Sheldon Richardson Suspended 4 games

[Mainejet]

There's bad AND good to come out of this:

First of all the bad is that we'll be missing him for four games and that trumps all of the good.

But on the good side, I think of several small things which many pointed out already.

As has already been pointed out, we'll see how good Leonard Williams is almost immediately in a trial by fire basis. His responsibilities will be much more with Sheldon out. If he's good? It tells us a lot who we might want to keep along the DL.

It appeared that Sheldon NEEDED to be knocked down a peg or two. He was pretty smug to the fans about not showing up for OTA's. Hopefully, this teaches him a lesson.

We have leverage with Sheldon although we lost leverage with Mo. I doubt Sheldon would have the audacity to hold out now. He CANNOT claim he outplayed his contract.

Now, we can say come contract time, YOU missed 4 games and we do not have to pay you what you feel you're worth. Your market value has gone DOWN.

If we decide he's too much trouble and need to part ways with him? We let him play out his rookie deal with the Jets and then he can leave via free agency.

 

[SackExchange]

Good point about losing leverage with Mo. I think Mo pretty much has to happen now, although right now it is costlier than it was before this.

Richardson could be one of those enormous talents who is that combination of too stupid and too arrogant to respect his physical gifts. Why anyone would do this, more than once, is beyond me. A lot of guys would give an arm and a leg to be able to do what he does. And he just so casually risks everything.

 

[hobson54]

I was thinking the same thing, sack, and you know what, if Brady gets his suspension lifted or limited, Richardson should immediately appeal his suspension, lawyer up, hire that Kessler d-bag, tell the NFLPA he expects the same kind of vigorous defense they gave Tom Brady, including an appeal hearing that lasts 12 hours, where they challenge the results of this failed test from every conceivable angle including the effects a mosquito bite might have if said mosquito is carrying weed positive blood from his last victim, and I want a team of scientists too, to validate his bulls*t. Lastly Jets fans will have to picket the league office and the NY media will have to join in the chorus, but we might have trouble with those last two because Jets fans are not delusional homers, nor is the NY media (to put it mildly).

can we stop with this pats stuff already. it really does make the fan base look like a bunch of whiners.

legarrete blount was just suspended a game for pot (1st suspension). previously jerrmaine cunningham was suspended 4 games.

the suspensions are set by the CBA. it's cut and dried.

brady's issue is completely different. there is no proscribed punishment for what he allegedly did. now i can understand people being upset he only got 4 games (or less if reduced) for deflategate. but that has nothing to do with sheldon's substance abuse suspension. future hall of famer antonio gates just got 4 games for PEDs and rolando mcclain on dallas got 4 games for substance abuse policy violations. it's the penalty proscribed by the CBA.

 

[Mainejet]

Good point about losing leverage with Mo. I think Mo pretty much has to happen now, although right now it is costlier than it was before this.

Richardson could be one of those enormous talents who is that combination of too stupid and too arrogant to respect his physical gifts. Why anyone would do this, more than once, is beyond me. A lot of guys would give an arm and a leg to be able to do what he does. And he just so casually risks everything.

Well, it's much easier than you might think Sack. Not that I am condoning Sheldon here. I am not. I am completely on your side of the house.

I have just seen so many players have a genuine struggle with what they can put into their bodies. This could be something as simple as he took a body building aid and that caused him to pop. He knew it wasn't steroids, but come to find out it was on the banned substance list.

We really don't know what was his violation. But something tells me this is just a colossal f*ck up on the part of Sheldon and he is more angry at himself than anyone else could ever be at him.

 

[Elias]

Well, it's much easier than you might think Sack. Not that I am condoning Sheldon here. I am not. I am completely on your side of the house.

I have just seen so many players have a genuine struggle with what they can put into their bodies. This could be something as simple as he took a body building aid and that caused him to pop. He knew it wasn't steroids, but come to find out it was on the banned substance list.

We really don't know what was his violation. But something tells me this is just a colossal f*ck up on the part of Sheldon and he is more angry at himself than anyone else could ever be at him.

I'm pretty sure it's marijuana. It's been reported in multiple places

 

[hobson54]

In my opinion, the best ting they can do with Sheldon right now is nothing. We control his rights for 2 more years, 3 with the team 5th year option. Lets just wait and see how this is going to play out.

If we were to trade him now, we are going to get well below market. Let him come back in October and hope the kid plays well and does not get into more trouble. We are not getting anywhere near market value for him in a trade right now. Lets see what we really have in Leonard Williams. Just let it play out.

Oh, yeah, and lets get Mo locked up.

agreed on all ends. richardson is under contract for 2015 and 2016, and we can exercise the 5th year option. there is no need to rush to any decision. for now, we will get more production out of his contract (assuming no further suspension) than what he is being paid under his rookie contract. if anything, he just hurt himself in future negotiations.

so let's stop acting like it's the end of the world and the jets are screwed. it is completely under the jets ability to get 3 more years of "cheap" labor for richardson. let's focus on now, not what we may or may not get for him 2 or 3 years down the line

 

[Mainejet]

I just answered my own question now. Sorry, Sack. He was suspended for Smoking weed and that is the very example of stupidity as far as I am concerned. Sheldon is officially a sh*thead.

He DESERVES everything he gets and unless he's able to start playing at a much higher level then his playing days with the Jets are officially numbered.

 

[Mainejet]

I'm pretty sure it's marijuana. It's been reported in multiple places

Yeah, sorry Elias. I hadn't seen that. And I must say what a f*cking stupid thing to do. We should have ZERO tolerance for this. He just threw a monkey wrench in the Jets defensive plans for weeks 1 through 4.

 

[Elias]

Yeah, sorry Elias. I hadn't seen that. And I must say what a f*cking stupid thing to do. We should have ZERO tolerance for this. He just threw a monkey wrench in the Jets defensive plans for weeks 1 through 4.

Agreed. Very disappointing.

 

[Superman55]

I hope I'm not, just as I hope other posters aren't, either.

Welcome to the internet

 

[Superman55]

Agreed. Very disappointing.

Disappointing and selfish. I'm sure even his Agent is now thinking there will be a ton of extra work required on his end to cover their butt and their team's butt similar to the issues the Cowboys and Dez are having...we now have that type of Player in Sheldon where both sides have to work in tight language on the impact of off the field issues. No one wants to deal with this, not the agent, team, or player in all honesty, whether they know it or not. Just dumb. It probably won't even be on the banned substance list after 2016. So dumb.

 

[SackExchange]

I just answered my own question now. Sorry, Sack. He was suspended for Smoking weed and that is the very example of stupidity as far as I am concerned. Sheldon is officially a sh*thead.

He DESERVES everything he gets and unless he's able to start playing at a much higher level then his playing days with the Jets are officially numbered.

He pretty much deserves every bit of it.

But as others have pointed out, he is under Jets control. Obviously, the Jets need to deal with Mo before Sheldon is no longer under Jets control. But if (and it's a big if) Sheldon recovers some of his value this season AND Leonard Williams steps up, you can deal Sheldon after this season. The key is keeping two of the three (if Williams is legit), and I had been on the side of dealing Sheldon before this broke. Now it seems like you have to keep Mo and Williams.

 

[TebowCan'tThrow]

Yes, i read that article and found it truly amazing that the NFL hasn't caught on and evolved with the times.
It's not a PED folks it's marijuana.
People die from:
Steroids...
Crack..
Molly's...
Heroine...
Nicotine...
Alcohol..
People DO NOT DIE FROM SMOKING MARIJUANA. For such a contact sport, PAIN KILLERS are given that are actually more dangerous and excessivelly more addictive to an athlete and any one for that matter.

Marijuana is a substance that can help these players. They aren't driving off the road hitting people. It doesn't enrage you, hell, on the contrary it mellows you out into not doing any other stupid act. Please people, Pot is in no way a gate way drug (http:/http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana/marijuana-gateway-drug/). Whom ever thinks that should read this article.

There is a reason why pot is picking up steam in this country to allow it to become legal. High official realize that medicinally it can ease the pain of many issues (cancer, psychiatric, mood swings & many more). Or recreational. Heck, we've all drank some alcohol. So those pointing the finger at "POT IS SUCH A DEVIL SUBSTANCE" should honestly think twice about what they truly are saying. Alcohol subtance have been associated with plenty of deaths in this country as opposed to smoking weed, whci is still at a huge ZERO.

What Sheldon did is nothing. What Josh Gordon did is nothing and what 60% of the NFL still does (according to the CBS article) is nothing. What Ray Rice did is something.. What Donte Stallworth did is something huge, what Aaron Hernandez did is serious & what Antonio Gates did using PED's is wrong. These are examples of acts that deserve punishment, not smoking weed fellas. Hell if thats the case, suspend players for smoking a cigarette, that produces cancer. Suspend a player for drinking alcohol, and suspend a player for life for sipping on a mimosa!

The NFL should honestly lower or banish the ban and consider the benefits of the drug as this country is in transition to making it legalized throughout the states.

I can agree somewhat. I don't smoke weed and have no desire to. I will say I don't want my players to smoke it either unless the teams/NFL can find a way for them to smoke it for pain. However the rules are the rules and the real problem is not what he smoked, but the fact he said F you to the team, NFL and fans. Thats what I have a problem with. There are rules and this prick and many others like him say the same thing to the rules.

 

[cysporsche]

Here's the dumbest part of Sheldon getting busted, he knew exactly when his next drug test was coming, and he knew that THC stays in the blood for 30 days, and he still failed.

Is that stupidity or arrogance, or a combo of both ? To know after already having two strikes will result in a 4 game suspension, and still get stoned, is pure STUPIDITY ! Let's see how he likes not receiving 4 game checks.

Go Jets...Cyborg

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

Here's the dumbest part of Sheldon getting busted, he knew exactly when his next drug test was coming, and he knew that THC stays in the blood for 30 days, and he still failed.

Is that stupidity or arrogance, or a combo of both ? To know after already having two strikes will result in a 4 game suspension, and still get stoned, is pure STUPIDITY ! Let's see how he likes not receiving 4 game checks.

Go Jets...Cyborg

Exactly why I don't believe for one second that this will be his last failed drug test. Arrogance and stupidity are a deadly combination. I hope I'm wrong, I'll be crossing my fingers that I am, all of us will, but this guy has train-wreck written all over him. I saw the red flags when he skipped out on the OTA's because "he wanted to spend more time with his family" (Who doesn't? Who wouldn't rather stay home with family and friends than sweat their asses off on a practice field? By that logic, EVERYBODY should skip OTA's and stay home), but I knew that was a red flag and to make matters worse he catches an attitude with the fans for expressing their concerns. I was accused of over-reactiing at the time, but I had a bad feeling about the vibes this clown was putting out and sadly my instincts were validated.

 

[Golden Rott]

I guess the best we can hope for as Jet fans is that this causes him to grow up. Its one thing to act like a butthead and such buttheadedness does not cost you anything. Now it has cost him 4 games, 4 game checks and (hopefully) the respect of his teammates. Hopefully the guys that are busting their asses and staying clean are pissed that he allowed this to happen, that he won't be with them for those first 4 games.

Sometimes you need to lose something before you grow up. Hopefully he sees what has happened to guys like Justin Blackmon & Josh Gordon and sees what can happen to a promising career through buttheadedness. If Sheldon wants to get paid, Sheldon needs to lay off the weed. Its that simple. Time for Sheldon to grow up.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

I guess the best we can hope for as Jet fans is that this causes him to grow up. Its one thing to act like a butthead and such buttheadedness does not cost you anything. Now it has cost him 4 games, 4 game checks and (hopefully) the respect of his teammates. Hopefully the guys that are busting their asses and staying clean are pissed that he allowed this to happen, that he won't be with them for those first 4 games.

Sometimes you need to lose something before you grow up. Hopefully he sees what has happened to guys like Justin Blackmon & Josh Gordon and sees what can happen to a promising career through buttheadedness. If Sheldon wants to get paid, Sheldon needs to lay off the weed. Its that simple. Time for Sheldon to grow up.

Its possible he can learn from this and get his head out of his ass, but I wouldn't even bet 'Monopoly Money' on it.

Guys who are their own worst enemy have a special gift for wrecking their lives, and it usually hurts the people around them too, thats the sad part, otherwise who cares if some imbecile wants to sabotage his own life.

 

[Superman55]

Its possible he can learn from this and get his head out of his ass, but I wouldn't even bet 'Monopoly Money' on it.

Guys who are their own worst enemy have a special gift for wrecking their lives, and it usually hurts the people around them too, thats the sad part, otherwise who cares if some imbecile wants to sabotage his own life.

I wouldn't bet on it either, especially after already getting busted prior to this. He should have learned from that. Hoping we don't have Josh Gordon or Justin Blackmon 2.0 on our team.

Who drafted Sheldon? The one thing they did right here....if he turns into Josh Gordon, that will make consecutive draft year catastrophic bombings...making Mike T look like a draft expert is hard, if this Sheldon pick turns belly up, it will make Mike T look like Polian compared to Idzik.

 

[BigDan]

From Overthecap.com:

Sheldon Richardson Suspended
Posted on July 2, 2015 by Jason Fitzgerald

Jets star defensive end Sheldon Richardson has been suspended for four games due to a violation of the leagues substances abuse policy. Richardson will lose $310,353 in salary and forfeit another $334,823 in bonus money. That is a major financial loss for a player scheduled to earn just under $1.32 million for the season. Richardson will also lose the guarantee protection in his current contract.

The way that these suspensions work is that Richardson will be allowed to participate in training camp and the preseason and his suspension will go into effect following final cutdowns. At that point the Jets will see Richardson’s cap number reduce by $310,353. They will receive a full credit the following year for the forfeited signing bonus.

The suspension is an interesting one for the Jets who are currently in the midst of a contract dispute with defensive end Muhmmad Wilkerson. Prior to this suspension one would assume that the Jets felt they had a great deal of leverage in talks with Wilkerson due to the presence of Richardson and top draft pick Leonard Williams. While I don’t believe a four game suspension changes that leverage (if anything it gives them more of a chance to see Williams play) the long term effects could change the thought process.

Once a player is involved in the suspension process the penalties begin to increase dramatically. While Richardson will say all the right things, the fact is the team has to worry about any future hiccups. Financially they are protected, but if they stand in the future to lose Richardson for more time, perhaps as much as a season, well then it makes more sense to take care of Wilkerson’s contract ASAP.

Jets head coach Todd Bowles recently dealt with a situation like that in Arizona with Daryl Washington who was signed to a lucrative contract extension and proceeded to be suspended multiple times, missing all of 2014. Players that could have been useful to the team were allowed to walk because of Washington’s presence. He probably doesnt want to see the same occur in New York if they can prevent it.

 

[Superman55]

If we could get a 1 from anyone...let's get the bills on the phone.