Is Letroy Guion’s Time Finally Coming?

I’ve always wondered about the Green Bay Packers’ double standard when it comes to players. Mike Pennel gets suspended twice, he gets cut. Letroy Guion gets suspended twice and he remains on the roster.

Is Guion that much more talented than Pennel? I wouldn’t say so. If there’s a difference, it’s negligible.

Were Pennel’s infractions that much greater than Guion’s? I would say not. Pennel twice violated the league’s substance abuse policy. Guion was suspended for marijuana possession and then was suspended for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

Guion was also arrested on his birthday for drunk driving, earlier this month. He can probably expect another suspension for that.

Let’s look at the stats for a moment.

Guion hasn’t had a sack since his first season (2014) with the Packers, when he had 3.5. He hasn’t created a turnover since that season either. Starting in 2014, Guion has registered 32, 21 and 30 tackles.

It isn’t as if Guion is useless on the field, but he doesn’t make many big plays anymore. His best quality might be that he’s a veteran on a defense that doesn’t have a ton of experience.

Of course, Packers coach Mike McCarthy always says the best ability is availability.

Guion will miss at least four games in 2017 because of the PED suspension. He could miss more because of the DUI.

What will the Packers do?

The key to this matter might be Guion’s contract. It was renegotiated after the PED suspension was announced to push Guion’s bonuses back to after his suspension. In other words, the Packers don’t pay those bonuses if Guion isn’t on the roster.

Here’s my feeling.

If Guion plays well during camp, the Packers will keep him around. He doesn’t take up a roster spot while he’s suspended.

However, my feeling is he’ll be staying around as an insurance policy. If the Packers lose a defensive lineman to injury or members of that group just aren’t playing well, then Guion might be activated after the suspension.

If neither of those instances occur, I suspect the day the Packers’ roster exemption on Guion is set to expire, they release him exactly as they did with Pennel.

It’s pretty simple. Letroy Guion just can’t be counted on NOT to do something stupid.

And that means he can’t be counted on, period.