When you think of the best defenders in the NFL, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson must make the list. He's already a three-time First-Team All-Pro selection and has never missed a single start in eight seasons. Until now.
The NFL has suspended the superstar defensive back six games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. Peterson had skipped voluntary workouts this offseason amid reports and speculation of unhappiness and trade rumors, and now he's officially out of commission. The 28-year-old won't be able to play until Week 7 against the New York Giants on October 20.
This is definitely stunning news, which was first reported by ESPN.
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According to NFL.com, the "six-game suspension on a player's first violation stems from a positive test plus an attempt to manipulate or mask the result."
In other words, Peterson, the former first-round pick (No. 5 overall pick) in the 2011 NFL Draft from the LSU Tigers, is in some hot water and will now be forced to miss games against the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons.
On top of this being a major blow to the Cardinals defense and first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who will now have to throw Arizona's second-round pick (No. 33 overall), Washington cornerback Byron Murphy, into the NFL fire, this PED suspension costs Peterson much more than six games.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the suspension will cost Peterson nearly $4 million in lost wages.
Not only will it cost Peterson millions of dollars, and a likely hit to his reputation, the 2019 season will be the first time in his career when he doesn't make the Pro Bowl. Only seven defenders in NFL history made the annual showcase in each of their first eight NFL seasons. The other six were Pro Football Hall of Famers Dick Butkus, Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas, Joe Greene, Merlin Olsen, and Mel Renfro.
After racking up 54 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and two interceptions last season, Peterson will now have to wait to play since violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.
It's a shame it had to happen the Cardinals' Patrick Peterson, one of the best cornerbacks in football, but the league and every front office definitely doesn't mess around when it comes to this.
