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It was bad enough that we found out a few hours ago the Texans would play out the rest of the season without their top receiving target in Will Fuller. Now news is coming down that they’ll have to do the same without their top cornerback, Bradley Roby, who has also been suspended for six games.
#texans top CB Bradley Roby is done for the season as he’s been suspended for 6 games. Here is his statement: pic.twitter.com/h4C6j4OHpb
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 1, 2020
If you can’t see it in the tweet above, Roby issued the following statement:
I apologize to my family, my teammates, the Houston Texans organization, and the fans. A few months ago I unknowingly used a product that was contaminated with a banned substance by the NFL. I recognize that it is my job to know, and be responsible for, everything I put into my body. I will be suspended for six games ending my season. I will take the necessary steps in the future to prevent this from ever happening again. I look forward to rejoining my teammates next season in our goal to bring a championship to Houston.
While it may read as the typical boilerplate “Oops, I messed up” we see whenever a player gets in PED trouble, thanks to the work of Mike Meltser, we know that both Fuller’s and Roby’s suspensions are tied to the discovery of “an anabolic agent.”
Will Fuller and Bradley Roby got 6 game suspensions, which means they tested positive for an anabolic agent.
— Mike Meltser (@MikeMeltser) December 1, 2020
If they test positive again, the discipline is a 16 game suspension.
How can you rely on those guys to be a part of your future? pic.twitter.com/mSaUQnrNXR
The absence of Roby is a big deal. He was the best corner on the team. Sure, for this team the best corner is like saying the least bitey piranha, but without Roby, the Texans’ top two corners are now Phillip Gaines and Vernon Hargreaves III.
I’ve seen some scary things as a #Texans fan. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything more terrifying than “...the Texans are down to Vernon Hargreaves and Phillip Gaines as their top two corners.” https://t.co/eILQJHZ9bj
— battleredblog (@battleredblog) December 1, 2020
It’s not just a little odd that both of these players get suspended on the same day for the same reason. It could entirely be a coincidence, but then I’ve never been a big believer in coincidence, and this would be a really big coincidence.
At least we have a plethora of picks in this year’s draft to soften...the...blow. Oh, right. Yeah, this sucks.
UPDATE: Roby’s suspension has significant financial ramifications, including but not limited to voiding the $8 million he was guaranteed to receive in 2021 through the three-year contract extension he signed last March.
Per his 6-game suspension for PEDs, #Texans CB Bradley Roby will forfeit $1.77M of 2020 salary & bonus, $558,824 of 2021 salary, & the$8M guarantee on his 2021 salary will now void.https://t.co/kneyvGsB2x
— Spotrac (@spotrac) December 1, 2020