Wednesday, September 11, 2002

SUSPENDED: Damon Moore, Chicago Bears LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Sun-Times reports Chicago Bears safety Damon Moore has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. Moore, acquired in the offseason as a free agent after playing three seasons with the Eagles, had been on the Bears' injured list. He tore a knee ligament in the NFC championship game in January. He will be eligible to return to the team's facilities on Sept. 30. "I don't want to make a big deal,'' said Moore, who indicated the failed test came in February, after the Philadelphia Eagles made it clear they would release him. "We went out one night and had some fun, and I tested positive. It wasn't cocaine, nothing like that. I'm a good person. I wasn't driving drunk where I could kill someone. I didn't beat my kid. We went out and partied and had what I thought was a good time. "I know the regulations. I'm not making light of it, and I'm definitely very grateful for the Bears to give me a chance. I won't do anything in the future to misrepresent them. I'm very fortunate everyone stood by me while I got my mind straight.'' 10:17:44 PM

SUSPENDED: Ray Buchanan, Atlanta Falcons FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Journal reports the Atlanta Falcons suffered another hit to their beleaguered defense when starting cornerback Ray Buchanan was suspended four games without pay by the NFL on Tuesday after testing positive for anabolic steroids and related substances. Buchanan's suspension covers Sunday's game against the Bears and games against the Bengals, Bucs and Giants. His absence hurts a defense already missing starting linebacker Will Overstreet and left end Travis Hall because of injuries. Buchanan's $2.65 million salary is highest on the team. While out, he'll forfeit weekly paychecks of $158,882 (before taxes), a total of $623,529. All NFL players are tested for steriods in training camp. "This was my inadvertent mistake," Buchanan said in a statement issued by team officials. "Evidently, I took a supplement of some sort that had a steroid derivative in it. Either way, it was my mistake. I would like to apologize to my teammates, the Falcons organization, the Atlanta Falcons fans. I will learn from this," Buchanan, a former Pro Bowler, said in a statement. 10:11:26 PM

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