NFL: Chris Simms, Robaire Smith, LenDale White, and Hollis Thomas face suspension
Turbulent times rock the National Football League as Tennessee Titans Quarterback, Chris Simms, is accused of driving while impaired by marijuana and Cleveland Browns defensive lineman, Robaire Smith, is charged after bringing a loaded gun in his luggage at Bishop Airport. Adding to this, free agents LenDale White’s and Hollis Thomas’s suspensions for substance abuse were officially announced.
LenDale is suspended for 4 games after admitting that he smoked marijuana, prohibited under the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and Smith for 8 games after testing positive for performance enhancing substances in NFL tests. Their suspensions have been confirmed by the NFL. However, unconfirmed as of yet, reports are surfacing that San Diego Chargers’ wide receiver, Vincent Jackson, might also have been given a three game suspension without pay.
Earlier this year Jackson pleaded guilty to drunk driving for the second time since 2006. NFL spokesman, Brian McCarthy, said that the matter is still under review, possibly indicating that Jackson has appealed the decision. As a restricted free agent, Jackson has not yet signed with the chargers. Jackson had threatened to wait out as many as the first 10 games of the season if he didn’t get an extended contract. Perhaps the 3 day suspension might coincide with that period. The last time Jackson had been disciplined following a DUI (Driving under the influence), he was given a four game ban which was later cut to just two games.
Hollis Thomas won’t have it that easy. His 8-game suspension might very well end his career. He had already tested positive for a banned substance and suspended for four games four years ago. That time Thomas claimed that he did not use steroids and that his asthma medication was the reason for his false positive.
The 36 year old is not the most sought after player in the league. Thomas was picked by the United Football leagues, Omaha Nighthawks, in the 2010 draft. The UFL season would end when the NFL season begins. The odds are that Thomas would play for Omaha and perhaps if the 13 season veteran could perform well, his NFL career could yet be saved.
LenDale White is in enough trouble as it is. After admitting to smoking marijuana, Seattle Seahawks abruptly released the running back. White came to the Seahawks in a trade with the Tennessee Titans once he had lost the starting position in the Titans to Chris Johnson after his weight gain went past 260 lbs. White brought down his weight to 219 lbs when he was traded to the Seahawks, an achievement he attributes to saying no to tequila. Well, whatever works for him, but just losing weight didn’t work for his prospects with the Seahawks. Although the Seahawks’ coach believed that, at 219, he was the lightest he has been for years and he could have made starter for the Seahawks but his release before put an end to that possibility with the Seahawks.
LenDale was upbeat though. He pointed to the fact that even at 265 lb and a torn meniscus, he was still able to get a 1000 yards. Now, in an improved state of physical fitness, he said he felt “amazing”.
White said that the reason for his release by the Seahawks was not made clear to him, so he could offer nothing but speculation. The Seahawks believed, at the time, that they couldn’t admit White as a member, citing his lack of work ethics as the reason.
As for the marijuana, White didn’t believe that contributed significantly to the Seattle Seahawks’ decision to set him free. Admitting that it was a mistake on his part, White played down the incident, saying that marijuana was the only drug he had ever tried or was interest in.
His uncle and trainer, Herman White, said that LenDale needs to asses himself and do whatever it takes to get back into the NFL adding that if, as the Seahawks alleged, there were issues with his work habits then those needed to be addressed.
The string of suspensions might yet extend as we wait to see what, if any, disciplinary action awaits Simms and Smith. Escaping suspension is Vince Young who got himself into a bar brawl. Commissioner Goodell would be speaking to the first time offender. What disciplinary action would be taken is as of yet unclear.
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