PHILADELPHIA -- The NFL gave Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson a four-game suspension Wednesday for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Hanson's attorney, David Cornwell, said in a statement that his client didn't use steroids but tested positive for a diuretic after last year's NFC Championship Game against the Arizona Cardinals.
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"Joselio did not use steroids or any other substance that would enhance his performance," Cornwell said.
While not specifying what product Hanson used, Cornwell said the player "felt 'bloated' after eating Chinese food and ingested a pill that turned out to be a diuretic.
Cornwell said the NFL's policy on diuretics is misguided because it assumes they are used to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Cornwell added that he had hoped the league would delay making a decision on Hanson until there was a resolution in another case involving four players who have suspensions pending for taking a banned diuretic.
Two Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams -- who aren't related -- tested positive in 2008 for the diuretic bumetanide, which is banned by the NFL because of its masking capabilities. The players acknowledged taking the over-the-counter weight loss supplement StarCaps, which didn't state on the label that it contained bumetanide. Neither player is accused of taking steroids.
The NFL issued four-game suspensions, but both players sued the league in state court, arguing the testing violated Minnesota laws. The case was moved to federal court, and the NFL Players Association filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of the Williamses and two New Orleans Saints players who also were suspended.
In May, a federal judge dismissed the union's lawsuit and several claims in the Williamses' case but sent two claims involving Minnesota workplace laws back to state court. A judge there issued an injunction prohibiting the NFL from suspending the players and has scheduled the trial for March. That led the NFL to allow Saints defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, who also had been issued four-game suspensions for testing positive for bumetanide, to continue playing.
"We also argued that the accommodation allowing the 'StarCaps players' to continue playing supported allowing Joselio to continue playing as well," Cornwell said in his statement. "Our appeal to fairness was rejected."
Cornwell also said that at Hanson's appeal hearing in October, it was confirmed that the players' union and the league have exchanged proposals regarding diuretics "with each party proposing substantial reductions in the discipline to be imposed for the first positive test for diuretics." He said that under both sides' proposals, "no player would be suspended for four (4) games for the first positive test for diuretics."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to discuss Cornwell's statement.
"As Mr. Cornwell knows, the details of the appeals process are confidential," Aiello said in a statement. "Nevertheless, his statement contains multiple inaccuracies and misleading assertions. Our program of testing and discipline for violations remains in place, as the players were reminded in a joint memo from the NFL and NFLPA on September 21."
Another Eagles cornerback, Sheldon Brown, said Wednesday that he believes Hanson is being treated differently than the other players.
"It seems like they're trying to make an example out of somebody so it can't keep continuing to happen," Brown said. "From what I know of Hanson, I don't think it's fair, because he's a class act."
Hanson has recorded 29 tackles and one interception this season as a backup to starters Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown.
Hanson's suspension came the same day that the Eagles placed cornerback and kick returner Ellis Hobbs on season-ending injured reserve with a neck injury. Hobbs will require surgery, but Eagles coach Andy Reid expects the injury not to be career-threatening. Hobbs recorded 14 tackles and averaged 24.1 yards on 20 kickoff returns this season.
To replace Hanson and Hobbs, the Eagles promoted second-year cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu from the practice squad and signed free agent Ramzee Robinson, who was among the Detroit Lions' final cuts in September. The Eagles also added cornerback Stoney Woodson to their practice squad.
Copyright 2009 by the Associated Press
