Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones was rushed to the hospital on Sunday as a result of what was reportedly a bad reaction to synthetic marijuana. But one former player who had his own history of drug issues suspects something more serious.
Cris Carter, the Hall of Fame receiver turned ESPN analyst, said on Mike & Mike that he suspects people are covering for Jones by saying synthetic marijuana is what he used.
“I don’t know this, um, I think that the synthetic marijuana story might be just a story,” Carter said. “Just for me, it don’t pass the smell test for me. To me, I think that — I think he was smoking marijuana, and I think he was smoking some marijuana laced with PCP, or angel dust. And I think that’s what made him trip out. Now, he could have been smoking synthetic, but it’s a better story — it’s a better story to tell: ‘That’s the reason I’m here.’ So when he got to the police station, why was he smelling like marijuana? Because synthetic doesn’t smell like marijuana. So for me, I don’t know all the details of the case, but I’m just a little — uh, the synthetic, that’s a better way to put it.”
Carter then invoked the name of Aaron Hernandez, the former Patriots tight end now in prison for murder, as a cautionary tale.
“If you look at — this is not the same thing, so don’t freak out on me, people — but Aaron Hernandez, if you look at what was some of the things they started looking at with him? At the end, he was smoking marijuana laced with PCP. And that’s when the people around him said you can start to see, it started making a difference in his decision making. So, did he have that? No. I’m just trying to tell you what I believe could be the end result, because that’s what happens,” Carter said.
That’s quite a leap for Carter to make. To begin his statement by admitting he doesn’t know the facts and then go on to speculate that Jones was using PCP and connect him to a convicted murderer seems irresponsible. ESPN’s management may tell Carter to choose his words more carefully. Or next time he says something irresponsible, find a fall guy.