When you get suspended for the third time for rebelling against NFL rules, the punishment just gets heftier. That’s what happened to a defensive end most recently under contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

Three times is three times too many. Amani Bledsoe will understand that wisdom as well.

The defensive end will be suspended by the NFL for a full 17 games for a repeat violation of the NFL’s doping policy.

NFL severely punishes ex-Bengals player Amani Bledsoe

The 17-game suspension sounds harsh, but a look at the penalty history makes you understand why the NFL wants to make an example. After all, Bledsoe already started last season with a six-game suspension for violating the doping policy. He doesn’t seem to have learned from that.

And he also violated that rule in 2016, when he was still an Oklahoma player in college football, by using enhancing substances. At that time, the defensive player still claimed that he committed the violation accidentally, as the banned substance was unknowingly in his protein powder. The argument no longer holds water the third time at the latest.

Penalties prevent NFL career

In 2022, Bledsoe still received a “futures contract” with the Atlanta Falcons with the prospect of still getting his career on track. But the 25-year-old was not used due to his suspensions and was only used on the practice squad. The current suspension could mean an early career end.

The defensive end experienced his strongest time with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played a solid role there in 14 games during the 2020 season before landing with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. His career numbers so far: 18 tackles and three passes defended.