Quote:6 pages of speculation and we're finally getting somewhere.  :thanks:

 

Do you know the date of the banishment letter?

That's the rub.  We don't know if he was issued any sort of punishment for the arrest in July of last year.  My guess is that he was, and that is the date that we need to be looking at for reinstatement.  That puts his return somewhere around the end of July or early August.  The incident occurred on what?  7/23?  So, somewhere in that area would seem like the most logical time.frame. 

 

This is why I think it's ridiculous to take anything Long is reporting as factual.  I don't know what ax he has to grind with Blackmon, but he clearly doesn't like the guy and he makes that abundantly clear in the way he covers the situation.  It's quite possible that Blackmon hasn't applied for reinstatement yet because he has to wait until the July/August window.  We don't know. 

 

What we do know is that the team has reported he was in rehab and that he was doing well in the program.  We know that he has been approached by multiple fans and in each instance where he was asked, he expressed his intention to return to the game once the suspension is satisfied.

 

I've said it before and I'll reiterate it here again.  I expect Blackmon to return once the suspension has been completed.  When that is remains to be seen, but no matter when, he should wind up being reinstated between now and the start of training camp if it's going to happen (barring a failed or missed test, which is hopefully not the case).  What happens once he's back on the field remains to be seen, but I don't think anyone is setting the bar very high for expectations once he's back, especially after missing this much time.  It's going to be a long haul to get back into football shape for him.

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