Patriots Cunningham Suspended For PED Use
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Patriots LB/DE Jermaine Cunningham has been somewhat of an enigma since being drafted three years ago out of the University of Florida. His play had been sporadic, inconsistent and, overall, mediocre at best in his first two seasons. But this year Cunningham seemed to be playing better. Now he will have to sit out the next 4 games after being suspended by the league for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.
The league made the announcement earlier today but did not reveal what Cunningham tested positive for. He becomes the second Patriots player suspended for PED use this season joining running back Brandon Bolden who was suspended a few weeks ago. Bolden will miss this week's game in Miami and be eligible to return to the team next Monday.
In his first season with the Patriots, Cunningham played outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense but has since been moved to right defensive end as the team employs the 4-3 as its base defense.
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Cunningham's teammate from college - Brandon Spikes - was also suspended two years ago for PED use.
The news of Cunningham's suspension comes one day after a report that Seattle Sesahawks starting cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner were both facing 4-game suspensions for testing positive for PED's. Both players are accused of taking the drug Adderall and are appealing their suspensions.
Adderall is a drug used as part of a treatement program to treat symptoms of ADHD or to treat excessive tiredness caused by narcolepsy. The combination of Dexttroamphetamine and Amphetamine is considered a central nervous system stimulant. For that reason, you can see where athletes would attempt to get away with using such drugs to provide extra energy on game day.
It is not known if Adderall was the drug that Cunningham tested positive for.
