After a breakout season in 2018, the Seattle Seahawks were looking forward to another promising year from defensive lineman Jarran Reed. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder was going to be a reliable player in the trenches, but the NFL franchise will have to look for some new options to start the season.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Reed will be suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season for violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy. An appeal of the punishment was denied late last week.
The former second round pick of the 2016 NFL Draft was never arrested or charged by the Bellevue Police Department for an alleged assault on a female in 2017. Yet, the domestic violence claim was enough to warrant a harsh, six-game suspension.
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Michael McCann from Sports Illustrated is correct. Reed, a two-time SEC championship winner and College Football Playoff national champion with the Alabama Crimson Tide, didn't have to be charged legally to be punished by the NFL. They can choose the punishment they seem fit.
So while players like Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott were left off the hook for any punishment by the league, the Seahawks will have to play nearly half of the season without defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who registered 50 tackles and 10.5 sacks during the regular season last year.
This is definitely tough new for Seattle. Especially just before the start of training camp Friday morning. The NFL team traded away Frank Clark this offseason and needed the veteran Reed to take leadership of the defensive line. That won't happen just yet.
Plus, Seahawks' Jarran Reed is in the final season of his rookie contract worth nearly $5 million. A new extension could be on hold, according to NFL.com, too.
Seattle now just hopes it gets the same player they had last season when he comes back.
