Packers LB Suspended 4 Games
Linebacker Lamont Hollinquest, signed by the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, drew a four-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
"He will miss the first four regular season games," league spokesman Gregg Aiello said Thursday. "He can participate in training camp and the preseason games, but he cannot play in the regular season until after the Packers' fourth game -- Oct. 10."
"He will then be eligible to rejoin the team."
The Packers have a bye week in that time.
Hollinquest, who played for the Packers for the past three years, had signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, but was waived by the club. He told the Green Bay Press-Gazette he refused the Chiefs' request that he take additional treatment beyond what is prescribed in the league's substance-abuse program.
The linebacker would not identify the substance involved, but he confirmed to the newspaper that he tested positive twice over a short span of time this spring, prompting the suspension.
"People make mistakes," he said.
When a player tests positive and enters the NFL's substance-abuse program, the team is not involved in his mandatory evaluation and treatment. That program is run directly by the NFL as required in the collective-bargaining agreement.
He said he was disappointed the Chiefs did not stick with him.
"Do you tell a guy, We're not going to back you up because you made a mistake?" Hollinquest told the Press-Gazette. "Or are you going to say, Let's fix this problem, do what you have to do, then come back and we accept you. That's not what we got with them."
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