Arizona Cardinals News: Ben Patrick Suspended for First Four Games of the Season.

by mbn on Jun 15, 2009 10:18 PM MDT Comment 20 comments

ESPN, Scouts.com, and now Darren Urban are all reporting that Ben Patrick has been suspended for four regular season games for testing positive for Adderall, an amphetamine often used in treating ADD and ADHD. Patrick allegedly took one pill, (that he got from a friend), during the bye week in October 2008 to keep himself awake as he drove home late from Flagstaff. The four game suspension would make Patrick's first game of eligibility October 18th against the Seahawks. Even if this was a simple stupid mistake by Patrick , the obvious impact is the same. He will miss 4 games.

In the unclear picture that is the Card's TE position does this clarify or confuse the TE discussion? Could Patrick get cut because of this? Does this suspension increase Byrd's chances to make the team? What about Pope's? Does this ensure that a healthy Spach or Becht will be the starters? Is this all just a blip in the radar and it won't have a lasting impact on Patrick or the team? Are there players that now might benefit from Patrick's suspension outside of the TE position?

If it was a single act of poor judgment, it seems harsh that his whole career would be adversely affected. Yet, the margin of error for a 7th round tight end is pretty narrow, especially one who has been inconsistent in his play. I am sure Patrick is aware of all this and is just sick about it.

The cold truth is, however, that his mistake gives us something to chew on for a week or so until something new comes up. What is your take? How will this impact Patrick? Will it impact the final 53?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.

0 recs | Comment 20 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

geez talk about bad timing

It sucks for Patrick but I don’t think he’ll be cut (maybe with Pope it would be a different story), but it does make the numbers game at tight end more interesting. He’ll have to perform well in the preseason and training camp, as well as stay healthy, or he could fall to the bottom of the totem pole pretty easily.

This also has to help Byrd’s chances as he now becomes the best receiving tight end for the first four games of the season.

by Bezekira on Jun 16, 2009 6:09 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Announcement was made yesterday, but for how long has the club known of this considering the test failed was last season's?

May explain the interest in bringing in a receiving TE like Byrd in the first place. If anything, it suggests to me that Pope is on the hottest seat to make the final roster, not Patrick, because if the Cards knew a suspension was likely they clearly weren’t confident in Spach/Becht/Pope for the first four games of the season.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Jun 16, 2009 7:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

very good point from our fearless leader

I read somewhere that Patrick’s agent kept the appeal process going last year so that he wouldn’t miss the stretch run or playoffs so I’m assuming that the club has known about this for quite a while.

by Bezekira on Jun 16, 2009 7:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last Preseason?...

He says he took the pill to stay awake driving from Flag to Phoenix – which suggests the incident occurred during Camp last summer.

Buried beneath all the inevitable give & take about “second chances”, “the rules are the rules” etc. is the undisputable assessment that Patrick exercised poor judgment and perhaps is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. (i.e. Want to stay awake? Why tempt fate? Try stopping at Starbucks or gulping down a No-Doz!)

CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT!

by JJeff88 on Jun 16, 2009 7:38 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bye week last year

It looks like it was during the bye week in Oct , according to some reports, but I don’t know what he was doing in Flag during the Bye

MBN

by mbn on Jun 16, 2009 4:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet Northern Arizona U. hotties?

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Jun 16, 2009 4:56 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are hotties at NAU?

They must have been hiding when I was there.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Jun 18, 2009 11:33 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is only one Tempe, Red

It’s not our fault we were spoiled

by AJ BirdWatcher on Jun 20, 2009 12:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's like hottie over-load on Palm Walk

You gotta pace yourself or you’ll get whiplash.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Jun 20, 2009 3:54 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Point

Byrd’s arrival may be in response. The Cards have known for a while, since last season. I think this almost assures that Pope will be cut unless someone ahead of him is hurt. Knowing Patrick would be suspended and then going out and bringing in Becht and then Byrd sure sounds like a no-confidence vote for Pope.

MBN

by mbn on Jun 16, 2009 9:38 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Becht has more experience and productivity than the rest combined. He was bought here for a reason. For all the love given to Spach, I still don’t see him as a proven commodity and it can’t be easy coming back from knee surgery. Pope we know and the Coaches know better. Whatever their expectations of him are I doubt that they have changed. Byrd is the wild card. He has good potential but was not exactly a model citizen himself. Like Patrick, he deserves a second chance. I’m not sure the Cardinals want to carry four TEs with one suspended four games. Another player, like Lance Long or Canfield would lose their roster spot. Coach seemed pleased with Byrd but said a lot would depend on his blocking ability which won’t come out until camp. If Byrd fills the role, Coach said he could even be used as a fullback/HB out of the backfield. If so, then perhaps only one FB is carried and Byrd plays a dual role freeing up the spot to keep Patrick. There are a lot of variables, but right now, my guess is Becht, Pope and Byrd on the final roster at TE. I also think this is an upgrade over Tuman, Pope, Patrick from last year.

by Carddan on Jun 16, 2009 9:22 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Would rather have Spach over Pope.

Pope has been given lots of opportunities and all he has done is get hurt of draw false starts. I would agree though that his knee surgery might cause some problems but if he is healthy he is a better choice over Pope.

by Pyromnc on Jun 16, 2009 9:26 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point

Just imagine if we broke camp with four tight ends (Becht, Spach, Patrick and Byrd) and one of them is suspended for the first four games and Spach is most likely not 100%.

That’s a scary proposition. I do agree on Becht though in that he was brought here for a reason. He’s a great blocking tight end and that shouldn’t be overlooked. Whiz was looking for a tight end who could hold his own in the running game and pass protection last year and Becht has to be the best in both of those areas. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s the day one starter out of camp.

by Bezekira on Jun 16, 2009 9:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

One point from Urban

Not only is Patrick suspended for the first four games, he is basically banned from the team facilities and can’t even communicate with any ‘team officials’ except to arrange off-site medical treatment (which we all know he’ll need). That suspension begins Sept 5th, two days after the final preseason game, and ends October 12th, day after the Cardinals fourth game.

Also, it sucks that our bye week is so early b/c Patrick will be away from the team for five weeks since our bye week is after the third game.

by Bezekira on Jun 16, 2009 11:02 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Possible Silver Lining

As I read the suspension rules it sound likes the Cards might be able to have a 53 +1. In other words Patrick won’t count as one of the 53 during his suspension. If that is the case then the Cards could delay some decisions for 4 weeks while Patrick is on suspension. I’ll keep looking for clarification on this but that is what the NFL suspension policy seems to say.

MBN

by mbn on Jun 16, 2009 4:07 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Indeed, suspended players don't count against the 53 just the same way PUP players and Injured Non-Football.

But once those players are brought to the 53 someone has to go to waivers.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Jun 16, 2009 4:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It delays the decision

You get 4 more games to see if Byrd can block out of the backfield, or if LHS is worth it on the active roster, or 4 more weeks to look at Highsmith, Togafau, and Hobson, or Lewis and Francisco. Maybe one of the other TE will get injured or Spach won’t ever get back to 100%. Maybe Pope gets 4 weeks to prove his worth. It allows some stalling for that final spot.

MBN

by mbn on Jun 16, 2009 9:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

All I can say our TE's.....

last year weren’t worth crap or did they produce that much in any aspect. I see Becht being the starter only because he can block! I mean do we really need a recieving TE?

by azcardswinez on Jun 16, 2009 5:53 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Ben Patrick

Probably made the 2nd best catch of the Super Bowl imo!! But I agree, just get us a blocker! One thing were not short of is quality receivers..leave the receiving to Tony Homo and our receivers. xD

by Fitz Jizzle on Jun 16, 2009 7:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad situation

Interesting background info on Patrick, because my first thought before I read all that is that he just paved his way out of town. Still, it seems a little difficult to believe that we’ll hold a roster spot for him through a quarter of the season but if we were going to release him I’d think we would have done it already.

Looks like a great opportunity for Spach and Becht, considering they’re already the best blocking TE’s on the roster.

by Long Beach on Jun 17, 2009 12:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs