Broncos' Wes Welker suspended four games for use of amphetamines

As first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker has been suspended for the opening four games of the 2014 regular season for

Doug Farrar | Sep 2, 2014

Broncos' Wes Welker suspended four games for use of amphetamines /

As first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker has been suspended for the opening four games of the 2014 regular season for amphetamine usage. Sources have told Mike Klis of the Denver Post that Welker tested positive for Adderall, a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that has gained in popularity with NFL players over the last few years.

However, a Pro Football Talk report indicates that Welker had been taking "Molly," a nickname for MDMA or Ecstasy, a substance that also led to the four-game suspension of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick. PFT reports that in Welker's case, the "Molly" was cut with amphetamines, and he took it at the most recent Kentucky Derby. PFT's Mike Florio speculates that straight MDMA would not have triggered a suspendable result under the league's policies against performance-enhancing drugs and overall substance abuse, but that the presence of amphetamines did.

"I'm as shocked as everyone at todays news," Welker said in an e-mail to The Denver Post, in which he called the NFL's drug policy 'clearly flawed.' "I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I would NEVER knowingly take a substance to gain a competitive advantage in any way. Anyone who has ever played a down with me, lifted a weight with me, even eaten a meal with me, knows that I focus purely on what I put in my body and on the hard work I put in year round to perform at the highest levels year-in and year-out.

"I want any youth football players and all sports fans to know, there are NO shortcuts to success, and nothing but hard work and studying, leads to success."

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Welker, who has been dealing with concussion issues through the preseason, caught 73 passes for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns for the AFC champion Broncos in 2013. Through his career, he's caught 841 passes for 9,358 yards and 48 touchdowns. One of the best slot receivers in NFL history, Welker has been an integral part of Denver's offense since the Broncos signed him to a two-year, $12 million contract in March, 2013. He had appeared on the practice field Monday for the first time since suffering a concussion against the Houston Texans on Aug. 23. Welker suffered two concussions in 2013, and the second forced him to miss the last three games of the regular season.

"Tonight’s news regarding Wes is very disappointing for our team, but we understand the league’s authority in this area," Broncos head coach John Fox said in a team-released statement. "While it’s unfortunate to not have him to start the year, I have full confidence in our wide receivers and expect that group to continue playing at a high level. I have no doubt that Wes will remain focused on his preparations for the season and stay in excellent shape during his time away from the team.”

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Over their first four games of the regular season, the Broncos will face the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at home, then the Seattle Seahawks on the road and the Arizona Cardinals at home. They have a Week 4 bye, but Welker's suspension is for four games, not four weeks.

The Broncos signed free agent receiver Emmanuel Sanders, formerly of the Steelers, and selected Indiana receiver Cody Latimer in the second round of the 2014 draft. With Eric Decker gone to the New York Jets in free agency, Peyton Manning was looking for new targets, and this obviously ups the ante for both of the new guys. While Sanders is more of an outside speed receiver, Latimer has the size (6-3, 215), toughness and concentration to be an excellent slot target. Denver can also put tight end Julius Thomas in the slot and flex positions to increase Manning's options. According to Pro Football Focus' metrics, Latimer caught two passes for 61 yards from the slot in his first preseason.

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But there's no question that this is a major hit for Denver's passing offense, Welker often commands the attention of a linebacker or safety, leaving more options open for his teammates, and he's been one of the most targeted players in the NFL over the last decade.

“I think we are well beyond where we were at this time last year, but at the same time there is still a lot of work to do and a lot of stuff we need to get better at and will get better at," Welker said of Denver's offense in late July. "It just takes time and practice and that is what we need to do. I am excited about where we are at and what we are doing up to this point ... Obviously, Emmanuel has made a lot of plays out here for us through training camp and is really going to help us this year and we look forward to him being out here. Latimer, for him it is really just really standing on the offense and really picking everything up and making mistakes and learning from them and different things like that. That is what we get to do at this point.”

Now, at this point, both of those guys will have to amp it up a notch if the Broncos are to take their place back at the top of their conference.

GALLERY: NFL PLAYERS SUSPENDED IN 2014

NFL Suspensions for 2014

Wes Welker | WR, Denver Broncos

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Josh Gordon | WR, Cleveland Browns

Suspended the entire season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Ray Rice | RB, Baltimore Ravens

Suspended two games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Matt Prater | K, Denver Broncos

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Robert Mathis | LB, Indianapolis Colts

Suspended four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

Aldon Smith | LB, San Francisco 49ers

Suspended nine games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Dwayne Bowe | WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Suspended one game for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Will Hill | S, Baltimore Ravens

Suspended six games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Dion Jordan | DE, Miami Dolphins

Suspended four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

Lane Johnson | OT, Philadelphia Eagles

Hunter Martin/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images

Suspended four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

Orlando Scandrick | CB, Dallas Cowboys

Suspended four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

Brandon Meriweather | S, Washington Redskins

Suspended two games for an illegal hit.

Jerome Simpson | WR, Minnesota Vikings

Drew Hallowell/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images

Suspended three games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Josh Brent | NT, Dallas Cowboys

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Daryl Washington | LB, Arizona Cardinals

Suspended the entire season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Fred Davis | TE, Free Agent

Suspended indefinitely for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Stedman Bailey | WR, St. Louis Rams

Suspended four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

LaVon Brazill | WR, Free Agent

Suspended the entire season for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

Jayron Hosley | CB, New York Giants

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Nigel Bradham | LB, Buffalo Bills

Suspended one game for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Jake Knott | LB, Free Agent

Suspended four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

Jakar Hamilton | S, Dallas Cowboys

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Frank Alexander | DE, Carolina Panthers

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Brandon Moore | DE, Free Agent

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Rokevious Watkins | OT, Free Agent

Suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Published Sep 2, 2014

DOUG FARRAR

SI.com contributing NFL writer and Seattle resident Doug Farrar started writing about football locally in 2002, and became Football Outsiders' West Coast NFL guy in 2006. He was fascinated by FO's idea to combine Bill James with Dr. Z, and wrote for the site for six years. He wrote a game-tape column called "Cover-2" for a number of years, and contributed to six editions of "Pro Football Prospectus" and the "Football Outsiders Almanac." In 2009, Doug was invited to join Yahoo Sports' NFL team, and covered Senior Bowls, scouting combines, Super Bowls, and all sorts of other things for Yahoo Sports and the Shutdown Corner blog through June, 2013. Doug received the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse from SI.com in 2013, and that was that. Doug has also written for the Seattle Times, the Washington Post, the New York Sun, FOX Sports, ESPN.com, and ESPN The Magazine. He also makes regular appearances on several local and national radio shows, and has hosted several podcasts over the years. He counts Dan Jenkins, Thomas Boswell, Frank Deford, Ralph Wiley, Peter King, and Bill Simmons as the writers who made him want to do this for a living. In his rare off-time, Doug can be found reading, hiking, working out, searching for new Hendrix, Who, and MC5 bootlegs, and wondering if the Mariners will ever be good again.