Rams’ Jimmy Garoppolo Takes Responsibility For PED Violation

Jimmy Garoppolo took the blame this week for a PED violation earlier this off-season, admitting that he misinterpreted the rules and failed a test legitimately while he was on the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Garoppolo, who has since signed with the Los Angeles Rams, will serve a two-game suspension to begin the 2024 season.

According to ESPN, the NFL claims that Garoppolo violated the PED policy by “using a prescribed medication without having a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption.” Garoppolo has reportedly accepted these accusations.

“I hate to joke about it, but I just messed up the T.U.E. when I first got to Las Vegas. … Bad timing, I guess,” Garoppolo said.

The quarterback’s lighthearted response to the suspension is likely due to its short duration and the nature of his offense, which seemed accidental. Garoppolo was almost certainly getting released by the Raiders anyway, as the team managed to save around $10 million in cap space by nullifying his guaranteed contract for the coming season.

The Rams already have starting quarterback Matthew Stafford under contract through at least the 2025 season, so Garoppolo will merely serve as a quality backup in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal for $4.5 million.

Garoppolo went to Las Vegas after five full seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he lifted the team back to relevancy but also dealt with a number of injuries. His lone season as a Raider was less fortuitous, as he started in just six games for a team that quickly fell out of playoff contention.

Due to his poor performance in 2023, Garoppolo was not in a position to seek a starting job this year in free agency, but he remains one of the league’s premier backup options. Los Angeles suffered through a terrible stretch in 2022 when Stafford went down, but after Garoppolo serves his two games, the team will be more prepared if another emergency arises under center.