NFLPA vote may affect eligibility for Broncos receiver Wes Welker
Posted: 09/08/2014 09:57:37 PM MDT
Updated: 09/08/2014 10:02:23 PM MDT
Broncos receiver Wes Welker may be a step closer to reinstatement.
The NFL Players Association will have its 32 team representatives vote on a revised drug policy proposal Tuesday. The proposal includes testing for human growth hormone (HGH).
The Broncos will have to hurry and find a rep. They haven't voted on one since Joel Dreessen was released, although Jacob Tamme is considered a strong candidate.
According to an NFL source, union approval would not happen if the league goes forward with its desire to deactivate a player for one game who is arrested for driving under the influence.
If the league instead presents a two-game suspension for a DUI after a final judgment through the court system, there's a decent chance the union would ratify the proposal.
In return for HGH testing, the league would raise the levels of marijuana for a positive test and move offseason amphetamine or stimulant detection from a violation of the league's performance-enhancement program - which issues a four-game suspension to first-time offenders like Welker - to a violation in the substance-abuse policy, in which a first-time offender would essentially be placed on probation.
That means union approval of the new drug policy Tuesday could reduce Welker's four-game suspension to time served - the season opener he missed Sunday against Indianapolis - and allow him to play Sunday against Kansas City.
However, ESPN reports that some owners have a problem with the new policy.
Bottom line is 1-0: In the 21st-century NFL, sometimes the best way to make a defense look bad is to give it a three-touchdown lead.
And if you want to see an NFL offense pile up yards, have it play catch-up from 21 points down.
With nine minutes left in their season opener Sunday night, the Broncos led the Colts 31-10. Denver's defense had come up with a goal-line stop and had frustrated Colts quarterback Andrew Luck most of the game.
'You never make excuses for W's in this league,' Broncos coach John Fox said. 'I don't care if it's (by) one (point) or 21 or 101. It's hard to win in this league.'Bruton's injury update.
Footnotes. Broncos safety David Bruton, who suffered a dislocated shoulder Sunday, said he was extremely sore Monday. He hopes to practice this week. ... The Broncos released long snapper Kevin McDermott from their practice squad. He was the San Francisco 49ers' long snapper last year and was brought in last week to compete with Aaron Brewer. Brewer apparently won the right to keep his job. ... According to Pro Football Focus, center Manny Ramirez was the only Denver blocker who received a positive run-blocking grade for the season opener. All-pro right guard Louis Vasquez received a 100 percent pass-blocking grade.
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