July 13, 2015
Kathy Willens/AP
Sheldon Richardson is the best player the Eagles won't have to face in 2015.
With the NFL handing down a number suspensions this offseason, let's take a step back and recap which noteworthy players the Eagles will not have to face so far in 2015.
• Greg Hardy, DE, Cowboys, Week 2: Hardy was originally suspended 10 games for an incident in which he used physical force against his former girlfriend Nicole Holder, which was later reduced to a four game suspension. Hardy has not yet exhausted all of his options to get that suspension reduced more, but as of now, he will miss the Week 2 game against the Eagles. The last time Hardy played a full 16 game season, he had 15 sacks for Carolina.
• Rolando McClain, ILB, Cowboys, Week 2: McClain was suspended by the league for violating the NFL's Policy and Program for Substance Abuse. That's a four game suspension. He won't play against the Eagles Week 2. McClain had 81 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 2 INTs for Dallas last year.
• Sheldon Richardson, DE, Jets, Week 3: Richardson was suspended by the league for violating the NFL's Policy and Program for Substance Abuse. That's a four game suspension. He won't play against the Eagles Week 3. Richardson is one of the best interior defenders in the game. Last season, he had 66 tackles and 8 sacks on his way to the Pro Bowl.
• Will Beatty, OT, Giants, Week 6 and Week 17: Beatty is the Giants' starting LT. His loss weakens two positions. Rookie Ereck Flowers will now be asked to start right away at LT and it appears Marshall Newhouse will be filling in at RT.
• Dion Jordan, OLB, Dolphins, Week 10: Jordan was suspended by the league for violating the NFL's Policy and Program for Substance Abuse. As a repeat offender, Jordan's 2015 season is over. Jordan has a world of talent, but has been an enormous disappointment to the Dolphins as the #3 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
• Daryl Washington, ILB, Cardinals, Week 15: Washington is one of the most talented linebackers in the league, but he has not yet applied for reinstatement after being suspended for the entire 2014 season. If and when Washington does get reinstated, he faces another suspension for violating the NFL personal conduct policy. His situation is a little more unclear than some of the players above, and while he's not a certainty to miss the Week 15 game against Philly, it appears very likely he will.
Bonus:
• Crowd noise, Week 1: The Falcons were caught piping fake crowd noise into their stadium in 2013 and 2014, for which they will forfeit a fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft and $350,000. I can't blame the Falcons for trying to give one of the worst sports cities in America a little noise boost, but presumably, the Falcons have learned their lesson.
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