This is literally the most feels driven ridiculous statement and obfuscation of the actual issues I have seen in a long time. And I read the threads here after we lose.
You want to call it emotion because it doesn't agree with your views, that is fine. Doesn't make my opinion of the man and his actions any less. Did he walk out on his job after getting paid millions ? Yes he did. Did he make any changes in his life to get back to work ? No he didn't. If you don't like it, I will live.
I can see how it can be seen as emotional because of the words I use. Please realize, those are well thought out insults to a person based purely on his actions, his accountability for those actions, and the example he is creating with his actions.
Cause if it was all about just the pot, then how would I be a Tyrann Mathieu fan ? How could the Cardinals be drafting a person like Mathieu if Washington's issue was just marijuana? Its because Washington as a person has more issues then just marijuana, and I do not see Mr. Washington looking for help.
You wanna say "I do not know what he is going through", sure you are right. But, neither do you. Yet, just looking at the actions of all parties involved I feel pretty confident in my personal opinion and judgements. If pepole do not agree, I have no issue with it.
I am very clearly talking about the physical toll the game takes on players, and the addiction and total destruction that prescription pain killers take on people. These are not facts that are even remotely disputable.
Didn't dispute any of that, don't even know where you are getting it that I was. Cannot debate what is in your head, just the text on the screen.
You are basically saying that the league should continue to ignore the possible benefits of THC and the players should accept it because they make millions of dollars. Moreover, you are essentially saying that players should be forced to use highly destructive and additive medications - medications that are in large part responsible for the heroin epidemic in our country - because they make a lot of money.
I said what I typed. Whatever you want to put in between the lines is on you personally. I cannot comment on what I didn't say or write. BTW, you are talking to one of the biggest advocates for the legalization of marijuana on this board. Go ahead and look for posts under my name on the subject, there are plenty. I even pulled an Anquan Boldin after my last surgery and refused pain meds. I think it is a crime that marijuana is illegal, 100%.
One problem. It is illegal in the NFL to do it. What is worse ? Not only is it illegal, but BARELY illegal. If you are responsible enough, you can smoke all you want in the NFL, just gotta take care of business when they test. #1 thing that will hurt the cause of legalization of marijuana is examples of people using the drug irresponsibly. Daryl Washington being the poster child for such actions.
Meanwhile, you will note below Mr. Ricky Williams who has actually done a lot from his troubles in the NFL, and has been a good example of someone being responsible and living that life.
It is my belief in the benefits of marijuana that further makes me disgusted with Washington. So, while I understand the whole situation with marijuana, unfortunately I also hold people accountable for their actions. I would love to smoke again, but cannot. Why? Because the responsibilities in my life do not allow for it because it is illegal.
But, here is where Mr. Washington and millions of others differ. The reason I do not is because I have to be responsible and accountable for my actions just like millions of others, unfortunately we do not get to trick people out of millions of dollars and get away with it.
I will not defend DW for the DV incident, but I also wont' imply that it was related to his marijuana use. I won't even argue with you that he threw his career away. My point is that we are quick to destroy him for his own personal decision to not quit using marijuana - when we know nothing about what he may or may not have been going through. People did the same damn thing to Ricky Williams as well, and we know now he suffered immense pain from anxiety.
No one knows what anyone is going through in life. That is the way it is. To live a life walking on egg shells around others is a great recipe for putting yourself in a place to be taken advantage of as well. That is just reality.
But you know what ? The world owes no one anything. If you have problems, guess whose job it is to deal with them, yourself. Guess whose job it is to give that person the benefit of the doubt, no one.
Guy was given millions to do a job. He walked out on it. Nuff said. He can do what he wants, but that do not absolve him from people having an opinion of him as a person based on his actions. Pretty sure (not 100% sure mind you) if you paid a person to fix your roof, and they took the money and ran, you would not care if they did it because of some personal problem. You would be pissed you were out the money and your roof isn't fixed. You would want your money back, or the roof done, and would not care what problems the other party was having at the time.
You wanna smoke marijuana ? Fine. You wanna make a case for smoking instead of pain killers ? Fine, and hell I will support you in that. You wanna go deal with your problems your own way ? Fine. You wanna live a life of privacy ? Fine.
Just don't steal millions of dollars from people that believe in you, are counting on you, and who trusted you, walk away, and expect to be looked at like a "good" person, or look for empathy from others. Because that is just being a scumbag, cheat of a person. That is my opinion, and if you don't like it you are entitled not to. But, not for a second will I back down from it.
No other person would be given the benefit of the doubt in this situation that I know of, so why Washington of all people gets this special treatment is beyond me.
There are other NFL players that can be backed when talking of pro-marijuana use, that are responsible, and took care of their business, and promoted marijuana use in the NFL. Heck, there are even ex-Cardinals you can back.
Appreciate the civil back and forth by the way, at least the debate it rooted in some reality.