The Miami Dolphins knew exactly what they were getting into when they signed safety T.J. McDonald to a one-year deal in March in free agency.
They liked McDonald’s skills enough that they were willing to add him to the roster despite an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy following an incident in May 2016 in which he was suspected of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. McDonald pleaded no contest to a lesser charge in January.
McDonald said after the signing that the incident would never happen again, and he followed with a solid spring of organized team activities and minicamp practices.