Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ryan Smith has been suspended for the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drugs policy.
Tampa Bay CB Ryan Smith has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 10, 2019
Smith was a fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina Central back in 2016. He’s started 16 games for the Buccaneers over the last two seasons and played in all but three possible games since his rookie season. Last year, he made six starts with 38 tackles, one for a loss, six passes defended, one fumble recovery and one interception.
As a guy on the rise and one vying for a full-time starting position, this hurts him.
“We are disappointed that Ryan will be unavailable for the first four games of the season,” Bucs GM Jason Licht said in a statement. “We do extensive training and education for our players regarding the league’s polices, but ultimately each individual is responsible for what they put in their bodies.”
Gould might not report for 49ers
The impasse between kicker Robbie Gould and the San Francisco 49ers may not wrap up anytime soon. Gould has refused to sign his franchise tender and has now made it clear he might not sign it or show up at all as he continues his attempt to force the team to trade him.
“I’m not going to commit to making any decision right now,” Gould told the San Jose Mercury News. “… I don’t really have a plan right now. Obvious there is a deadline and I don’t have to make any decisions anytime soon. . . . The deadline to sign a long-term contract is Monday, and the rest of that [potential holdout] is up to me.”
Robbie Gould won't commit to reporting to 49ers if they don't trade him https://t.co/8f0Jn8pp3r
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 10, 2019
Gould is entering his 14th NFL season and has a career field goal accuracy of 87.7 percent. Last season he led the league with a 97.1 percent accuracy rating.
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