According to Jared Dubin of CBS Sports on Friday, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo of Arlington Heights, Illinois was suspended two games. The reason for the suspension was because he violated the National Football League performance enhancing drug policy.
ESPN is reporting that Garoppolo used “a prescribed medication without having a valid therapeutic use exemption.” We do not know precisely what the drug was other than it was a performance enhancing substance.
The fact that Garoppolo is being suspended may be of little consequence to the Raiders from a playing perspective. That is because it appears that Garoppolo will not be quarterbacking Vegas next season. The Raiders are expected to continue with Aidan O’Connell, and release Garoppolo, after the Raiders quarterback spent only one season in Vegas.
However, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the suspension has significant consequence to the Raiders from a financial perspective. Garoppolo reportedly violated the terms of his agreement with the Raiders, and Las Vegas does not have to pay Garoppolo $11.25 million next season as a result.
The $11.25 million should go to improving the Raiders offense around O’Connell. In order for the Raiders to make that next step, they need to acquire a tight end, as Michael Mayer and Austin Hooper did not have a significant impact for the Raiders this past season. Mayer only had 27 catches for 304 receiving yards, while Hooper had 25 catches for 234 receiving yards. That said, finding a premier tight end in the NFL these days is a challenge indeed.
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