Nobody but Nobody Can Turn Their PED Suspension into a Positive Like Ben Watson Can
Ben Watson on his 4 game suspension:
As the days and weeks of the 2018 football season passed, I was certain that it would be my last. Injuries and health concerns, including a random bout with appendicitis the last week of the season confirmed my decision, and as I walked off the field for my last time, I had no plans to return. Over the following months, I started actively pursing other career opportunities. After every season during my playing career, I visit with a few doctors for health screenings. During these times we identify the cumulative effects of injuries, stressors, and exertion on my health and formulate an offseason plan for recovery. As a professional athlete for the last 15 years I know very well the limitations on what can be prescribed for my overall health. After my contract expired last March I told my doctors I was finished playing, went through a series of medical tests and was prescribed Bio Identical Testosterone Cypionate to assist in healing my body and mind.
On March 29, nine days after I started therapy, I was randomly tested under our substance policies. I complied out of habit, never thinking in that moment I’d want to come back. In late April, some clubs expressed interest in me playing and after much deliberation and prayer, I decided I wanted to return. Considering myself previously retired, I had forgotten all about my test in March until I got a letter on May 3rd saying my results were positive. I was devastated and for obvious reasons did not want to proceed. At that point I knew that my decision to return to play would include a four game suspension and I immediately discussed this new development with the clubs.
Ultimately I decided to pursue another year and on May 9 the Patriots offered me a contract in spite of these circumstances. I am excited and thankful to return to New England but very disappointed that I will not be able to play and contribute immediately. This is not how I would want to enter a new locker room and attempt to earn my role on a new team. However, I respect the regulations that have been collectively bargained to promote fairness on the field of play and accept the discipline associated with my infraction. My goals as an athlete, teammate, friend, father, husband and believer have not changed. To live a life of integrity and humility while standing for kindness, justice and righteousness and to serve the people in the cities, regions and organizations that God places me in. Until my last day I will continue to pursue excellence in my craft and perform to the best of my ability. I am grateful for yet another opportunity to do so in the NFL.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything like this. Generally speaking, football players get a pass on failing drug tests in ways no other athletes do. And that’s understandable. That’s the nature of their occupation. But damn, if this isn’t a masterclass in Crisis Management.
No “I didn’t know”s. Nothing about taking some over-the-counter supplement that has some obscure ingredient that’s on the NFL’s Urine Squad’s banned list. Watson didn’t even play the “I was trying to get back from an injury to help my teammates and made a mistake” card. On the contrary, you read this and he’s sounds less like Rodney Harrison, Rob Ninkovich or Julian Edelman, and more like St. Thomas Aquinas.
This is the best explanation I’ve heard for a Patriots PED suspension since Brian Tyms, the 2014 UDFA rookie out of Florida A&M who was homeless and living out of his car tested positive for the Adderrall he’d been prescribed since he was a kid but he didn’t have the money to pay for an alternative. Like I’m so impressed reading this that I’m actually proud of the guy. Which is to say, proud of the guy who we found out over the weekend will leave us with Austin Seferian-Jenkins as our No.1 tight end option. And it takes a lot for me to overlook that particular football to the nuts. And he’s got me feeling bad that I feel bad about it.
And I’m not the only one:
At the very least, it’s good to know the Patriots weren’t blindsided by this. It’s not like Josh McDaniels had spent a whole weekend building his September game plans around his 38-year-old weapon and got the call about the suspension and then had to tear out all the pages of his notebook and throw them in the shredder with a big, exaggerated eyeroll. The Pats knew this and signed him anyway. Smartly, as we’ve come to find out:
… because they like and respect him that much. I mean sure, it’s still an unpleasant surprise for the rest of us. Just not for him and not for the team. We’ll just have to wait a month longer than expected to get the NFL’s first 80-year-old quarterback/tight end combo. And McDaniels will get his midseason acquisitions of Watson, Demaryius Thomas (off of PUP) and possibly Josh Gordon. Assuming none of them has appendicitis, a ruptured Achilles or cannabis between now and then.