Tuesday brought news the Broncos would be without key wideout Wes Welker for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s performance enhancement policy. Rumors immediately started swirling as to how such a star could fail a drug test that would warrant a four-game suspension, one of them including that Welker took a Molly at the Kentucky Derby this past spring. Welker sent a letter to the Denver Post to give his side of the story and to put the rumors to rest.
“I’m as shocked as everyone at todays news… I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I would NEVER knowingly take a substance to gain a competitive advantage in any way. Anyone who has ever played a down with me, lifted a weight with me, even eaten a meal with me, knows that I focus purely on what I put in my body and on the hard work I put in year round to perform at the highest levels year-in and year-out.
I want any youth football players and all sports fans to know, there are NO shortcuts to success, and nothing but hard work and studying, leads to success.
I have never been concerned with the leagues performance enhancing or drug abuse policies because under no scenario would they ever apply to me, but I now know, that (drug-policy procedures) are clearly flawed, and I will do everything in my power to ensure they are corrected, so other individuals and teams aren’t negatively affected so rashly like this.
I have worked my whole life to be the best that I can be, and I have encountered many obstacles over my career, and THIS WILL BE NO DIFFERENT!
… I wouldn’t have any idea where to get a Molly or what a Molly is… That’s a joke. I don’t do marijuana, I don’t do drugs. I don’t do any drugs.”
I suppose it’s noble Welker would send out a public letter and that he — reportedly — is going into the Denver locker room today to apologize to his teammates. But the aforementioned statement should be taken with a grain of salt. The NFL’s policy with failed drug tests does not force the guilty player to reveal any information surrounding it, including what the drug was. Whether it be Molly or HGH, we’ve seen this countless times with professional athletes; we shouldn’t be as naive as in year’s past.
Welker had appealed his suspension two weeks ago in Washington D.C. to no avail. The veteran signed a two-year contract worth $12 million last year and caught 73 passes and 10 TDs through 13 games before a second concussion forced him out of the final three games of 2013.
Fantasy wise, this suspension suggests Emmanuel Sanders will be more of an integral part of the offense.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Photo Credit: Getty
