ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers outdoors linebacker Randy Gregory has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the NFL, alleging discrimination whereas in search of reimbursement of greater than $500,000 in fines levied by the league for the usage of doctor-prescribed THC to social anxiousness dysfunction and post-traumatic stress dysfunction, in accordance with court docket paperwork.
Gregory filed the lawsuit in Arapahoe County (Colo.) District Courtroom this week and likewise names the Denver Broncos, his former staff, within the swimsuit. Although the Broncos are named, solely the NFL, not groups, levy fines for violations of its substance-abuse coverage per the collective bargaining settlement with the NFLPA.
The lawsuit claims Gregory was prescribed Dronabinol, a type of artificial hashish, to deal with his identified disabilities. The NFL not suspends gamers for THC use, however it’s nonetheless a banned substance and gamers who check constructive are topic to escalating fines. The lawsuit, filed by legal professional Spencer Kontnik, claims Gregory has acquired $532,500 in fines from the league since March 2023. Between then and the tip of the 2023 season, he performed for each the Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers earlier than signing with the Buccaneers this offseason.
GO DEEPER
‘I perceive what’s at stake’: Randy Gregory keen to place hand in dust for 49ers
Gregory, in accordance with the swimsuit, first sought permission from the league in March of 2023 to make use of Dronabinol throughout non-work hours, however he was denied. The lawsuit claims the league and membership’s refusal to make “affordable lodging” by permitting Gregory to take the prescribed remedy is discriminatory beneath Colorado legislation.
Gregory, in accordance with the lawsuit, is in search of damages “together with, however not restricted to, reimbursement of the financial fines that Mr. Gregory was required to pay together with curiosity to the fullest extent permitted by legislation in an quantity to be decided at trial.”
The Broncos signed Gregory, who has been open publicly about residing with social anxiousness dysfunction, to a five-year contract in March of 2022 that got here with $28 million assured. He performed in solely 10 video games for the Broncos. A lot of his 2022 season was worn out as a result of a knee damage and he was traded after solely 4 video games in 2023. He had 2 1/2 sacks in 12 video games with the 49ers final season and noticed snaps in all three of the staff’s postseason video games.
Gregory was regularly suspended by the NFL earlier in his profession when the league nonetheless pulled that lever as punishment for violations of its substance-abuse guidelines. That included suspensions for all the 2017 and 2019 seasons whereas he performed with the Dallas Cowboys.
Gregory, a second-round pick of Nebraska in 2016, signed a one-year take care of the Buccaneers in April.
(Photograph: Cooper Neill / Getty Photographs)
