Gates not sure how banned substance got into his system
More than 500 fans showed for the public practice, vocalizing their support for the team and the time, as several banners heralded, to be “Back to Football”. Gordon recognized some pass-blocking duties, which is always a plus for a rookie running back.
Melvin Gordon took the field with plenty of eyes on his every move.
After an offseason of chatter about Rivers moving to Tennessee and the Chargers possibly moving to Los Angeles, Thursday’s workout was a welcomed respite. “I felt for him”. It already seems like we will be letting Weddle walk next season, but what is the plan with Philip Rivers? “It’s a barcode. It’s a number, and “boom”, they deal with it in black and white”.
“It’s Day 1”, he said of the attention. “And I simply attempt to help him like he is been doing with me through the period of his time that I have been right here”. “It’s just the first day”. Weddle is considered among the better safeties in the league and he has previously made it to three Pro Bowls and has also been an All-Pro player.
“He’s good, man. Great kid, great spirit, asks plenty of questions, which is nice”, Weddle said of Gordon. “So I just make light of it; I have fun with it, man”. “So it’s refreshing to see (humility) in him”.
Chargers coach Mike McCoy diffused some of the premature focus on Gordon, talking about the untested rookie as “added depth” and having a role in a running back corps. Who would we have playing the position otherwise? “That’s the way we’re going to play”.
Like many others, Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe was dubious of that well-worn excuse for a suspension and accused Gates of cheating the game during a radio interview a short time later. “It’s the rules. I’ve got to deal with it”.
Gates said he was surprised that his appeal was unsuccessful because he thought he’d show the league what he was taking – “the medicine, the natural way I’ve been doing it” – and that the failed test would be explained away by a “chemical imbalance” or something else. Gates said he tested positive for a banned substance related to creating more testosterone in his body. “I’m not really quite sure how it got in my system, particularly, but it was in there”.
A healthy, crisp training camp would be a start.
Gates, 35, will miss the primary 4 video games of the common season due to the constructive check, the primary in his 12-year profession. Perhaps the most physical of the bunch is third-year man Jahleel Addae, who can get a little reckless trying to deliver the big hit, but that style of play is most appreciated when it results in a turnover for the defense.