A report out of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat is reporting that Dolphins free agent nose tackle Jason Ferguson is going to be suspended for the first eight games of 2010 due to violating the performance-enhancing drug policy.
If this is true, Ferguson would still be eligible to sign with a team and to take part in training camp and preseason games. His eight game suspension would then begin once the rosters are finalized with 53 men.
The 35 year old nose tackle was suspended for four games in 1999 for also violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. And if this latest report is true, you have to wonder about Ferguson's future. He' still rehabbing from a torn quadriceps injury he suffered last November. It was unknown if Jason would even be back in 2010. But it was believed that if he did want to come back, he only wanted to be a member of the Dolphins.
However, this latest report would throw a huge curve ball into the situation. The Dolphins clearly need a nose tackle for the future regardless of Ferguson's status in 2010. But if this report is accurate, then the need for a nose tackle is multiplied - perhaps bringing Tennessee's Dan Williams, Alabama's Terrence Cody, and North Carolina's Cam Thomas back into the mix for the Dolphins in rounds one or two.
I, for one, am hoping to hear that this report is false. Ferguson is a respected and well-liked guy. But you have to imagine that if this is indeed accurate that Jason's days in Miami - and potentially in the NFL - could be coming to an end.