Report: Kwon Alexander’s Regular Season Is Over
December 7th, 2015
It seems like the inevitable will start now.
UPDATE: 3:16 p.m.
Tampa Tribune beat writer Roy Cummings is Twittering that starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander’s looming four-game suspension for violating the NFL performance enhancing drug policy is looming no longer, and he will miss the final four games of the 2015 regular season.
What’s next for the Bucs is scary, considering Bruce Carter has concussion issues and has never played middle linebacker for any significant stretch in his career. And outside linebacker Danny Lansanah is not well suited for the position, per the comments of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier last year.
The situation should become a lot clearer when the Bucs return to practice Wednesday.
Alexander registered impressive numbers. Former Bucs middle linebacker Mason Foster led all NFL rookies in tackles in 2011. Through just 12 games this season, Alexander has more than Foster did.
Alexander truly was turning out Pro Bowl-caliber production. Pretty damn good for a 21-year-old, fourth-round pick.
UPDATE: Per good guy and well plugged-in Peter Schrager of FOX Sports, Alexander dropped his appeal, which triggered the immediate four-game suspension.
December 7th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
I am fine with this.
I rather lose him now, than at the beginning of next season. Or maybe even playoffs.
December 7th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
C-R-A-P!
Dear Bruce Carter,
Hello Sir – please tackle the ball carrier often and please intercept the football. That is all for now.
Kind Regards,
Lord Help Us All
December 7th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
A real find in the draft…..a great player with a bright future…..but a very stupid act…..no excuse whatsoever…..he has hurt his team. We will miss him, I’m quite sure.
December 7th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I’d bet my house that he didn’t get suspended for consuming an energy drink he’s been drinking since high school.
December 7th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
No rookie wall for Kwon!
December 7th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
I say move David to the middle for the 4 games, move Carter into David’s position. David is perfectly suited to fill the role for a few games.
December 7th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Well on the bright side *if* the Bucs make the playoffs somehow we should have him back when it matters most. Down side is he can’t help us get there.
December 7th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
That’s terrible news, Kwon really let the team down with his poor choices. Next man up!
December 7th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
Same suspension as sociopath Greg Hardy.
That’s BS!
Howard is pissed.
December 7th, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Will the next Cameron Brate please stand up!!!!
Honestly this is not going to be a problem what so ever!!!
We have #3!!!
Ok maybe this will be a problem but I wont notice it none because its all about #3….
The Bucs are going to the Super Bowl…… THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!
December 7th, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Kwon didn’t let the team down. He drank Red Bull before he was drafted. It was still in his system when he was tested.
Red Bull is on the no-no list.
December 7th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
The test was before the start of training camp…before he even knew it was banned.
December 7th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Peter Schrager? He’s the sideline “reporter” whose lengthy, boring and not-breaking-news “updates” caused us to miss a couple of plays last week.
What’s the purpose of sideline reporters that aren’t hot chicks? “Lovie Smith told me that the Bucs have to run the ball better.” Really? StPeteBuc could have delivered those quotes.
December 7th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
BuccaneerBonzai
Red Bull on the no-no list? Source?
December 7th, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Sure wish I had one of those special Kwon energy drinks when I was snow skiing the other week!!!
December 7th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
The secrecy sucks! The NFL must reveal the unknown substance Kwon has been suspended for, otherwise complete BS.
December 7th, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai
If that is the case….why didn’t hundreds of other college draftees get suspended……because Red Bull is a popular drink….
And he absolutely did let his team down….he is responsible…he entered the draft and should have known.
December 7th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
damn…I knew it!!!!the nfl has it out for tampa…when we win its because the other is so garbage…when we win we get no nation attention…but when we lose or in a situation like this the media is all over it….GO BUCS!!!
December 7th, 2015 at 4:34 pm
I have looked for any evidence or story regarding Red Bull and PEDs…..there are none……NFL players endorse the drink as do other athletes….there is absolutely no way that information wouldn’t be on the net.
Bonzai….please provide the source of your information….or I will consider it Buccaneer Bonzai Bull$hit.
Don’t try to excuse a stupid act because that’s exactly what it was…..Kwon is a great player but made a mistake.
December 7th, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Can Jonathan Banks play mike on long passing third downs?
December 7th, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Can’t agree he was playing at a pro bowl level, but his loss will be felt
December 7th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
The NFL didn’t want to give the Bucs offensive and defensive Rookie Of The Year so they had to find a way to slow one of them down.
December 7th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Damn this is going to hurt us defensively! NEXT MAN UP!
December 7th, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Lol anybody that buys this “energy drink” excuse was an idiot. He knows darn well it want an energy drink…
December 7th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Too bad for Kwon,it will directly effect him not getting DROY which he should of received hands down.
I wish he would have waited a few days to see if it would have been reduced at the very least.
Sucks cause Bruce was just hurt last week with a concussion and he’s no Kwon lol
December 7th, 2015 at 7:05 pm
It will be up to the offense led by Fameis Jameis to step up just like they did Sunday when the defense lost GMC. Defense has been racked by injury the last few weeks. I look at Kwon’s suspension just like an injury. He won’t make this mistake again. Go Mighty Bucs!!
December 7th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
Losing Kwon hurts more than losing any other player on defense. MLB is a critical position in Lovie’s defense, and ‘next man up’ won’t solve the hole that’s just been created.
The only other LB with any extensive experience calling the defensive alignments is LVD, and moving him to MLB isn’t the answer (just creates another hole plus he hasn’t played the position). I’m not even sure that Bruce Carter’s been cleared to practice, or if he’ll be available for this Sunday’s game. Lansanah can play MLB, but he’s no Kwon. Plus that opens up another hole on the other side.
This really stinks. Nobody’s even confirmed what Kwon got suspended for far as I know. Just a bunch of speculation. If it is for some stupid energy drink that’s sold over the counter, then the NFL either needs to either adjust their rules (give a first-time warning?) or get the word out while these kids are in college that energy drinks are a no-no.
December 7th, 2015 at 9:00 pm
1. The NFL should reveal what the substance is for every ban. This way we can see how some is ridiculous and it will Shame those that actually took a drug.
2. I wanted the Bucs to draft Carter s couple years ago. He’s fast and fits the defense. Never fit in great with Dallas. Hopefully he can bring it.
3. I don’t expect the playoffs, that’d be a bonus, so I would rather have Kwon gone now and not next season.
December 7th, 2015 at 9:03 pm
One last thing….
I don’t care if it’s red bull or HGH, this bring the same suspension as Hardy is an Effing joke. All we heard about from The and FL after M-Jones Drew, was how to domestic violence was going to be oh so important to them.
***unless you got talent still trumps all
I just don’t get that. Every player is expendable
December 7th, 2015 at 9:20 pm
First off agree with everybody that it’s a joke that Kwon would get the same suspension for ANY PED as Hardy got for beating a woman and throwing her on a stack of guns!
@TBBF I cannot believe you blame this on Kwon. Surely you know this must be all Lovie’s fault. Do you not read JBF?
If Carter is too concussed to play I fear we’re close to being finished. We are not deep enough to lose four DL who were supposed to contribute..and our starting MLB while still trying to discover our defensive backfield. Thank heavens for Moore but Hey Jude is still a work in progress.
We are just not deep enough to absorb this and I’m the blog optimist. Who expects GMC to return this year at top form with a bum hand..how is he going to fight it out in the trenches.
But next year…to steal the old song…Our future so bright we gotta wear shades.
December 7th, 2015 at 11:48 pm
I’m not worried about our linebackers, I’m more worried about our secondary holding continuing to hold up. Keon is a great and will be missed, but I don’t think his loss will have a huge impact.