Quote: You may not think that players operate in the "real world" but the legal ramifications of drug issues and employee confidentiality are almost universal.  

This is negotiated in the the collective bargaining  agreement players collectively between the NFLPA and the NFL.    Otherwise 32 teams would have to negotiate their own drug and behavioral policy guidelines with the NFLPA, which would be a nightmare.   Or do it individually player by player, which would be a bigger nightmare.   

 

The only people who believe the current structure is actually a problem are fans who are upset they aren't getting updates on player information.     I'm sure the Jaguars are frustrated, but it's not with the NFL it's with inheriting the previous regime's knucklehead.   

 

I understand how it's negotiated.  My point is that the current system is garbage, and it has nothing to do with getting updates.  I couldn't care less about whether I'm informed or not.  My issue is that I want to see these players getting the help they need so that they can get back on the field and contribute.  Call me a selfish fan for wanting a player on the roster to be out there producing, but that's what I care about.

 

If the league is going to come down harder on a player like Blackmon who is an alcoholic than they would someone who has caused harm to another human being leading up to and including death, there's a problem.  Yes, Blackmon has an issue.  It's not an illegal substance he's dealing with, and it's not a performance enhancer.  So, why is he put in lockdown, preventing any contact with the team?  And what does he need to do to violate the rules?  Have a beer.  That's it.  Blackmon's situation could have been addressed very differently. 

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