The NFL community was rocked by the news that Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker was suspended for four games for testing positive for amphetamines, a performance enhancing drug in the eyes of the NFL. But shortly there after the came reports that Welker’s suspension, along with that of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, could be reduced or go away completely if the NFL and the NFL Player’s Association agree to a new deal.
From Pro Football Talk:
"As Mike Florio reported on NBC, Welker, Gordon and potentially other players in the midst of suspensions could benefit from a new drug testing policy that the owners and players could agree upon soon.…One change is that offseason use of amphetamines would move from the performance-enhancing substance policy to the substance-abuse policy. That would mean that Welker would switch from a first-time offender in the PED policy (which carries an automatic four-game suspension) to a first-time offender in the substance-abuse policy (which carries no suspension)."
That new deal won’t get done before Week One though, meaning both players will miss at least the first week of the season.