SHEL-DUMB RICHARDSON
JETS DT OUT 1ST 4 GAMES FOR SMOKING POT
The Jets’ defensive line depth has gone up in smoke.
The NFL announced on Thursday that stud Pro Bowl defensive end Sheldon Richardson has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy — testing positive for marijuana, according to a league source.
Richardson, arguably the team’s top performer last season, did not try to deny his culpability.
“I apologize for letting down my family, teammates, this organization and the fans,’’ Richardson said in a statement. “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.”
Richardson took to Twitter to apologize again, and then posted “I vow to you this will not happen again. My team will continue to push forward without me to start the season.’’
The Jets had been stunned and delighted when Leonard Williams dropped to them in the NFL draft and they eagerly went with the “best player available’’ mindset when they selected the USC defensive lineman with the No. 6 overall pick. At the time, the question was this: Where would Williams fit within one of the league’s best defensive lines?
Well, these “problems’’ have a way of sorting themselves out. Teams often have a hint when one of their players might be suspended and so Richardson’s ban might not have come as a complete shock to the Jets.
Despite the addition of Williams to a vaunted defensive line that includes Muhammad Wilkerson and Damon Harrison, the loss of Richardson is a huge blow to the Jets, who were having a nice, quiet offseason before this hammer was dropped. Williams now will have to immediately assume a larger role on the line.
“This is disappointing for Sheldon and the team,’’ said Todd Bowles, who did not need this unwanted news as he is about to embark on his first training camp as head coach. “We’re going to support Sheldon and welcome him back upon his return. We will keep moving forward with our preparations for the upcoming season.”
The Jets, coming off a 412 season under Rex Ryan, will be hardpressed to get off to a fast start for Bowles without one of their defensive forces for the first month. Richardson is eligible to participate in training camp and is allowed to play in the preseason games but he must leave the team once the regular season begins. He will miss games against the Browns, at Indianapolis, against the Eagles and against the Dolphins in London. Richardson is eligible to return to the team Oct. 5, as the Jets enter their Week 5 bye, and could play his first game Oct. 18 against the Redskins.
Richardson’s base salary for 2015 is $1.319 million, meaning this suspension will cost him $310,352 in salary and another $334,823 in bonus money for a loss of $645,175 — nearly half of what he was expecting to earn this season.
Richardson, 24, has not missed a game in his twoyear career. The 2013 firstround pick — he was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year — had eight sacks last season and added 67 tackles, establishing himself as a legitimate star as a twoway defensive end to earn his first Pro Bowl appearance. According to Pro Football Focus, Richardson graded out at 39.9 for the 2014 season, the secondhighest grade for 34 defensive ends, behind only J.J. Watt. He missed several voluntary practices this offseason, though.
Wilkerson, seeking a new contract, stayed away from the organized team activity practices this spring and could end up holding out at the start of training camp. Suddenly, the rocksolid defensive line has had some holes punched into it.