NFL players can now smoke twice the amount of marijuana without fines but can't post about their drug tests on social media



The NFL and its players association have agreed to new substance-abuse guidelines that include an increase in tolerance for THC levels in an athlete's blood.

NFL reporter Tom Pelissero reported on the new agreement, posting a summary that was forwarded to athletes' agents.

Under changes to the Substances of Abuse Policy, the level of allowable THC levels (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) in the blood increased from 150 nanograms per milliliter to 350 nanograms per milliliter. This means if the athlete's blood tests over 350 ng/ml, he would officially test positive.

While this increase of more than 2x seems significant, the odds of a person breaching the old threshold was likely rare; but perhaps the change was made for a reason.

According to website NCIDS.org, a study involving six subjects reported peak THC levels in blood between 46-188 ng/ml within the first 10 minutes of smoking.

This means that unless an athlete had literally just used marijuana right before their drug test, it is highly unlikely they would test positive under the new rules. It would still be difficult if the athlete had smoked within the last hour, as well.

'Can I post screenshots of text messages with my drug tester?'

Another portion of the updated policy included posting about drug tests or the results on social media. The NFLPA and the NFL agreed to terms that would fine a player $15,000 for "recording and posting [the] collection process" on their personal channels.

Pelissero also posted an image of a hilariously blunt FAQ sheet that was sent out by the players association.

The first question listed asked, "Can I post a photo or video of the white slip notifying me of a drug test?"

"No," was the answer, alluding to a pattern.

"Can I post screenshots of text messages with my drug tester?" the second question asked.

"No," was again the answer.

"Can I post a photo, video, or audio from inside the drug testing room during collection?" also received a "no" from the league.

The end of the page added a reminder, answering "yes" to the question, "Was it previously against the rules to publicly post such content?"

The NFLPA admitted there previously was "no clearly defined" disciplinary framework around this subject, which meant the league "had the discretion to impose fines that could have exceeded $15,000."

Those fines now appear to be limited to the $15,000 mark.

Other new updates to the policy included mandatory fentanyl testing. The tests carry no penalty if positive, but refusing the test is a $15,000 fine. A second missed test would increase the fine to $45,000, which is a change from the previous policy of a one-game suspension.

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DEBATE: Is Houston Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair being unfairly punished for his illegal hit on Trevor Lawrence?



Last weekend, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence sustained a nasty concussion in the second quarter that forced him to sit the remainder of the game against the Houston Texans.

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who incapacitated Lawrence, was immediately ejected from the match and has since been suspended by the NFL for the next three games without pay.

Jason Whitlock and coach Jason Brown discuss the incident.

While Jason initially agreed with the NFL’s decision to suspend Al-Shaair, Brown may have convinced him to soften his stance.

“When are we going to start making quarterbacks part of the 22 players that wear pads on the football field? Last I checked is we all have pads and helmets on. Stop with the defenseless player thing. When the quarterback left the pocket, he's now a running back,” Brown argues, adding that the only reason these rules are in place is because quarterbacks are so expensive.

“This is not how you’re supposed to play the game that we all signed up for. Make the quarterback part of the game; take the slide out of football. You are in a no-win situation on defense,” he adds, noting that Lawrence chose not to run out of bounds and slid too late, and now Al-Shaair is being unfairly punished for just playing defense.

In retrospect, Jason agrees with Brown’s stance — mostly.

“I get the NFL is paying these quarterbacks 40, 50, 60 million a year, and they don't want their $50 million investment on the sideline, standing around in concussion protocol. I get it — but if the guy that's getting the most money is taking the least amount of risk, that's a bad, bad recipe that will create some disharmony in the locker room,” Jason says.

“You're 1,000% right — ‘Hey, we all signed up to play tackle football. One guy because of the position he plays will get paid 50 million while I'm a linebacker getting paid 10 million, and he has to take less risk than me,”’ he says, imagining what many of the players must be thinking. “It makes no sense.”

However, Jason also understands that Al-Shaair has a reputation for being unnecessarily violent. He plays a video montage of the linebacker’s most eyebrow-raising plays — some of which involve him punching another player in the head and hitting a player when he was already several steps out of bounds.

When it comes to banning the quarterback slide, Jason says Brown is on “rock solid ground,” but the punishment of Azeez Al-Shaair for his illegal hit on Trevor Lawrence is “a little deeper” than just one reckless play.

“This Azeez Al-Shaair is the new [Vontaze] Burfict,” he says.

To hear more of the conversation, watch the clip above.

Want more from Jason Whitlock?

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'Go back to your seats!' Kansas City Chiefs player catches child who fell​ out of the stands in unbelievable fan video



A Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman caught a child who fell out of the stands at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The scary scene happened following a 30-27 Chiefs win against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday as the Chiefs were walking off the field.

While Chiefs players like Carson Steele and Travis Kelce were making their way into the players' tunnel, several young fans were leaning over the railing trying to get their attention.

However, one young fan in a Nick Bolton jersey was being held back by a security guard who was wearing a "Bank of America Stadium" jacket. When the security guard turned away, the young fan, likely around 10-12 years old, fell head-first through a gap in the railing toward the ground and other equipment.

It was at that point that defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton saw the child falling and lunged forward to prevent him from landing on his head after the approximate 10-foot fall.

"Go back to your seats!" the security guard yelled as the child was being helped up. "Everybody go back to your seats, this kid just fell!"

As the security guard once again had his back turned, the boy was helped back into the stands by Wharton while fans yelled to the security personnel to help him.

'I kinda grabbed him right by the back.'

Wharton offered his perspective of the incident the following Tuesday on "The Pat McAfee Show."

In a clip uploaded to X, McAfee asked the defensive tackle what, if anything, he was thinking at the time of the ordeal.

"Did you not think? Was it just natural reaction?" the host began.

"Well, I'd say it was natural reaction," Wharton replied. "Usually, when I leave a game [I] try to throw my gloves in the crowd. And I think I heard my name a little bit. And when I heard my name, I seen [the boy] coming down."

It was apparently a bad day for security at the stadium, as Wharton then pointed out there were more guards who didn't seem to realize what he was doing.

"They were looking at us. But, I just had to kinda, like, push [the boy] into the stands a little bit to make sure he didn't hit too hard."

Host McAfee then comically asked the player what kind of catch he made when rescuing the child.

"So what was it? Was it a one-handed grab, snag of what, like, his shirt, his shoulder? How did you go about it, honestly?"

"I kinda grabbed him right by the back," Wharton explained, grabbing the back of his own shirt, near the collar.

The 26-year-old added that he guided the child toward the stands on the ground level to make sure he didn't hit floor.

Wharton said he is now hoping to find the unidentified child and have him attend another Chiefs game.

"I would like to reach out to him, get him out to the game, and, you know, get [to] be able to reflect with him a little bit more if I could."

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EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Democratic Party's Post-Election 'Listening Sessions'

You'll be delighted to known the Washington Free Beacon has exclusively and semi-legally obtained an audio recording of the Democratic Party's first post-election "listening session." The gathering took place on Monday, Nov. 11, in the Edward M. Kennedy Rumpus Room on Capitol Hill. Please enjoy the following partial transcript, which has been lightly edited for clarity and anonymized to protect the privacy of the participants.

The post EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Democratic Party's Post-Election 'Listening Sessions' appeared first on .

It’s Past Time We Bring Back The Washington Redskins

The Washington football franchise must right its previous wrong by bringing back its 'Redskins' team name.

Trump support in sports isn't going away — Las Vegas Raiders, USA soccer, and golfers are all supporting the president



More and more athletes are jumping on the presidential bandwagon and supporting Donald Trump with their dance moves.

After Trump won the presidency for the second time, athletes from across the country paid tribute to him with his signature dance as a form of celebration.

Now, nearly three weeks since the election victory, the Trump-themed dances show no sign of slowing down, and the trend is spreading across more sports.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers showed off his moves after a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Although the Raiders fell short with a 34-19 loss, Bowers led all receivers in receptions and yards.

Perhaps unlike before the election, the Raiders' communications team was not shy about showcasing Bowers' dancing touchdown celebration and posted a stand-alone clip of the 21-year-old on social media.

In soccer, the U.S. Men's National Team appropriately represented the new president during a CONCACAF Nations League match against Jamaica. Team USA took home a 4-2 victory, and when star winger Christian Pulisic scored just 13 minutes in, he ran to the corner flag to dance in front the St. Louis crowd.

"Made it look too easy," the team proudly wrote above the video clip on X.

In another angle of the celebration, Juventus player and international star Weston McKennie can be seen joining in on the dance.

Either talented athletes are doing the Trump dance or the dance itself is a good-luck charm, because LPGA golfer Charley Hull found herself in a race for the Annika tournament championship over the weekend. Hull pulled out the Trump dance during the final round and landed herself in a three-way tie for second place on the leaderboard, earning $229,909.

These weren't the only athletes showing off the president's dance moves.

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones made a point of thanking Trump at UFC 309. Trump was in the audience at the Madison Square Garden event.

Jones shared his rendition of the viral dance before handing the president his belt to hold after his victory.

With college football players and even Wayne Gretzky coming out of the woodwork as Trump supporters, enthusiasm for the red, white, and blue is at an all-time in the sports world and shows no signs of stopping.

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'I don't deserve soap': Syracuse football coach says he doesn't shower when loses because only 'winners get washed'



Syracuse football coach Fran Brown explained his strange ritual when he loses a game, which includes not showering or going to bed with his wife.

Brown's team lost 37-31 to Boston College over the weekend. The coach hosted a press conference on Monday. It was at that press conference that a media member asked Brown exactly what preparation he does between a Saturday loss and a Monday press conference.

Brown replied that he immediately starts watching game footage multiple times before moving on to footage about his next opponent when his family is asleep. The coach then described his ritual of not bathing if he loses.

"Honestly, I've got like a ritual when we lose," he began. "I didn't even get into the shower until earlier this morning. I just be mad, brush my teeth. It's like, 'I don't deserve soap. I don't deserve to do all that.'"

'I can't sleep in the bed if we lose because I'm not going to be able to shower.'

Coach Brown explained that not only does his habit stem from the fact that he feels he let his players down, but also that when he loses he is just up all night bothering his wife.

"I'm just focused on trying to get back and try to make sure that our players mentally understand that I let them down. They didn't do it," Brown said. "I just wake up all night. Especially when we lose. I wake up like, damn, that really happened that way. ... And then I just move on."

The 42-year-old continued to reveal his procedure, stating that he also can't sleep in his bed with his wife if Syracuse loses, likely because he stinks.

"There's a process I follow all week, win, lose, or draw. Only thing is, my wife ... I can't sleep in the bed if we lose because I'm not going to be able to shower."

"I just brush my teeth because I have to, so y'all don't say my breath stinks," he continued.

With a 6-3 record, Brown has had a limited number of non-showering weekends but said he is focused on Syracuse's upcoming game against the University of California.

The coach said he has been thinking about the historic nature of the game, given that the two teams haven't played each other since 1968.

However, Brown will continue his mantra of "winners get washed."

"You gotta earn the right to certain things, so winners get washed. Loser, I just kind of wait a little bit," he concluded.

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Trump Is Shaking Up Football Culture One Dance Move At A Time

Unlike years prior, football players are no longer afraid to show their support for the incoming president.

Lions Kicker Jake Bates Glorifies God After Nailing Game-Winning Field Goal

In the National Football League’s Sunday night finale, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates used his platform to glorify God after nailing the game-winning field goal during the team’s matchup against the Houston Texans. “I think it just shows how good the Lord is. He’s so faithful,” Bates said in his post-game interview. The Lions’ new […]