NFL, NFLPA Agree on New Drug Policy: Latest Suspension Revisions and Reaction

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have officially finalized an agreement regarding the league's drug policy.

The NFL confirmed the PED news on Wednesday and provided the details behind the policy:

HGH testing will be fully implemented this season. Information on testing procedures will be sent to clubs and players within the week, and testing should begin by the end of this month.

Appeals of positive tests in the performance enhancing drug programs (including HGH) will be heard by third-party arbitrators jointly selected and retained by the NFL and NFLPA. Appeals will be processed more expeditiously under improved rules and procedures.

Discipline of players for certain violations in the 2014 league year will be adjusted to reflect the new policy. Wes Welker of the Denver Broncos, Orlando Scandrick of the Dallas Cowboys and Stedman Bailey of the St. Louis Rams will be eligible to return to their teams this week.

The league announced the changes to the drug policy on Friday, and detailed the changes: 

Two discipline stages will be added for marijuana positives, as follows: a first violation will result in referral to the substance abuse program, as is the case today. Subsequent violations will result in a two-game fine, a four-game fine, a four-game suspension, a 10-game suspension, and one-year banishment. The new stages are the two-game fine and the 10-game suspension. In addition, the threshold for a positive marijuana test will be raised from 15 ng/ml to 35 ng/ml, reflecting recent actions taken by other testing organizations.

Discipline for DUI and related offenses will be increased. A first DUI offense, absent aggravating circumstances, will result in a two-game suspension without pay. A second offense will result in a suspension of at least eight games without pay. In either case, a more lengthy suspension may be imposed if there are aggravating circumstances.

Players currently serving one-year suspensions for a marijuana positive will have their suspensions reduced to 10 games.

This comes on the heels of the two sides announcing sweeping changes to the league’s drug policy Friday. ESPN.com reported that player representatives to the union voted to implement testing for human growth hormone for the 2014 season. HGH testing was agreed upon in 2011, but the players disagreed with the science and appeals process that were discussed in the past.

In addition to the HGH announcement, a league proposal to increase the threshold for positive marijuana tests was approved. The threshold was 15 nanograms per milliliter, but it was increased to 35 nanograms per milliliter Friday.

A two-game suspension will also be issued if any player is convicted of driving under the influence, although the proposal to immediately suspend a player, coach or team executive for a DUI arrest was rejected by the union.

NFLPA President Eric Winston commented on the process, via ESPN.com: "This is an historic moment for our players and our league. We have collectively bargained drug policies that will keep the game clean and safe, but also provide our players with an unprecedented level of fairness and transparency."

Of immediate interest is the impact this will have on players who were currently suspended for part or all of the 2014 season by the league.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com provided some updates regarding these players and the actual voting process:

Here is a look at some of the retroactive changes for players who were suspended under previous policies:

Of particular interest is the suspension to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, which has officially been reduced from a full season to 10 games, as Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted. Indianapolis Colts wideout LaVonn Brazill also saw his suspension reduced. 

While Gordon would likely prefer to see the field sooner, at least the Browns will have him at some point this year. This is an offense that has a dearth of playmakers, so adding the league’s top receiver from a year ago (in terms of yards) will clearly help.

Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has information on Dion Jordan's suspension:

Perhaps by then we may even see Johnny Manziel on the field working with Gordon.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Elsewhere, Denver Broncos wideout Wes Welker was suspended for an amphetamine and not marijuana, but the punishment for that is changing from performance enhancers to the substance-abuse program.

The Broncos could certainly use his production from the slot and in the red zone as they try to return to the Super Bowl. However, his absence hasn't been a crucial blow for a unit that already features Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. There's no doubt that Peyton Manning will be glad to have Welker back, though.

With the new agreement now in place and all the details specified, it's clear both the NFL and NFLPA are confident the league's drug policy will be effective moving forward.