PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press the NFL has suspended Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because the suspension has not been announced by the league or the team.
ESPN.com first reported Dareus was suspended earlier in the day.
Dareus is five-year starter since being selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft. Last year, the Bills signed him to the most expensive contract in team history, a seven-year deal that is potentially worth $104 million.
Chiefs: RB Charles off PUP list, makes training camp debut
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles made his training camp debut Tuesday, though trainer Rick Burkholder downplayed his arrival by calling it simply "part of the process."
Charles had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list the first three weeks of camp, spending his time going through rehab with the Chiefs' training staff. Charles underwent surgery last season to repair the ACL in his right knee, which he tore in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears.
"This was the next step in the fine-tuning process," Burkholder said. "We'll tweak his rehab so that he gets closer to playing. It's an absolute day-to-day process. We'll evaluate every day."
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Charles only did stretching and light drills with the running backs before returning to the locker room area, but Burkholder said that things went according to plan (see full story).
Jets: RB Bernard Pierce placed on IR, sign RB Antone Smith
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets have placed running back Bernard Pierce on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and signed veteran running back Antone Smith.
Pierce was signed by the Jets when training camp started last month to replace Zac Stacy, who was waived after failing his physical while coming off a broken ankle last season. Pierce spent last season with Jacksonville after three years with Baltimore. He had been hampered by the hamstring injury the past few weeks.
Smith spent last season with Chicago, where he had one carry for 11 yards. He was with Atlanta for six years and has rushed for 297 yards and four touchdowns, and caught 15 passes for 232 yards and three scores in his career.