NFL Suspends CB Brandon Browner For The First Four Games Of 2014

Update:

The NFL and NFLPA released a statement regarding impending free agent CB Brandon Browner.

The NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed to conditionally reinstate Brandon Browner from his indefinite suspension under the Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse.  Browner was suspended without pay for the Seattle Seahawks’ final five games of the 2013 season, including the playoffs. His contract with the Seahawks expires at the end of the 2013 League Year on March 11. He will be eligible to sign with a club and participate in offseason and preseason activities.  Should he comply with the terms of the Substance Abuse Policy and Program, he will be fully reinstated after serving a four-game suspension without pay at the start of the 2014 regular season and forfeiting an additional four weeks of pay.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter, citing league sources, reports that recently reinstated CB Brandon Browner will be suspended “for some length of time” to start the 2014 season.

Schefter doesn’t offer any specifics regarding the length of Browner’s suspension.

This is likely the cost of convincing the league to reinstate him now and allow him to reach free agency and compete for a roster spot during training camp.

He will be able to meet with prospective teams this weekend, but won’t be able to sign until March 11.

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Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports that the a multi-game suspension to start the 2014 season was discussed during Brandon Browner‘s negotiations with the NFL regarding his reinstatement.

• Pelissero adds that Browner will still get a chance to test the free agent market and earn a roster spot with a team during training camp before serving a suspension to start the season.

There’s no guarantee that Browner will be suspended to start the year, but it is at least a possibility.

Were still waiting for the terms of the agreement to be released. We’ll have more regarding Browner in the coming days.

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Seahawks CB Brandon Browner announced via his Twitter account that the NFL has reinstated him after he was suspended indefinitely.

“I received wonderful news today. The NFL has reinstated me, and I now have
the opportunity to prove to the fans and my teammates how important this
sport is to me. I realize now more than ever that being part of the NFL is
not a right, but a privilege. I am grateful that Commissioner Goodell and
my agent were able to resolve this issue in a positive, productive manner so
I can continue my career, provide for my family, and help my team win a
Super Bowl. Thank you to all who have gone out of their way to show their
support. I will live up to your expectations of me.”

Browner’s agent said that they were planning to sue the NFL if he wasn’t reinstated.

Browner was expected to contend that the NFL notified him of the test results at an address where no longer lived while making the case that NFLPA never informed him of the penalties and suspensions that could come from not submitting drug tests during the five years after he was released by the Broncos.

This news comes as a pretty big surprise given that Browner will now be an unrestricted free agent in the coming weeks. It will be fascinating to see what kind of market develops for him as he’s largely considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in the game.