Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi, defensive stalwarts for the Buffalo Bills, will serve six-game suspensions. They will begin enforcing these penalties at the start of the 2025 NFL season. The suspensions are a result of violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. Both players will miss important potential tiebreaker matchups against the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. They’re primed for a Week 8 comeback.
With an expensive secondary depleted, the Bills will be putting their trust in greenhorns and raw talent as they head towards a daunting slate of opponents. Hoecht and Ogunjobi can both return to the field after their six-week suspension. Due to that same team’s bye week in Week 7, they’ll have to wait one more week before taking the field again. Their initial return games, however, come at the hands of the Carolina Panthers as well as the Kansas City Chiefs.
Each player has taken to social media to voice their displeasure with what’s transpired. Hoecht reported playing 22 snaps in the first preseason game, while Ogunjobi played 21 snaps before missing the second game due to a lingering foot injury.
Understanding the Violations
The NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs is strict, and Hoecht and Ogunjobi’s infractions highlight the potential pitfalls athletes can encounter in their training regimens. Larry Ogunjobi, 31, explained that this was primarily a result of cross-contamination during the manufacturing chain, not due to the ingredients themselves.
“It was a mistake. It was an accident. And I accept my punishment,” Ogunjobi said.
He reiterated his belief that nobody is truly trying to cheat the game.
“I don’t think anybody has ever tried, at least in my opinion, try to cheat the game,” he added.
Ogunjobi accepts complete responsibility for his actions, making clear that he plans to grow from this experience. He explained that although an increase in training and grinding may occasionally produce unexpected outcomes, we must all be careful to avoid this at all times.
“Sometimes when you’re training, when you’re grinding, when you’re somebody that does take care of your body a bunch, sometimes things happen, so you got to take it. You got to learn from it. You got to be more careful,” he remarked.
Michael Hoecht seconded Ogunjobi’s viewpoint, understanding that everybody makes mistakes in the high-stakes world of pro sports.
“It was a mistake. It was careless. It’s fully my responsibility. And it’s something I’m going to have to own, something I’m going to come up on the better side of,” Hoecht stated.
The Team’s Response
With both Hoecht and Ogunjobi out, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich emphasized the need to change plans.
“You just do the best you can to try to figure out both what we’re going to do here, and then also what their plan is,” Babich explained.
During this pivotal moment, he noted the importance of getting the most out of their teams. Babich said it’s important for the rest of the team to see how the team handles this blow.
“So, there’s no ill will there. It is what it is. And we’ve got to adjust like we always do here in Buffalo. And we’ll adjust. And we’ll do the best we can to have a plan that can maximize not only the Buffalo Bills but can maximize their potential for when they get back,” he added.
Head coach Sean McDermott indicated that managing player health during this time will be a day-to-day process, likely involving bumps and bruises along the way.
“It’s going to be a day-to-day type of deal, managing that because there’s probably going to be some bumps and bruises that come up along the way,” McDermott noted.
The new coaching staff as well as players on the team are dedicated to keeping a high level of morale throughout the transition.
Training and Future Plans
Though both Hoecht and Ogunjobi have battled suspensions, the two are still very much committed to continuing to improving their training regimens. Ogunjobi’s intent is to divide his time between Western New York and Miami, where he trains much of the year. This strategy gives him the benefit of staying physically fit and getting ready for his return once the suspension period comes to a close.
On this move, Ogunjobi has shared his excitement about joining the team and what he’s felt in the months leading up to the switch.
“There’s a ton of ebbs and flows to football,” he said, recalling a positive attitude in the wake of adversity.
Michael Hoecht explained what they learned through this process. He wants younger players to use in-house resources to focus on professional training and nutrition.
“Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, NFL programs weren’t up to speed and didn’t have all the resources and it just wasn’t out there for them,” Hoecht mentioned. “I’ve just found you don’t really need that anymore.”
He further pronounced that keeping athletes in-team bubbles would continue to prevent athletes from falling into the traps of their past.
“If you’re a younger player, the easiest way to avoid it — stay in house because nobody in the building, those are the people that take good care of you,” he explained.
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