RENTON, Wash. — The season, and probably the Seahawks career, of cornerback Brandon Browner is over after the NFL announced Thursday he has been suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
RENTON, Wash. — The season, and probably the Seahawks career, of cornerback Brandon Browner is over after the NFL announced Thursday he has been suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Browner was initially reported as being suspended for a year in late November for a violation of the policy for using nonperformance enhancing drugs, which sources said was marijuana. Browner was eligible for the lengthy suspension because the NFL regarded him as a Stage 3 offender of its drug program after he had had an initial positive test while playing for Denver in 2005. Browner had reportedly missed a few tests while playing in the Canadian Football League from 2007-10.
Browner appealed the suspension, saying he hadn’t been informed of the tests he had missed.
He reportedly turned down a deal of an eight-game suspension offered by the NFL in an attempt to be cleared. NFL.com reported that the NFL turned down the appeal Wednesday because it determined it had indeed informed Browner in writing of the tests.
Browner remained on Seattle’s active roster during the appeal process, but hadn’t played since a Nov. 10 game at Atlanta because of a groin injury.
NFL.com reported that Browner will be suspended for at least a year, with the ability to appeal once that time passes. However, one league source said he might be able to appeal earlier.
Browner, in a statement released through Twitter, said he will continue to fight the decision.
“Although I disagree with the circumstances surrounding my suspension, I accept responsibility for all of my actions and I apologize for any that causes any unflattering reflections of my family and the Seahawks,” he wrote. “I believe in my innocence and will continue to fight with all legal resources available to me.”