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  • January 12, 2008 03:51 PM ET

The NFL has lax substance abuse penaltys.

thewiserfool (5-3-0) vs EagleHater: Goodbye, FN (84-36-3)
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In the NFL, substance abuse penaltys are usually fines or 2 or 3 game suspension. I mean, Shawne Merriman didn't even miss the Pro Bowl last season after testing posoitive for anabolic steroids. I think it should be changed, and made harsher.


NFL drug policy is NOT too lax.

You say it is only a "fine or 2 or 3 game suspension." Actually... No. You're totally off.

The first time a player tests positive for a banned substance, he is suspended for FOUR GAMES without pay. Now, four games may not seem like a lot, but remember that is a quarter of the NFL season. The baseball equivalent would be a 41 game suspension. And this is only for the FIRST positive test. A players make 2 million bucks is going to lose out on 500 grand of that.

The second time around, the suspension is 8 games, or half the season, again without pay. A guy with a 2 million dollar salary is out a cool million.

The third time, you're out for a whole year. Not just a season, but 12 months with no pay, no going to team practices, nothing. You make 2 million bucks a year? You're out of ALL of it.


So, while it has its flaws, and what system doesn't, the substance abuse policy is actually quite strict. I mean, what does a Pro Bowl mean to you, if, say, you are suspended for your team's Super Bowl run through the playoffs?


But, see, illegal substance abuse gives you an unfair edge over your opponent, so in my opinion, you should be suspended for A FULL YEAR the first time you test posotive for ANY illegal substance. No exceptions. In any competitive athletic sport, using illegal drugs to get an edge is UNACCEPTABLE. It should be stopped dead in it's tracks, and the best way to do that is one year suspensions for first violations.

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January 12, 2008  04:03 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Ahh...beat me to it. It's actually very complicated, I believe it's 4 games, then 4-6 games, then 1 year (continued abuse suspension is on a case-by-case basis, but is usually a career-ender).

 
January 12, 2008  04:12 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Mike Cameron is only suspended for 20 games on his 2nd possitive steroid test in baseball.

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