Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon is indefinitely suspended for a second violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy, and is currently believed to be in rehab, according to the Florida Times-Union.
Jaguars can’t get ahold of Justin Blackmon
Jacksonville’s troubled wide receiver is reportedly now seeking help in rehab, but the Jaguars are having a hard time getting in touch with him.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Once a superstar at Oklahoma State University, Blackmon is back in the Sooner State seeking treatment at rehab, according to his college coach Gunter Brewer, per the Times-Union.
“[Blackmon] just said, ‘I’m getting help,’ and he left it at that,” Brewer said. “Most folks [with addiction problems] don’t go the first stage of admitting they need help. People want to reach out and help Justin, but I think he feels like he’s let them down. He’s trying to find his way.
“I know he’s getting professional help, but I didn’t get into it with him. I’m not sure if it’s for alcohol or something else. The first step is admitting you need it, then going to get it.”
Since being suspended, Blackmon’s whereabouts have become somewhat of a rumor. Despite the efforts of teammates, Blackmon has been very slow in responding to texts and calls, sometimes not responding at all, per the story.
“I tried reaching out a few times,” said Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts. “If he responds, he responds. That doesn’t matter, as long as he knows that I care.
Blackmon, the former first-round pick of Jacksonville in 2012, was suspended for the first four games of 2013 after blowing a .26 blood-alcohol level in an aggravated DUI, stemming from the spring of 2012. In Nov. 2013, Blackmon was again suspended, a ban that Jaguars general manager David Caldwell expects to keep Blackmon out for all of the 2014 campaign.
After drafting a pair of second-round receivers in Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson to go with Cecil Shorts, it appears coach Gus Bradley has a promising group without Blackmon. Jacksonville does not owe Blackmon a dime while he's suspended and due to him being suspended early in 2013, his rookie contract is no longer guaranteed.
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