Bruce Irvin, the second-year defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks , has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the regular season, according to announcements Friday afternoon from the NFL and also from the Seahawks.
Irvin will not appeal, and he made this frank statement:
“I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption. I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again.”
The NFL said that Bruce Irvin won’t be allowed to practice with the team during four weeks of suspension to end Sept. 30, after Seattle’s Week 4. However, he is still allowed to practice during the offseason and to play in preseason games.
His profile at Twitter revealed that Irvin is “trying to reach the top because it’s too crowded at the bottom” but in the future he intends to get there without the help of PEDs.
He may be trying a new look to go with his new resolve. He has recently tweeted some interesting photos of his various hairstyles, ending with a very short new cut.
One ESPN blogger suggested that the Bruce Irvin suspension reflected a pattern with the Seattle Seahawks. Four other Seahawks players have served suspensions under the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy since 2011, according to reporter Mike Sando.
One of them, John Moffitt, said that he didn’t understand at the time that Adderall prescribed for medical reasons by a doctor was a violation of the PED policy. Sando hinted that it’s possible that Irvin too may have tried Adderall, but Irvin and the NFL haven’t said what medication was being used.
ESPN noted that he was the 15th overall pick of 2012. As a rookie, Bruce Irvin collected eight sacks.
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) May 16, 2013
[Bruce Irvin in blue by Aspen Photo / Shutterstock.com ]
