Ryan Clark has had an outstanding NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the 2013 season may be the last for Clark, who currently sits seventh on the Steelers’ all-time list with passes defended and 10th in tackles. He made the Pro Bowl in 2012, leading the team with 100 tackles. It was the first of three straight seasons of at least 100 tackles for Clark.
A free agent acquisition after the 2005 season, Clark has never strayed from the camera during his career. On the field, Clark is arguably one of the best free agent acquisitions the Steelers have picked up in the open market. The hard-hitting free safety has made a career in laying the boom on receivers coming across the middle. Furthermore, Clark has played an integral part on the back end of two Super Bowl defenses.
The Steelers defense, was one of the most feared defenses led the NFL in fewest yards allowed, fewest points allowed or both in five of Clark’s eight seasons. Unfortunately, as the game continues to change and favor offensive players, hard-hitting players like Clark continue to suffer.
This week, off the field, Clark tried to tackle a different issue.
On Thursday, Clark gave his views on the topic of marijuana use and the league’s testing system on ESPN’s “First Take.” He said some of his teammates with the Pittsburgh Steelers turn to smoking marijuana for a variety of reasons. One would think that the assumed players Clark is referring to would have preferred to have kept that on the down-low. One would also think that the Steelers’ front office wasn’t too impressed with the opinions set forth by Clark.
“I know guys on my team who smoke,” Clark said on ESPN’s First Take. “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.”
The problem moving forward is that this organization that prides itself on being role models in the community, will now be questioned for recreational drug use. However, Clark wasn’t done and had this 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 wasn’t finished as he also agreed with New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who claimed the NFL is losing ground on keeping the substance banned and that the testing system is flawed in many areas.
“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.”
The truth is that marijuana is still an illegal substance. While it may or not be an addictive drug, it can be viewed as a gateway toward other addictive drugs. Clark is a great player, no arguing that. However, the Steelers organization would prefer it’s players past or present to follow the philosophy that less is more.
