Wes Welker suspended 4 games

Ring 6 · Sep 3, 2014

shmessy said:
I have missed alot of the discussion.

Has anyone put forth that this seemingly squishy/technical violation may be a way for the league to quell/make sure that Welker takes the next 4 weeks off for his concussion?

He and the Broncos seemed to be gung ho on getting him back on the field as soon as possible and the NFL certainly doesn't want the national $jhitstorm about player safety that it would create.

Just wondering.

I don't understand how so much conjecture is being made about phonying up a collectively bargained drug testing and punishment policy.
No the league didn't invent a positive test because its afraid Welker would want to play football.

Kontradiction · Sep 3, 2014

shmessy said:
I have missed alot of the discussion.

Has anyone put forth that this seemingly squishy/technical violation may be a way for the league to quell/make sure that Welker takes the next 5 weeks (including bye) off for his concussion?

He and the Broncos seemed to be gung ho on getting him back on the field as soon as possible and the NFL certainly doesn't want the national $jhitstorm about player safety that it would create.

Just wondering.

No. There could be a very high profile lawsuit if the NFL did that. I believe Welker took some bad Molly at the Derby and it showed up in a drug test that came not too long after the event.

Bill Lee · Sep 3, 2014

Seems any financial win he got from the donkeys is now, well, "up in smoke", according to the Denver Post article linked above:

Regardless of when his suspension begins, Welker will be docked five weeks pay from the league's 17-week season, or $882,352 of his $3 million salary. He might also have to pay back a portion of the $7 million in signing and roster bonuses he has already received.

shmessy · Sep 3, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
I don't understand how so much conjecture is being made about phonying up a collectively bargained drug testing and punishment policy.
No the league didn't invent a positive test because its afraid Welker would want to play football.

"Phonying up" a testing and punishment policy and 'inventing a positive test'??? That is clearly not what I wrote.

No, simply the timing of this seems highly coincidental to keeping Welker off the field for several more weeks. It sounds as if he lost his appeal 2 weeks ago (before the concussion) but nothing was announced until now.

I am not pretending to know either way. It may very well be a lucky and serendipitous timing for the NFL to avoid another possible concussion controversy with a nationally well-known star.

RobertWeathers · Sep 3, 2014

MrNathanDrake said:
Not when its only a 2 year contract.

Guaranteed money is more important for those 5-6 year deals.

Disagree. Guaranteed money is always important regardless of the years of the contract.

WW really screwed himself here as he will be forfeiting $1.88m in bonus and salary for the positive test...

RobertWeathers · Sep 3, 2014

Bill Lee said:
Seems any financial win he got from the donkeys is now, well, "up in smoke", according to the Denver Post article linked above:

Yep. $1.88m total is what he needs for forfeit.

Ring 6 · Sep 3, 2014

shmessy said:
"Phonying up" a testing and punishment policy and 'inventing a positive test'??? That is clearly not what I wrote.

No, simply the timing of this seems highly coincidental to keeping Welker off the field for several more weeks. It sounds as if he lost his appeal 2 weeks ago (before the concussion) but nothing was announced until now.

I am not pretending to know either way. It may very well be a lucky and serendipitous timing for the NFL to avoid another possible concussion controversy with a nationally well-known star.

Well your post called the violation 'squishy'. You also called it 'technical' which implies there is a difference between a true positive violation and a technical one, then went on to suggest that it was done for the league to make sure he wasn't on the field because the Broncos seem to want him to play football.
That sounds to me like you are implying this happened because the league did something it wouldn't otherwise do in order to prevent him from playing for other reasons.
Can you clarify how this is any different than any other failed test? I may be misunderstanding your point.
I wouldn't put much stock in reports on what he tested positive for, when it happened or when his appeal was denied, because there are conflicting reports all over the internet.

varjao · Sep 3, 2014

I was kind of feeling betrayed by Welker like he gave a middle finger to all NE fans, and after the hit on Talib I wanted him to get knocked the fuk out this year but man, he suffered a concussion after a whiff and now this episode, I wish him well and at this point I mean retirement.

There is no way he keeps playing with Manning concussion safe, actually he may have reached the point that he can't play at all, because there will be hits in NFL.

The memes are funny but that one with a giant alien helmet is actually very sad.

PatsWickedPissah · Sep 3, 2014

Although I view this as a serious situation for Wes (concussions) I've enjoyed the humor in the thread.

Before we dance in Denver's end zone remember that the Patriots are not saints. We could well see one or more Patriots lose some time this year (in addition to the 2 already). I'd hate to crap the season because some young stupid millionaire a-hole can't abide by league rules.

Palm Beach Pats Fan · Sep 3, 2014

shmessy said:
this seemingly squishy/technical violation ....

There's nothing really squishy or fishy about such a failed drug test result.

A lab technician injects your sample into the instrument (likely an LCMS, for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer). They see specific peaks in the spectrum that correspond to MDMA, plus those peaks show exactly the right mass values to be definitively identified as MDMA and/or its known degradation products.

Unless the sample wasn't from him, it's not something that anyone can easily fake. You couldn't even say that anyone tampered with the sample or added MDMA, because in that case the ratio of the MDMA peaks to the many peaks arising from the body's metabolism of MDMA would be way off and you could easily tell that it was a tainted sample.

varjao · Sep 3, 2014

After smoking weed for how long a test can detect the use? A friend of mine is asking.

Ring 6 · Sep 3, 2014

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:
There's nothing really squishy or fishy about such a failed drug test result.

A lab technician injects your sample into the instrument (likely an LCMS, for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer). They see specific peaks in the spectrum that correspond to MDMA, plus those peaks show exactly the right mass values to be definitively identified as MDMA and/or its known degradation products.

Unless the sample wasn't from him, it's not something that anyone can easily fake. You couldn't even say that anyone tampered with the sample or added MDMA, because in that case the ratio of the MDMA peaks to the many peaks arising from the body's metabolism of MDMA would be way off and you could easily tell that it was a tainted sample.

The report is that he tested positive for amphetamines not MDMA. The MDMA slant was added as speculation that he took MDMA that was cut with amphetamines.
Of course, your point is equally valid, and there are numerous conflicting stories, but none have said the drug he failed on was MDMA.

FreeTedWilliams · Sep 3, 2014

Galeb said:
Not everyone buys molly from some random stranger. There are plenty of chemists out there that produce this stuff in pretty sophisticated labs using proper techniques and compounds. WW is a young millionaire, not some naive kid or degenerate junkie.

There are also plenty of people who have taken MDMA as their first "drug", though the vast majority have at least tried marijuana. MDMA isn't a very addictive drug and the negative effects of short term use are often greatly exagerated. The real short term dangers usually result from mixing it with other drugs. That said, the side effects from long term, heavy use can be pretty severe.

MDMA has a high success rate dealing with many marital/intimacy problems. It has also been successfully used to treat PTSD and other disorders.

Been to many meth labs? Yeah "sanitary" is not the word I would use for them. If you think the people making this stuff are any different, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you! The rich get there drugs from the same place, they just use a middle man to buy it. The Chinese have taken to importing MDMA in large quantities. So the same people who have included things like rat droppings, etc in baby food, are now making your MDMA! I'm sure that they are using the finest health and safety quality inspectors at those facilities too!

You have already convinced yourself that it is OK, that's fine and dandy, just don't think for a minute, that MDMA (or the people profiting from making it) are making anyone's life better.

Lansdowne · Sep 3, 2014

Missed most of the conversation, but the timing of this suspension seems rather convenient. I wonder how long Goodell's office has been sitting on this information.

(I am glad for Welker's sake that he's getting some time off rather than rushing back from a concussion.)

MrNathanDrake · Sep 3, 2014

varjao said:
After smoking weed for how long a test can detect the use? A friend of mine is asking.

could be a couple days to a couple weeks. depends how strong it was and how much was smoked

JackBauer · Sep 3, 2014

FreeTedWilliams said:
Been to many meth labs? Yeah "sanitary" is not the word I would use for them. If you think the people making this stuff are any different, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you! The rich get there drugs from the same place, they just use a middle man to buy it. The Chinese have taken to importing MDMA in large quantities. So the same people who have included things like rat droppings, etc in baby food, are now making your MDMA! I'm sure that they are using the finest health and safety quality inspectors at those facilities too!

You have already convinced yourself that it is OK, that's fine and dandy, just don't think for a minute, that MDMA (or the people profiting from making it) are making anyone's life better.

What are you talking about? Like nearly every other drug, it's possible to get high quality MDMA, just as it is possible to get crap quality MDMA. It's mostly about who you know. And like some (not all) other drugs, MDMA can improve your quality of life. It's all about moderation and responsibility. Admittedly these qualities are in short supply among large swathes of the general population.

PATSNUTme · Sep 3, 2014

PatsWickedPissah said:
Although I view this as a serious situation for Wes (concussions) I've enjoyed the humor in the thread.

Before we dance in Denver's end zone remember that the Patriots are not saints. We could well see one or more Patriots lose some time this year (in addition to the 2 already). I'd hate to crap the season because some young stupid millionaire a-hole can't abide by league rules.

When it happens to your guy, you make excuses and forgive (AH being the exception). When it happens to a guy on another rival team, 2X when the guy use to be on your team, your rejoice and make all kinds of fun about it.

That is the fun of fandom.

Kontradiction · Sep 3, 2014

MrNathanDrake said:
could be a couple days to a couple weeks. depends how strong it was and how much was smoked

Also depends on body fat.

FreeTedWilliams · Sep 3, 2014

JackBauer said:
What are you talking about? Like nearly every other drug, it's possible to get high quality MDMA, just as it is possible to get crap quality MDMA. It's mostly about who you know. And like some (not all) other drugs, MDMA can improve your quality of life. It's all about moderation and responsibility. Admittedly these qualities are in short supply among large swathes of the general population.

If you honestly think that the people making this stuff have any sanitary or quality measures in place, your insane! The only thing they care about is making money, so sure, they want their stuff to be good, but if you think they are not cutting every corner or adding whatever is the cheapest, closest, easiest thing to find, your nuts! Take some to a lab, see what's in it. then get back to me.

ctpatsfan77 · Sep 3, 2014

KontradictioN said:
Also depends on body fat.

Which, as you might have noticed, Welker doesn't have very much of.

Wes Welker suspended 4 games

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