Dallas Cowboys’ right tackle La’el Collins did the one thing you shouldn’t do when taking a drug test. It was reported over the weekend, Collins tried to bribe an NFL drug test collector. The most interesting part isn’t the bribe but the multiple missed drug tests prior. Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, La’el Collins can’t be suspended for positive marijuana tests but this isn’t just a single offense. La’el Collins has since missed seven drug tests in total. Based on that, the NFL decided to carry out a five-game suspension.
While the reason why La’el Collins decided to bribe an NFL official is unclear, Collins decided to try and appeal the suspension. Instead of the five-game ban the league chose, the NFLPA stepped in on Collins’ defense. After some talks, the NFL and NFLPA settled on a reduced two-game suspension. La’el Collins landed himself in even more hot water. After being reduced to the two-game ban, Collins then appealed it in a move that shocked many.
With an arbitrator, chosen by the NFL and NFLPA jointly, reviewing the case and evidence decided not to rule in favor of La’el Collins. The arbitrator also reinstated the NFL’s original five-game ban. According to Collins and his agent Peter Schaffer, he had legitimate reasons for missing the past seven drug tests. Schaffer also thinks no information about the ruling should have been disclosed to the public as they are not finished.
“We are extremely disappointed in how the NFL has handled this entire matter from trampling on Mr. Collins’ rights to prematurely releasing the information knowing a timely appeal was filed to intentionally misleading the court at the hearing,” Schaffer said in a statement. “The extent and effort the NFL went to accomplish its ends is appalling.”
So far La’el Collins has served one of his five-game suspensions with week 2 matchup with Los Angeles Chargers. Collins and his lawyer seeks to appeal the suspension again in hopes of getting the right tackle back on the field sooner than later. If the ban holds up, La’el Collins would be eligible to return on Oct. 18, one day after the Cowboys’ Week 6 game against the New England Patriots.
