Dion Jordan has yet to become the player the Miami Dolphins wanted him to be since picking him No. 3 overall in 2013. The 6’6″, 265-pound edge-rusher has great length and freakish athleticism. He could do just about everything from rush the passer to cover.
The Joe Philbin regime viewed Jordan as a 4-3 defensive end, but the current Adam Gase staff may prefer Jordan at linebacker. Figuring out where to put such a versatile athlete is a good problem for Jordan to have. But Jordan has another problem and it’s not such a good problem to have.
He has a problem with marijuana that got him suspended for six games in 2014 and all of 2015. The Dolphins have been busy the last two offseasons, causing Jordan to be a forgotten man lately. But that can all come to an end soon as he is expected to apply for reinstatement Wednesday.
And from the sound of things, Jordan and his agent sound confident that he will be reinstated, Jordan told Tom Pelissero of USA Today that he has passed two tests a week since his suspension began in early 2015, and that he hasn’t taken drugs in more than two years.
He explained that the test he failed in November 2014, was for providing a diluted sample. He drank excess water to flush alcohol from his system, not realizing he wasn’t being tested for that. So now, Jordan is looking to be reinstated so he can start living up to his immense potential.
He told USA Today, “I’m not about to waste it. I can’t waste it. And I (expletive) love doing it. “Who doesn’t love running out in front of 30,000-plus fans and you get that rush? But it’s also things that you can get that rush from that can be very satisfying and can carry you on to a successful life after football.
“I just turned 26 years old, so life starts to hit you in the face. Who are you outside of those shoulder pads and helmet? And it’s weird, but I feel like it’s a blessing for me at this point in time to think about it, instead of waiting ‘til they really tell me I can’t play football no more.”
Hopefully, he gets his chance to write the rest of his story.