The NFL announced that Jets DL Sheldon Richardson has been suspended four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Richardson released a statement regarding his suspension:
“I apologize for letting down my family, teammates, this organization and the fans.However, words aren’t enough. This is something that can only be addressed by how I handle myself from this point on. I don’t want this to take away from what the team is trying to accomplish. While I won’t be there at the start of the regular season, I will do whatever I can to support my teammates until I’m able to return to the field.”
This is unfortunate news for the Jets, as Richardson has quickly become of the best young, defensive players in the game.
However, the team used their first-round pick on Leonard Williams, who could step into the starting lineup with Richardson sidelined.
Richardson, 24, is entering the third year of his four-year, $10.054 million rookie contract and was set to make a base salary of $1.319 million for the 2015 season.
Last year, Richardson recorded 66 tackles, eight sacks, a forced fumble, a recovery and a safety for the Jets’ defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2 defensive end in a 3-4 defense out of qualifying players.
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