And that's Strike 7: Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon arrested again

[PatsWickedPissah]

If folks here are frustrated by Gronk's talent not being available for games, just imagine...

 

[varjao]

D'Qwell Jackson ✔ @DQ52
If you're close to Josh Gordon please help this kid, it's not about football anymore it's about picking up the pieces of his life.
2:19 PM - 5 Jul 2014

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

There are many young talented people in their 20s who are urinating away their lives through addictions they're currently unable to control. It's not unexpected that a few are NFL players, however talented.

 

[dales804]

So unfortunate. He's a hell of a wide receiver. Hope he gets it together and straightens things out.

 

[mmasterkillah]

In our U.S. society "just" smoking weed has become much more accepted lately, but it doesn't change the fact that anyone of us can be immediately dismissed from their employment for doing so.

If/when that happens, none of our arguments about "just" smoking weed will fly worth a damn, and Josh Gordon's shouldn't either. If anything, he's actually getting off much easier than the majority of us would, with the ability to earn millions when he returns for 2015.

I've smoked plenty of weed in my late teens/early 20s, but there's a time when common sense must prevail and one must attempt to grow up. Apparently, that has not happened in Gordon's case, as he's had multiple warnings now. If he can't put the pot down to earn millions of dollars, that's his stupidity.

My point is that it is very stupid that "just smoking weed" has such consequence in our laws. I understand "it is what it is", but I don't agree with it personally.

Marijuana's harmless as long as it's used correctly. If people choose to use it wrongfully and abuse it, that's their problem, but the fact anyone can get canned from their jobs for smoking weed is ridiculous to me, and will probably be looked at and laughed at in history books.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Why has no one gotten him help? Unreal

 

[supafly]

My point is that it is very stupid that "just smoking weed" has such consequence in our laws. I understand "it is what it is", but I don't agree with it personally.

Marijuana's harmless as long as it's used correctly. If people choose to use it wrongfully and abuse it, that's their problem, but the fact anyone can get canned from their jobs for smoking weed is ridiculous to me, and will probably be looked at and laughed at in history books.

I agree with you. Like I said, I smoked plenty of weed in my late teens/early 20s/mid 20s. I am not judging the fact that he's smoking weed, as much as I am the fact that he's had multiple opportunities to weigh his rewards vs. consequences, and come to a better conclusion--particularly since there are potentially tens of millions of dollars involved.

From a criminal justice perspective, I am personally for decriminalization more than outright legalization, just as a start. That said, there have been some very positive numbers from the states of Washington and Colorado that may lead one to feel that outright legalization is the best way to go.

I certainly agree that the way things have been for awhile are absolutely ridiculous. I was charged and convicted in 1993 (at the age of 18) for 0.26 grams of pot, which as you know is the equivalent of maybe 1.00 or 2.00 dollars worth. I will always have to overcome that obstacle and challenge for the rest of my life, even though I'm almost done with my 4th degree, belong to the honor's society, and have changed my life dramatically in every way possible. No one hates the current laws more than me, especially when you've done everything in your power to better yourself and make the necessary changes to move ahead.

To take it one step further, the state of PA where I currently live has now enacted a nicotine policy where employers prevent you from consideration of you have any nicotine within the last 180 days. Even though I have switched to the e-cigarette, it is still showing up as nicotine, and makes it even more difficult to get a job. Many of these rules can be quite frustrating...that said, tens of millions of dollars would be quite the motivational factor

 

[supafly]

Why has no one gotten him help? Unreal

I believe that the union has some pretty decent help in place for those who wish to pursue it. Luxury rehab centers, outpatient counseling, etc. Hopefully he wishes to receive the help he needs.

As much as people like to complain about the fact that about 98-99% of the NFL players need to pass ONE drug test every year (on a day they all know it's coming), the union has some pretty nice perks in place, such as the fact that Gordon could've called a free service that picks up all players any time of the day or night with no questions asked. If all I had to do was pick up the phone and have a Mercedes or limo service give me a ride, there wouldn't be many who'd feel sorry for me if/when I received a DUI.

 

[PatsChamp88]

You hear about this happening all to often at the High School and College level but here's a guy who got yet another second chance which most could argue it's lucky he even made it into the NFL let alone by way of the supplemental draft and is was the most talented WR in the league.

To have that big of an impact and be a dominate player while only playing two seasons in the NFL is not something you see everyday especially when you considered his supporting cast and position, yet make these decisions and do this to yourself is just something I have a hard time understanding. However some people have all the talent in the word but no passion for the game but I don't think that's the case here and it's more of old habits are hard to kick and most people will never change.

He's had issues dating back to High School and it sure does seem his lifestyle and the people around him never changed throughout College or the NFL so it's surprising he lasted this long. At this point I have a hard time believing he will play another down in the NFL unless he makes some drastic changes in his life which again I have a hard time believing. Had he kept his head on straight with the Browns I have no doubt he would have been the highest paid WR in the NFL and possibly one of the best to have played.

 

[PatsChamp88]

Coming from a street cop no one smokes weed anymore and I mean no one. Everyone smokes the over the counter Spice products. That is some nasty,nasty stuff right there. People who smoke that stuff turn into zombies and they can't even function. Spice is weed just one or two chemicals off and they are always changing it so the Feds can't keep up with them. We seize it and have it tested at the state lab.

Mostly every state has changed its DWI laws and added to the list of intoxicated by drug use.

Umm what? LOL

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Shirley you can't be serious! I have dealt with many customers that require drug testing. And I have dealt with many customers that if an employee was arrested for substance abuse, that employee would be fired.

That is the way the real world works. And this arguement "he's just a young guy" is also silly. Plenty of "young guys" take jobs and have to abide by a personal conduct code. That is not counting the many younger guys who have joined the military over the years. If 18 year olds can live by the strict disipline of the military, some prima donna WR who is 23 can live by the personal conduct policy of the NFL.

I am serious....and don't call me Shirley.

 

[Ivan]

Umm what? LOL

Don't mock him, he has taken a bullet for the president, cared for the nuclear codes when the president was busy picking out ties, and singlehandedly squashed numerous terrorist threats against this country. If he says people are smoking spices instead of pot then that's the way it is.

 

[supafly]

Umm what? LOL

If he says people are smoking spices instead of pot then that's the way it is.

I think he was just noting that more kids are smoking the synthetic forms of weed these days, even though it was worded somewhat poorly.

While what he's saying is definitely true, I would respectfully disagree that more people are smoking the synthetic form over good, old-fashioned weed. In all actuality, I think we'd all agree that weed is at its highest popularity that it's ever seen.

It is a shame about those synthetic forms though. That stuff had been attempting to lure people since I was in the game back in the mid 90s on the back of High Times magazine, and somehow they actually succeeded into properly marketing their product. From what I understand, it's dangerous as all hell.

 

[Joker]

what he posted is utter nonsense. that crap sold in "Quik Marts" has absolutely ZERO relation to marijuana or its' active compound THC. Utter nonsense ignorantly posted for effect. You can always tell the closet bigot by the "shot and a beer and where's my smokes" philosophy embraced by the mindless moron generation.

 

[supafly]

what he posted is utter nonsense. that crap sold in "Quik Marts" has absolutely ZERO relation to marijuana or its' active compound THC. Utter nonsense ignorantly posted for effect. You can always tell the closet bigot by the "shot and a beer and where's my smokes" philosophy embraced by the mindless moron generation.

I'm hoping that he just worded himself very poorly, because if not---you're right, his bias is clearly showing. As you've said, what he's categorizing as weed is nothing like it. I'm hoping that I saw through the BS and took the correct meaning, because it's scary to think that is how law enforcement views such a small, irrelevant issue on society (other than poor utilization of already limited resources).

As an outsider who doesn't live in the N.England states, I am very hopeful that some of your states are setting a good example, where we can lessen the prosecution for marijuana, while even potentially legalizing it. It really isn't doing any good to waste manpower and precious taxpayer resources. That's just my opinion of course. Any time we tend to discuss topics of controversy it usually leads to trouble, so hopefully we can avoid some of that this time.

As far as Josh Gordon goes--here's hoping he makes better decisions and recognizes the magnitude of his particular situation. More importantly, if he really does have a substance abuse problem as it appears, let's hope he gets some help and turns things around for his sake. Or let's hope he gets cut and comes to N.England, where he helps us to win 3 more SB's in the Brady/Belichick era

 

[Joker]

He doesn't have a substance abuse problem....the indiscriminate weed smoking is a symptom.

His problem is, quite obviously, a SELF DISCIPLINE issue. He has none. Zero. He's been living like a ten year old locked in Candyland after hours. That is HIS problem. I don't care one way or the other what happens with him. I have my own life and real problems to deal with and I never had the luxury of a the pampered athlete "full ride" he's enjoyed for half his life.

 

[Kontradiction]

what he posted is utter nonsense. that crap sold in "Quik Marts" has absolutely ZERO relation to marijuana or its' active compound THC. Utter nonsense ignorantly posted for effect. You can always tell the closet bigot by the "shot and a beer and where's my smokes" philosophy embraced by the mindless moron generation.

As someone who is probably closer to the younger generations than most here by virtue of my age, family, friends, and friends' family, I can attest to this being true. If anything, the kids are "dabbing" nowadays, and that has nothing to do with the potpourri products that corner stores sold.

 

[pats4life12]

Such a shame a guy with so much talent and potential all wasted for making stupid decisions.

 

[Ivan]

He doesn't have a substance abuse problem....the indiscriminate weed smoking is a symptom.

His problem is, quite obviously, a SELF DISCIPLINE issue. He has none. Zero. He's been living like a ten year old locked in Candyland after hours. That is HIS problem. I don't care one way or the other what happens with him. I have my own life and real problems to deal with and I never had the luxury of a the pampered athlete "full ride" he's enjoyed for half his life.

On the other hand you have always had the canteen and unlimited workouts in the yard to look forward to.................

 

[mmasterkillah]

Good posts on the subject, for the most part.

I just think the dude should be able to vaporize all the marijuana he wants after games and after practice as long as he works hard and performs.

The weed must not be effecting him THAT negatively if he was the best WR in the world last year, right?

It appears he has some growing up to do, but I always had the impression he was a fairly quiet, peaceful man who enjoys the same pastime that the great Bob Marley did.