Kwon Alexander Says Common Energy Drink Led To League Suspension
November 22nd, 2015
What kind of league slaps woman abuser Greg Hardy with a four-game suspension and issues the same punishment to a 21-year-old, 227-pound linebacker who likes energy drinks at 7-11?
Alas, this appears to be what the Bucs are dealing with.
Starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander, Tampa Bay’s leading solo tackler today with eight, officially will get that four-game slap from the NFL this week. It will be called a violation of the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.
Joe will call it Red Bull&%it.
“It was an energy drink and I didn’t know because I would drink this all the time when I was in high school and so forth,” Kwon told Joe and other reporters after the game in the happy Bucs locker room.
“Like I said before, I have never been in any kind of trouble before or anything. I don’t really want to say what the name of the drink was because I’m not going to get into that.”
Kwon said he will appeal and was quick to say it was all his fault. The 21-year-old rookie admitted he’s been told many times not to drink anything until he gets a thumbs up from the Buccaneers.
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:32 pm
OK it’s a bad break for the Bucs. All is not lost. Let’s hope Carter makes the most of his opportunity.
The good news is that it wasn’t a recreational drug…weed..coke..booze…no Johnny Football meltdown and no Tanard Jackson fears of repeat offenses.
In addition I’m glad to see Kwon be a standup guy and admit it was HIS mistake.
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:32 pm
Love ya Kwon, but there’s really no good excuse
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:37 pm
“Stupid is as Stupid does”
There truly is no excuse……you are blessed to be a starting linebacker on an NFL team, one of only 32 in the world……Kwon, you just can’t do that.
Hopefully it will teach him and others to be more careful.
Now we will find out if Bruce Carter can play 4 games without getting injured.
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Since when can drinking Monster earn you a suspension? Well, at least he didn’t pop a pill like I thought he did. Still should’ve thought ahead. Get back soon Kwon.
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Great game for the Bucs and good team win. Kwan has been a bright spot for our suspect defense. However, not buying the Energy Drink excuse.
This was in training camp and Im sure he drank his share of energy drinks but not buying this was the source of a failed test. Try again
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:43 pm
This is freaking ridiculous.
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo guzzles energy drinks….Pablo needs them because he works hot Pasco County roof by day and table dances at night. Pablo has just now learned what a PED is. Pablo always thought it meant “peni$ erection drug”…..Pablo never needed that. Pablo invites Kwon to join Pablo by dancing on his 4 weeks off”
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:45 pm
If consuming a commonly sold energy drink leads to an NFL suspension for “PEDs” – That is the REAL problem here. Total Bullsh!t!!!!
And Why is it 4 games??? I thought that was only reserved for 2nd offenders? 1st time testing positive for “banned substances” is a 2 game suspension. Either the reports are incorrect or there is some missing information here.
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:50 pm
Just appeal it so we can have him for 3-4 more games.
November 22nd, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Tough break for our Bucs. I don’t have much faith in Carter. We shall see. Don’t like the fact we were just starting to build some chemistry on Defense. Now the offense is going to have to score 50.
November 22nd, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Per agt with nflpa, NFL cannot specify what drug or substance was found. Therefore, a player can say anything. I suspect many of these suspensions are not true to how they are represented.
Anyways, big win. Treat this like a four wk injury I guess. Kwon can jump back in jacked up “naturally” and help us in our playoff push!!
November 22nd, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Pickgrin: Its because the league is always trying to run tampa into the ditch! Because we DON’t lay down and always throw a wrench into their mass market teams. Who think they”re going to breeze past us with no trouble. Started long ago with the Cosell curse.
November 22nd, 2015 at 7:43 pm
NFL rules….1st time PED offenders….4 Games…”can be suspended”…..I guess that leaves some room for less….
November 22nd, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Figures. Kwon won’t be touching that “drink” again.
November 22nd, 2015 at 7:51 pm
I’ve never had one of those energy drinks, I thought they were just heavy caffeine.
November 22nd, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Rookies make rookie mistakes, Kwon as well as many of the other recent picks are forming a nucleus of players that might be my favorite Bucs team ever.
Kwon will learn, and then go back to dominating.
Love this group
November 22nd, 2015 at 7:59 pm
This sort of thing should only be a small fine.
November 22nd, 2015 at 9:40 pm
A first violation of the PED policy will result in a suspension without pay for up to six games depending on violation:
” Positive tests for diuretics or masking agents will result in a two-game ban;
” Positive tests for a steroid, stimulant or HGH will result in a four-game ban;
” Evidence that an attempt was made to manipulate a test result will result in a six-game suspension.
November 22nd, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Nice-guy Kwon gets the same suspension as sociopath Greg Hardy?
Battering women and drinking energy drinks at 7-11: Really exactly
the same thing when you think about it.
Howard is glad that the NFL has harsh penalties for both equally abhorrent offenses.
November 23rd, 2015 at 12:20 am
Because the tests are public and couldn’t possibly be actual PED’s… Just like it was a popular fad to say it was adderall… Come on people use some common sense..
Some were on here beating the drum to sign Hardy but now he wasn’t punished enough? Hmm wonder if you would have said that if we did sign him.
November 23rd, 2015 at 7:03 am
I’m searching the internet on what could be banned in any of these energy drinks and can’t find anything. He could be injecting Deca and due to privacy rule the NFL can’t say. What could be in these energy drinks that is banned?
November 23rd, 2015 at 9:35 am
I Googled the NFL Banned Substances List and the ingredient lists in 5 common energy drinks, there were zero matches. I want to believe you, Kwon, but your story doesn’t sound very likely. Either call out the brand or confess to what really happened here.
November 23rd, 2015 at 11:47 am
That’s poor policy. Give me a break. Energy drink? Really? So abuser Greg Hardy can kick the crap out of a woman and get a slap on the wrist, but Kwon can’t have an energy drink> NFL priorities are messed up.