NFL: Rodney Harrison suspended four games, Wade Wilson for five

The New England Patriots strong safety Rodney Harrison will miss the first four NFL games for substance abuse, Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson will miss five.

NFL: Rodney Harrison suspended four games, Wade Wilson for five Rodney Harrison from the New England Patriots was suspended officially by the NFL on Saturday for violating the league's substance abuse policy. After ESPN reported that Harrison had admitted obtaining human growth hormone, the Patriots safety said the following on Friday night: "Tomorrow, the commissioner will announce I have been suspended. I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did, in fact, use a banned substance."

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And the NFL officially announced today that Rodney Harrison is indeed suspended without pay for four games, effective immediately. He will be able to return to New England Patriots team on October 2nd, after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I will be absent from the team for the next four weeks. That is a penalty that I have to serve. I intend to return and do my best to really help this team in any capacity I can help this team get back to winning the championship. This is something that Rodney Harrison did, and Rodney Harrison did alone. My teammates didn't do it. As they prepare for the Jets and games after that, I would ask that you give them the respect, not badger them with questions because they don't have any information. I sent the wrong message with my actions. I have not made excuses, nor will I make excuses... I am very, very embarrassed by it. I am disappointed in myself," Rodney Harrison commented on his HGH suspension, after it was made official by the NFL today.

Rodney Harrison joined the New England Patriots in 2003 as a free agent and signed a six year deal, after he was released from his original draft team, San Diego Chargers, in a salary cap move. Harrison was with the Charges from 1994 until 2003, with whom he went to two Pro Bowls in 1998 and 2001.

Meanwhile, NFL announced on Saturday that Dallas quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson has been suspended for five games for buying and using performance-enhancing substances. According to Wilson, he used the drugs to try to improve the quality of his life after living with diabetes for more than 20 years. The NY Daily News claims that Wade Wilson admitted receiving HGH while working for the Chicago Bears from 2004 until 2006.

Both suspensions stemmed from the same internet drug operation being investigated by the Albany (N.Y.) District Attorney's office, which landed suspension sentences to 10 WWE wrestlers for using steroids and other drugs on Thursday.

Published on 09/02/2007