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Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Big Grady dodges the ‘roid cops, for now
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons probably want Grady Jackson’s four game suspension issue with the league to get settled sooner rather than later.
He can play as long as the appeal process is ongoing. If it goes past Sunday’s game against the Saints, Jackson would be in danger of missing a playoff game, you know, should the Falcons qualify.
Jackson’s suspension would linger into next season if they don’t make the playoffs.
Now the best possible scenario for the Falcons would be if Jackson’s suspension gets overturned. But given commissioner Roger Goodell’s “Wyatt Earp” approach to enforcement of the league’s policy, that might not be the case.
The league didn’t buy the “big guy” trying to lose weight argument. It seems pretty clear that Jackson wasn’t taking the papaya extract to mask any steroids. It’s unlikely the big Williams boys from Minnesota were masking either.
Boy, losing the Williams boys, sure makes that Dec. 21 trip to Minnesota a more pleasant one for center Todd McClure and guard Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl.
While Falcons coach Mike Smith refuses to disclose the contingency plans, they have been getting Kindal Moorehead and Jason Jefferson more involved in the tackle rotation just in case Jackson doesn’t win his appeal.
What should the Falcons do? Should Grady keep fighting “the Man” or just sit down the last four so he could play in the playoffs?
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