BY NICK ST. DENIS
Joe McKnight saw his fate. Mike Goodson probably did, too.
Hours after McKnight was released from the New York Jets Monday, the NFL announced Goodson will serve a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
But unlike McKnight, Goodson remained a Jet through the day.
The Jets' running backs situation looked a bit muddled just a week ago but has become much clearer with Monday's happenings. Chris Ivory is now no doubt the team's top option at the position and will get the early-down work, and Bilal Powell will spell Ivory in late- and passing-down situations.
That's about what we figured before Monday, but getting Goodson back would have certainly changed the look of the backfield given his pass-catching acumen paired with Marty Mornhinweg's West Coast-style offense.
Instead, Goodson will have to wait until after the first quarter of the season to carve a niche with the team. He'll be eligible to return to the active roster the Monday following the Jets' Sept. 29 bout with the Tennessee Titans.
Goodson was arrested on gun and drug charges in the spring and had been away from the team all of training camp for personal reasons.
"The time was helpful to me and now that I am back, I am going to do everything I can to contribute to the team," Goodson said in a statement.
Kahlil Bell is next on the depth chart behind Powell.
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