Tweet
After talking with some of our league insiders regarding the coming indefinite suspension of Jets defensive tackle Josh Evans, the consensus is that Evans likely failed to submit to an unannounced test.
As a repeat offender (Evans most recently had been suspended for a full year), Evans was subject to 2-3 random tests per week. Though the NFL has somewhat softened its rules in this regard, it's still a rigorous program, and there is little margin for error on the player's part.
And under the NFL's drug-testing policies, a failure to test is equivalent to a positive.
This scenario makes even more sense in light of Evans' unequivocal denial that he has resorted to his suck-and-inhale-and-hold-it-in ways. Sure, he hasn't smoked marijuana recently. But if you don't show up at the appointed time for target practice into a plastic cup, it's the same outcome.
Another telling factor here is that Evans' agent has not come out strongly in support of his client. Typically, the agent will raise a ruckus when the client is clean. Taking a stand, in contrast, when the client is at fault serves only to damage the agent's credibility.
Finally, our discussions with league insiders have served only to strengthen our belief that the Jets knew of the coming suspension before striking a trade with the Bears for the No. 4 pick in the draft.
The initial notification of a positive test comes from the league office, and it is sent by letter to the team's G.M. and to the player only. The player then has 30 days to file an appeal.
And during that 30 days, the likelihood of a leak is very, very small, since all parties are bound by a stringent requirement of confidentiality. With only a handful of people aware of the issue, it'd be easy for the league to identify the person responsible for yapping.
But after the appeal is filed, the circle of knowledge expands. And our guess is that the appeal was filed at some point in mid-May, which means that the Jets found out about the test at some point in mid-April.
Of course, none of this would be an issue if these guys would treat their bodies like the cash-creating machines that they are.
As a repeat offender (Evans most recently had been suspended for a full year), Evans was subject to 2-3 random tests per week. Though the NFL has somewhat softened its rules in this regard, it's still a rigorous program, and there is little margin for error on the player's part.
And under the NFL's drug-testing policies, a failure to test is equivalent to a positive.
This scenario makes even more sense in light of Evans' unequivocal denial that he has resorted to his suck-and-inhale-and-hold-it-in ways. Sure, he hasn't smoked marijuana recently. But if you don't show up at the appointed time for target practice into a plastic cup, it's the same outcome.
Another telling factor here is that Evans' agent has not come out strongly in support of his client. Typically, the agent will raise a ruckus when the client is clean. Taking a stand, in contrast, when the client is at fault serves only to damage the agent's credibility.
Finally, our discussions with league insiders have served only to strengthen our belief that the Jets knew of the coming suspension before striking a trade with the Bears for the No. 4 pick in the draft.
The initial notification of a positive test comes from the league office, and it is sent by letter to the team's G.M. and to the player only. The player then has 30 days to file an appeal.
And during that 30 days, the likelihood of a leak is very, very small, since all parties are bound by a stringent requirement of confidentiality. With only a handful of people aware of the issue, it'd be easy for the league to identify the person responsible for yapping.
But after the appeal is filed, the circle of knowledge expands. And our guess is that the appeal was filed at some point in mid-May, which means that the Jets found out about the test at some point in mid-April.
Of course, none of this would be an issue if these guys would treat their bodies like the cash-creating machines that they are.
