Fearing possible repercussions, most active NFL players do not talk publicly about their stance regarding medical marijuana and its potential as a pain management replacement to dangerous opioids. But Dallas Cowboys defensive end David Irving decided to buck the trend in a profanity-laced rant on his Instagram over the weekend.
It all started when Irving posted an innocuous image of himself with the caption, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change … The courage to change the things I can … And the wisdom to know the difference.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmmD0DTAfXt/
That’s when the comments came, criticizing Irving for substance abuse. Over the summer, the NFL handed Irving a four game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. This is the second consecutive year that Irving will miss the first four games of the season due to substance abuse violations.
“Should have granted u the wisdom to stop getting suspended over PED and substance abuse,” one user wrote. Another added, “your a [expletive] druggie,” wrote another.
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That’s when Irving responded, “I got suspended for weed…”
Eventually Irving launched into a diatribe about the NFL’s policies regarding marijuana usage and the rampant opioid usage that goes in the league. Via the Dallas Morning News:
check this , y’all wanna judge n say what’s right or wrong. These guys prescribe me Xanax bars , ambient , and painkillers , some of us , like myself have been smoking weed since 12. Never been in trouble w the law. Always had a 3.0 or higher too. It’s natural , I’d much rather smoke weed than take all that lab made [expletive]. You [expletive] talk so much [expletive] as if I’m on heroin. You probably got a blunt in your mouth right now. So stfu. The nfl laws on weed are [expletive] n we all know it. I’m from Cali. I’ve had my medical card. It’s nothing wrong with it. Also. Every game you seen me play in , I was medicated. I don’t see you or any of my coaches or previous coaches complaining about my play.
Irving also added that upon his return he will follow the rules, because, “I’m a survivor and I have to do this for myself and the ones I love.”
When Irving returned from his four-game suspension last season, he enjoyed breakout success. The defensive lineman tallied a career-high seven sacks in the eight game he played. He missed the final four games after suffering a concussion while playing the Washington Redskins in Week 13.
