Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner are facing four-game suspensions for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Schefter says both players are filing appeals and that they insist they are innocent. Their appeals could be heard this week.
USA Today’s Mike Garafolo says that both players tested positive for Adderall, which has been a highly-controversial subject matter in the NFL this season.
Adderall is used to treat ADHD, but it also contains amphetamines. Players can apply for a therapeutic use exemption from the league in order to take the medication.
Seattle lost to the Dolphins 24-21 on Sunday and is now 6-5. They are in playoff contention in the NFC, so losing both players for four games would be devastating. Sherman and Browner are among the largest corners in the NFL. Browner is 6’4″, 221 pounds, and in his second season in the league. Sherman 6’3″, 195 pounds, and also in his second season. Both players have helped Seattle rank third in the league with just 196.2 passing yards allowed per game.
Sherman has been in headlines multiple times this season. He taunted Tom Brady following a win over the Patriots, and then he bragged about shutting down Calvin Johnson.
With the way the appeals process in the NFL works, it wouldn’t be surprising if both players were cleared to play out the season before the issue is resolved.
