Former third overall pick Dion Jordan has violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy once again, and is facing a season-long suspension for the 2015 campaign, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Jordan had multiple positive tests last year, and was suspended in September as a result of that. At the time, the defensive end vowed to “make better choices” going forward.
“I am currently undergoing treatment to address my situation,” Jordan said in a statement at the time. “I am working hard to become a better man and to make better choices in the future. I am especially looking forward to returning to the team. I also want to thank my family, Coach [Joe] Philbin and the Miami Dolphins organization for their support.”
According to Schefter (via Twitter), while Jordan didn’t outright fail a drug test this time around, the league determined that one of his samples was diluted, which counts as a strike. Prior to the diluted sample and the year-long ban, the Dolphins had been nearing a trade with the Eagles that would’ve sent the Oregon product to Philadelphia, tweets Schefter.
Instead, Jordan will miss the entire 2015 season — he won’t appeal the suspension, so the penalty will stand, per Schefter (Twitter link).
The suspension helps to explain the ambiguous nature of Mike Tannenbaum‘s comments last week when he was asked about Jordan. At the time, a few Dolphins beat writers suggested that it sounded like Jordan’s time in Miami may be nearing its end. The 25-year-old’s suspensions void the remaining guaranteed salary in his contract, so the Dolphins could cut him without being on the hook for that money.