Packers’ Jolly Suspended Indefinitely by NFL, Will Miss 2010 Season
The NFL has suspended Green Bay Packers’ DE Johnny Jolly without pay for the 2010 season, and possibly beyond.
The league suspended the defensive lineman indefinitely for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Jolly will be eligible to apply for reinstatement following the Super Bowl in February.
Jolly faces legal trouble as well. In July 2008, in Houston, he was arrested outside a nightclub for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. If convicted, Jolly faces up to 20 years in prison.
"Johnny is a good player that loves everything about the game of football," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said in a statement. "We appreciate the contributions he has made to the Packers the past four seasons. His focus and priorities now lie elsewhere -- our thoughts are with him during this difficult personal time."
The loss of Jolly may be a significant one for the Packers, who are heading into this season with Super Bowl aspirations. Jolly played a key role last season as the Packers allowed a league-low 83.3 rushing yards per game. The Packers also had the number 2 overall defence last year. Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme proved to be a huge success and Jolly was a vital part of that.
The Packers were anticipating losing Jolly and used their second round draft pick on DE Mike Neal this past April.
The 27-year old Jolly was drafted in 2006 in the sixth round and worked his way into a starting role the past two seasons.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy had excused Jolly from the team's minicamp this offseason to deal with his off-the-field problems.
"There's a lot going on, and he needs to focus and make sure he has everything in line," McCarthy said last month. "These decisions that are going to be made legally will affect every aspect of his life, most importantly his personal life and then his professional life."
Teammate and fellow defensive lineman Ryan Pickett says that he hopes Jolly uses this situation as a good learning experience.
"If this stuff doesn't cause you to change, what will?" Pickett said. "All this stuff he's going through -- you're missing practice, you can't be around your teammates, that'll make you feel isolated from the team. So if this stuff doesn't change, then that's an issue. I'm expecting him to be changed by this experience, definitely."
Jolly is already facing a trial that has been prolonged already and if he’s convicted, he can face serious consequences. Jolly faced even more trouble a couple of months ago after flyers appears, advertising a party that he allegedly hosted at a Houston nightclub.
Jolly’s bond already contained restrictions and a judge placed further sanctions on his bond, ordering him to submit a hair sample for additional drug testing, adhere to a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew, be evaluated by a drug counselor and to not attend "clubs or any other establishment where drugs or alcohol are used."
"I had better not see any more flyers like this," state District Judge Mike Anderson told Jolly, while he held up that very same flyer with Jolly’s picture on it.
"Yes, sir," Jolly responded.
It’s already been two years since Jolly was arrested outside the Houston nightclub. Police pulled over Jolly’s car due to excessively loud noice coming from amplified bass music.
Jolly was then arrested for possession of controlled substances after police "smelled the strong odor of codeine" in cups in the vehicle, according to the report. Lab tests then confirmed that it was indeed codeine.
Now there’s no telling when Jolly can be reinstated into the league or if he will avoid jail time. If he is convicted, the sentence can be a long one.
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