The Baltimore Ravens were hoping former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis could return to practice this week after undergoing surgery last month to repair a torn right triceps tendon.
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Ravens could get Lewis back in practice (The SportsXchange)
Well, this just got interesting. On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner were facing four-game suspensions for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The specific violation was not mentioned until later, when it was revealed that both players tested positive for Adderall, a stimulant prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder that’s been in the NFL news a lot recently. Both players intend to appeal their pending suspensions. On Monday night, USA Today’s Mike Garafalo reported that according to a person with specific knowledge of Sherman’s situation, Sherman claims that he inadvertently drank from a bottle belonging to a teammate that contained a crushed Adderall pill. Garafalo reports that per the source, the unnamed teammate had a prescription for the drug, which is legal according to the league’s policy if there is a prescription. Meanwhile, Browner, who was enrolled in the league’s substance abuse program due to an undisclosed incident that happened when he was with the Denver Broncos in 2005, is claiming that there was an irregularity in his most recent testing, and that Browner insists that the person performing the test poured urine from one bottle into another. Garafalo contacted Kevin Poston, Sherman’s agent, and asked about the possible scenario in which his client could have accidentally ingested a banned substance. “What appears is not always the case,” Poston replied. “Hopefully, when the facts come out, justice will prevail.” Peter Shaffer, Browner’s agent, had a conference call with Seattle reporters following Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll’s Monday press conference. “Brandon Browner has no knowledge of how any illegal substance could have gotten into his system,” Schaffer said, per Tim Booth of the Associated Press . “He is an outstanding person and a very good football player. He takes tremendous care of his body and he is very careful with what he puts into it. We’re exploring all avenues to try and figure out how any substance out of the ordinary would be in his system.” Browner told the source who talked to Garafalo that there’s no way he would intentionally ingest something that would put him on the wrong side of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Carroll said on Monday that it was a matter between the league and his players, and that he could not comment about the specifics. But he did talk about the NFL’s policy when it comes to informing and educating players about substances they need to avoid. “The league has a whole process that they go through for the players’ awareness and all of that kind of stuff, and we follow up on everything that there is and try to do our diligence to make sure everyone knows what is going on and what is to be expected in all areas,” Carroll said. “The league takes a very strong stance in how to get the messages out about rules and guidelines, and we just try to follow suit as best as we can.” If Sherman and Browner are suspended, they would be the fourth and fifth Seahawks players in the last two years — and the third in the last two weeks — to run afoul of the league in these matters. In 2011, guard John Moffitt and offensive lineman Allen Barbre were hit with four-game suspensions each, and last week, defensive back Winston Guy was suspended four games after taking an over-the-counter medication that contained an ingredient banned by the league. This isn’t just a Seahawks matter, though. Current New England Patriots and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, New England Patriots linebacker Jermaine Cunning ham, current Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright, New York Giants safeties Will Hill and Tyler Sash, Giants running back Andre Brown, Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Mike Neal, and Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden have all been suspended this year after testing positive for the drug. Why is Adderall so popular among NFL players, and why do they continue to take it despite the known risk?
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Richard Sherman claims he accidentally ingested Adderall, Brandon Browner implies a sample switch (Shutdown Corner)
The AFC West title comes down to this: If the Denver Broncos (8-3) win one more game or if the San Diego Chargers (4-7) lose one more, Denver will win…
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AFC West playoff scenarios
I don’t think signing running back Jacob Hester will change the Denver Broncos’ backfield, but it will provide options and depth. Hester, 27, can hel…
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Jacob Hester can fill a need for Denver
DENVER (CBS4) – Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has had a lot of success this season, and that’s sparked speculation he may be ready to be a head coach again. If that happens, the Broncos would be looking for their eighth defensive coordinator in as many years. CBS4′s Gary Miller talked with Jake Plummer and Tom Nalen, two former Broncos and buddies, about just what it’s like to go through so many changes. “It’s huge,” Nalen said. “Players develop relationship with these coordinators. If a coordinator leaves it changes how you draft, it changes your free agency. There’s a lot of things that go into when a guy leaves and a new guy comes, he wants to get his guys in there, to use his system.” Plummer said coordinators are key to keeping a group of players together, whether it’s offense or defense. “It all depends on if the system is going to change and a let a coordinator bring in his system that he’s used his whole career or does he come in and take on the system,” Plummer said, “that’s really working well for the Denver Broncos.” “I would see a new coordinator coming in and not bringing in his new defense because right now their defense is playing so well you just have to get a coach who can keep those parts together and keep them playing hard and fast.” Nalen knows firsthand just how hard the adjustment can. Gary Kubiak was his coordinator for the first 10 years he was with the Broncos and it was tough when he left. “It was like, ‘What are we going to do? What’s our identity?’ ” Nalen recalled. “I know Mike (Shanahan) was calling a lot of plays but having a guy like Gary Kubiak on the sidelines was very reassuring so I enjoyed having him and I wished he stayed there my last three years.”
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Del Rio Seeing Great Success With Defense, But Will He Stay?
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s resilience will be tested as the Buccaneers strive to rebound from the team’s first loss in a month and remain in playoff contention.
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Bucs confident they can stay in playoff race (The Associated Press)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukog Suh will not be suspended for an incident in Thursday’s game in which his foot hit Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin, but he still might be fined, ProFootballTalk.com reported Monday, based on a Twitter message from the NFL office.
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NFL roundup: Suh won’t be suspended (The SportsXchange)
Where does your team stand in the Week 13 edition of the 2012 ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings?
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2012 NFL Power Rankings: Week 13
COMMENTARY| I wrote last week that in the wake of the injury to Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno would get his run at redemption. Well, Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs was a good start, but don’t go buying #27 jerseys just yet.
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A Good Step Forward for Knowshon Moreno (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Start the playoffs now.
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NFL playoffs taking shape, and still a month to go (The Associated Press)