Willie Gay Jr.’s suspension is nearly over. Report says he may have averted longer ban

Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. will be eligible to return to the Chiefs on Monday, following the end of a four game-suspension handed down by the NFL.

The league said Gay violated the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy with his January arrest in Overland Park when he was charged at the time with criminal damage to property totaling less than $1,000.

As part of a diversion agreement, Gay agreed in June to undergo mental health counseling and submit to drug and alcohol testing by the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office for a one-year time period. Gay was required to pay $544.50 in restitution costs and fees.

The Chiefs defense is ranked 24th in the NFL in points allowed (25.0 per game) but 14th in yards allowed (339.2 per game).

Gay played in the Chiefs’ first two games, victories at the Arizona Cardinals and home to the Los Angeles Chargers. He has 16 tackles, two passes defended, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.

CBS Sports reported the revised collective-bargaining agreement may have helped Gay avoid a six-game suspension from the NFL, which is what the league wanted to hand down. The players’ union wanted a two-game ban.

“The case was set to be heard by retired judge Sue L. Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA as the disciplinary officer,” CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones wrote earlier this month. “Gay decided to settle with the league for four games before it reached Robinson.

“Before the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, punishment for violations of the league’s personal conduct policy was ‘pursuant to the Commissioner’s authority … to address and sanction conduct detrimental to the league.’”

Because of the CBA, players can now reach a settlement with the league, as Gay did, before a suspension is handed down by the disciplinary officer. Robinson never heard the case, but CBS surmised she could have sided with the NFL and given Gay the full six-game ban.

Instead it was the four games Gay agreed to, and he’ll be back with the team Monday.

The Star’s Herbie Teope contributed to this story