– The bad news continued for Rex Ryan’s Bills on Tuesday, as veteran defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was suspended four games by the National Football League, reportedly for a positive marijuana test.
Advertisement
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, marijuana use is the reason for the suspension.
Dareus can appeal the suspension, which would keep him out of the first four games of the regular season.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Chase Utley got curtain calls after each of his two home runs – including a grand slam – in his first game in Philadelphia since a trade last season to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a familiar role for Bryant, who a year ago started nine of Buffalo’s final 10 games after starter Kyle Williams sustained a season-ending knee injury. “I also see this defense is improving”, Ryan said Wednesday, via ESPN. “It’s all action and that’s all I’m going to do”. The suspension does not prevent Dareus from participating in preseason games or practices.
“When I got the MRI and got the results, I was really surprised”.
The sixth-year defensive tackle was previously suspended for the first game of the 2015 season for a violation of the substance-abuse policy following a May 2014 arrest in Alabama for criminal possession of a controlled substance. His suspension begins the week before the Bills open the season at Baltimore on September 11. Pierce spent last season with Jacksonville after three years with Baltimore.
Dareus has already said that beating the New England Patriots without Tom Brady wouldn’t be the same.
Dareus said he apologized to his teammates and feels embarrassed about the second suspension. Buffalo also will be without starting inside linebacker Reggie Ragland this season after he tore his ACL in training camp.
“I’m going to come back and do the best that I can”, said Dareus. He’s a two-time Pro Bowl selection and has been a starter since Buffalo drafted him with the No. 3 pick in 2011. “[Are] they going to suspend me and put me in an investigation for being a pedophile just because somebody said it?”
Advertisement
General manager Doug Whaley and coach Rex Ryan were quick to question the decisions of Dareus, who signed a six-year, $96.5 million deal with the Bills last year that included $60 million in guaranteed money. He said Wednesday that he that has yet to hear back from the league. It seems unlikely NY will keep him on the roster as he rehabs next year, knowing he could become a free agent following the season.
