New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount didn’t get busted for celebrating a little too hard after his team’s Super Bowl victory back in February, but it was an arrest made when he was with the Steelers that will cost him nearly $50,000 this year.
The NFL announced Tuesday that Blount will be suspended one game for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The punishment stems from an Aug. 20 arrest when Blount and then fellow Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell were busted with three-fourths of an ounce of marijuana during a traffic stop in Ross Township, Pa.
Bell hasn’t been hit by the NFL yet, but since both men were in his care, he’ll likely get a stiffer fine and punishment than Blount, likely two games to start the 2015 season.
While NFL has suspended Pats' RB LeGarrette Blount for opener for violating Substances of Abuse Policy, no discipline for LeVeon Bell. Yet.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 7, 2015
All charges against Blount were thrown out after he agreed to 50 hours of community service before Feb. 4. Bell is on probation for the next 15 months and lost his driver’s license 60 days.
Blount joined the Patriots last season after being cut by the Steelers for going AWOL. Blount was a star in New England’s late-season surge and playoff run and got a Super Bowl ring in the process. He should enter this fall as the presumptive starting running back in New England.
Patrick Peterson diagnosed with diabetes last season
While it seemingly had no effect on the perennial Pro Bowler’s performance on the field, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson revealed that he’s been recently diagnosed with diabetes and has the disorder under control.
Peterson revealed the disorder in an interview with The Arizona Republic. While Peterson, on the outside, seemed to suffer no ill effects from the disease and turned in his usual stellar performance, he felt that it did indeed take a toll on him early in the season.
For what it's worth: If Patrick Peterson says he has a "reversible" form of diabetes & his "health is back to normal," he has Type 2
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) April 7, 2015
“It did,” Peterson told the newspaper. “I’d rather not go into deep detail about that. It was a situation that occurred during the season. The team docs found it and got it all under wraps.”
Peterson recorded 43 tackles last season, one sack, seven passes defended and three interceptions.
Raiders make offer to restricted free agent Sean Richardson
The Green Bay Packers have a decision to make after the Oakland Raiders made a play for restricted free agent linebacker Sean Richardson Tuesday, signing the 25-year-old linebacker to a one-year, $2.55 million deal. The Packers have until Monday to match the offer and keep Richardson.
Green Bay tendered Richardson with $1.542 million, a low offer that will keep the Raiders from having to give up any compensation if the Packers decide not to match the offer. Richardson appeared in all 16 games with the Packers last season, primarily as a reserve safety, recording 25 tackles. The Packers signed Richardson as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt University in 2012.
At least one Packer has made it public that he hopes the Packers match the Raiders’ offer.
Sean please don't leave me.
— Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (@haha_cd6) April 7, 2015
If the Raiders nab Richardson he’ll be the 13th free agent they’ve added this offseason and the second safety. They signed former Philadelphia Eagles safety Nate Allen last month. Oakland currently has four safeties under contract, including Allen, Charles Woodson, Larry Asante and Brandian Ross.
Jets take a chance on Henderson
Erin Henderson didn’t play a down in 2014. Instead, the former Minnesota Vikings linebacker was getting his life together after two drunk driving arrests over a period of six weeks. The Vikings cut Henderson after the second arrest in February 2014 and, in doing so, may have saved his life. Now, the six-year veteran is getting another shot, this time with head coach Todd Bowles and the New York Jets.
Tuesday the 28-year-old linebacker agreed to a one-year deal. Henderson officially served a four-game suspension for the arrests last season, even though he wasn’t a member of an NFL team.
Money is not the only reward for playing football. It's a hell of a perk but the game brings much more to the table
— Erin Henderson (@that1guyerin) March 17, 2015
Last year, Henderson spoke about his alcohol issues with USA Today, saying the arrest and cut were “The extra kick in the butt I needed. I like to call myself a recovering alcoholic. I understand it’s an ongoing battle. It’s a lifelong battle.”
Henderson joins the Jets’ roster as a back-up, but he was a starter in his final three seasons with Minnesota and had a monster 112 tackle year in 2013, adding four sacks, one forced fumble and two interceptions. If the Jets get anywhere near that kind of production out of Henderson this season, he’ll be well worth the risk.
