Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden to miss 4 games as NFL rejects drug use appeal – NFL News
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden is out of the team for four games, starting from the next game against the New York Giants until October 08, after the National Football League (NFL) rejected his appeal against its earlier ruling of the player's ban
over violation of its policy on performance enhancing drug use.
Joe will also surrender his salary for four games, which will cost him about $1.356 million. There is no comment from either the player or team. They nevertheless did not have much room to say anything as the player was admittedly tested positive over use
of Adderall, which is listed as a banned item in the policy document of the league.
The league office earlier did not disclose the number of games for which the cornerback had been suspended as it has a policy of protecting privacy of players until the process of appeal is done with.
Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis, who is aware of the player’s suspension, said the team did not have anything to comment on the appeal dismissal, while the player himself could not be contacted by media.
Haden was part of the Browns in the season opener and had a significant role in overall performance in the game, which the team lost by a tight margin.
He as a matter of fact boasted about his form, certainly unaware then that he faced ousting for about a month from the game.
The CB had commented after the game:
"It felt good. There's nothing like playing football. That's what I've been training for my whole life. Being out there with my teammates, you just feel comfortable. You feel at home and at peace. I was just happy to be out there playing with them."
Coach Pat Shurmur, in the meantime, expressed ignorance about the appeal rejection and therefore refrained from disclosing alternatives on his mind to replace the CB.
The team has options in defensive back Buster Skrine, rookie cornerback Trevin Wade and cornerback Dimitri Patterson to make up for the absence of Joe. They are expected to come out with a decision in the next few days.
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