LATEST: Patriots QB Suspended Two Games, due to enhancing substances

February 17, 2024 emilysportnews-admin New England Patriots 0

There had been a lot of talk about where Jimmy Garoppolo, the former New England Patriots quarterback, would play next season. Regardless of the team that picks him up, he won’t be playing in the first two weeks of the NFL season. This is because he’s been suspended for two games by the NFL for breaking the league’s rules on performance-enhancing drugs, as per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on January 16th. The Las Vegas Raiders plan to let go of Garoppolo before his roster bonus is due next month.

Garoppolo Struggles to Stay Healthy

Originally selected in the second round by the New England Patriots in 2014, Garoppolo was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. Despite guiding the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance, his time with the team was marked by injuries, leading to his departure last offseason. Garoppolo then inked a three-year contract with the Raiders, but his stint in Las Vegas was riddled with challenges. His next destination will mark his fourth team since entering the league in 2014.

In the 2023 season, Garoppolo only started six games before being benched in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell. He threw more interceptions (9) than touchdown passes (7). The Raiders have yet to declare O’Connell as the starting quarterback for the upcoming season and hold the 13th overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The suspension could potentially offer financial benefits to Las Vegas. Initially, releasing Garoppolo was expected to result in substantial dead cap hits. However, with the suspension, the Raiders might have the opportunity to void the remaining guaranteed money in his contract, thus lessening their financial commitments. With new leadership in place, led by head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, the Raiders are poised to move forward at the quarterback position, whether by starting O’Connell or selecting a quarterback with the 13th overall pick in the upcoming draft.

The outlook for 32-year-old Garoppolo’s market in March is still unclear. Upon joining a new team, NFL rules permit him to engage in offseason activities and training camp. However, once the regular season begins, he’ll be ineligible to play for his two-week suspension. Nevertheless, any team considering signing him should be aware that he’ll only be accessible for a maximum of 15 games this season.

Twitter Reacts To Garoppolo’s Suspension

As anticipated, Twitter users didn’t hold back with their reactions to the news of Garoppolo’s suspension, with many mocking the notion of the quarterback using “performance-enhancing drugs.” One Twitter account even took it a step further by compiling a video showcasing some of Garoppolo’s less-than-ideal plays during his time with the Raiders.

Yet another Twitter user suggested that Garoppolo might have inadvertently done the Raiders a favor by enabling them to save money on his substantial contract with his suspension.

This Twitter user humorously proposed that the NFL should feature Garoppolo in future anti-PED ad campaigns since, according to the jest, PEDs apparently don’t work if Garoppolo is the one using them.

Finally, another Twitter user expressed the opinion that the former Patriots quarterback should have no trouble appealing the suspension, suggesting that Garoppolo must have an “iron-clad case” against PED use.

There hasn’t been any official statement from Garoppolo or his representatives regarding the suspension or if there’s an explanation for it. However, it’s undeniable that Garoppolo boasts an impressive record as a starting quarterback in the NFL, being 23 games over .500 in his career. His ratio of 98 touchdowns to just 57 interceptions is noteworthy, indicating his skill and effectiveness on the field. Given his track record, it’s difficult to imagine that he won’t receive additional opportunities to start in the league.

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