[News] Tight End Darren Waller Returns, Opens Up About His Suspension

[BR News]

After serving a four-game suspension for failing a drug test, Darren Waller says he’s learned how to cope with his problems without turning to marijuana. He’s glad to be back on the field, but doesn’t know what’s in store next.

View the full article

[Zeus]

You made it into the NFL! make smarter decisions off the field

[mearzunkies]

You made it into the NFL! make smarter decisions off the field

Word!

[terpmaniac]

I get a sense Waller is a keeper. I hope he stays. For love of god stay away from the weed!

[Ravensfolyfe]

Its you're job to stay drug free or risk losing your job same thing applies to us fans who have jobs.

[stixfix69]

If you are kept, learn from this, and be humbled.....You can truly be a special player, learn from the vets, and focus on your craft as they have, and you will find tremendous satisfaction in doing that, and you will find drugs are not needed to cope, if you stay focused on the type of player you want to be......SSS is not better example of hard work, focus, and commitment.....

[Crusader]

Got to be able to catch better than moore. I like to see Brown play.

[cobrajet]

Don't mess up a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in the NFL over weed. If you are drawing strength from the team be the first one on in the facility and the last to leave. Live eat and breath the team, it will serve you well. Our guys will help you.

[Rav'n Maniac]

Weed isn't addictive so just give it up for good. Needing it to cope is just an excuse. You're playing in the NFL and you have a opportunity to be a star if you so desire. Don't be stupid, turn it to something else and grow from it.

[fusuymada]

They will put Williams on IR. Much like Campanaro, he has had one issue after another. This is what happens when you decide you need a tight end in the draft when the draft doesn't have any good tight ends in it. AND we moved up to get him. I can't imagine, as productive as Waller was in preseason, and that other than Gilmore, he is the only other tight end who can block. Had Watson still been here, Waller may have been in trouble, but with the loss of Watson, the lack of anything from Williams, we know Pitta is a receiver and not a blocker and the running game needs another big tight end we can put in there with Gilmore for two tight end sets. I like Daniel Brown, but he isn't as polished as Waller is at this point.

[stayhigh_247]

Waller seemed like a smart guy up til now. If it were ped's then maybe, maybe I could understand but weed? Really dude? If you're lucky enough to stay around and play into your 30's then you can puff puff pass for the rest of your life when you finish playing.

[BMoreBoy57]

I love the people that are jumping all over him for smoking marijuana almost like he was found of first degree murder. I understand that he knew that it is against the NFL substance abuse policy, and that with this being his job he must comply. However, I do not believe that he has done that wrong. I simply believe that the NFL should back off a little on the marijuana policy. It's been legalized in a couple states already and more states are starting to suede towards that way as well if not highly contemplating it. Marijuana actually has a lot of benefits to it, and for a hard hitting game of this speed and caliber I would never blame a player for using it as a way to unwind from the day and give his body a much needed rest from all that they do (Keep in mind this is just marijuana were talking about, not something like adderall or cocaine). I very, very highly doubt that players are using it to "enhance performance", but simply for recovery. There not smoking the marijuana before the game and even if they did their reaction time would actually be slower and they would play worse. But if there is no harm and it could actually be used as a healthy recovery for athletes, then why should we ban them from using it? All the NFL is "claiming" to do is decrease the amount of injuries in the game (which we never fully could stop injuries from happening), so if this is a possible solution to decreasing even a low amount of 10 injuries per year, it's still ten names of the nfl that remain in the game. Which is even greater for the player himself and the impact of the player on his team. I think that the NFL should stop testing for THC, intentionally looking for it to rip on any player just trying to recover in a way that is no way found harmful or that actually "enhances their performance". However, I do believe that any crime related instances involving marijuana or the use of it should in fact be punished by the league. AKA - don't be stupid with it! If your like the Squeeler's beloved Leveon Bell and drive around the town in your mercedes hot-boxing your car so bad that you can't even see, then that is definitely cause for suspension or punishment. Should we really rip apart players if there just trying to recover inside of their homes after a rough game or practice?

[RavenLunatic]

Good luck getting back on the roster Waller. You are young and have a great opportunity in front of you. Don't ruin it. The weed can wait until you are done the sport, or until it gets legalized, which it should be in my opinion.

[griffrb]

Young Bro, you're sitting on two strikes. I hope you truly grows up, learn from this, and change your habits, associates, and make better decisions. Your time in Baltimore and the NFL can be cut short very quickly. You don't want to be Will Hill'd.

[Fastynart]

Oh for crap sake. If this country had a lick of sense, marijuana would be legalized. Be that as it may, he KNOWS it is illegal and he did it any way. One more slip and he should be history. He is not irreplaceable and he had better get his head on straight if he doesn't want to be out of the NFL.

[Bat-mite]

I hope everyone who has been saying that pot ought to be legalized and he didn't do anything wrong would at least pay attention to what the man said!

Legal or not, whenever someone turns to a substance in order to avoid or cope with emotional pain, it becomes an addiction. Whether or not marijuana is chemically addictive, it is still psychologically addictive. They are two different things.

There are lots of things that are legal to which people get psychologically addicted -- pornography, alcohol, prescription meds .... Heck, you could even get addicted to doing jigsaw puzzles if that is what you turn to as a coping mechanism.

It sounds like Waller has recognized that he was using marijuana as pain management, and now he wants to be free from that and face his pain head on. That is a positive decision; and saying that "weed ought to be legal" is not germane to the issue.

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

I hope everyone who has been saying that pot ought to be legalized and he didn't do anything wrong would at least pay attention to what the man said!

Legal or not, whenever someone turns to a substance in order to avoid or cope with emotional pain, it becomes an addiction. Whether or not marijuana is chemically addictive, it is still psychologically addictive. They are two different things.

There are lots of things that are legal to which people get psychologically addicted -- pornography, alcohol, prescription meds .... Heck, you could even get addicted to doing jigsaw puzzles if that is what you turn to as a coping mechanism.

It sounds like Waller has recognized that he was using marijuana as pain management, and now he wants to be free from that and face his pain head on. That is a positive decision; and saying that "weed ought to be legal" is not germane to the issue.

Well the NFL and the world need to take a better look at marijuana. Prescription drug use is at an all time high and so are the overdoses!!

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Weed isn't addictive so just give it up for good. Needing it to cope is just an excuse. You're playing in the NFL and you have a opportunity to be a star if you so desire. Don't be stupid, turn it to something else and grow from it.

Tell that to the patients who use marijuana over prescription drugs to deal with PTSD, AIDS, CANCER.

[balfan23]

2 hours ago, Bat-mite said:

I hope everyone who has been saying that pot ought to be legalized and he didn't do anything wrong would at least pay attention to what the man said!

Legal or not, whenever someone turns to a substance in order to avoid or cope with emotional pain, it becomes an addiction. Whether or not marijuana is chemically addictive, it is still psychologically addictive. They are two different things.

There are lots of things that are legal to which people get psychologically addicted -- pornography, alcohol, prescription meds .... Heck, you could even get addicted to doing jigsaw puzzles if that is what you turn to as a coping mechanism.

It sounds like Waller has recognized that he was using marijuana as pain management, and now he wants to be free from that and face his pain head on. That is a positive decision; and saying that "weed ought to be legal" is not germane to the issue.

I'm addicted to chocolate ice cream. I'm glad it is not illegal and that my employer doesn't screen for it.

[FloridalovesRavens]

  10 hours ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

Weed isn't addictive so just give it up for good. Needing it to cope is just an excuse. You're playing in the NFL and you have a opportunity to be a star if you so desire. Don't be stupid, turn it to something else and grow from it.

Tell that to the patients who use marijuana over prescription drugs to deal with PTSD, AIDS, CANCER.

I don't believe he has any of those problems.

[Raven'evermore]

5 hours ago, Bat-mite said:

I hope everyone who has been saying that pot ought to be legalized and he didn't do anything wrong would at least pay attention to what the man said!

Legal or not, whenever someone turns to a substance in order to avoid or cope with emotional pain, it becomes an addiction. Whether or not marijuana is chemically addictive, it is still psychologically addictive. They are two different things.

There are lots of things that are legal to which people get psychologically addicted -- pornography, alcohol, prescription meds .... Heck, you could even get addicted to doing jigsaw puzzles if that is what you turn to as a coping mechanism.

It sounds like Waller has recognized that he was using marijuana as pain management, and now he wants to be free from that and face his pain head on. That is a positive decision; and saying that "weed ought to be legal" is not germane to the issue.

 Good post.  I believe pot is socially addictive. Maybe Waller also needs to stay away from certain crowds that make it easy for him to make the same mistake again. I believe he has a lot of potential and would hate to see him go to another team.

[cushrinada1986]

Wallers talent cannot be denied and hopefully he is not another cut. As a tight end, when he has had opportunities, he has made a decent amount of plays. Large plays for alot of yards. From PS, to preseason, to regular, he has made plays for long yardage. Honestly I feel Waller as been more impressive with his speed and size than Max has been period. Im telling you now there are a few teams that would love a player of his ability at TE/WR hybrid

[Halshayeji]

20 hours ago, stayhigh_247 said:

Waller seemed like a smart guy up til now. If it were ped's then maybe, maybe I could understand but weed? Really dude? If you're lucky enough to stay around and play into your 30's then you can puff puff pass for the rest of your life when you finish playing.

If I'm not mistaken, he can puff and pass as much as he wants in the offseason. NFL testing is so dumb that it takes a moron to get caught! What's dumber is that when your caught the first time you get a warning and no one knows about it. This must have been his second strike. I'm seriously worried about this guy's head being in the right place! This is coming from a guy who's backed Waller for 2 years and went on a rant when rumors of him being cut emerged. If Waller gets suspended 1 more time I'm done with him and I'm sure as heck the FO will be as well.

i hope Walker used that time off to really bulk up for blocking purposes. I really believe that Waller can be the second coming of J.Graham but for gods sake get your head in the right place and utilize that raw talent God gave you!

Edited October 7, 2016 by Halshayeji