Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is seen as a golden boy and someone that most figured wouldn’t find himself in trouble with the NFL.
That’s what makes Friday’s breaking news so surprising. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Garoppolo has been suspended two games by the NFL for violating its Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) policy. According to Schefter, said suspension comes after he used a prescribed medication without having a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption.
It seems as if Garoppolo wasn’t knowingly attempting to violate the NFL PED policy. But that matters very little when it comes to league discipline.
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Jimmy Garoppolo suspension and impending free agency
Garoppolo, 32, is coming off his first season with the Raiders after signing a three-year, $72.75 million contract last March. He lasted all of six starts before being benched six games in and replaced by rookie Aidan O’Connell. That move came after Antonio Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels as the Raiders’ interim head coach.
With Pierce now the full-time Raiders’ head coach, it’s a foregone conclusion that Garoppolo will be released ahead of the start of NFL free agency.
- Jimmy Garoppolo stats (2023): 65% completion, 1,205 yards, 7 TD, 9 INT
Regardless of the two-game suspension, Garoppolo was likely looking at a backup role on the open market. This is not going to impact how teams view him in that regard. It’s still rather surprising that he’s been suspended.