Quote:It could be the case, but is it too much to ask for the team, the league of the NFLPA to confirm it? I don't think that would be asking too much.
I think they've just mentally written him off. The team has moved on and the league simply doesn't care. He's not old news, he's no news. There are only a handful of people you care anymore (and I'm not one of them). New draft, new players, new season; time to move on.
Quote:And that is part of the reason I have major doubts about Blackmon ever becoming the WR that people are saying he has the potential of being.
You cannot be considered an elite, or even a potentially elite, prospect if you aren't on the field. It seems like the fact that there is no fight from his side is a sign of contrition/quit.
Of course the opposite could be true... But then we wouldn't have circumstances like the one during the winter when he had car problems at the wee hours of the morning. Again, it just doesn't look good.
I don't expect him to ever play again. What a waste of talent.
Quote:I've said it before and I'll say it again. The weirdest thing about this situation is that no one knows anything. In this day and age you could probably keep tabs on anyone, let alone a well known player. Not just the media, but nothing on twitter, facebook, no one recently saw him out in public and asked, took a picture, etc.It's almost like he left the planet.
Yep, which lends credence to my Goodell conspiracy theory. B)
Quote:Yep, which lends credence to my Goodell conspiracy theory. B)
it really dosent. There is no conspiracy here.
Quote:Yep, which lends credence to my Goodell conspiracy theory. B)
How does your theory explain Blackmon's silence?
josh gordon isn't suspended yet. Why is a player who isn't suspended yet being compared to one who is?
I'm not sure why so many people seem to have a problem with this. We're not being told anything because it's none of our business. That's how the league sees it, that's how the team sees it, and that's how the NFLPA sees it. And they all see it that way because they are required to.
These issues are personal and medical in nature and thus are not available to a gawking public which has no right to know. It's an issue between the NFL and Blackmon. While I suppose Blackmon could say anything he wants to, why should he? Anything he says will just raise other questions and it would be never ending.
While frustrating to fans, the union and league decided that this is the way they want to deal with this sort of stuff. I wouldn't be surprised that the next collective bargaining agreement makes some changes to the whole issue, especially in regards to "recreational" drugs.
Quote:I'm not sure why so many people seem to have a problem with this. We're not being told anything because it's none of our business. That's how the league sees it, that's how the team sees it, and that's how the NFLPA sees it. And they all see it that way because they are required to.
These issues are personal and medical in nature and thus are not available to a gawking public which has no right to know. It's an issue between the NFL and Blackmon. While I suppose Blackmon could say anything he wants to, why should he? Anything he says will just raise other questions and it would be never ending.
While frustrating to fans, the union and league decided that this is the way they want to deal with this sort of stuff. I wouldn't be surprised that the next collective bargaining agreement makes some changes to the whole issue, especially in regards to "recreational" drugs.
this seems to be really hard for some to grasp.
I think we aren't seeing anything because there is nothing to report
Addict in/not in rehab is hardly headline news
The league won't say anything because of privacy issues as leaking something without consent could cause a law suit
The front office can't say anything because from the sounds of it Blackmon is isolating himself from them or perhaps he has asked them to keep everything as quiet as possible and the best way to do that is say they know nothing
The Russel.Allen situation shows they are willing to obscure the truth to protect a players privacy
Considering our draft choices I feel Caldwell is telling the truth and Blackman is struggling too or unwilling too.address his demons
Sad as it is I don't expect to see him back in teal and try my hardest to forget he exists
Quote:Allow me to throw some more wood on the fire.
We've discussed confidentiality from the league's, Jaguars' and NFLPA's perspective but we haven't looked at it from Blackmon's. Why is he being so secretive of his activities? Why is no one interested? Not even B rated media outlets research and report.
It's so strange......an enigma wrapped up in a riddle.
#33
Let me offer this theory-one that gives Blackmon the benefit of the doubt.
Admittedly it's farfetched, but here goes.
Suppose Blackmon is really trying to get clean and sober.
Suppose Blackmon, cognizant of the past promises and assurances he gave, somehow doesn't want to break his word again. Maybe he doesn't want to disappoint his friends and teammates. Maybe he wants to let his actions speak for him instead of offering empty promises.
Maybe he isn't ready to face them-even over a telephone.
Maybe talking with his friends and teammates depresses him and triggers a depression and a desire to drink/use drugs.
Maybe he honestly does not know how he is doing, despite his efforts to remain sober.
Maybe he is profoundly ashamed of his past behavior.
Just throwing it out there.
Quote:It's a corporation which is antitrust exempt. They also publicly collectively bargain with the NFLPA. Those terms are public knowledge. The reporting can be very generic in nature, and would not pertain to a certain player, but to the system as a whole. Yet, there is no talk about the process, and what's going on, and where Blackmon stands, which can be told in very generic terms without violating any confidentiality.
None of this trumps federal law that protects Justin's privacy.
You have no right to this information, just like a nosy neighbor would have no right to solicit your employer over the circumstances of any disciplinary actions you may face or reasons regarding any medical leave. Your employer also wouldn't have the right to place an add in the paper listing this information just to satisfy the curious.
Being a fan and buying tickets doesn't give you the right to know about a players personal information any more than I would have the right to know your personal information if I bought or paid for the services from the place of your employment.
Just because I shop at publix doesn't mean I get to know the bag boy failed a pee test or the status of his rehabilitation when I'm curious about his his absence.
Quote:None of this trumps federal law that protects Justin's privacy.
You have no right to this information, just like a nosy neighbor would have no right to solicit your employer over the circumstances of any disciplinary actions you may face or reasons regarding any medical leave. Your employer also wouldn't have the right to place an add in the paper listing this information just to satisfy the curious.
Being a fan and buying tickets doesn't give you the right to know about a players personal information any more than I would have the right to know your personal information if I bought or paid for the services from the place of your employment.
Just because I shop at publix doesn't mean I get to know the bag boy failed a pee test or the status of his rehabilitation when I'm curious about his his absence.
I don't think he was asking for medical information. It isn't a HIPAA violation to report whether he is or isn't eligible for reinstatement. Nor is it a violation to report whether he has violated the policy again. It's only a violation to release his medical information.
I think the lack of information is a positive for Blackmon. Someone else above mention he was surprised the media isn't digging a little more. It seems it would be very easy for the media to find out and report if he were sending his weekends at nightclubs. We've seen that many times with other players. We haven't heard a thing about Blackmon. Maybe it's a good thing.
Said well by many...it's a privacy issue, not a conspiracy.
Blackmon probably forgot he played football he's been toking up so much weed...
If he was sober and determined to come back to the NFL, I'm sure his agent would have him scheduled for a TV interview to help his cause appologizing to his teammates for letting a substance hurt his career & the team.
Quote:I don't think he was asking for medical information. It isn't a HIPAA violation to report whether he is or isn't eligible for reinstatement. Nor is it a violation to report whether he has violated the policy again. It's only a violation to release his medical information.
I think the lack of information is a positive for Blackmon. Someone else above mention he was surprised the media isn't digging a little more. It seems it would be very easy for the media to find out and report if he were sending his weekends at nightclubs. We've seen that many times with other players. We haven't heard a thing about Blackmon. Maybe it's a good thing.
Involvement in a drug abuse program is considered medical information. It falls under mental heath.
Discussing anything about his treatment including his progress or lack there of would be a violation of his privacy rights.
Quote:Said well by many...it's a privacy issue, not a conspiracy.
Two parts privacy, one part nobody really cares anymore, zero parts conspiracy.
Quote:I too dislike all the secrecy but he's not in the PED substance abuse program which is cut and dried. Indefinite suspension can mean many things with a whole host of milestones he must achieve to continue on to reinstatement. It would be nice to at least have some information about the situation from the front office. We don't even know if he's working out with a trainer. We don't know if he's attending rehab classes. It would be nice to know if a reinstatement request is coming as well.
Regards.........................the Chiefjag
^^^This^^^
As far as the suspension goes, it's outlined in the CBA.
First offense: Player goes into the program, no suspension.
Second offense: Suspended for 4 games, and player is subject to random drug testing for a specific period of time
Third offense: Indefinite suspension, and the player is subject to random drug testing for the remainder of his career once reinstated.
The reason for the secrecy, as frustrating as it is for people, is due to HIPAA laws. This is considered a medical issue, and as such, unless the player releases specifics about what is going on, or signs a waiver so the league can, the NFL is not able to provide any detail about the suspension beyond the fact that he's suspended. The only clarification is that it's not PEDs that are involved. Beyond that, they're not allowed to share any detail.
Quote:It's a corporation which is antitrust exempt. They also publicly collectively bargain with the NFLPA. Those terms are public knowledge. The reporting can be very generic in nature, and would not pertain to a certain player, but to the system as a whole. Yet, there is no talk about the process, and what's going on, and where Blackmon stands, which can be told in very generic terms without violating any confidentiality.
If the issue involves some sort of medical situation, which in this case it does, there's not a whole lot they can share.
To add to that, if the player isn't doing what he needs to do to get reinstated, there's nothing the league can do to report on that because again, it's a medical issue.
There's no conspiracy here. We'll know what we need to know when it's time to know it. If/when he applies for reinstatement, it will be news. Until he does, there's nothing to talk about.
Just to throw another perspective out there. Is it possible he is such a Diva and cant stand the fact he was drafted by the Jags (a losing team at the time) and figures if he gets suspended the Jags will release him or trade him and he can move on to a winning team. Think of the reaction the Jags have taken... No We Are Not Releasing him or Trading him. Almost as if they know he is doing it on purpose to get released and they have decided not to play into his game. Of course this is all speculative opinion, But the secrecy and no reports fit the narrative. Remember he is of the Dez Bryant ilk of Diva WR. I would tend more towards this theory then maybe a Ricky Williams theory of I just wanna stay high. Again is just an opinion no facts or evidence to support the idea.