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Joined: Jan 2009
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Legend
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Legend
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RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season on Friday after the league announced he violated the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Irvin will be eligible to participate in all offseason activities and preseason practices and games, but will be suspended without pay for the opening four games at Carolina, home for San Francisco and Jacksonville and at Houston. Irvin will be eligible to return to Seattle's active roster on Sept. 30 following the Seahawks' Week 4 game against the Texans, but only after losing a quarter of his salary for the season.
Irvin, the Seahawks' first-round pick in the 2012 draft, was scheduled to make $814,645 in base salary for the 2013 season.
"I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption," Irvin said in a statement released by the team. "I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return."
The loss of Irvin could be a significant blow for a team that has become a popular pick to contend for a spot in the Super Bowl. Irvin was expected to start at defensive end with Chris Clemons likely to miss the start of the season while recovering from knee surgery after being injured in Seattle's playoff win at Washington last January.
Suddenly, Seattle's focus on addressing the depth on the defensive line in free agency won't be viewed as a luxury. Seattle signed Cliff Avril, Tony McDaniel and Michael Bennett in free agency to bolster a pass rush that was inconsistent for most of the 2012 season. Avril was the only true outside pass rusher the Seahawks signed, but all three, along with Irvin, were expected to upgrade one of the few weak spots on a rising young team.
Irvin finished his rookie season with eight sacks but had just one in the final six weeks of the regular season. With Clemons out, Irvin got the start against Atlanta in the NFC playoffs and appeared overwhelmed by the Falcons' offensive line while trying to be the main pass rusher on the Seahawks line. But his speed off the edge flashed at different points during his rookie season and was the big reason Seattle used the 15th overall pick on a rush end whom many pundits didn't expect to be drafted that high.
Irvin's suspension also continues a troubling trend of Seattle players running afoul of the league's policies on banned substances. Since 2011, five Seahawks players -- John Moffitt, Allen Barbre, Winston Guy, Brandon Browner and Irvin -- have received four-game suspensions. Barbre was later released by the team.
All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman was also suspended last season for using a banned substance but won his much-publicized appeal last December. Sherman won by claiming there were errors in the chain of custody for his urine sample and that the tester made mistakes.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
2nd String
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2nd String
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343 |
They're lucky that they signed Cliff Avril this offseason. He'll absorb the blow caused by this suspension.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,111
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,111 |
Perhaps they knew a suspension was on the horizon? For some reason I find substance abuse to be very irritating. It's blatant cheating
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413
Legend
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OP
Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413 |
Quote:
Perhaps they knew a suspension was on the horizon?
I think that's a safe assumption.
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For some reason I find substance abuse to be very irritating. It's blatant cheating
You mean PEDs?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,111
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,111 |
Yeah I'm not talking about Marijuana or even Adderall if used as an upper in the offseason ... I'm talking about PED's. I realize there is a difference but I didn't clarify.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
Quote:
Yeah I'm not talking about Marijuana or even Adderall if used as an upper in the offseason .
Gee, I wonder why you mentioned Adderall? 
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,111
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,111 |
Because of Richard Sherman? 
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
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DawgTalkers.net
Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Bruce Irvin suspended
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