FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The NFL suspended New England Patriots rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes four games without pay for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Spikes, the team’s second-leading tackler, will miss the rest of the regular season, starting with Sunday’s game at Chicago. He will be eligible to rejoin the active roster after the finale at home against Miami and would be eligible for the playoffs.
Spikes said in a statement issued by the Patriots that the substance “was a medication that I should have gotten clarification on before taking. It was not a performance enhancer or an illegal drug.”
He apologized to teammates, fans and the organization.
BEARS: Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa will miss his second straight game because of a knee injury when Chicago plays New England on Sunday.
BROWNS: Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy returned to practice on a limited basis, the first time he has worked out with his teammates since sustaining a high left ankle sprain on Nov. 21 at Jacksonville.
Coach Eric Mangini will wait to see how McCoy’s ankle responds before deciding if he can be Cleveland’s No. 3 quarterback this Sunday at Buffalo.
CARDINALS: Rookie quarterback John Skelton will get his first NFL start when Arizona plays Denver on Sunday, Coach Ken Whisenhunt announced.
Skelton was considered the probable choice after Derek Anderson was sidelined with a concussion. The only other healthy quarterback is Richard Bartel, who was signed this week.
PANTHERS: The NFL suspended guard Duke Robinson four games without pay for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Robinson is already on injured reserve, but he’ll be able to serve the suspension over the final four games this season.
PACKERS: Green Bay expects cornerback Charles Woodson to play against Detroit on Sunday. He is listed as probable after suffering an ankle injury in practice Wednesday.
DOLPHINS: Receiver Brian Hartline (finger) and tackle Vernon Carey (knee) have been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
VIKINGS: Quarterback Brett Favre is listed as questionable on the injury report because of a shoulder sprain and will be a game-time decision on whether he will make his 298th straight regular-season start.
LIONS: Detroit placed wide receiver Derrick Williams on injured reserve with an ankle injury and signed wide receiver Brian Clark.
EAGLES: Cornerback Asante Samuel left practice because of a sore knee and is questionable for Sunday’s game at Dallas.
BRONCOS: Rookie cornerback Perrish Cox was arrested for investigation of felony sexual assault. He was taken into custody Thursday night following an investigation into an alleged Oct. 28 assault.
RAVENS: Police raided the home of rookie kick returner David Reed earlier this week to investigate potential drug activity. No charges have been filed, but police took evidence from his residence, according to Baltimore County police spokesman Lt. Robert McCullough.
FINES: The league fined Philadelphia defensive end Trent Cole $20,000 for hitting Houston quarterback Matt Schaub in the knee area in a game on Dec. 2.
• Cardinals defensive tackle Alan Branch was fined $10,000 for roughing the passer for his hit on Rams QB Sam Bradford.
• Lions defensive end Cliff Avril was fined $15,000 for roughing the passer. He struck Chicago’s Jay Cutler in the face area.
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