Quote:I still think that, in the end, Blackmon doesn't apply to be reinstated.

 

Agreed, and I think people get hung up on what "applying for reinstatement" even means.   Some  seem to think Blackmon can just show up at the league office, proclaim "I'm all better now", fill out and application and get rubberstamped 10 minutes later he's renewing a driver's license. 

 

When players get an indefinite suspension,  Goodell and the league provides them very specific and laid out path that they expect from them if they want to play in the league again.    The path laid out is very detailed with specific checkboxes of expected steps of action  in regards to treatment, therapy/counseling and random drug testing.    There are other ancillary, or even mandated, things the player can do to further solidify his case before the league, like community outreach or volunteer work.    The league expects to be constantly updated by the player in his progress, and will get constant updates through their contracted counselors and drug testers in regards to their participation.         The actual re-applying to the league is just the bureaucratic red tape at the end of the process.  The  e league will then review the player's entire case for re-in statement and all the documentation, and decide if he followed the steps and jumped through all the hoops in a satisfactory manner.   There are legalities and CBA ramifications up the wazoo on things this, so you can be sure the paperwork is thorough and stacked a mile high.     This isn't done willy-nilly.  

 

If Blackmon is completely out of pocket and the team seems to be completely moving on from him, I would guess he's not progressing very well ... if at all ... in his assignments.  

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