Just a day after I put Antonio Gates on my Top Five Fantasy Tight Ends I’m going to need to make a new list. The NFL announced four major suspensions Thursday, with Gates getting top billing on a veritable Pro Bowl roster along with the New York Jets’ Sheldon Richardson, Dallas Cowboys’ Rolando McClain and the Green Bay Packers’ Datone Jones (who kind of messes up my Pro Bowl hyperbole, but we’re still going with it).
Gates was suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy on performance enhancing drugs.
TE Antonio Gates suspended for first 4 games of NFL season. pic.twitter.com/jfFgPLNUja
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 2, 2015
Gates, for his part, is claiming innocence, claiming he got the positive test from supplements and holistic medicines, in what has to be the weirdest-looking and longest tweet in the history of the medium.
“In my 12 years in the NFL, I have taken treme #ltw pic.twitter.com/8LoFenX5GK
— Antonio Gates (@AntonioGates85) July 2, 2015
The NFL doesn’t release specific information on what Gates was busted for, but since he’s already played 12 years and never been hit before, it’s a safe bet it’s nothing ridiculous.
Sheldon Richardson, on the other hand, knows he’s guilty and why.
https://twitter.com/Godforshort/status/616680118300315648
Richardson also got hit with a four-game ban and he really couldn’t afford it with first-round draft pick Leonard Williams sitting right there ready to take his job.
“This is disappointing for Sheldon and the team,” Jets head coach Todd Bowles said in a statement. “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.”
With Richardson in the drug program and with the next punishment being a full season, Muhammed Wilkerson’s bargaining positition suddenly becomes more interesting. Wilkerson has been angling for a new deal after three good seasons, including a 10.5 sack season in 2013. With Richardson out for four games, plus the season-long suspension ax hanging in the air, Wilkerson might be able to get the deal he wants, or close to it.
Can't help but wonder if the Richardson suspension leads Jets to sweeten the pot at all for Mo Wilkerson. Those talks have gone nowhere
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 2, 2015
Rolando McClain had to know a suspension was coming and is probably lucky it’s just four games.
“I apologize to my family, the Cowboys organization, my teammates and Cowboys fans for my mistakes,” McClain said in a statement. “I will not break the rules of my profession in the future and I regret my error. I look forward to returning to the field in Week 5, when I hope to help my team beat the Patriots.”
The impending suspension likely cost McClain in the free agent market. He re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal back in April, but without the substance-abuse penalty hanging over him, could have probably commanded a long-term deal with the Cowboys or another team.
If you haven’t heard of Datone Jones before this, you’re probably not alone. Jones is a back-up defensive end for the Packers and blends in with the rest of the scrub defensive linemen, cast-offs and future middle school defensive coordinators the Packers put on the field in their defensive front every week.
And, Green Bay's Datone Jones also suspended for first game of season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 2, 2015
Last year was Jones’ best year. He played in 13 games and recorded 22 tackles,1.5 sacks and had an interception. He’ll have to sit one game, which means he probably got busted drinking a 5-Hour Energy or some other inconsequential thing that we could all buy at our nearest QuickStop.
Your 2015 Suspension All-Pros
For fun, let’s see what kind of team we can put together from players sitting out at least a game this season.
OFFENSE
QB – Tom Brady, New England Patriots (four games)
RB – Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (one game)
WR – Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns (season)
TE – Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (four games)
OL – Even Britton, Chicago Bears (four games),
DEFENSE
DE – Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets (four games), Greg Hardy, Dallas Cowboys (10 Games)
DT – Marcell Dareus, Buffal Bills (one game)
OLB – Victor Butler, New York Giants (four games)
MLB – Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys (four games)
S – LaRon Landry, Free Agent (10 games)
Man, that is close. We need four more offensive linemen, at least two more wide receivers, another outside linebacker, another defensive tackle, two corners and a safety and we can field a pretty good team. Don’t lose hope. There’s a lot of offseason left.
And if you’re wondering who I’d replace Gates with on my Top Five tight ends list, it’s Owen Daniels from the Denver Broncos. Modify your fantasy football plans accordingly.
