Patriots Daily: Is Jimmy Garoppolo’s Suspension Suspicious?

News broke yesterday that former New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, has been suspended by the NFL. The two-game suspension results from violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Substances Policy. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the violation is related to Garoppolo using a prescribed medication without having a “Valid Use Exemption” from the NFL.

Something seems off about this. It is not because Jimmy Garoppolo is any more or less likely to use PEDs than any other NFL player. But the timing of the suspension and what is at stake is extremely curious.

Last year Garoppolo signed a three-year contract with Las Vegas to reunite with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. However, McDaniels and the Raiders front office have since been fired and Garoppolo lost his starting job last season. It was widely assumed that the Raiders were going to release Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason. That will still happen, but with Garoppolo suspended Las Vegas is not responsible for the $11.25 million in guaranteed money that Garoppolo would have been due.

Not only do the Las Vegas Raiders get off the hook for paying Garoppolo, they now get credited with the $11.25 million toward their salary cap space. Again, a failed test for Jimmy Garoppolo just opened up $11.25 million in salary cap space for the Raiders. This scribe isn’t the only one who believed the timing to be odd. Former Patriots Matt Chatham posted, in part, that it is “entirely reasonable to wonder” what role the Raiders played in such an event.

When teams get out of an $11M guarantee for a player (that they are seemingly done with) because of a suspension from some inadequate form for a prescription, it’s entirely reasonable to wonder what role they had in either 1) the player taking that prescription or 2) the dime… pic.twitter.com/6vJ6Td9ANe

— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) February 16, 2024

Just win baby!

Also in today’s Patriots Daily…

New England Patriots

Patriots Football Now – Questions and concerns for Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt

Patriots Football Now – NFL.com predicts Justin Fields trade to New England

“The Dynasty”

Patriots Football Now – Review of Episode 1: Backup Plan

Patriots Football Now – Review of Episode 2: The Snow Bowl

NFL Draft

Patriots Football Now – NFL Draft: History of the No. 3 pick

Patriots Football Now – NFL Mock Draft 2.0

NFL News

Patriots Football Now – Key dates on the 2024 NFL calendar

NFL.com – Two juveniles charged in shooting at Kansas City Super Bowl parade

Pro Football Network – Which 2023 last-place team has the best chance to be division champs in 2024?

Yardbarker – New Raiders OC praises Bears QB Justin Fields

ESPN – Russell Wilson might not be the only star who leaves the Broncos

Boston Bruins

Go over to our sibling site Boston Hockey Now to check out the great Boston Bruins coverage from Jimmy Murphy and the BHN team. The NHL season is underway and plenty is happening in the Bruins 100 Anniversary season.

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Football Fun Fact of the Day

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown is the only player in NFL history to average more than 100 yards rushing per game. Brown amassed 12,312 yards during his career in 118 games. When Brown retired in 1965 that was over 30 yards-per-game more than any other player.

Tweet of the Day

Tweet of the Day comes from and old post by Boston Sports Info in honor of Adam Vinatieri’s game-tying kick from The Snow Bowl, arguably the greatest kick in NFL history…

Adam Vinatieri turns 48 YO

Super Bowl Champ – 4x
All-Pro – 3x
Pro Bowl- 3x
HOF All 2000’s team

Game-winning kicks galore pic.twitter.com/EiDZVftOrT

— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) December 28, 2020