Marcell Dareus Suspended Four Games

(photo credit: bleacherreport.com)

The Buffalo Bills have had trouble keeping their defensive line healthy and ready to go for the upcoming season. The team has already lost rookies Shaq Lawson and Reggie Ragland for a significant amount of time due to injury. Perhaps the defense took its biggest hit of the offseason on Monday, when it was announced that defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has been suspended four games after testing positive for marijuana, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Buffalo announced the suspension, but they didn’t offer any specifics. 

“We are very disappointed Marcell chose to put himself first, before his teammates, coaches, the rest of the organization, and the fans through his recent actions,” the Bills said in a statement. “From ownership down we have made it clear his behavior is unacceptable. We will continue to take the necessary steps to work with him in order that he adheres to the policies set forth by our league.” Dareus will lose $1.505 million, which includes his signing bonus and option bonus. The star defensive tackle was suspended for one game in 2015 after he violated the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. 

The Bills will also be without running back Karlos Williams for the first four games of the season because he committed a violation of the substance-abuse policy. Buffalo will be facing a hefty fine from the NFL because of the league’s remittance policy, which only allows a certain amount of players suspended on your team before you get fined for having multiple suspensions. With Dareus gone for a quarter of the season, Buffalo will turn to veterans Kyle Williams and Corbin Bryant to fill in for the Dareus. 

Buffalo also signed defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick and Alameda Ta’amu to add depth to the Bills depleted defense. Dareus was selected with the third pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Bills. Dareus, 26, was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014, but he hasn’t made it back since then. Dareus played collegiate football with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He recorded 38 tackles and two sacks in 15 games played last season. Dareus signed a six-year contract extension worth $100 million in September.