Bowen: Johnson suspension shakes foundation of Eagles' future

SO, THE OTHER SHOE, or testing vial, has finally dropped.

The Eagles will begin preparations Wednesday for this weekend's game at Washington without right tackle Lane Johnson. He was banned from the team practice facility effective at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and is not eligible to return until Dec. 19, a scant three days before the next-to-last game of the season, Dec. 22 against the visiting Giants.

Johnson's 10-game NFL suspension for ingesting a banned performance-enhancing substance was upheld Tuesday by an arbitrator, finally settling a threat that has lurked in the background of this Eagles season since early in training camp, when word surfaced of Johnson's failed test from June. Johnson has said he tested positive for banned peptides, which he has said were in an amino acid supplement, though they were not listed on the label. The NFL decrees that players are responsible for whatever they put in their bodies, knowingly or not.

In the short run, this means fifth-round rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who hasn't played a regular-season down yet, apparently is the new right tackle for a 3-1 team that unexpectedly has developed playoff aspirations. In the long run, the suspension could open a substantial crack in the organization's attempts to build a championship-level team around rookie quarterback Carson Wentz.

The long-term plan has always been for Johnson to move to left tackle when Jason Peters is done. Peters, 34, is playing well below his traditional dominant level this season and has an $11.2 million cap charge in 2017. But Johnson, 26, has violated the league's drug policy, inadvertently or not, twice in three seasons. The next failed test would bring at least a two-year ban, which would pretty much be a career-ender. Johnson acknowledged this during the preseason, saying he feels he can't take any sort of supplements now, the risk is too great.

Given that two strikes are now in Johnson's ledger, how solid is the Eagles' Johnson-to-left-tackle plan? Don't they really have to weigh that, looking toward the 2017 draft? And if they have to take a tackle high, how much does that set back the process of assembling better weapons around Wentz, or coming up with a real shutdown cornerback for the defense?

De facto general manager Howie Roseman released a statement that declared the team "very disappointed" in Johnson. "His actions have affected the entire organization," Roseman said.

Roseman took what seemed to be a backhanded swipe at Johnson's appeal, which apparently centered on testing procedures and changes in language. Roseman said, "We are all working under a clearly defined set of rules and regulations set forth by the NFL in the collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA."

Roseman added that "moving forward, (Johnson) has no choice but to hold himself accountable to Jeffrey Lurie, coach (Doug) Pederson and his staff, his teammates, and to the entire organization and our fans. When he returns from suspension, we will continue to support him and welcome him back to the team."

A statement from Johnson's agent, Ken Sarnoff, and attorney Steve Zashin raised the possibility of a legal challenge to the suspension, pending examination of the arbitrator's formal written opinion, which has not yet been submitted.

"We are disappointed with arbitrator James Carter's summary ruling," Sarnoff and Zashin said. "We will wait for his formal written opinion. After Lane's legal team and Lane review it, we will consider all available legal options."

Johnson was the fourth player selected in the 2013 NFL draft and has been the Eagles' best offensive lineman this season. The Eagles are leaning toward trying to go with Vaitai, so that veteran left guard Allen Barbre, the original candidate to swing to right tackle, can stay in his current spot, where he has played well.

Johnson spoke Sunday about his plan, should the suspension be upheld. He said he would remain in the Philadelphia area.

"Stay in shape. Hopefully, our team's good enough to stay in playoff (contention), I'll come back fresh," he said.

Johnson characterized his Oct. 4 appeal hearing as "eight hours of bickering back and forth, discussing the new (drug-testing) policy and how to interpret it."

Johnson said it felt good to finally confront the league's representatives.

"We weren't going to be intimidated by the NFL," he said.

Johnson signed a new contract this spring, five years, $56 million-plus, and more than $35 million in guarantees. He could lose $3.5 million to $4 million with the suspension - prorated portions of his base salary and signing and roster bonuses - and apparently, much of the guarantee for future years becomes void. That doesn't mean he can't make the money - he will if he plays - but it means he isn't owed it if he suffers a catastrophic injury, and the voiding makes it much easier for the Eagles to walk away from his contract, with a much lower cap charge.

Attempts to contact Johnson on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

The Eagles continued to churn their practice squad roster Tuesday. Guard Darrell Green is gone yet again, this time along with fullback Andrew Bonnet. The team added corner Duke Thomas and brought back linebacker Don Cherry.

@LesBowen

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