Colts’ Arthur Jones addresses suspension as he arrives at training camp

Colts defensive lineman Arthur Jones will miss the first four games of the 2016 regular season due to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, but he will be eligible to compete in training camp and preseason once he's healthy.

To his credit, Jones was one of the first players to speak to the media this morning at Anderson University and he addressed his suspension, saying he did a "piss-poor job" of checking the NFL's banned supplements list. Beyond that, however, he declined to get into details on the exact nature of the drug in question, as well as any appeal process (he declined to even say if he was appealing or not or whether it's already done). "I apologize to the organization... [and] the fans," Jones said.

The injuries over the past two seasons, added with the recent suspension, have given him plenty of motivation heading into the 2016 season and he's excited to get going. He said that he feels great, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be cleared to begin practicing with the team on Wednesday, when the Colts will hold their first practice. Still, he seemed optimistic about his health and said he was feeling good, but it’s worth noting that he followed up his statement about feeling great by mentioning that he’s with the trainers.

This will without a doubt be a big training camp for Jones, so it's important for him to get on the field as quickly as possible. It's likely that the Colts' patience with him is wearing thin, in which case his spot could be in doubt if he doesn't produce in camp and preseason. He acknowledged that as well, saying that in the NFL nothing is guaranteed. That's certainly a true statement, and Jones needs to produce this year. A four-game suspension, even if it was for negligence in checking the substances list, isn't a good start.