Dolphins activate T.J. McDonald after eight-game suspension

[wolfdogg]

Whether it's a harsher punishment or not, to me, the point is that for some players, smoking pot is more important than their brief nfl career and all that it brings them.

If I'm the coach I make a big speech about my zero tolerance, and even tell them how i smoked weed many, many times....until the possibility of getting caught would jeopardize my career. I would tell them that as long as pot is not permitted by the league, then why risk it. I would ask a couple players, "would you risk it? No. Why? I would finish up by saying you can leave now if you can't abstain until after your career. People may say that's harsh or not being a players coach. Bullshit. I love ice cream, excellent wine, and porn, but I'd give it all up to play pro ball for 6 or 7 years. Just think of all the wine could afford after my career.

 

[Corbin]

Holy shit! Was thinking he wasn't that bad! I'm sure details will come out soon for 8 games suspension. Pretty steep for a DUI even an aggravated one. Wonder if we lead the police on a chase and Burt Reynolds'd it.

 

[Alaskan Ram]

I for 1 am tired of actors/athletes getting special treatment because of their so called talents.

I appreciate your passion on the danger of DUI. But I will counter your closing statement:
I am sick and tired of a black man getting a hasher penalty for the same mistake I made as white man.

 

[Mikey Ram]

Not saying he's your top backup option, but if a starter gets hurt past week 9 he would likely be better than any backup on the roster. If no one is hurt when his suspension is up you just don't active him to the roster and cut your losses. But since he's probably looking a vet minimum deal this season not much money would be wasted for a potential replacement starter

yeah, I suppose in that scenario, that could work, I guess ...

 

[Legatron4]

I appreciate your passion on the danger of DUI. But I will counter your closing statement:
I am sick and tired of a black man getting a hasher penalty for the same mistake I made as white man.

Yeah....not sure what this exactly has to do with race. You don't know the full situation. Also, not to be that guy. But when is the last time a white football player got arrested for a DUI or caught smoking weed?

 

[rdlkgliders]

I appreciate your passion on the danger of DUI. But I will counter your closing statement:
I am sick and tired of a black man getting a hasher penalty for the same mistake I made as white man.

I agree if all things were equal but each case is unique and each state treats the crime a little different. Generally athletes and entertainers of any background, Race etc... get a better deal than us peasants. Not sure that he is being mistreated. Is their something that shows he is?

 

[shovelpass]

Ian Rapoport‏ @RapSheet
This, announced today, stems from his May DUI that included drug charges.

"Field Yates‏ @FieldYatesSource: free agent S T.J. McDonald has been suspended for the first 8 games of the 2017 season."

 

[shovelpass]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000796178/article/tj-mcdonald-suspended-eight-games-of-2017-season


Free-agent safety T.J. McDonald has encountered a major setback in his search for a new team.

McDonald has been suspended without pay for the first eight games of the 2016 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, the league announced Wednesday.

The discipline stems from a May, 2016 arrest which led to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs.

He pleaded guilty in January according to a spokesman with the L.A. City's Attorney Office. McDonald was sentenced to the following: 36 months of summary probation, $390 fine plus penalty assessments, a three-month alcohol program (AB541), 200 hours of court approved community service, and 18 narcotic anonymous classes.

 

[Legatron4]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000796178/article/tj-mcdonald-suspended-eight-games-of-2017-season


Free-agent safety T.J. McDonald has encountered a major setback in his search for a new team.

McDonald has been suspended without pay for the first eight games of the 2016 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, the league announced Wednesday.

The discipline stems from a May, 2016 arrest which led to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs.

He pleaded guilty in January according to a spokesman with the L.A. City's Attorney Office. McDonald was sentenced to the following: 36 months of summary probation, $390 fine plus penalty assessments, a three-month alcohol program (AB541), 200 hours of court approved community service, and 18 narcotic anonymous classes.

Jesus. What kinda drugs did he have? Crack?

 

[Mikey Ram]

Whether it's a harsher punishment or not, to me, the point is that for some players, smoking pot is more important than their brief nfl career and all that it brings them.

If I'm the coach I make a big speech about my zero tolerance, and even tell them how i smoked weed many, many times....until the possibility of getting caught would jeopardize my career. I would tell them that as long as pot is not permitted by the league, then why risk it. I would ask a couple players, "would you risk it? No. Why? I would finish up by saying you can leave now if you can't abstain until after your career. People may say that's harsh or not being a players coach. bullcrap. I love ice cream, excellent wine, and porn, but I'd give it all up to play pro ball for 6 or 7 years. Just think of all the wine could afford after my career.

How about all the world-class hookers you could afford to go with that wine ???

 

[dieterbrock]

But did he smoke weed tho?

Remember Leonard Little? People quickly forgot that he killed a mother while under the influence-- almost three times the legal limit if I remember right.. Member his punishment? I member. He then had the nerve to drive under the influence, again, years later. Still no league suspension.

You can beat a woman, beat a kid, kill someone, drive under the influence, etc.. as long as it doesn't involve marijuana. The owners are still living under Nixon.

Kind of apples to oranges though. Little should have been suspended, and yes his punishment was weak. But since then a lot has changed and penalties have gotten more severe, and justified IMO.
And no, you cant do any of the things you suggest....

 

[shovelpass]

Jesus. What kinda drugs did he have? Crack?

I don't think it's that serious. Could be anything, but my guess would be some sort of prescription drug(s).

 

[Psycho_X]

I thought it had to do with narcotics or prescription type pain killers that he was not prescribed himself? If that's the case, I'm not surprised the NFL is using him as an example. There was literally just a story a couple of weeks ago about how much the NFL abuses painkillers. But that's all speculation on my part. There seems to be some details that we don't know about in general and may never know.

Either way, TJ done f'ed up and will pay, literally, for it with no pay. I'm not a huge fan of his as a player anyway so it doesn't matter to me if he comes back. Yeah he can play a niche role as a hard hitting safety but I like safeties that can do more than just that. A team with injury problems will sign him at some point for the second half of the season.

story link to nfl painkiller abuse.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/12/health/nfl-painkiller-lawsuit/

 

[shovelpass]

This is from January by the LA Daily News....

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20170110/rams-safety-tj-mcdonald-pleads-no-contest-to-wet-reckless-dui-dismissed
....McDonald was sentenced to 36 months of probation, and is required to enroll in both a 30-day live-in drug program and a three-month alcohol and drug education and counseling program. He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, but was given 16 hours of credit for his time spent in custody.

 

[BonifayRam]

Not saying he's your top backup option, but if a starter gets hurt past week 9 he would likely be better than any backup on the roster. If no one is hurt when his suspension is up you just don't active him to the roster and cut your losses. But since he's probably looking a vet minimum deal this season not much money would be wasted for a potential replacement starter

There is no doubt that TJ is a very good starting SS in the NFL. Things just have not worked out well for him here in LA. Two seasons out of 4 on IR & now this very serious suspension that will hang over his future team for the rest of his career.

As far as the Rams are concern that bridge back to this team is down with no construction under planning in the far future. Rams have a better starting strong safety already signed here named Mo Alexander.Mo is entering his contract season himself & if things go according to plan he should get a nice pay increase & maybe another 3 to 4 yr contract here in LA. I would not want to see the contract of a TJ interfering with this future signing of Mo !

The other element of this post is the ultra high $$ contract paid to our other very good starting SS named Mark Barron, who was a top 10 first round draft pick & former first team All American college star. Mark just signed a 5 yr contract last season for 45 million 20 mil. guaranteed. He so good that he has been playing out of position as an Lber for several seasons so TJ could start.

if that was not enough SS material here on Wade's 2017 roster Snead has acquired AZ last yrs 5th rd selection rookie SS Marqui Christian. Marqui was active for 11 games last season.

Then there is 2016 pre season best rookie DB in Brian Randolph who was playing & starting @ SS in TC & pre seasons because TJ McDonald was having personal issues tore up his knee in the final pre season game. Brian had clearly won a roster spot.& is under contract until 2019.

Then there is SS Jarome Couplin who has longer arms than GRob. Jerome is also under contract till 2019. Then you might even throw in Lamarcus Joyner too and if you say he is too small you might want to look who lined up @ SSLB'er post for most of the 2016 season.

So that's my comment here on the signing SS TJ McDoanld makes very little sense to me when we are seriously absent any cap space availability to spend at the moment on other weak positions on our roster now. Strong Safety may be the strongest position on this Ram roster currently.

 

[Rabid Ram]

I appreciate your passion on the danger of DUI. But I will counter your closing statement:
I am sick and tired of a black man getting a hasher penalty for the same mistake I made as white man.

Get out if here with your race bating. There is no place for it here and i have zero respect for it. He is a public figure and such should be held to a higher standard.

 

[Jacobarch]

Get out if here with your race bating. There is no place for it here and i have zero respect for it. He is a public figure and such should be held to a higher standard.

Totally agree with the race baiting. Too much of it going on in the world today.

 

[Alaskan Ram]

Get out if here with your race bating. There is no place for it here and i have zero respect for it. He is a public figure and such should be held to a higher standard.

I already reported my post. Think before you post! This a football forum. To you and others I've offended I apologize.

 

[wolfdogg]

How about all the world-class hookers you could afford to go with that wine ???

Haha, I actually had hookers typed in but didn't think the mods would allow what may be seen as promoting prostitution.