Quote:Why doesn't Blackmon outright retire already if his heart is not in it? If he's not returning texts from coaches and teammates, it tells me that he's obviously trying to be away from football. This helps explain why there has been absolutely no progress in terms of him applying for re-instatement.


Another question: are all of Blackmon's suspensions linked to alcohol? The team/league have been pretty quiet on what actually did him in IIRC.


Also, wasn't Blackmon in a car accident in Jacksonville a few weeks before the draft? If he doesn't want to play, why would he be here and not his home state of Oklahoma?


What I'm getting at is that nothing seems to add up with this guy. For all we know, he could have been advised to clear his mind and re-evaluate his career in the NFL. Taking a step back could help him with his alcoholism and help him get on track as a person, then work on himself a player if he chooses.

 

If you have a player who consistently demonstrates poor judgement, it's almost impossible to tell what his issues are.   He could be an outright addict, or he could just be run of the mill overly immature and disorganized kid.     Once you're in the substance abuse program, you  basically have to be ready to pee in a cup anytime, anywhere, anyplace at a moment's notice.  Not following procedure counts the same as a violation for a failed test.   So who knows if he's been failing tests, or if he just hasn't been following procedures.   If you get busted for DUI, like Blackmon,  you're immediately put into the program and often mandated to pass an immediate drug test.  For players not in the system, the league doesn't test players until the preseason.  The players who knows this party in the offseason and clean up right before training camp (the league only conducts urine samples, hair and blood samples are still a no-no in the CBA).      You could see how an unplanned for drug test in May or June could open up a Pandora's Box of issues. 

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