Jimmy Smith suspended four games for violating PED policy
By Joe Schiller
On top of a torn Achilles, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith has been suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
It’s been a rough couple days for Jimmy Smith. He had been battling an Achilles injury all season and it finally gave out on Sunday. Smith went down late in the second quarter and it was apparent the injury was severe. He was helped off the field and head coach John Harbaugh later announced the bad news, a torn Achilles.
Fast forward to today and some unexpected news has developed.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Smith has been suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Ravens’ CB Jimmy Smith is being suspended four games for violating NFL policy of performance enhancing substances, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2017
Now that Smith is out for the year with a torn Achilles, he will withdraw his appeal and begin serving suspension, per source.
The Ravens were reportedly made aware of the suspension last week. Smith was set to appeal the suspension and hoped to play the final fours game but it doesn’t matter now.
Smith will serve his suspension the rest of the regular season on Injured Reserve.
Smith, Ravens were made aware of pending suspension last week. SMith may not have been able to play for final four Ravens' regular-season games anyway depending on appeal. Now that he's injured and done for year, appeal becomes moot point. He can serve while injured. https://t.co/9Pglc1Y5Fo
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) December 4, 2017
The suspension isn’t an issue in hindsight but it still brings about major concerns. The PED umbrella can be very vague and it’s unclear exactly what Smith was taking in the first place. All we can do is speculate before Smith or his agent make an official statement on the issue.
The Achilles injury is now the biggest concern. Smith was having an All-Pro type of season before going down with injury. He’s been injury prone throughout his career and this adds to the narrative. Now in his seventh season, Smith has only played a full 16-game season twice.
Achilles recoveries can last up to a year or longer so there’s no guarantee Smith will be healthy next season. The secondary felt the effects of Smith’s absence last season and that’s why Ozzie Newsome spent so much time beefing up the unit in the offseason. The Ravens are now a lot deeper at the position and are in a much better spot heading into the postseason. Rookie first-round pick Marlon Humphrey will be expected to step up and replace Smith the rest of the season.
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The Ravens defense has been stout all season and we’ll truly see how good they down the final stretch of the season.