New York Jets

Adam Shefter: There's a 'Bigger Concern' to Sheldon Richardson's suspension

Published Jul. 13, 2015 8:31 p.m. ET

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New York Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson has been suspended for the first four games of the NFL season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Immediately after the failed test was revealed, Richardson issued a statement apologizing for letting the Jets organization and his teammates down. Technically, this is Richardson's second failed drug test as the first failed test puts a player in the drug program and any failed tests thereafter result in a fine and a suspension. 

With that in mind, Richardson's next failed drug test would result in an even heftier fine and a lot more games missed. ESPN's Adam Shefter was a guest on Armen and Levack on 104.5 The Team in Albany, New York and talked about what Richardson's future may look like if he doesn't fix his off the field marijuana use. 

“The bigger concern if you’re Sheldon Richardson or the New York Jets at this point is that another violation can cost you a year,” Shefter said. “[That’s] a loss of salary, loss for the team, the whole thing like that. That’s something that the whole team wants to avoid and you don’t want that to happen.”

Shefter also revealed some interesting information about the organization noticing some changes in Richardson over the last couple of years since they drafted him out of the University of Missouri. 

“When you speak to people in that organization and go back to last year, they say that he had demonstrated some erratic behavior, he was late to some meetings. There were some people in that organization that were concerned with some of the signs that he was exhibiting and showing.”

Richardson still has two years left on his rookie contract so while his immediate future with the Jets may not be in question, it will be interesting to see what the Jets so with him when his contract expires in 2016. 

(h/t 1045 The Team)

Photo Credit: Ron Antonelli/Getty Images

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