On Wednesday, the Baltimore Ravens released offensive lineman and marijuana advocate Eugene Monroe. Eugene Monroe said, “I will do everything I can to ensure the generations of NFL players after me won’t have to resort to harmful and addictive opioids as their only option for pain management.” On Wednesday, Monroe told The New York Times that he wondered if his vigorous campaign to get the NFL to take medical marijuana off its banned substances list contributed to his ouster from the Ravens.
“However, as I’ve said in the past, they have distanced themselves from me and made it clear that they do not support my advocacy,” said Monroe. In a story posted on the Ravens’ website about Monroe’s release, John Harbaugh clearly indicated that the team was not on the same page with his beliefs.
Monroe hasn’t practiced this offseason after undergoing a season-ending shoulder surgery last season. Monroe said in his statement Thursday that he is “Cleared to play and excited to get back on the field and compete.” Monroe started only 17 games in two seasons since receiving $17.5 million in guaranteed money as part of the five-year, $37.5 million deal he signed with the team in 2014. Monroe recently donated $80,000 to researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania for studies to examine the impact of cannabinoid therapies on current and former NFL players.
The Giants have been in contact with Monroe’s agent since the player’s release Wednesday and remain interested in signing the veteran tackle. Monroe’s plan is to take a couple of days to assess interest in him from around the league and potentially schedule a visit or two early next week. Monroe announced his release this morning and vowed to continue to fight for the use of weed as a pain management tool in the league.
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