Whether He Wants To Admit It Or Not, Justin Blackmon Needs Help

It seems like some people just don’t get it. They get in trouble multiple times for doing stupid things, but they never seem to learn from their mistakes. They just keep repeating history until, eventually, there are no more “second chances” to redeem themselves.

You hope that people like this will get their act together and grow up, but often times it just never happens.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon is a kid who has immense on the football field, but seemingly lacks the brain power to make the right decisions off it.

In just under a year’s time, Blackmon has gone from a kid for unlimited potential to become a star in this league to one who is at “crossroads” in his career. He’s on the border of NFL Player and jobless due to immaturity. No one wants to see him fail — if you do then you’re an awful person — but his drinking issues have clearly had an effect on his life. He’s been arrested twice in three years for DUI, including last June when he was three times over the legal limit. Then, due to what was likely a failed random test after being placed on the NFL’s substance abuse list, Blackmon was suspended for the Jaguars first four games this season. Despite the fact that he denies that he has an issue, it’s clear as day that this is a young man who needs to get help before it’s too late.

Alcoholism is a serious problem that affects millions of people each year worldwide. It’s even one of the leading causes of death in the world — there are 2.5-million alcohol-related deaths annually. It’s also one of those diseases that people aren’t ready to admit they have a problem with until it’s too late. It’s unsure that he has a major alcohol problem, but recent trends suggest that he may be leaning towards one in the near future.

It can be viewed as a 23-year old kid just having fun, but there is a difference between having fun and going overboard. There are plenty of players in the league the same age as Blackmon who aren’t getting arrested for DUI or being suspended for violating the substance abuse policy. We shouldn’t be sitting here, year two of a young NFL career, hearing a player explain his actions for the second year in a row. Since he has been in the NFL, is stupid decision to years played ration is 2:1. Those aren’t real good numbers in this situation.

“I don’t think anybody wants to be in the position that I’m in right now, and I don’t think anybody wants to be in a position that can be any worse,” Blackmon said to the media on Monday. “I’m not going to go into it and say I want to be in this position because that’s not where I want to be. All I can do is come out here and work every day and get better each day. Coach Gus (Bradley) says every day, ‘Today is the most important day,’ and that’s all I can do is come out here every day and try to improve and take care of everything else as it comes.”

Blackmon has said all the right things each time he’s been in trouble, but he hasn’t acted on what he’s said. He even said this time around that if staying at home means staying out of trouble, then he’ll stay at home. However, he immediately contradicted that remark by stating that he doesn’t feel that he needs a lifestyle change. Clearly, this is a man who doesn’t know what to do at this point in his life.

He refused to comment on whether or not he plans to attend rehab to get his act together, but, honestly, that may not be a bad idea. He doesn’t need to be whisked away to a far away place to live in seclusion for months as he gets treatment. He can easily go to out-patient therapy to help straighten his life out.

Blackmon says that he will talk with his teammates and coaches because they are his support group. But what happens when he makes another mistake after yet again saying he will learn from this? Will his coaches or teammates have his back then? Or will Blackmon begin his downward spiral to becoming another Titus Young.

He’s nowhere near close to being in the same situation as Young, but it can’t be far off if Blackmon doesn’t truly realize the magnitude of effects that his “poor decision making” could have on him.

People are pulling for you Justin, it’s up to you now to live up to your word and not be the player you promised not to be.