Ravens tight end Darren Waller has been suspended for at least one year for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Baltimore announced today.
Waller previously served a four-game substance abuse ban in 2016, meaning that he’s now run afoul of the league’s drug mandate for a second time. Waller, 24, played in 12 games for the Ravens last year (including three starts), racking up 10 receptions and 85 yards for two touchdowns. While his offensive output was minimal, Waller appeared on nearly half of Baltimore’s special teams snaps a year ago. He’d been set to earn $615K in 2017.
Already down one tight end following the release of Dennis Pitta, the Ravens will now more heavily rely on internal options such as Ben Watson (who is recovering from a torn Achilles at age-36), Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore, and Nick Boyle. As Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun notes (Twitter link), Waller was still in the developmental stage of his career, but was the most “physically gifted” tight end on the club, so his absence will be felt.
If the Ravens look to the free agent market for a new tight end, options could include Gary Barnidge, Ladaraius Green, Jacob Tamme, and Larry Donnell.
Another 1 of the Ravens careful “character” guy picks, huh….?
What an idiot
I swear teams need to hire babysitters.
Or maybe the NFL needs to stay out of the players personal lives! What does anything they do off the field have to do with the play on the field?
If something a player does off the field affects his ability to play on it, then fine/suspend/fire him, otherwise leave it alone.
Whenever a douchy comment appears….talking baseless, uninformative, straight diarrhea of the mouth, I already know the author…..turdhunter. Get a life….
Why is it baseless? What does it matter what these guys do off the field? I’m not saying I approve or disapprove. I just don’t care. If they break the law, then let the law take care of it.
What about the guy delivering your pizza, or the CEO of Sheetz, or key grip on Game of Thrones? Does it really matter what they do in their personal lives? Would you stop eating pizza, using gas, or watching HBO?
My only question is what does it matter when it comes to athletes or anyone in the public eye? Mickey Mantel had his problems. So did Kenny Stabler. George Bush, Kennedy, Ruth but it didn’t affect their jobs. And when Nixon or Rae Curreth broke the law, the law took care of it.
My comment wasn’t ment to be in favor of an athletes misdeeds, I just don’t see why people care. And I really don’t see why the NFL has to step in and be the morality police. This wasn’t the case for most of the NFLs existence and I just don’t see why this has changed over the last decade or so.