The rate of drug-related suspensions in the NFL is (I can’t believe I’m making a high joke here) insanely high. Just recently, Wes Welker was slapped with a four game ban for testing positive for amphetamines which was found in the Molly he took at the Kentucky Derby; which is not to mention highly illegal.

A week prior to Welker’s suspension, the NFL upheld the year-long ban of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy not once, but twice. The first time for codeine and second for marijuana. This also means the guy who drafted Gordon as “The Ultimate Flyer” in your fantasy football draft is now “The Biggest Loser.” If you listen close enough, you can hear last place calling that guy’s name.

The same week, in true Cheech and Chong style, LeGarrette Blount and Le’Veon Bell were caught with marijuana. I’d make a “blunt and blount” joke here, but that fruit is hanging too low. Despite the fact that they won’t be suspended by the NFL, they will instead face the wrath of head coach Mike Tomlin. I’d take the suspension fellas.

Dwayne Bowe got a one game banishment after getting caught with marijuana and being pulled over for speeding. Though judging from his receiving numbers last year, that may be the only high thing about him this year.

I could go on forever and I’m not kidding. If you google “Drug-related NFL suspensions” the equivalent of Pandora’s box is unleashed upon the interwebs.

These suspensions are ridiculous and quite frankly an embarrassment to the NFL. How can I support “NFL Play 60” when the player encouraging kids to “get outside for 60 minutes” is the same player getting “encouraged” to get out of his car by the officer.

The youth of America are a highly impressionable bunch and seeing their heroes suspended sends all the wrong messages. Players need to realize that, although they want to be treated like regular people, they will never escape the microscope of the media and the scrutiny of the fans.

However, all of these suspensions will become irrelevant soon with the NFL’s new drug suspension policy becoming law, but that is not the point. The point is that the sheer volume of these suspensions is too high (another “high” joke) which reflects poorly on the NFL. I’m still not quite sure if what I saw online was the trend line for drug related suspensions or a Rob Gronkowski skinny post route so crisp that even Bill Belichick would shed tears of joy.

What the NFL needs is not increased testing for drugs; it needs an increased awareness of its growing drug culture and it needs to deal with the problem swiftly. It could also use a lot of other things, but I’m here to write a column, not a novel.