F
flgreen
Guest
Why Sheldon Richardson embraced Jets' counseling after initially resisting
Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Print Email Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on August 26, 2015 at 5:32 PM, updated August 26, 2015 at 6:35 PM
FLORHAM PARK — After Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson was arrested for driving 143 mph and fleeing police, with a loaded gun and 12-year-old kid in a car that smelled of marijuana, his coach and general manager said they wanted to help him.
General manager Mike Maccagnan said he hoped Richardson would undergo counseling at the Jets' facility. At first, Richardson said, he resisted the counseling. But he eventually gave in, after his parents encouraged him to try it.
PLUS: Darryl Slater's Jets 53-man roster projection and analysis, version 3.0
"They said [to] just try something different, and you never know what might happen," he said after Wednesday's practice. "It's been working for me."
Richardson's maturity and mentality were called into question following his July 14 arrest, which came 12 days after the NFL suspended him for this season's first four games, due to repeated positive marijuana tests. (Richardson could now be forced to sit for longer, due to his misdemeanor arrest, which he concealed from the Jets.)
Richardson said his counseling has been "somewhat" helpful with "just learning things about myself, dealing with life endeavors that have been hard for me to deal with, talking to someone outside of my circle."
Though he resisted at first, Richardson said it wasn't hard for him to open up once he sat down for counseling sessions at the Jets' facility.
"If I said I was going to do it, I went in with full, open arms, and I wouldn't hesitate," he said.
While Richardson is going through counseling, he said he doesn't see the need to make sweeping changes in his life.
"Other than doing a bad mistake on one night, nah, not really," he said. "That's the only thing I'd change. I'm pretty quiet off the field, honestly. I keep to my myself, stay in my room, play video games. Regular old person, except I just happen to be in the NFL."
Richardson can be at the Jets' facility now, and can participate in preseason practices and games. But his access to the team will be limited during his suspension.
NFL rules stipulate that a player suspended for a substance abuse policy violation — and that's what Richardson's four-game suspension is — can work out at his team's facility, and can participate in meetings, but just can't practice.
The issue for Richardson comes with his potential additional suspension, for his July 14 arrest in Missouri. (His arraignment is Monday, but he said he won't attend.)
That suspension would fall under the NFL's personal conduct policy. So once that suspension kicks in, Richardson would be barred from visiting the Jets' facility. (The same goes for performance-enhancing drug suspensions.)
Richardson anxiously awaits the ruling from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on a potential additional suspension, which seems very likely at this point. The NFL will wait for the legal process in Missouri to play out first.
"I could go from four games to however long he wants it to be," Richardson said. "It's pretty tough [waiting for a decision]. When I get the date when I can actually return, then I can actually start moving forward."
During regular season practices, he said he plans to work out inside the Jets' facility and think about "what they're doing in practice." He'll be able to catch up on most of that during film study meetings, of course.
Since Richardson wants a quick answer about his likely extended suspension, he could get one by expediting his legal proceedings. Does this mean he won't fight the charges against him? He said he'd have to talk to his lawyer about that.
Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/sheldon_richardson_jets_suspension.html
Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Print Email Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on August 26, 2015 at 5:32 PM, updated August 26, 2015 at 6:35 PM
FLORHAM PARK — After Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson was arrested for driving 143 mph and fleeing police, with a loaded gun and 12-year-old kid in a car that smelled of marijuana, his coach and general manager said they wanted to help him.
General manager Mike Maccagnan said he hoped Richardson would undergo counseling at the Jets' facility. At first, Richardson said, he resisted the counseling. But he eventually gave in, after his parents encouraged him to try it.
PLUS: Darryl Slater's Jets 53-man roster projection and analysis, version 3.0
"They said [to] just try something different, and you never know what might happen," he said after Wednesday's practice. "It's been working for me."
Richardson's maturity and mentality were called into question following his July 14 arrest, which came 12 days after the NFL suspended him for this season's first four games, due to repeated positive marijuana tests. (Richardson could now be forced to sit for longer, due to his misdemeanor arrest, which he concealed from the Jets.)
Richardson said his counseling has been "somewhat" helpful with "just learning things about myself, dealing with life endeavors that have been hard for me to deal with, talking to someone outside of my circle."
Though he resisted at first, Richardson said it wasn't hard for him to open up once he sat down for counseling sessions at the Jets' facility.
"If I said I was going to do it, I went in with full, open arms, and I wouldn't hesitate," he said.
While Richardson is going through counseling, he said he doesn't see the need to make sweeping changes in his life.
"Other than doing a bad mistake on one night, nah, not really," he said. "That's the only thing I'd change. I'm pretty quiet off the field, honestly. I keep to my myself, stay in my room, play video games. Regular old person, except I just happen to be in the NFL."
Richardson can be at the Jets' facility now, and can participate in preseason practices and games. But his access to the team will be limited during his suspension.
NFL rules stipulate that a player suspended for a substance abuse policy violation — and that's what Richardson's four-game suspension is — can work out at his team's facility, and can participate in meetings, but just can't practice.
The issue for Richardson comes with his potential additional suspension, for his July 14 arrest in Missouri. (His arraignment is Monday, but he said he won't attend.)
That suspension would fall under the NFL's personal conduct policy. So once that suspension kicks in, Richardson would be barred from visiting the Jets' facility. (The same goes for performance-enhancing drug suspensions.)
Richardson anxiously awaits the ruling from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on a potential additional suspension, which seems very likely at this point. The NFL will wait for the legal process in Missouri to play out first.
"I could go from four games to however long he wants it to be," Richardson said. "It's pretty tough [waiting for a decision]. When I get the date when I can actually return, then I can actually start moving forward."
During regular season practices, he said he plans to work out inside the Jets' facility and think about "what they're doing in practice." He'll be able to catch up on most of that during film study meetings, of course.
Since Richardson wants a quick answer about his likely extended suspension, he could get one by expediting his legal proceedings. Does this mean he won't fight the charges against him? He said he'd have to talk to his lawyer about that.
Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/sheldon_richardson_jets_suspension.html
