Roger Goodell talks drug policy
— -- NEW YORK -- Although the league's collective bargaining agreement with its players forbids the use of marijuana, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he will continue to evaluate the drug's potential as a pain reliever balanced against possible addiction issues.
"We'll continue to follow the medicine," Goodell said Friday at his annual pre-Super Bowl news conference. "Our experts right now are not indicating that we should change our policy in any way. We are not actively considering that at this point in time. But if it goes down the road sometime, that's something that we would never take off the table."
NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said Thursday the league and union have had preliminary discussions about medicinal marijuana, but a policy would have to be included in the CBA in order to be implemented by the league.
Goodell said Friday that he liked the current policy and quipped, "I am randomly tested, and I'm happy to say that I am clean."
Medicinal marijuana was just one of the talking points during Goodell's state-of-the-league address. He addressed multiple issues with global media, from the possibility of a centralized replay office in New York (potentially soon, pending a recommendation from the competition committee), to whether the Miami Dolphins' locker room turmoil this season may lead to a leaguewide code of conduct policy.
The answer to the last one was "yes."
"We all have to get back to respect," Goodell said.
The commissioner also said he would like to see the $765 million settlement of the recent player lawsuit over concussion claims remain in place. A federal judge earlier this month denied preliminary approval, fearing it may not be enough to cover 20,000 retired players.
Information from ESPN.com Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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