AP

Of all the controversies the NFL has dropped on us over the last year, the most dire finally reared its head this week.

The Wall Street Journal's Kevin Clark brings us the story of an open sore currently festering in NFL locker rooms as teams convene for training camp—a throbbing source of discontent turning teammate against teammate and poisoning any goodwill that may somehow take root between men.

The issue is Game of Thrones spoilers, and the players openly dropping them in the presence of the ignorant.

Before we go any further, an unnecessary but necessary note:

AP

Imgur

According to Clark, the rift began forming over the last week as players returned to team camps. Disparities in GoT knowledge became quickly apparent, creating two distinct factions in the ranks: the Currents and Catchups.

Currents are, obviously, up to date on the HBO hit series and are both organized and willing to put the sword to anyone who has a problem with them discussing GoT theory in the locker room.

Players like Washington Redskins tight end Niles Paul are forming a united front against Catchups, maintaining the hawkish stance that they don't give a mummer's fart if you aren't through Season 5 yet.

"If you don't know that Jon Snow died, if you don't know what the White Walkers are, that's not my problem," Paul said. "It means you aren't a fan and you don't watch the show."

Lineman Kory Lichtensteiger is a touch more discreet in his approach to spoilers.

"I'll wait a couple of days [to talk about a new episode]," Lichtensteiger said. "But I mean, if you haven't watched it by then, close your ears. Earmuffs. I want to talk about it."

Cleveland Browns guard John Greco agrees—if they're not playing football, the team is talking Thrones.

"When we are away from the field and want to get away, we want to talk about [GoT]," Greco said.

On the other side of the fence are Catchups like Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams, who says his busy schedule has kept him from having enough time to properly digest the show and cross over to the Currents. There's just so much happening!

"You have something going on in the South, the North, the Westeros and all of these conflicts have one main overall theme," Williams said. "I dare anyone to spoil it."

But if you're as attached to the show as Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen, it's hard not to accidentally ruin plot twists for Catchups. After watching dagger after dagger pound into your beloved Jon Snow, a man needs to vent those feelings out in the open.

"You just have to make sure you don't come into a Game of Thrones conversation accidentally," Paulsen said. "When Jon Snow died, we were hurt, very hurt...but I've been following the theories on the Internet so they've got to bring him back."

As a book reader and fellow Current, Paulsen speaks for all of us.

Not being up to date is a personal problem. It sounds sad (and kind of is), but TV shows are adult homework now, and showing up to class unprepared is your risk and yours alone.

With that said, Jon Snow is, like, definitely getting resurrected as Azor Ahai.

You can't bring back a character like Catelyn Stark (resurrected in the books but not yet the TV show)—a mop dunked in tears and turned wet side up—and leave Jon for dead. Just saying.

Dan is on Twitter. If "R + L = J" isn't a play call for at least one NFL team this season, we're just wasting time.