Cowboys TE Rico Gathers Suspended by NFL for Violating Substance Abuse Policy

Another Dallas Cowboy suspended. What a surprise.

What now? Ah, marijuana: the bane of Roger Goodell's existence. Goodell's league office claimed another victim Friday, suspending Dallas Cowboys tight end Rico Gathers for a marijuana arrest that occurred in 2018.

According to Ian Rapoport, the tight end will be held out of the first game of the season due to the violation of the league's drug policy.

#Cowboys TE Rico Gathers is suspended without pay for the first game of the 2019 regular season for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse. This is from his arrest in 2018 for marijuana possession.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 14, 2019

Gathers saw the field for the first time last season after being selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He hauled in just 3 catches for 45 yards in 15 games.

He doesn't provide great value in the passing game or as a run-blocker, and he's managed to stay with the team largely as a result of some impressive preseason performances. This makes it a distinct possibility that the suspension will mark the end of his tenure with the Cowboys, especially following the return of Jason Witten.

The Dallas Cowboys have reached the crossroads with tight end Rico Gathers where he'll have to start showing his pass catching talent in games https://t.co/SuFwMmiDqA
— WFAA Sports (@wfaasports) June 13, 2019

Gathers took a unique path to the NFL. He played basketball at Baylor University and became the first player in the school's history to accrue 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his time there.

Maybe now he wishes he chose the NBA, where the rules on using the devil's lettuce are far more lax than the NFL.