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Yes, the Seattle Seahawks are the only team taking PEDs in the NFL. Side note: at least 2 of those suspensions were actually for narcotic drugs not PEDS, including Brandon Browner who is now suspended, leaving them without their second best corner. His offense? Smoking pot - while playing in the CFL. 4 years ago.

Let's call it even.




It's worth noting that the Broncos' best linebacker Von Miller was also suspended for 6 games for smoking pot (prior to it being legalized in Colorado) and then trying to cheat the drug test. Stupidity is not unique to any one team.


True - I'm actually assuming this is a 49ers fan commenting, so I wasn't making a comment in relation to Von Miller. To be fair, Browner is being suspended an entire YEAR for something he did before he was in the NFL that is now legal in the state he lives in and did NOT try to cover it up. Amazing.


As a life-long Seahawks fan and long-time season ticket holder, I'll correct some misconceptions.

First off, Browner was in the NFL prior to the incident. He actually started with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of college, then broke his arm in training camp and was ultimately cut. Unable to latch on with another NFL team, he started playing in Canada and was there for several years. When Pete Carroll was hired as the coach in Seattle, he inherited a lackluster roster and was looking to upgrade talent. He remembered Browner from Pac-10 (now Pac-12) college days (Browner played for Oregon State University, Pete Carroll coached USC), and gave him a try out. Browner made the team, became a starter.

After he was cut from Denver, he was reportedly broke, sleeping on friends couches and there was no reliable way to contact him (no cell phone). Once you're a member of the NFL player's union, you're obligated to take drug tests. What Browner didn't know (and most everyone, for that matter) was that unless you file your retirement papers, you're still under obligation to take the drug tests. Browner was supposed to take the drug tests, but without any way to contact him, he wasn't able to do so and didn't realize he was missing them. Missing a drug test automatically places one into "stage-3 offender" status, which basically means that if you fail any sort of drug test, you're automatically banned from the NFL (but can apply for reinstatement after a year - which is almost always granted).

So, what happened was is that he smoked weed and failed the test. Because he was placed in stage-3 due to his missed drug tests while he was in Canada, this failed drug test means he is suspended for a year and can apply for reinstatement after his suspension is up. It is devastating to him because he was on track to get a lucrative contract, as he is an above-average cornerback in the NFL. Now he will enter free-agency suspended for the better part of next year, and at the age 30 (which doesn't bode well for NFL players).

I love Browner and hope they get it sorted out. I've watched him play for years: he went to my alma mater and plays for my favorite NFL team.

Can't believe I just posted about sports on HN...


Fantastic post. What an ordeal.




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