Ryan Clark: “I Know Guys On My Team Who Smoke”

Steelers Safety Ryan Clark was on ESPN’s First Take earlier today talking about NFL and marijuana usage. After a bit of discussion about Antonio Cromartie’s recent comments on marijuana in the NFL, Ryan Clark opened up (arguably too much so) about his thoughts on the matter.

“I know guys on my team who smoke,” Clark said. “And it’s not a situation where you think, ‘Oh, these are guys trying to be cool.’ These are guys who want to do it recreationally. He went on to say, “A lot of it is stress relief. A lot of it is pain and medication. Guys feel like, ‘If I can do this, it keeps me away from maybe Vicodin, it keeps me away from pain prescription drugs and things that guys get addicted to.’

Guys look at this as a more natural way to heal themselves, to stress relieve and also to medicate themselves for pain. Guys are still going to do it.”

Clark went on to agree with Cromartie, “It’s 100 percent true. They’re fighting a losing battle. The testing isn’t stringent,” Clark said. “There is one random test during OTAs and minicamps during the offseason, and everybody will be tested early in training camp. After that, there are no more tests. So guys understand the ways to get around failing a drug test.”

Personally, I think Ryan is entitled to his opinion, and will have a long career on ESPN. However, I think he’s violating a code of sorts by speaking about his teammates and the locker room on national TV. What do you think?