Football News - NFL Suspends Jamal Lewis for 2 Games


Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens has been suspended for two games without pay and fined $761,000 in salary for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy, the NFL announced.

The decision, issued late Friday afternoon by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, came one day after Lewis pleaded guilty on Thursday, Oct. 7 in Atlanta to federal charges of using a cell phone four years ago to help facilitate the sale of cocaine to a co-defendant. Under the NFL's Substance Abuse policy, a drug-related violation of law is grounds for league discipline.

The league told Lewis he must file any appeal within five days. Under league rules, a suspension does not take effect until the appeals process has concluded. He is eligible to play during that period, which means he can play Sunday against the Washington Redskins on the road.

If he does not appeal, Lewis will miss the Ravens' home game Oct. 24 against the Buffalo Bills and their game Oct. 31 in Philadelphia.

Under an agreement with prosecutors, Lewis will not miss any playing time while serving his sentence of four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house. His sentence would start after the NFL regular season ends in January and end before the 2005 season gets under way in September.

Lewis missed practice Thursday while in Atlanta but rejoined the team Friday. Before practice, he spoke excitedly about putting the brunt of his problems behind him.

"It's a load off my shoulders. Now I can continue on," he said. "I don't have to worry about that anymore, and I can just get on with my life and play football."




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