Quote:This isn't directed towards any specific poster here, I just think It's pretty ridiculous how some of you are treating this situation. Our countries treatment of people with mental issues, including addiction problems, is downright saddening. What if Justin was your son or brother? Wouldn't you still try and be there for him and help him if he was in the same situation? Yes he has hurt this team and "turned his back", but that's what people with addiction problems do. Being insensitive and turning your back on him will not make him better. This team did the right thing by trying to help him get the professional help he needs and showing him they still support him in his darkest times. This is about trying to help a young man find a way to beat his demons.


It's easy to say Oh, well he's made millions of dollars why would he throw away such a great opportunity!? He must be an idiot. Addiction is an affliction that effects the rich or the poor, it doesn't care. The fact that he knew what was on the line and still couldn't stop himself shows just how badly he needs help.


I hope can get his life together, and not solely for the fact that he's a highly talented player for the Jags, but also because if he doesn't get help he will end up down the path that many people don't survive. I get fired up about this kind of thing because I've battled my own addictions and have lost that fight many times, it's not as easy as some people may think without ever living that life. I know how hard it is, and whether he continues to be a Jaguar or never plays another down in the NFL I hope he does the right thing, for himself and his own life more than anything.

 

Nobody is saying it's easy to overcome addictions.  However, for Blackmon, as a player in the National Football League, he's got access to world class treatments that Joe six pack can't afford, and in many instances, the team is picking up the tab.  This guy is literally a month removed from a suspension, and he's now done for the year because he didn't get the help necessary to overcome this.  He worked out with the team and sat in meetings, but he clearly didn't do the stuff that he should have been doing to get his life in order.

 

I hope he gets the help he needs to get past this, but I'm done defending the guy.  He's an adult with an addiction problem who has failed to learn his lesson after multiple flags going up trying to get him on the right track. 

 

If he was seriously trying to get on the right track, do you think the following would have happened?

 

I got a call about this an hour ago.  A friend of mine lives near him, and frequents the same package store he does.  The counter guy knows my friend is a huge Jags fan.  She went in to pick up libations for the weekend, and the guy said Justin was the first customer in the door this morning and that he spent several hundred dollars on booze.  This is after he's been told he's suspended indefinitely.  Again, he's got a problem, and he's addressing it in the worst possible way.  Some people just can't be helped. 

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