SAY IT AIN'T SO, QUINCY

How pervasive is drug use in the NFL?

Don't ask Jerry Jones, Bill Parcells or Quincy Carter -- they're not talking.

But we can ask Ricky Williams.

In the midst of the hoopla surrounding his retirement recently, Williams
was asked if the potential $650,000 fine and four game suspension for his
latest failed drug test had anything to do with his decision. He answered
that it was a factor.

What Williams went on to say, however, was that marijuana use in the NFL is
rampant and that players use a "liquid" to keep the test from being positive.

Fast forward to last Monday.

It does seem odd that a week or so after the Williams revelation about drug
use that a one-time offender, Carter, was suddenly dismissed from the team
with no official reason.

Carter was mum -- at first -- Parcells was "disappointed" and Jones was
resolute.

It wasn't long after Carter was cut that allegations of a failed drug test
were raised. I think it took 4.3 seconds, about the time it took Carter to
dash the 40 yards to his car.

Let's take a look between a few of the many lines spoken during this week
to see if the truth can be determined.

Jones said the decision to cut Carter was not difficult.

For all the things Jerry Jones is and is not, he is all about winning. He
also realizes his chances of winning with a healthy 16-game starter under
center are much higher than with a 40-year-old who is learning the system.

Between Jones' lines it's clear that Carter committed an unforgivable sin.

Parcells said he was very disappointed.

This is the same guy that coached Lawrence Taylor, who had a drug problem.
When you have a big-name player who has all the talent in the world and
throws it all away for drugs, you know disappointment.

Between Parcells' lines it's clear he's seen it again.

Carter said -- nothing. Well, almost nothing.

He was asked about allegations that he failed a drug test because of
cocaine. Carter replied that the thought of him using cocaine was ridiculous.

Between Carter's lines it's clear he skating by on semantics alone. Look at
what Carter didn't say. He didn't say the allegations of drug use were
ridiculous, just that the cocaine allegations were ridiculous.

Though I don't have a copy of the report in hand, it seems clear that the
allegations of a failed drug test have hint of truth to them.

Now Carter, whom I believe to be an incredibly talented athlete, is out of
work, off the Cowboys and, for all intents and purposes, out of the league.

The NFL Player's Union is threatening action against the Cowboys, but for
what and to what end?

If the allegations are true, Carter shouldn't be on the Cowboys or on any
other team for that matter.

You're talking about a guy who can't get hired a Wal-Mart or any one of
hundreds of jobs that have pre-employment drug screening, and he expects
the Cowboys to put up with it.

Quincy, if you're innocent, please put up some sort of defense for
yourself. Say, "It ain't so!" Quincy.

If you're guilty, just go quietly into the night, clean up your act and try
to make another run at professional sports, a career so forgiving it
borders on ridiculous. Remember Steve Howe?

Jones and I agree on few things, but we agree on this one. When the Cowboys
need a late drive, they don't need a driver under the influence of anything
but adrenaline.