Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins spoke to the media following yesterday's NFL announcement that he would be suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season following a violation of league's substance policy.
Jenkins took responsibility for his mistake, apologized to his teammates and coaches, and explained how a tainted supplement ended up in his system.
"The Redskins do a great job telling us [what to avoid]. They have a team meeting twice a year, Larry Hess and all those guys say don't take anything that doesn't have NSF (National Science Foundation certification) on it.
"If you do it's at your own risk and I know there's a lot of NFL guys that go to GNC just like anybody else does. But I'm telling you guys, just don't take that stuff. Just go by the rules and if it doesn't have NSF on it, just don't take it."
After learning of the possible suspension earlier this offseason, Jenkins said he and his lawyer appealed the process unsuccessfully.
"It definitely didn't work out in my favor. Like I said, they used me as an example," he said. "That goes to show, every other NFL player, don't take stuff that's banned from the NFL."
Jenkins was adamant with his frustration with the situation, saying that he was ready to take the next step in his career this season.
"Very disappointing because I've been working my butt of this offseason getting back. I'm coming off a knee injury. Last year was my first full year. I planned on making a real big impact," he said. "Obviously, I hurt my defense and I apologized to those guys again."
Defensive captain weighed in on the situation after practice, saying the team had enough depth to cover Jenkins' absence, but that he and his teammates were behind him.
"I don't know what Jarvis' situation was so we'll still be supportive of him," Fletcher said. "He's still our teammate and hopefully this works out for him and for us in the best way possible.
Fletcher continued: "We've got a great football team. The organization has done a great job of putting together some great depth on our team. Guys will play the position. We've got a lot of young talent, some veterans that'll be counted on so we'll keep moving forward."
Jenkins said the support from teammates was appreciated and would serve as motivation for him during his time away from the facilities.
"They just tell me to take no steps back, keep my head up," he said. "I'm approaching camp just like I'm coming in those first four games.
"I'm not going to feel sorry for myself, it's already happened. I'm going to man up to it and I'm going to just come to practice like it's a regular day."
Jenkins will be permitted to practice and play through the fourth preseason game, at which point he will be barred from the team facilities.
The Redskins' Week 5 bye week comes at a fortuitous time, as Jenkins will have two weeks to prepare for his Week 6 return against the Dallas Cowboys.
"That's why Coach [Shanahan] said everybody is one play away from a start. I'm going to come back very strong from this," Jenkins said. "I can get better from this. This is another building block.
"Like my dad said, 'adversity makes a man,' and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to be the best player I can be and you're not going to see any slips from me when I get back."
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