As Redskins tight end Fred Davis prepares to hit the free-agent market, he’ll be dealing with a complication that could significantly affect his value.
Davis faces a six-game suspension under the substance-abuse policy, via Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports.
A six-year veteran, Davis tore an Achilles’ tendon while playing under the franchise tag in 2012. He re-signed with Washington on a one-year deal in 2013, but he was inactive for six games and started only three.
In 2011, Davis served a four-game suspension under the substance-abuse policy. A six-game suspension suggests that Davis remained in Stage Two of the program following his 2011 violation.
Broncos linebacker Von Miller served a six-game suspension to start the 2013 season as a negotiated compromise to an effort to suspend Miller much longer than that, based on allegations that he conspired with the sample collector to generate negative test results.
With or without the suspension, Davis isn’t expected to attract major attention in free agency. A team could choose to bring him in for the offseason program, training camp, and the preseason, confident that the preparation will make it easier to adapt after the suspension ends.
It’s unclear whether Davis a filed an appeal, and when a ruling is expected. Before the suspension is finalized, any information about a player’s status in the substance-abuse program is supposed to be kept confidential.