Totally-not-stoned Jake Plummer thought about returning to Broncos
Why? The answer has to do with something called cannabidiol.
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2 min read
The Broncos desperately need a quarterback -- not a hero, just a quarterback -- sometime before September. Otherwise, they'll be defending their title with Mark Sanchez under center.
Honest question: Would the Broncos rather roll with Jake Plummer next season? Because Plummer, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2006, actually considered returning to the Broncos to help them solve their current predicament.
Seriously, the thought crossed his mind.
"I'm 41 and the Broncos need a new quarterback," Plummer recently told SiriusXM NFL Radio, per Fox Sports. "I'm not thinking about it, but the thought crossed my mind because my body feels great after playing for 10 years in the league and being retired."
Plummer, who began his career with the Cardinals and finished as a Bronco, completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 29,253 yards, 161 touchdowns, and 161 interceptions. So, he wasn't exactly the greatest quarterback in the world, but he did piece together some solid years in Denver before being forced to hand the reins over to Jay Cutler midway through the 2006 season. A decade later, Plummer is still feeling good enough to play in the NFL.
Why? The answer is something called cannabidiol (CBD).
"I owe a lot of that to CBD and what it's done for me," Plummer said.
So, what exactly is CBD? ProjectCBD.org explains:
Cannabidiol -- CBD -- is a cannabis compound that has significant medical benefits, but does not make people feel "stoned" and can actually counteract the psychoactivity of THC. The fact that CBD-rich cannabis is non-psychoactive or less psychoactive than THC-dominant strains makes it an appealing option for patients looking for relief from inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, seizures, spasms, and other conditions without disconcerting feelings of lethargy or dysphoria.
And here's Plummer's explanation:
"When you mention CBD, people immediately assume you're talking marijuana and getting high and smoking weed," Plummer said. "You're not. This is scientifically extracted from the hemp plant. They were able to separate the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) almost completely out of it."
So, Plummer is siding with Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe, who gave $10,000 to marijuana research. Like Plummer, Monroe talked about the use of CBD.
Their message is clear: It's all about researching the issue to see if marijuana can help NFL players who deal with repeated hits to the head.
"We're just hoping to educate people because in the NFL, you bang your head," Plummer said. "You're not going to see that go away. People have multiple ailments and things they deal with when not only when they are playing but after.
"We need more guys like Eugene Monroe to take a stand on this and say, 'If you really care about us, you should seriously look at this and consider the effects it can have.' It's really for everybody, not just football players."
The message is not, however, about allowing players to smoke for fun.
"We're not saying that players should be allowed to smoke marijuana," he said. "But if we could get the NFL to maybe help with the funding of this research testing former and current players who use CBD ... I feel like with what this has done for me that it's a wonder medicine."
Earlier this week, the NFL admitted -- for the first time ever -- that a link between football and CTE exists. The league does not, however, have a solution to the problem. So, it might be sensible to research what Plummer is advocating.
