Golden Tate will officially be serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's PED policy, as he has lost his appeal.
Back in April, Tate failed a drug test, which came about a month after he signed his four-year, $37.5 million deal with the Giants. The reason for failing the test came from a fertility drug that he said "contained an ingredient that is on the league's banned substance list," and noted not knowing about that when he was prescribed it by a fertility planning specialist.
Tate said that he "immediately discontinued" the use of the drug, and reported his actions to the league's independent administrator. In fact, he did that before failing the drug test in the first place.
That's why Tate was confident that he may have gotten his suspension reduced or eradicated for good. But, as Vacchiano's NFL sources told him a couple weeks ago, "there's almost no way" Tate was going to win. The NFL's PED policy is extremely strict, and no matter the reason of violating it, appeals normally get rejected with suspension being served in full. The system is "unforgiving" and "rigid."
The veteran released his own statement following the decision saying, "Unfortunately the NFL stood by their no tolerance policy."
- Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) August 13, 2019
So Tate can still practice with the Giants during training camp as well as participate in the preseason games. However, when Sept. 1 comes around, Tate won't be allowed to be around the team until Sept. 30, which is the Monday after the Giants play their Week 4 game against the Redskins.
Also, Tate will have $464,705 taken out of his $1.975 million salary he is due in his first season with Big Blue.
This is obviously not the way Tate wanted to start his new chapter with the Giants. Tate's absence was just one unfortunate loss for the wide receiving corps to start the year. Corey Coleman was lost to an ACL tear for the entire season, and Sterling Shepard's right thumb fracture leaves his status for Week 1 up in the air.
In turn, players like Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, and Russell Shepard will have to step up in their place.