Which NFL Suspension Hurts Their Team The Most?
By Erik Lambert
Oct 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) catches a pass during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Suffice to say the suspensions handed out by the NFL to some of the notable athletes around the league was more than a little surprising. Looking ahead, which of them could prove the most impactful to the status of their team?
#4: Datone Jones (Green Bay Packers)
The key factor here is that Datone Jones is only out for one game. Remember the Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers racking up the points and Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers handling things up front. Jones was a nice part of the unit last season but he was far from the focal point. With B.J. Raji back healthy it’s not a hard prediction to believe the Packers will do just fine without Jones for one Sunday.
#3: Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers)
If this were five years ago, not having Antonio Gates would be a devastating blow to the San Diego Chargers offense. While he had another solid season in 2014, he’s still 35-years old and not the same player he was. Besides that, they have promising youngster Ladarius Green waiting in the wings, eager for his own shot at the starting job. Add in the creative scheming of Mike McCoy and arrival of help at running back with Melvin Gordon and the offense should be able to weather the storm for a month. In fact, the extra time off could be a blessing in disguise, allowing Gates more time to get his body rested for the long season.
#2: Rolando McClain (Dallas Cowboys)
It’s important not to short change the impact Rolando McClain had on the Dallas Cowboys defense in 2014. He was one of the few playmakers they had that season, getting sacks, making tackles and picking off passes. However, the linebacker has never been known for his reliability off the field and it came back to haunt him. Thankfully the return of Sean Lee couldn’t be timed any better. He should be able to step in without the unit missing a beat, provided he’s completely healthy.
#1: Sheldon Richardson (New York Jets)
There is no getting around it. Losing a Pro Bowler and the best pass rusher on the defense is something almost impossible to overcome. Thankfully the New York Jets made some significant additions to their unit with the arrival of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie at corner. Together with talented rookie defensive end Leonard Williams, they should be able to ensure a complete collapse won’t happen. Even so, the Jets may find it more difficult than anticipated to get to the quarterback without Richardson. That will put a lot more pressure on Geno Smith and the offense.