http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1897721
Ravens star expected to sit Oct. 24, 31
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The NFL has suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis for two games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
The decision, issued late Friday afternoon by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, came one day after Lewis pleaded guilty in Atlanta to using a cell phone to try to set up a drug transaction more than four years ago.
Lewis, 25, also was fined an additional two weeks' salary. He will not be paid while suspended.
"You have needlessly sullied your own reputation and reinforced unfair and negative public perceptions of NFL players generally," Tagliabue wrote. "The consequences of your poor judgment include incarceration, suspension from the NFL and the loss of $761,000 in salary. The long-term damage to your own reputation may well be even greater."
Under the NFL's substance abuse policy, a drug-related legal violation is grounds for league discipline.
The league told Lewis he must file any appeal within five days. He is eligible to play during that period. That means he can play Sunday against the Washington Redskins on the road, Baltimore's final game before a bye week.
If he does not appeal, Lewis will miss the Ravens' home game Oct. 24 against the Buffalo Bills and their game Oct. 31 in Philadelphia.
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Lewis will not miss any playing time while serving his sentence of four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house. The sentence would start after the NFL regular season ends in January and conclude before the 2005 season gets underway in September.
Lewis missed practice Thursday while in Atlanta but rejoined the team Friday. Before practice, he spoke excitedly about putting the brunt of his problems behind him.
"It's a load off my shoulders. Now I can continue on," he said. "I don't have to worry about that anymore, and I can just get on with my life and play football."
Ravens star expected to sit Oct. 24, 31
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The NFL has suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis for two games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
The decision, issued late Friday afternoon by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, came one day after Lewis pleaded guilty in Atlanta to using a cell phone to try to set up a drug transaction more than four years ago.
Lewis, 25, also was fined an additional two weeks' salary. He will not be paid while suspended.
"You have needlessly sullied your own reputation and reinforced unfair and negative public perceptions of NFL players generally," Tagliabue wrote. "The consequences of your poor judgment include incarceration, suspension from the NFL and the loss of $761,000 in salary. The long-term damage to your own reputation may well be even greater."
Under the NFL's substance abuse policy, a drug-related legal violation is grounds for league discipline.
The league told Lewis he must file any appeal within five days. He is eligible to play during that period. That means he can play Sunday against the Washington Redskins on the road, Baltimore's final game before a bye week.
If he does not appeal, Lewis will miss the Ravens' home game Oct. 24 against the Buffalo Bills and their game Oct. 31 in Philadelphia.
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Lewis will not miss any playing time while serving his sentence of four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house. The sentence would start after the NFL regular season ends in January and conclude before the 2005 season gets underway in September.
Lewis missed practice Thursday while in Atlanta but rejoined the team Friday. Before practice, he spoke excitedly about putting the brunt of his problems behind him.
"It's a load off my shoulders. Now I can continue on," he said. "I don't have to worry about that anymore, and I can just get on with my life and play football."
