Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson Suspended Six Games

Update:

The NFL has officially announced Patrick Peterson‘s six-game suspension. 

Here’s a statement from the Cardinals:

“Patrick recognizes how disappointing this is for everyone in the organization as well as our fans. As we all do, he understands that regardless of intent he is ultimately responsible for everything he puts in his body. Our coaching staff and our players are now aware that we will have to play the first six games without Patrick and they understand they have to rise to the challenge that it presents.”

Adam Schefter reports that Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson is being suspended the first six games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

According to Schefter, Peterson has dropped his appeal and will serve the six-game ban. 

Peterson will miss games against the Lions, Ravens, Panthers, Seahawks, Bengals and Falcons before rejoining the team in Week 7.

In total, the suspension will cost Peterson $3,882,352 in salary for the 2018 season.

Peterson has been the subject of trade rumors the past few months.

A source close to Peterson told Kent Somers that someone in Cardinals management said something to Peterson that “pissed him off.”

When asked if it was enough to lead to a potential trade, Somers’ source said: “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal … yet.”

It’s worth mentioning that Peterson has not been in attendance for the voluntary workouts this offseason.

Last year, Peterson requested a trade out of Arizona. He later apologized for making the request and the Cardinals have said that he’s part of their future long-term. 

The Cardinals are planning to go back to a 3-4 defense that helped them better utilize their defensive talent in 2019 with Vance Joseph now in place as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Peterson, 28, is a former first-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2011. He’s currently in the fifth year of his seven-year, $83.02 million that included $48 million guaranteed and set to make base salaries of $11 million over the next two years of the agreement.

In 2018, Peterson appeared in all 16 games for the Cardinals and recorded 54 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and five pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 5 cornerback out of 112 qualifying players.