Pubdate: Sat, 02 May 2015
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2015 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Mark Kiszla

NFL BLOWING SMOKE ON USAGE

Let's call a cease-fire on the NFL's senseless war against marijuana. 
When Broncos rookie Shane Ray messes up and gets pulled over by 
police with 35 grams of marijuana in his car, he needs to answer to 
his mom, not NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

"My mom just started crying," Ray said, when I asked how he broke the 
news to Sebrina Johnson about getting busted for pot possession 80 
hours before the draft's opening bell.

"And when something like that happens, you understand that it was 
such a disappointment. But, even through that, she said we were going 
to get through it. She backed me. All anybody could ask for is 
forgiveness when they make a mistake, and my mom forgave me."

The Broncos also forgave Ray and, in the process, reminded us that 
winning the Super Bowl isn't a merit badge project for Boy Scouts. On 
a dank and rainy spring night in Colorado, Denver picked Ray in the 
first round, and all anybody wanted to talk about was weed.

"I refuse to let people characterize me as a drug addict," Ray said, 
during his first tour of Dove Valley headquarters.

The Southeastern Conference's defensive player of the year dropped 
from a top-10 selection in the draft to No. 23 without Ray so much as 
inhaling. Yes, there were 35 grams of marijuana found in his vehicle, 
and that's enough weed to roll a joint for every player on Denver's 
53-man roster.

"I think it was the timing of my incident that made it so extreme. 
Already being under a microscope in my position and then having it 
happen three days prior to the draft gave a lot of fuel to criticize 
me and my judgment,"
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom