Just one day after their 30-10 preseason win over the Washington Redskins, the Cleveland Browns have had an issue arise. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway will be suspended for four games.
Sources: #Browns WR Antonio Callaway is being suspended 4 games for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He had been appealing this ruling. This may party explain why he’s been running with the reserves.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2019
Browns Lose Antonio Callaway For Four Games
The reason for Callaway’s suspension, a substance-abuse violation, is not unfamiliar. Callaway has a long history of substance abuse and the Browns had hoped he would be able to overcome that in the NFL. As we can see here, he has not. Cleveland GM John Dorsey took a chance on the Florida prospect in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, expecting him to get it together off the field. On the field, however, it’s no secret that Callaway is just as talented as the next guy.
In his rookie season in 2018, Callaway showed how talented he can be. A notable display of this was his 4th-down touchdown reception on a deep bomb thrown by Tyrod Taylor in Week two against the New Orleans Saints. Callaway has solid hands and route-running ability, and can certainly take the top off the defense. As a rookie, Callaway racked up 43 receptions for 586 yards, to go with five touchdowns. He also rushed two times for seven yards in 11 starts.
In his collegiate career at Florida, Callaway wasn’t anything spectacular but he certainly got the job done. As a freshman in 2015, Callaway caught 35 passes for 678 yards and four touchdowns. He added three carries for 19 yards on the ground. The following year, as a sophomore in 2014, he hauled in 54 passes for 721 yards and three touchdowns. Callaway was slightly better in the trick play department as a runner, adding 5 carries for 32 yards and one touchdown. Callaway did not play in the 2017 season in college due to a suspension. That 2017 suspension greatly affected his draft stock in a negative way, which pushed him to the Browns in the fifth round. It would appear that Antonio Callaway still has some work to do off the field. And he’s running out of time to get it together.
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