NEW ORLEANS -- Cornerback Keyuo Craver of the New Orleans Saints has been suspended without pay for the team's next four
regular-season games for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy,
the league said Tuesday.
Notice of the suspension came in a terse two-sentence release
from the NFL. The league would not comment on the suspension. The
NFL policy, however, calls for a four-week suspension only after a
player has entered stage two of the program, indicating that there
were multiple violations of the policy. Violations include repeated
substance abuse or refusal to comply with treatment terms.
Although players are tested monthly for steroid use, they are
tested only once a year for substance abuse.
Players may be put in the substance abuse program through
positive urinalysis, determination of abuse by the team's medical
director based on behavioral assessment, or self-referral.
Craver is eligible to return to the Saints' active roster on
Monday, November 3 following the team's November 2 game against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Saints confirmed the suspension but would not provide any
more information.
Craver's agent, Jeffery Griffen, did not return telephone calls.
Craver was a fourth-round draft pick last season out of
Nebraska.
He had an impressive training camp as a rookie and helped
fill in for Dale Carter when Carter was suspended for substance
abuse. In 2002, Craver played in 10 games, starting against Tampa
Bay on Sept. 8 of that year.
This year coaches said Craver needed to be more consistent in
his play. He had been used largely on special teams.