NAPA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Darrell
Russell was suspended Tuesday by the NFL for the first four
regular-season games for violating the league's substance-abuse
policy.
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Russell can be reinstated on Oct. 1, following the Raiders' Sept. 30 game against Seattle. His suspension has already been unsuccessfully appealed to the NFL.
Russell said the violation was procedural and that he did not
fail a substance-abuse test. He wasn't home when an official
visited him in Oakland a year ago, he claimed.
"Basically, what I have to say is that I did not test positive.
Someone showed up at my house, and I wasn't there," he said.
Agent Leigh Steinberg, who called the violation an
"administrative transgression," said Russell failed to get back
to the league "fast enough."
"Look, the only abuse that's occurred here is an abuse of power," said Steinberg, who was critical of the process.
Russell, the second overall pick in the 1997 draft out of
Southern California, was selected to the Pro Bowl in his second season. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound tackle had three sacks and 31 tackles last season.
The NFL does not disclose details of substance-abuse violations.
Its policy covers a wide range of issues, including the illegal use
of drugs and the abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs and
over-the-counter drugs.
The policy also includes a series of drug-testing regulations that some players must meet.
Russell admitted he was under heightened scrutiny because of a previous test involving "second-hand smoke." He would not elaborate.
Steinberg claimed Russell had passed some 200 substance-abuse tests successfully.
"This is not someone who uses illegal substances," Steinberg said. "The record's pretty clear on this."
Russell will lose his salary, nearly $112,000 per game, while he
is suspended.
While he can still work out with the team during training camp,
he is not allowed to train with the Raiders or use their facilities
once the regular season starts and for the duration of the
suspension.
"My main motivation is to try to be in better shape than I
would be if I'd played in the four games," he said.
Russell announced his own suspension at a team meeting Monday
night because he wanted to "be a man about it."
Coach Jon Gruden
spoke afterward.
"Obviously it's a big loss to our football team," Gruden said Tuesday morning. "But we will not use this an excuse. We're going to have to rev it up."
Gruden said Russell will not work out with the Raiders' first or
second teams during practices as they prepare for the season.
The Raiders will count on defensive tackle Grady Jackson's quick recovery from a shoulder injury, and the development of draft pick Chris Cooper out of Nebraska-Omaha.
Cornerback Charles Woodson, who said he was also under scrutiny
because of a drunk driving charge, criticized the way the league
enforces the policy and called Russell's suspension "totally
ridiculous."
"They treat you like you're out on parole," he said.
Defensive end Trace Armstrong, president of the players' union,
would not comment on Russell's case but he defended the NFL's program.
"The policy is the policy," Armstrong said. "The guys know
the rules when they get it -- and that's all I have to say about it."
Russell said he got word of the suspension a few days ago.
"This is embarrassing for myself, my family, my teammates and
everyone else," he said.
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