Cowboys' Lett Fails Drug Test

April 16, 1999 / 5:42 PM EDT / AP

For the fourth time in five years, the Dallas Cowboys must prepare to play without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Leon Lett, and this time, it could be for good.

Lett is facing a punishment of at least a year after failing an NFL drug test for the third time, a league source who requested anonymity told The Associated Press on Friday. The violation also could carry a lifetime ban.

Lett has been enrolled in the NFL's substance-abuse program since 1995. He was suspended four games that season, then was suspended for the last three games of 1996 and the first 13 of 1997.

This past year was his first complete one 1994. Like that season, he made the Pro Bowl.

Lett, who seldom speaks to the media, has not commented. The team said it could not comment, citing league confidentiality rules.

Agent Jim Steiner, who refused to confirm or deny the reports, said the 30-year-old Lett has been hit hard by the news stories.

"It's not a pleasant thing to have your name being bantered about," Steiner said. "When you're involved in something like this and he's paid the price, you're embarrassed and you're embarrassed not only for yourself but for your teammates, the fans, the club, Jerry Jones the whole ball of wax. It's not easy to deal with."

The New York Times cited an unidentified Cowboys official and a team player and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram cited an unidentified NFL source in reporting the failed drug test in Friday's editions.

The Times reported that NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is reviewing an appeal filed by Lett that could challenge the validity of the test collection and processing arrangements. Tagliabue denied an appeal the last time he suspended Lett.

Steiner, however, said: "There is no appeal going on."

Linebacker Randall Godfrey said teammates are supportive of Lett, who has been tested an average of 10 times per month the past four seasons.

Lett, who underwent elbow surgery two weeks ago, would not be eligible to apply for reinstatement until 60 days before the one-year anniversary of his suspension.

The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Lett was a seventh-round draft pick from Emporia State in 1991.

He had 51 tackles, four sacks, 20 quarterback pressures and a team-high seven tackles for losses last season.

The Cowboys, who also lost two defensive linemen in the expansion draft, will likely make the position a priority in the draft this weekend.

He's also known for two on-field gaffes.

In the 1993 Super Bowl, Lett set a record for returning a fumble 64 yards but he needed 65 for a touchdown. Thinking he'd score easily, Lett was raising the ball in celebration when Buffalo's Don Beebe swatted it away at the goal line.

That November, on a snowy Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins, Lett mistakenly tried picking up a missed field goal instead of letting it become a dead ball. He ended up knocking it to Dolphin, setting up Miami's successful second chance kick for the victory.