2 Steelers RB's charged with possession

[jimnyc]

What a couple of idiots. Their #1 and #2 backs as well. Both charged with marijuana possession, and the #1 back charged with DUI as well.

---

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount will be charged with marijuana possession following a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon.

Ross Township police say a traffic officer pulled over a Camaro operated by Bell around 1:30 p.m. after the officer noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

The officer found a 20 gram bag of marijuana inside the car. Bell was taken to a hospital to have blood drawn and is expected to be charged with driving under the influence of marijuana.

Bell, Blount and a female passenger were arrested and are expected to receive notice of formal charges through the mail. The possession and DUI charges are both misdemeanors.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/steele...5922--nfl.html

[aboutime]

Jim. Honestly? Is anyone supposed to be surprised? Considering the number and growth of states making MJ use legal?

It just reminds me about how our laws, whether people agree with them, or not...DO NOT APPLY anymore.

Lawlessness has reached the very top, and bottom of our society.

Our wannabe, pretender in chief doesn't even enforce them.

SLAPS on the hands, fines, and those two players will carry on.

[Abbey Marie]

Guess I won't be drafting them in my fantasy league.

[jimnyc]

Guess I won't be drafting them in my fantasy league.

Personal is personal and business is business. IF they play normally, I would still take them, as both are great runners. The disposition of their case may not be for quite some time. The league definitely won't take any action until that happens. How the team handles it is left to be seen. I'm torn over it, at least with Bell, as I had huge hopes for him and his future with the team. But what a dumb, dumb decision.

We all make mistakes, some worse than others. I hope these guys realize just how fortunate they are to be playing in the NFL and learn from this. Only time will tell. If they let him play, and he runs for 1500 yards and brings them to the Super Bowl, all will be forgotten!

[Gunny]

Personal is personal and business is business. IF they play normally, I would still take them, as both are great runners. The disposition of their case may not be for quite some time. The league definitely won't take any action until that happens. How the team handles it is left to be seen. I'm torn over it, at least with Bell, as I had huge hopes for him and his future with the team. But what a dumb, dumb decision.

We all make mistakes, some worse than others. I hope these guys realize just how fortunate they are to be playing in the NFL and learn from this. Only time will tell. If they let him play, and he runs for 1500 yards and brings them to the Super Bowl, all will be forgotten!

It's a dumb decision only because pot's not legal everywhere. If the worst thing someone does is smoke pot? Not too much different to me than buying a bottle and sucking it down.

I DO think the high n mighty NFL will act before the law though. If nothing else, doesn't it violate the league's substance abuse policy?

[jimnyc]

It's a dumb decision only because pot's not legal everywhere. If the worst thing someone does is smoke pot? Not too much different to me than buying a bottle and sucking it down.

I DO think the high n mighty NFL will act before the law though. If nothing else, doesn't it violate the league's substance abuse policy?

No doubt it does! I'm wondering if they suddenly got tested by the NFL yesterday and it will be used as evidence. As first offenses they are both looking at 4 game suspensions, I think.

[Gunny]

No doubt it does! I'm wondering if they suddenly got tested by the NFL yesterday and it will be used as evidence. As first offenses they are both looking at 4 game suspensions, I think.

They can't legally single those 2 out and test them without a court order. Urinalysis test has to random, or command directed. Command directed requires evidence. There can be no evidence for the NFL without them being found guilty first. They'd have to test the entire NFL just to catch to pot smokers. Not worth it. For a simple misdemeanor possession charge?

On the other hand, the NFL is QUICK to go knee-jerk overreaction and assume more authority than it has.

[fj1200]

They can't legally single those 2 out and test them without a court order. Urinalysis test has to random, or command directed. Command directed requires evidence. There can be no evidence for the NFL without them being found guilty first. They'd have to test the entire NFL just to catch to pot smokers. Not worth it. For a simple misdemeanor possession charge?

On the other hand, the NFL is QUICK to go knee-jerk overreaction and assume more authority than it has.

They can if the players agreement says they can. An arrest might give them the authority to take action regardless of court outcome.

The NFL has a lot of authority for those who agree to become part of its organization.

[Gunny]

They can if the players agreement says they can. An arrest might give them the authority to take action regardless of court outcome.

The NFL has a lot of authority for those who agree to become part of its organization.

True enough.

I think it's a matter of what you're willing to fight. Singling out people is legally discriminatory. I'm thinking neither side wants to spend the money nor time in court for years to fight over a simple possession charge. I'd just take the hit and move on.

So, while I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just wondering how legally binding the NFL's draconian, PC rules are at the Constitutional level.

[fj1200]

True enough.

I think it's a matter of what you're willing to fight. Singling out people is legally discriminatory. I'm thinking neither side wants to spend the money nor time in court for years to fight over a simple possession charge. I'd just take the hit and move on.

So, while I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just wondering how legally binding the NFL's draconian, PC rules are at the Constitutional level.

The Constitution has almost nothing to do with NFL Player Association rules. Singling out players based on a protected status is discriminatory but an arrest throws that out the window. The NFL likely cares not a whit about the possession charge but they have other concerns. The Patriots released Hernandez before even knowing the charges against him.

[Gunny]

The Constitution has almost nothing to do with NFL Player Association rules. Singling out players based on a protected status is discriminatory but an arrest throws that out the window. The NFL likely cares not a whit about the possession charge but they have other concerns. The Patriots released Hernandez before even knowing the charges against him.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just tossing out a "what if ...." It's all a game to me. Just like the one they play. A kid's game. My point is, you can even have a will tossed if you contest it. I understand the employment rules and all that, and these two guys get suspended today, I won't be surprised.

Just my opinion that professional sports organizations take things too far, and react like 3 years olds wanting a cookie. If you really want to bust substance abusers, test everyone, right now for performance enhancing drugs. I've lifted weights for 30 years, and played sports all through school and the entire time I was in the Corps. You don't get that big eating steak and raw eggs. Everyone knows it and turns a blind eye. Because they can't wait to pop on the tube on Sunday, swill beer and watch their favorite team lose.

[Abbey Marie]

Personal is personal and business is business. IF they play normally, I would still take them, as both are great runners. The disposition of their case may not be for quite some time. The league definitely won't take any action until that happens. How the team handles it is left to be seen. I'm torn over it, at least with Bell, as I had huge hopes for him and his future with the team. But what a dumb, dumb decision.

We all make mistakes, some worse than others. I hope these guys realize just how fortunate they are to be playing in the NFL and learn from this. Only time will tell. If they let him play, and he runs for 1500 yards and brings them to the Super Bowl, all will be forgotten!

My reason is that I can't take the chance that they will miss any games.
I take my fantasy team VERY seriously, and I also have a title to defend!

[Gunny]

My reason is that I can't take the chance that they will miss any games.
I take my fantasy team VERY seriously, and I also have a title to defend!

Uh oh .....

[Abbey Marie]

Uh oh .....

Lol, you skeered Gunny?

J/K

[fj1200]

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just tossing out a "what if ...." It's all a game to me. Just like the one they play. A kid's game. My point is, you can even have a will tossed if you contest it. I understand the employment rules and all that, and these two guys get suspended today, I won't be surprised.

Just my opinion that professional sports organizations take things too far, and react like 3 years olds wanting a cookie. If you really want to bust substance abusers, test everyone, right now for performance enhancing drugs. I've lifted weights for 30 years, and played sports all through school and the entire time I was in the Corps. You don't get that big eating steak and raw eggs. Everyone knows it and turns a blind eye. Because they can't wait to pop on the tube on Sunday, swill beer and watch their favorite team lose.

You have the NFL and owners on one side and the Players Association on the other and where they meet are the rules that govern player behavior.