Tuesday, November 05, 2002

SUSPENDED: Brentson Buckner, Carolina Panthers NEW YORK -- ESPN.com reports Veteran tackle Brentson Buckner of the Carolina Panthers was suspended four games Monday for violating the NFL's steroids abuse policy. The much-traveled Buckner, in his ninth season in the league, has helped turn Carolina's unit into one of the league's best defensive lines. Buckner's agent, George Mavrikes, said Buckner took a diet pill before training camp with an ingredient that's on the league's list of banned substances. "It was all-organic, all-natural, and that's where you get into trouble,'' Mavrikes said. "He didn't really think that by taking a diet pill it would be banned, because it was not a performance enhancer." Buckner, 31, will be eligible to return to the team after its Dec. 1 game at Cleveland. During the suspension, Buckner cannot work out at Carolina's facility and cannot have contact with team officials. The suspension will cost him $164,705. His base salary this season is $700,000. 7:28:24 PM

INNOCENT PLEA: Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders OAKLAND, Calif. -- Associated Press reports Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski pleaded innocent to charges of driving under the influence. He did not appear in court to enter his plea Monday and remains free on his own recognizance. If convicted, Janikowski, Oakland's first-round draft pick in 2000, could face up to six months in jail. Janikowski was stopped for speeding in Oakland early last month and failed a sobriety test, police said. Officers said his blood-alcohol level registered 0.20, more than twice the legal limit. 7:14:01 PM

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