NFL: Giants WR Golden Tate suspended, confident in appeal

The New York Giants' top candidate to fill the hole created by the departure of Odell Beckham Jr. may be in a hole himself to start the season. Pro Bowl WR Golden Tate, a marquee free agent addition for the Giants this off-season, is expected to be suspended for four games for performance-enhancing drugs.

But Tate has an alibi that he hopes will allow Tate to see action Week 1 when the Giants take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 8. 

"This past April, during the offseason, my wife and I decided to see a specialist for fertility planning," Tate said in a released statement. "I started the treatment prescribed to me and just days later I discovered it contained an ingredient that is on the league's banned substance list. I immediately discontinued use, I reported the situation to the independent administrator of the NFL Policy of Performance-Enhancing Substances, and I spoke with my coaches and general manager. I did all of this well before a failed test was even confirmed."

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The Giants inked Tate to a four-year, $37.5 million deal in part to take over the spot held by Beckham, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns in an off-season blockbuster. The 10-year veteran Tate was a Pro Bowler with the Lions in in 2014. If he does miss the opening four games, a thin receiving corps gets thinner. Fellow starter Sterling Shepard is dealing with a fractured thumb and top reserve Corey Coleman (knee) is out for the year. QB Eli Manning may have to rely on rookie fifth-round pick Darius Slaton and deep reserve Bennie Fowler.

The last time the NFL overturned a drug-related suspension was 2014, when three players, including WR Wes Welker, got their four-game suspensions negated after the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to a new policy and the drug in question was deemed legal.

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That isn't the case here, but Tate believes his actions leading up to the suspension warrant a new look at the situation. The Giants could certainly use their No. 1 WR on the field on the opening weekend. As it stands now, New York is at 100-1 odds to win the 2020 Super Bowl -- only the Cardinals and Dolphins have higher odds.

"Per NFL protocol, an initial suspension was imminent," he said, "but myself and the Giants organization are confident in the facts, and eagerly await my appeal to put this behind us."