Joe Theismann is right about Ricky Williams, the running back’s continuous drug problems are an insult to professional football and allowing him to play while under an NFL drug-suspension is a disturbing non-decision on the CFL’s part:

Williams joined the Argos on Sunday after being suspended by the NFL last month following a fourth violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.

The first three violations were for marijuana use but the results of the fourth haven’t been divulged.

“This is a feeble excuse for the Toronto Argonauts to sell tickets and I am embarrassed to have worn that A on my helmet,” Theismann told The Fan 590, a Toronto all-sports radio station, on Tuesday. “To think they would stoop to this level to sell tickets, to bring someone in who is not worthy of playing professional football.

“He has insulted professional football players, he has insulted the game of professional football. He has been suspended by the National Football League, he doesn’t want to play. He’s going to a place where his value will be limited.”

Theisman expressed his exasperation on The Fan when it was suggested that Canadian views on marijuana use may have softened since he played in Toronto.

“I don’t care what society says,” Theismann said. “To me that’s a crock of baloney. That’s a feeble excuse. Society can accept what it wants. I refuse to accept drug use as a part of society. It has not been legalized.”

Later in the morning he shared his view on ESPN Radio in the U.S.

“He’s a disgrace to the game,” Theismann said. “The man doesn’t deserve to play football. He should go on with his life and treat his drug addictions or go do whatever he wants to do.” —CBC

But, what’s more disturbing: the CFL allowing a marijuana addict to play while suspended, or the NFL allowing multiple domestic abusers and wife beaters to continue playing every Sunday? Michael Pittman, the Tampa Bay running back, pled guilty to ramming his wife’s car with his Hummer and was told not to play in only 3 games by the NFL… even though his 2-year old child was in the back seat of his wife’s car at the time of his attack. St Louis’ Ram’s lineman Leonard Little killed a woman while drinking and driving and only received an 8-game suspension!

How does Ricky Williams playing in the CFL garner so much outrage when the NFL routinely harbours convicted wife beaters and drunk drivers who kill people? Maybe the NFL’s firm stance on drug violations and flimsy position on domestic violence is another symptom of the American drug war. Regardless, what Theisman and anybody else outraged at the Williams signing should also be as upset—if not even more outraged—about is the far more serious case of men who are directly harmful to other people being allowed to play in the NFL.

By no means am I arguing that the CFL should be given a pass for overlooking William’s off-field problems. It demonstrates a stunning lack of will and values all the way up to the CFL’s head office and should be considered yet another nail in Commissioner Tom Wright’s coffin. But if you are sincerely concerned about disgraces to the game who don’t deserve to play football, please get men who kill and abuse people out of the sport before worrying about the potheads.