Josh Gordon's Suspension May Be Reduced

If the NFL and the NFLPA can strike a deal on the league’s drug policy within the next 48 hours, Josh Gordon can possibly see some playing time this season.

NFL Player Association’s executive director DeMaurice Smith said that if the NFL’s drug policy is modified, he believes players who have recently been suspended for violating the league’s drug policy under the old rules should have their suspensions modified as well. Some of the revisions being discussed are whether or not to add blood testing for human growth hormone, modifying the threshold for what constitutes testing positive for marijuana, and modification of amphetamine testing.

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Josh Gordon was suspended for the entire 2014-2015 NFL season for being a repeat offender for violating the league’s drug policy and testing positive for marijuana. Gordon reportedly had tested positive for marijuana on one of two methods used by the NFL to detect marijuana use while testing negative on the other. The league and the NFLPA have been debating what should constitute a positive test for marijuana and are contemplating matching the MLB’s threshold.

While sources close to the negotiations say that the two sides are close to agreeing on a new drug policy, I wouldn’t rush to pick up Josh Gordon for your fantasy team for two reasons. First, we all know how long it takes for the NFL and NFLPA to agree on anything because one side has the business’ best interest in mind and the other has the players’ best interest in mind. Secondly, even if a new rule is instated, it may only apply to players who tested positive after the new league started. If this is the case, then Gordon, who tested positive in February, will have to carry out his full suspension.

I personally don’t see him playing this season, but I sure hope he does.

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Josh Gordon’s Suspension May Be Reduced

By Nafisa H | Sep 5, 2014