Alright, so this is pretty lame.

Former Birds’ receiver Golden Tate will be suspended four games to begin the season after the NFL denied his appeal this week. 

Now a New York Giant, Tate recently revealed that he had accidentally taken a banned substance after beginning fertility treatments in April. He very quickly learned about the banned substance, discontinued use, and reported the mistake to the NFL league office. Tate then reiterated that this happened before a failed drug test “was even confirmed.”

That wasn’t good enough, according to league officials, who upheld the suspension. Tate then offered this response, after the jump:

The Eagles don’t play the Giants within the season’s first four weeks, so this won’t affect any New York/Philly games.

Personally, I find it rather ridiculous that the guy accidentally took a banned substance FIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE START OF THE SEASON, REPORTED IT TO THE NFL, AND STILL GOT SUSPENDED ANYWAY.

I guess the counterargument is to blame him and his doctor(s) for a lack of due diligence in identifying the banned substance in the fertility drug, so I understand if you wanna go down that road, too.

But I think the takeaway is that we’re suspending a good dude for an honest mistake, when other guys are committing acts of domestic violence and other such nonsense and escaping with punishment that isn’t nearly as severe.

The NFL needs to take a step back and realize how absurd this is.