DE Peterson returns; wants old job back

Posted by Stephen Rhodes on October 4th, 2007 filed in News, Opinions

Denver Broncos defensive end Kenny Peterson, fresh from a four-game suspension by the National Football League for violation of the league’s policy on steroids and related substances, has 2 goals in mind - he wants his job back and also wants to clear his name.  The Denver Broncos, probably mindful of those facts, have until Monday to decide whether to retain him or not.

Peterson has said in so many words that the thing that bugs him is the fact that he unknowingly ingested a banned dietary supplement, telling the Associated Press,  ”Definitely, I’m 28 years old and never drank, never smoke, never done anything.  And you know, to get hit with a four-game suspension for something that unknowingly was taken, it hurts more than anything because I try to lead by example by not doing anything illegal or tampering with my body.  But it wasn’t done maliciously.  It was a metabolism booster type thing and I thought it was OK but it wasn’t.  I couldn’t even tell you the name of (the banned ingredient).  It’s some big, long name.  It was some weird thing.” 

Peterson spent his down time working out at a facility not far from the Broncos’ training complex.  Whether the down time will have benefitted Peterson or not will be crucial, especially within the next few days.  Also another thing to keep in mind is the awful performance of the Broncos’ run defense (to date, they’re allowing 181 yards a game).  So I think it is safe to say that a combination of the above circumstances should factor in a final decision which I would expect to be rendered no later than Friday.