A few thoughts about the four-game drug suspension of New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson:

This isn't his first drug-policy violation. Under the league's policy on substances of abuse, you can't be suspended for a first failed drug test. For certain drugs, you can't even be suspended for a second failed drug test. That means Richardson was already in the league's drug program and that the violation that resulted in this suspension was at least his second violation. The new drug policy makes it more difficult to get suspended for drugs of abuse (it even lowered the threshold for a positive marijuana test), which means this isn't some overreactive move by the league against a guy who didn't deserve it.

It's going to hurt. It's not equivalent to the Patriots losing quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games, but you can make the argument that Richardson -- who had eight sacks last year from his 3-4 defensive end position -- is the best player on the Jets. If Brady's suspension stands and he has to miss the first four games, those are a month's worth of chances for AFC East rivals to make hay in the division. Losing Richardson obviously hurts the Jets' chances to do that.

The timing is bad. After a home opener against the Browns, the other three games Richardson will miss are at Indianapolis, home against the Eagles and at division rival Miami. Those teams were a combined 29-19 last season. Tough stretch of games for Richardson to have to miss.

The Jets' draft luck looks even better now. Taking defensive lineman Leonard Williams when he fell to No. 6 in the draft in April may have created a glut at a position where the Jets were already strong. But every team knows the importance of a deep rotation on the defensive line, and the loss of Richardson underlines that even more for the Jets. Williams should get a chance to get a few more training camp reps in the new Todd Bowles defense than initially planned, as he's likely to play more in the first four games with Richardson out.

Could it help Muhammad Wilkerson? Wilkerson's contract situation is separate from Richardson's issue. But an NFL player's best (only?) leverage most of the time in contract negotiations is the threat of not playing. The idea of having to play without Wilkerson and Richardson should be scarier for the Jets than the idea of having to play without just Wilkerson. So Wilkerson's agent could see this as an opportunity to scare the Jets into coming his way a bit in negotiations. I'm not sure Wilkerson is ready to threaten to miss practices or games in an effort to get what he wants. If he were, this might lend additional teeth to such a threat.