Well, Gates may have just blown any shot at the NFL

[BGWriter]

I agree with hamm on just about everything he wrote -- but the bottom line here is very simple: how fracking STUPID do you have to be to put yourself in this position right before the draft?

That's it. Bottom line. You know you have a minimal shot to get drafted, and you hope to at least latch on as a free agent if you don't get picked. So how hard is it to stay away from anything that could potentially get you in trouble for a week or two?

I have NO sympathy for idiots who do this kind of stuff. None. Good Lord: use the common sense God gave you once in a while...

There would be plenty of time to party later; after you've achieved your goals.

[Flipper]

Alex Bayer is the most versatile TE on the board.... or so says this dude with a computer.



http://gnb.scout.com/2/1400755.html" target="_blank

[kdog27]

Beck and Bayer signed FA deals.

[FalconRA]

http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-b ... 824cfa1c36" target="_blank

This isn't the only team I have read this news from. Still hoping he gets invited to a camp.

[Warthog]

Saw a tweet this morning that Gates may get invited to the Titans camp

[BillyLP]

Does anyone know the status of his case? Is he out of jail? What charges are being pressed, etc?

[Dayons_Den]

Would be ironic if Denver (or Seattle) picked him up...

[BleedOrange]

We need to take a long, hard look at the drug laws in this country. Is worth the man hours for the cops, prosecutors, court etc... to pursue this kind of thing? $30 and a handful of grass and now the young man in question is in the criminal justice system, his future soemwhat clouded by this indescretion. Should he know better? Sure...but is this really what we want?

No, not worth it. US drug laws are archaic and abjectly stupid. Weed is less harmful than alcohol.

If marijuana activists want to really raise hell, they should start calling for alcohol testing for pro athletes. That is, if a player tests positive for alcohol, they face the same penalties as for weed and other drugs.

[BGWriter]

We need to take a long, hard look at the drug laws in this country. Is worth the man hours for the cops, prosecutors, court etc... to pursue this kind of thing? $30 and a handful of grass and now the young man in question is in the criminal justice system, his future soemwhat clouded by this indescretion. Should he know better? Sure...but is this really what we want?

No, not worth it. US drug laws are archaic and abjectly stupid. Weed is less harmful than alcohol.

If marijuana activists want to really raise hell, they should start calling for alcohol testing for pro athletes. That is, if a player tests positive for alcohol, they face the same penalties as for weed and other drugs.

What makes you think the testing doesn't include alcohol? It very easily could. Also, when someone is abusing alcohol, it's typically very obvious, because it can be smelled on the person.

And the NFL does have some strict punishments for players and executives who get in trouble because of alcohol, as in DUI offenses. Recently, two Denver execs were suspended (one indefinitely, another for one month) after alcohol-related offenses. Both were also heavily fined (something like $100,000). That was the team penalties; they could also face suspensions from the NFL for this season.

And whether or not weed is "legal" in some states now, or it becomes decriminalized, really doesn't matter. It's likely the NFL as an organization will continue to have it as a banned substance. They have lots of legal substances on that banned list, so players have to be very careful what they take as far as supplements go.

Let's face it: the problem isn't what the NFL is doing or the drug laws...it's the lack of self discipline by the individuals involved. How hard is it to just not use? Weed advocates always scream about how pot isn't addictive, and yet we keep seeing cases where players use over and over again (and get caught) knowing it will cost them dearly. Josh Gordon of Cleveland being just the latest example.

[hammb]

We need to take a long, hard look at the drug laws in this country. Is worth the man hours for the cops, prosecutors, court etc... to pursue this kind of thing? $30 and a handful of grass and now the young man in question is in the criminal justice system, his future soemwhat clouded by this indescretion. Should he know better? Sure...but is this really what we want?

No, not worth it. US drug laws are archaic and abjectly stupid. Weed is less harmful than alcohol.

If marijuana activists want to really raise hell, they should start calling for alcohol testing for pro athletes. That is, if a player tests positive for alcohol, they face the same penalties as for weed and other drugs.

What makes you think the testing doesn't include alcohol? It very easily could. Also, when someone is abusing alcohol, it's typically very obvious, because it can be smelled on the person.

And the NFL does have some strict punishments for players and executives who get in trouble because of alcohol, as in DUI offenses. Recently, two Denver execs were suspended (one indefinitely, another for one month) after alcohol-related offenses. Both were also heavily fined (something like $100,000). That was the team penalties; they could also face suspensions from the NFL for this season.

And whether or not weed is "legal" in some states now, or it becomes decriminalized, really doesn't matter. It's likely the NFL as an organization will continue to have it as a banned substance. They have lots of legal substances on that banned list, so players have to be very careful what they take as far as supplements go.

Let's face it: the problem isn't what the NFL is doing or the drug laws...it's the lack of self discipline by the individuals involved. How hard is it to just not use? Weed advocates always scream about how pot isn't addictive, and yet we keep seeing cases where players use over and over again (and get caught) knowing it will cost them dearly. Josh Gordon of Cleveland being just the latest example.

I'm a very biased Cleveland Browns fan, and I agree with every word of what you're saying. The NFL has every right to ban whatever they want to ban, and test accordingly.

That being said I think if they're going to allow (and even promote) their athletes to use copious amounts of narcotics and high grade painkillers in order to get through the season then I think they should allow 'em to smoke weed as well. Playing football at that level takes a pretty jacked up psyche...I could certainly see the case for allowing weed to help 'em calm down from that.

That said, it's still against the rules and I cannot believe the selfish stupidity of a guy like Gordon continuing to do that. Kicked out of 2 universities, and now quite possibly using up his chances in the NFL.

[transfer2BGSU]

Does anyone know the status of his case? Is he out of jail? What charges are being pressed, etc?

From the BCSN website -

Gates also closed the book Monday on charges stemming from his arrest in the early morning hours of May 4. At that time police say Gates was observed making a drug deal of two buds (5.0 grams) of marijuana, and he was charged with drug trafficking, a felony.

That charge was dismissed, and Gates instead was charged with permitting drug abuse, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and was fined $1,125 as well as a $71 dismissal fee.

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/38 ... _id=878183" target="_blank

[footballguy51]

This is pure speculation, but charging him with a felony instead of the misdemeanor was overreaching and likely cost him what small chance he had of being drafted. Yeah, it sucks for him, but he should have never put himself in that position to begin with.

[Globetrotter]

He is going top have to sell a ton of weed to pay for those fines.

[footballguy51]

He is going top have to sell a ton of weed to pay for those fines.

Haha. Now that made me laugh.

[Flipper]

5 grams is a felony? He either high handed the cop at the time of arrest or the cop/prosecutor in question is a dick. Knowing BG....I'd say the latter is way more likely than the former.