This is becoming a familiar occurrence in Green Bay. The Packers open the season without a defensive lineman because he’s suspended for drug-related reasons. This year, it will be Mike Pennel, who will miss the first four games for violating the league substance abuse policy.
Both Letroy Guion (three games) and Datone Jones (one) were suspended to open the 2015 season because of marijuana arrests.
Mike Neal, who is a free agent, was suspended four games to open the 2012 season.
Neal’s suspension was for performance-enhancing drugs. Pennel’s is for substance abuse, which we’re going to guess means he tested positive for marijuana.
The NFL doesn’t release the reason for the suspension.
The four-game suspension also means this isn’t the first time this has happened.
Players receive no suspension for their first violation. They only receive a suspension after failure to comply, so either a second positive test, missing a test entirely or not participating in the required treatment program.
This isn’t the first time Pennel has been in trouble either. He was suspended indefinitely from his Arizona State team in 2012 for going on a Twitter rant about not playing as much as he thought he should have.
While that’s more or less harmless, it does show poor judgment and resulted in Pennel transferring to Division II Colorado State-Pueblo.
Pennel was seemingly a rising star on the Packers defense. He became a regular in 2015 and posted career highs with 25 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
Have a chance to make more money in a year than most make in their lives and you “f” it up. Time to start sceening more people.
Too bad Bruce Gaston went to Chicago. Raji could still be a part of this after all is said and done.
On another note, maybe Jake Long and James Laurinaitis could rejuvenate their careers in Green Bay. Who am I kidding, I couldn’t even say that with a straight face! Although it would be interesting to see, their age and cost would be detriments.
That should be Chris Long. I constantly confuse the 2.
Really believe Pennel is going to keep improving, however this is a set back. Get your shit together Mike.
It is starting to appear that not only can you earn good money with the Pack, you have the added benefit of a continued higher education. If you do or do not graduate with a degree in college you can at least look forward to earning a masters degree in pharmaceuticals or better yet a doctorate in herbal medicine from the Pack. Just imagine the opportunities you can realize after football.
A few of these incidents have actually helped manage the salary cap over the years….
Another lost season. Thanks, Ted!
Didn’t big Ted draft or seek out and sign all these high character Packers?
We still don’t know what the charge is. And smoking and selling weed are THE worst things a person could EVER do, seriously makes you the Devil Incarnate doing shit like that. But let’s forget all about the good shit that players like James Jones, Sam Barrington, Donald Driver, AJ Hawk, Randall Cobb, Greg Jennings, et. al. do, all the while taking the time to celebrate what Jarred Allen has done eh? interesting.
He he “High” character guys…
Now go sign Damon Harrison!!!!
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/02/listen_jets_damon_harrison_on_free_agency_im_not_a.html
I mean is this not another sign that this leadership needs to be seriously questioned?
This is what the Packers have become.
Well, this sucks, and have to agree. Becoming a regular thing. Pennel was our starting NT for 2016. Now suddenly, BJ Raji enters back into the picture.
“Hey, man, can you carry my bag?”
“Why? You got some pictures of naked animals or something?”
“No, man!… Drugs!”
“Well, be careful, man, because I heard there’s a strip search before you get on the bus.”
-Stripes-