The situation is going from bad to worse to almost disastrous for the Giants and what now must be considered an ill-fated wide receiver situation. Golden Tate, their free agent acquisition brought in to help offset the trade of Odell Beckham Jr., has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Substance Policy.
Tate will appeal the suspension, and, according to ESPN, believes he has a legitimate case.
Beating these suspensions is not easy and happens rarely, and so the Giants could be without the veteran Tate for the first four games, against the Cowboys, Bills, Buccaneers and Redskins.
Tate told his side of the story in a statement released on Twitter.
“This past April, during the off-season, my wife and I decided to see a specialist for fertility planning. I started the treatment prescribed to me and just days later I discovered it contained an ingredient that is on the league’s banned substance list,” Tate said. “I immediately discontinued use, I reported the situation to the Independent Administrator of the NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances, and I spoke with my coaches and general manager. I did all of this well before a failed test was even confirmed.
Per NFL protocol, an initial suspension was imminent, but myself and the Giants organization are confident in the fact, and eagerly await my appeal to put this behind us.
During the entirety of my 10 year career I have taken great pride in playing this game the right way, have been an ambassador for the NFL and have never had any issues with the league’s policy. The treatment this past April had no effect on the upcoming season, and I did not, and could not have undergone this treatment in April for any competitive advantage. I deeply appreciate the support from the New York Giants Organization, and will continue to hold the highest level of character and integrity, while being a leader in the locker room.
In respect to the team and my teammates I won’t be speaking on this again until after the appeal. I’m focusing on football, and will not let this be a distraction.”
Already, the receiver corps has been battered and beaten, and it is only three days into training camp. Sterling Shepard, a starter alongside Tate, went down with a fracture to the tip of his left thumb and will be out at least two weeks. Corey Coleman, in line to be the No. 3 or 4 receiver, and also the top kickoff returner, was lost for the entire season after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a knee injury that will require surgery.
Tate 30, arrived with the reputation for being the consummate pro in his previous nine NFL seasons with the Seahawks, Lions and Eagles. He has 611 career receptions for 7,214 yards and 38 touchdowns and was set to move into the lineup opposite Shepard.
The day after Beckham was traded to the Browns, the Giants signed Tate to a four-year, $37.5 million contract. There is no one on the roster who can remotely replace his experience and production.
The other receivers on the Giants’ roster are Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, Russell Shepard, rookie Darius Slayton and a few other youngsters.
https://nypost.com/2019/07/27/golden-tate-suspended-as-giants-receiver-hell-worsens/
2019-07-27 15:05:00Z
52780340726417
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar