Jolly Suspended For 2010 Season

It may be the end of the road for Green Bay defensive end Johnny Jolly.

This afternoon, the NFL suspended Jolly for the 2010 season for violating the league's policy and drug program.

A statement issued by the NFL said, "Johnny Jolly of the Green Bay Packers has been suspended indefinitely without pay for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse."

He's eligible for reinstatement after Super Bowl XLV.

On page 20, under the 2009 NFL's Policy and Program for Substance of Abuse, it says the following: "Players convicted of or admitting to a violation of law (including, within the context of a diversionary program, deferred adjudication, disposition of supervision, or similiar arrangement including but not limited) relating to use, possession, acquisition, sale, or distribution of substances of abuse other than alcohol, or conspiring to do so, are subject to appropriate discipline as determined by the Commissioner."

It meant that Roger Goodell wasn't playing around.

There was nothing the Packers could do about it.

Instead, the team released this statement: "Johnny is a good player that loves everything about the game of football.  We appreciate the contributions he has made to the Packers the past four seasons. His focus and priorities now lie elsewhere. Our thoughts are with him during this difficult personal time."

The Packers said the suspension was a "league matter."

Jolly was arrested in 2008 for possessing more than 200 grams of codeine in Houston.  His trial was delayed, and he was allowed to play until the Packers' 2009 season was over.

The Packers offered the restricted free agent a contract, which Jolly signed. Before the suspension, it wasn't clear if he would join the team when training camp begins in two weeks.

Jolly was not allowed to leave Houston with a judge's permission. He also was given a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and told to stay away from a drug and alcohol setting.

I'm sure Green Bay wasn't prepared for this latest setback of Jolly. They did, however, draft a defensive end in the second round just in case.

You would hate to see a key member of the defensive line risk his career for an offseason incident like that.

The NFL statement didn't say whether Jolly tested positive for drugs and alcohol.

Jolly already knows the league can test him anytime. What he didn't know was how much money it would cost him.

Since Jolly is suspended without pay, he should check his bank account to see if he has enough money to get by.

If the Packers terminate Jolly's contract, some other team may pick him up in a year.

Jolly still has some football left in him. It's important to get the personal problems under control.

We also don't know if Jolly will get any jail time.

This time away from football should allow Jolly to determine who is in his corner.

Is it the people who knew him before football fame, or is he on his own to tackle his issues?

When the chips are down, the people who are on Jolly's side are the ones he can trust.

If his future is no longer with Green Bay, then maybe he'll get a second chance somewhere else.