If the proposed CBA is ratified, the NFL will no longer suspend players for positive tests for marijuana or other substances of abuse. While this CBA includes a harsher PED policy, the new substance-abuse standards will focus more on treatment.
One positive drug test will not equal a penalty, instead only moving players to stage two of the substance-abuse program, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. Fines will commence beginning with a second positive test, ranging from one game check (for two positive tests) to three (for four positive tests).
Players not in the drug program will only be tested for non-marijuana substances of abuse once between April 20 and August 9 each year, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets. This CBA would slash marijuana testing from this April-August window to a two-week period, with weed suspensions being virtually eliminated.
Players will only be suspended for not cooperating with the testing procedure or the clinical care that comes in stage two of the program, and even that will take some doing. Only for a fourth violation of this nature would bring a suspension of three games. For a player to be suspended for a season, it would take seven violations of the testing procedure or clinical care.
Season-long bans, or substance-abuse suspensions of any kind, will become quite difficult to earn. However, the players already suspended for substance abuse under the 2011 CBA may fall into a gray area. It is not yet clear if the likes of Josh Gordon, Randy Gregory or Martavis Bryant would have their statuses cleared up and be permitted to return to the league. Even Justin Blackmon and Daryl Washington — who saw PED bans lead to years away from the game — would fall into this category.
But the proposed CBA all but removing substance-abuse suspensions opens the door to past violators being given green lights to return to action. Having missed all of the 2017 and ’19 seasons because of substance abuse, Gregory wants to play in 2020.
There is an easy out for the NFL. They will only test players that do not live in states where it is legal for regular or medicinal use. If said player fails the test all he would have to say is I went to this state and got high. The NFL did you bring any back. Player nope. NFL ok you are good.
It would be a step in getting it closer to not be tested. I don’t know how they get past Goodell’s ignorant talk a couple years ago when he said they are looking into it. There needs to be more studies on how addictive it is and what it does to the body. Nobody asked him about Percocet and Vicodin use. With tests that show how addictive it is and what it does to the body. Wise up most Americans won’t buy that line of BS.
So no suspensions but they could still be fined entire game checks? Might as well take the suspension then. Why should they work for free? So the league get the benefit of their stars not missing game action, which leads to better ratings and increased revenue, while at the same time not having to pay said players. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.
High time!