26CornerBlitz Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Feds Surprise NFL Teams With Postgame Drug Shakedowns Federal drug agents executed unannounced searches of NFL teams after at least two of Sunday's games. According to the Washington Post, DEA agents targeted team doctors from the traveling Buccaneers and 49ers. Those might not be the only teams investigated, though the law enforcement official who spoke with the Post declined to elaborate if there were any others. The DEA was looking for any unmarked prescription bottles or team employees in possession of drugs that they did not have the authority to prescribe. Under the Controlled Substances Act, only licensed physicians and nurse practitioners are allowed to dispense prescription drugs, and they can only do so in their "geographic area," which is why the federal agents targeted traveling NFL teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiostyle Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Oh my. Seems as if something all teams may be guilty of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Well, Rex Ryan is on something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayman Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 So what we have trainers giving out prescription drugs? Or we have doctors giving out the drugs while out of their geographic area despite being so for all of 24 hours and one their way back w/ the patient? Seems like a non-issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 So what we have trainers giving out prescription drugs? Or we have doctors giving out the drugs while out of their geographic area despite being so for all of 24 hours and one their way back w/ the patient? Seems like a non-issue. I think the likely issue is dispensing major drugs like candy to benefit the team instead of acting as a true physician and those will be some of the low hanging ways to target the teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Wow--this could be fun. Wonder if that's all they're looking for, or if they also suspect them of holding other worse/illegal drugs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prickly Pete Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 I brought this up before in reference to the Seattle Seahawks, and was lambasted for insinuating that any team would be involved in dispensing PED's, or having specialists in PED's employed by the team. People insisted that it's just players making their own arrangements, away from the team. I think it's a big part of fielding a competitive team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 So, a team doctor can't prescribe drugs to a player while on the road? I have a feeling the NFL and NCAA will buy off some leniency on this one. You can basically find every D-I school and professional sports team guilty on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Wow--this could be fun. Wonder if that's all they're looking for, or if they also suspect them of holding other worse/illegal drugs? If assume the bulk of the issue is the players lawsuits citing pretty negligent distribution of major painkillers and sleep aids. I'd guess these 6 teams have staffs that recently departed players pointed to specifically. I'm amazed it didn't come years ago given the discussions we've had on topics such as torodol on this board for years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 So what we have trainers giving out prescription drugs? Or we have doctors giving out the drugs while out of their geographic area despite being so for all of 24 hours and one their way back w/ the patient? Seems like a non-issue. It's illegal. If a player needs narcotics, all he has to do is get a script from the team doctor and they can keep their pills with them whenever and wherever they want. Non-providers can't prescribe, so they can't hand out meds. It's also illegal for anyone to possess narcotics that aren't prescribed for them. It's a big issue actually If assume the bulk of the issue is the players lawsuits citing pretty negligent distribution of major painkillers and sleep aids. I'd guess these 6 teams have staffs that recently departed players pointed to specifically. I'm amazed it didn't come years ago given the discussions we've had on topics such as torodol on this board for years Toradol is a non-narcotic and not a controlled substance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 (edited) I bet the Colts owner doesn't ride the team bus anymore. (Jim Irsay's record of driving himself is sketchy at best, however.) Edited November 17, 2014 by Augie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Did they finally catch Walt Coleman? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Goodell Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 The NFL welcomes the assistance of Federal authorities to ensure the league and its players remain free from the influence of illegal drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumblefish Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 this sounds like a topic for a Peter Gent book Elliot speaking to B.A.> you gave me stronger stuff to get on the field in Pittsburg, and if you busted every player for "illegal" drugs, you couldn't field a punt team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 I brought this up before in reference to the Seattle Seahawks, and was lambasted for insinuating that any team would be involved in dispensing PED's, or having specialists in PED's employed by the team. People insisted that it's just players making their own arrangements, away from the team. I think it's a big part of fielding a competitive team. Nope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdogtim Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 So are you saying that the Bills suck because they don't do this?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 I think the likely issue is dispensing major drugs like candy to benefit the team instead of acting as a true physician and those will be some of the low hanging ways to target the teams. I think the likely issue is the NFL is no longer delivering the kickbacks to their favorite representatives. The owners, the league, etc probably are not cow towing to the the big wigs who kept them protected. No more luxury suites or fluffy appearances. It will be interested to see how the Cowboys and Redskins come out of some of this. Any time you watch either of those teams they would usually end up showing a politician in a box. So, a team doctor can't prescribe drugs to a player while on the road? I have a feeling the NFL and NCAA will buy off some leniency on this one. You can basically find every D-I school and professional sports team guilty on this one. Or, can you? At first I thought that trainers of home teams might help the visiting trainers by filling prescriptions - but that would make them liable should something go wrong. Also, it explains why players are often taken to the hospital so easily. Nonetheless, I imagine home team doctors are still involved and still prescribe for visiting patients should the need for treatment occur... hmm. If assume the bulk of the issue is the players lawsuits citing pretty negligent distribution of major painkillers and sleep aids. I'd guess these 6 teams have staffs that recently departed players pointed to specifically. Also, this is my thought. Players who have crossed over to the Fed side and now serving as state/fed witness to help fix the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 It's illegal. If a player needs narcotics, all he has to do is get a script from the team doctor and they can keep their pills with them whenever and wherever they want. Non-providers can't prescribe, so they can't hand out meds. It's also illegal for anyone to possess narcotics that aren't prescribed for them. It's a big issue actually When my wife gets prescribed narcotic painkillers, I often get them filled on her behalf (usually, if she's getting them, she can't walk). Technically, I'd be illegally in possession of narcotics in that case, but no one's ever given me a problem over it. While I don't doubt it's a big issue, I'd also suggest that there's a degree of latitude when it comes to enforcement, otherwise I'd be in prison. It wouldn't surprise me if a team were to argue "Oh, we just hold on to them for the players on the road, to prevent abuse." And, given the latitude and particularly given the money involved, the powers-that-be said "Oh, okay, that makes sense." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 (edited) When my wife gets prescribed narcotic painkillers, I often get them filled on her behalf (usually, if she's getting them, she can't walk). Technically, I'd be illegally in possession of narcotics in that case, but no one's ever given me a problem over it. While I don't doubt it's a big issue, I'd also suggest that there's a degree of latitude when it comes to enforcement, otherwise I'd be in prison. It wouldn't surprise me if a team were to argue "Oh, we just hold on to them for the players on the road, to prevent abuse." And, given the latitude and particularly given the money involved, the powers-that-be said "Oh, okay, that makes sense." Picking up your wife's prescriptions is not illegal. But if you were traveling somewhere other than home and she wasn't with you, you could be charged. Likewise, if the team is holding legally prescribed narcotics (in the original bottles, with proper labels identifying patient and doctor) in a locked area and then giving the bottle to the patient/player to take themselves, there should be no problem. But obviously this is not what the feds are looking for. They are looking for pills with no prescription attached to them. They are looking to see if teams are illegally dispensing controlled substances. Pretty straightforward. Edited November 17, 2014 by Mr. WEO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellyto83TD Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Wow, screw the CBA the Feds are going to get involved now. This could be interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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