Eugene Monroe, an offensive tackle from the Baltimore Ravens made the decision to retire at the age of 29. Critiques and fans wondered why he made the decision, but besides his injuries he released a statement regarding marijuana and how it should be legalized in the NFL.
“Football is a very demanding sport on your body, and it’s taken a toll on me time and time again. My injuries have accumulated to the point that I deal with enormous pain on a daily basis. Just getting out of bed, especially during the season, can be difficult."
Monroe did get some respect from players for speaking his mind, but there is a possibility that he got released from the Ravens because of the statement he made. Regardless of the outcome, it is easy to understand the point Monroe is trying to get across. How do you think it feels getting hit by 6 foot, 320 pound players running at full speed over and over again? It is evident that football is an aggressive sport, but this is the NFL: the strongest and fastest players in the league are hitting each other with a substantial amount of force.
After retiring from the NFL, Monroe informed reporters that there's an abundance of players in the league that agree with his idea of legalizing marijuana, but they're hesitant to speak up because they don't want to be singled out by their employer. The league has not softened its ruling against medical marijuana, however Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the league’s medical staff would continue to study its uses and efficacy.
To conclude about Eugene Monroe and his reasons for retirement -- he did it for the sake of his body and long term goals. He wanted to end his career before his body deteriorated further and had to take more pills then he already does. “I don’t want to have to continue to consume pills to do that; I don’t want to do that,” he said. “Anti-inflammatories or opioids, which I certainly don’t want to take, that is certainly the option to stay within the rules of the game.”
As commissioner Roger Goodell said, the medical staff will continue to study the usage and efficacy of marijuana. Eugene Monroe will stay in contact with the NFL and continue to attempt a movement to help the players deal with pain and injuries.
