all our misguided, misinformed sophmoric rehtoric and go back to replying to the 47th Detroit Lions QB thread.

If maybe, just maybe, that's what you were talking about, then why would you feel any umbrage at my post? It agrees that those are the real issues in this and encourages that discussion.

Fine man. But I think if you go read your original post, it was more of a "knock it off" to the jerks who just don't get it, in your eyes, and less of a "hey, look at a nice discussion, here's my 2 cents." At least that's how it reads before your selective editing of the post in your last reply. If I misinterpreted the intent of your , or took umbrage with this quote, "Please, can we put an end to all the comparisons to adultery or speeding or any other illegal act the NFL does not deal with. Drop the comments that insinuate the testing is done to keep performance from being enhanced by drugs. These have nothing to do with why the NFL tests for maijuana," I apologize. This image and the selective choice of what effects this delicate image is what I am talking about and is the whole reason that I brought up issues that are exagerated and overblown (ie. drunk driving and adultary) - to illustrate this skewed social view, without condesension, and yes, to encourage a discussion.

 

[GregR_2]

No problem man, I probably was snippier than I meant and for that I'll apologize. I literally felt like banging my head against the monitor because it annoys me when there is a great topic that has valid points on both sides (like this one), and the discussion gets submarined by continual posts that have nothing to do with the real topic and end up drawing all the replies.

As for the topic, I think the NFL should test for illegal drugs. The public perception is that they are a problem for society, and like any business the league needs to take necessary steps to protect itself. There is an added factor of the safety of the players if someone is actually playing while on drugs, though I think that is going to happen less frequently than casual use outside of the playing field.

I think the drug testing issue is pretty open and shut while they are illegal. Whether a given drug should be illegal is neither here nor there as far as the NFL goes -- they don't control that. If the public believes it is a serious enough issue to outlaw it, then the NFL would seem to be justified in wanting to avoid the image of some of their players as being criminals.