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New York Jets defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd spent every game of his rookie year and passed all drug tests. He says that he had never consciously consumed a banned substance before the last season and that he had certainly never gained a competitive advantage in a match.
Shepherd has been suspended six times for two separate drug policy violations aimed at improving performance. The suspension will begin immediately. He will have the right to return to the list of active players on Monday, October 28th.
The two failed tests took place on June 27 and July 25, while Shepherd was recovering from a shoulder injury that may eventually require surgery, as well as an injury to the patient. groin causing a delay in his training in the low season. During his rehabilitation for the shoulder, he underwent an MRI at the groin which revealed that he needed a surgical procedure for a sports hernia. His stooped posture for several weeks after this procedure earned him an L4-L5 disc herniation in the back, which severely limited his ability to train at a time when he was eager to impress the new regime Jets.
"All that was happening, I was coming out of a mediocre season and a new coaching staff, a new game manual, a brand new", has declared Shepherd. "In my state of mind, I did not feel very confident about how everything had unfolded until now." In my mind, I was so ready to step into this off season and succeeding in a dead season and training very hard.I made an unthinking decision, a reckless decision and a selfish decision to look at some DCs to help me in this process of recovery so that I'm ready to go. "
Shepherd, 25, was a third-round pick in the state of Fort Hays last year. His education in Ajax, Ontario, and his unique journey to the NFL made it an inspiring story. Shepherd said that he had quickly informed the coaches and the Jets counter after learning the test failures three weeks ago. Shepherd said that he had sent Monday to the rest of the Jets' defensive line players and had apologized for the consequences of his absence.
Shepherd pointed out that he was taking banned substances for recovery, not for performance: "The only competitive advantage I was really looking for was to be able to come to the camp in good health and to have the opportunity to compete.
"I am grateful to the league for understanding, leniency and fairness, and I thank them for handling it quickly." I thank Jets General Manager Joe Douglas, the staff and the coach. [Adam] Gase, Gregg Williams, Blake Williams and Andre Carter and the Jets training staff for their support and transparency while supporting me in spite of everything, allowing me to come every day and earn my place in the standings. 53- the list of men. "
Shepherd's agent, Bardia Ghahremani, stated that his client assumed full responsibility and would accept the discipline. Under the NED-NFLPA's DCP policy, Shepherd could have been suspended 14 times at most – four games for the first and 10 for the second – but the league has essentially combined the two violations in one.
"Nate proved that he was an outstanding athlete by the numbers that he has accumulated throughout his college career and at the combine, where he has passed all of his drug tests all the while. throughout his career, "said Ghahermani. "We wish to thank the NFL and the Jets front office as well as the coaching staff for their continued support of Nathan."
Shepherd stated that he planned to continue his rehabilitation and training near the Jets headquarters in New Jersey during the suspension. He also hopes to spend more time with his daughter, Halia, who will be 2 years old in October. And he knows the consequences if he has another violation – under the DCP policy, a third violation would trigger a two-year minimum ban.
"I'm always trying to put my feet under me, literally," Shepherd said. "Certainly, I want to be able to support my daughter, my family and myself, of course, I do not use it as a crutch, nor as an excuse, because I'm certainly not only person in the NFL with children.
"I have the impression of having used eight of my nine lives.I have to treat it as if I had a peanut allergy .If I have another one, that's is going to be finished for me – it's just my reality and I accept it. "
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