Sheldon Richardson has been suspended without pay for the first four weeks of the 2015 NFL regular season for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. It’s believed the substance that triggered the suspension is marijuana.
Here are some official quotes on what Richardson had to say about his suspension via TheJetsBlog.com:
“I apologize for letting down my family, teammates, this organization and the fans. However, words aren’t enough,” Richardson said in a statement. “This is something that can only be addressed by how I handle myself from this point on. I don’t want this to take away from what the team is trying to accomplish. While I won’t be there at the start of the regular season, I will do whatever I can to support my teammates until i’m able to return to the field.”
“This is disappointing for Sheldon and the team,” said Jets head coach Todd Bowles. “We’re going to support Sheldon and welcome him back upon his return. We will keep moving forward with our preparations for the upcoming season.”
The former 13th overall selection by the Jets in the 2013 NFL Draft will be eligible to make his return Monday, October 5th following the Jets October 4th game against the Miami Dolphins. Richardson is still able to participate in all off-season and pre-season activities.
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No doubt about it, Richardson has been nothing short of solid for the Jets and their talented defensive line. Richardson’s suspension is a big setback for the team, however, the Jets may not be in that big of a pickle.
The 6th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft in Leonard Williams could be a candidate to fill in for Richardson while he serves his four-game suspension.
While I myself fear for the start of the regular season, I’m also confident the Jets will get off to a hot start. A defensive line that consist of Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Damon Harrison is still nothing short of dominant. The only thing Richardson can do is learn from his mistakes and keep moving forward.
Next: New York Jets: Best defense in the NFL for 2015?