RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks rookie guard John Moffitt was suspended for four games without pay on Tuesday for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The league announced the suspension will begin immediately even though Moffitt is on injured reserve and out for the season with a right knee injury. He will not be paid for the final four weeks of the season.
Moffitt's agent, Michael George, said that Moffitt's suspension was due to his use of a prescription drug used to treat hyperactivity. George said that Adderall -- the drug that Moffitt used - is banned under the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, unless a player has pre-approval from the league. Moffitt lacked that league approval, resulting in the suspension.
George said there are no plans to appeal the suspension because of the strict nature of the league's policy. George said any appeal could potentially carry the suspension over into next season and that it was best to serve the suspension now since Moffitt was already done for the year because of the knee injury. Moffitt underwent surgery to repair the ligaments just before Thanksgiving.
George emphasized the suspension was not for a substance like steroids.
Moffitt was Seattle's third-round pick in last April's draft out of Wisconsin. He started the first nine games at right guard before suffering his injury in Seattle's Week 10 win over Baltimore. He's one of three starting offensive linemen currently on injured reserve for the Seahawks, along with right tackle James Carpenter and left tackle Russell Okung. Full Story
Vikes facing first blackout in 14 years
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings have plenty of tickets left to sell this season.
Chief marketing officer Steve LaCroix said there are 6,500 seats available for the Dec. 18 game against New Orleans and 5,000 seats remaining for the Jan. 1 game against Chicago.
The Vikings have announced sellouts of their 64,000-seat stadium for 142 straight games, including the preseason, regular season and playoffs. The last time they had a game blacked out in the Twin Cities television market for lacking ticket sales was 14 years ago.
The Vikings fell to 2-10 after Sunday's loss to Denver.
Lions' Pettigrew apologizes for penalty vs. Saints
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew says he's sorry for his actions in last weekend's loss at New Orleans.
Pettigrew was called for a personal foul in the fourth quarter of Detroit's 31-17 loss. He made contact with an official who was trying to get between him and Saints safety Roman Harper after the whistle.
Detroit has lost five of seven since a 5-0 start and drawn criticism for the on-field behavior of its players. Defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh is serving a two-game suspension for roughing up a Green Bay lineman in a Thanksgiving loss to the Packers.
Pettigrew has 56 catches for 475 yards this season.
Panthers place DTs Fua, McClain on IR
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers placed starting defensive tackles Sione Fua and Terrell McClain on injured reserve.
Fua and McClain were both third-round draft picks this year and have been starters since Week 1. Fua strained his right hamstring before Sunday's 38-19 victory against Tampa Bay and didn't play. McClain sprained his left knee during the first half and did not return.
It's unclear at this point if either player will need surgery.
The Panthers (4-8) signed free-agent defensive tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo and added defensive tackle Jason Shirley from the practice squad to replace them.
Packers offer stock for first time since '97
MADISON, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers have an MVP candidate in quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a Super Bowl championship won just 10 months ago and an undefeated team making a run toward another title for Titletown.
The Packers now have hundreds of new owners, too.
The team kicked off a rare stock sale to help pay for another round of renovations at Lambeau Field, giving pretty much anyone a shot at becoming an NFL owner for $250 per share, plus a $25 handling charge.
Sarah Johnson, 34, of Portage said it took her nearly 20 minutes to complete what should have been a 30-second process, but it was worth to wait.
Colts place rookie DT Nevis on IR
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts have put rookie defensive tackle Drake Nevis on injured reserve with a lower back injury.
Nevis is the third defensive player from Indy to have his season end in less than 24 hours. Cornerbacks Jerraud Powers and Terrence Johnson were placed on season-ending injured reserve Monday.
To fill the roster, the Colts signed defensive back Brandon King from the Miami Dolphins practice squad, claimed linebacker Kevin Bentley off waivers from Jacksonville, promoted defensive back Mike Holmes from the practice squad to the active roster and signed offensive tackle Mike Tepper to the practice squad.
Nevis played in five games and had 19 tackles this season, but was hobbled by a back injury most of the season.
New Jaguars owner clears final hurdle
NEW YORK. -- The NFL's finance committee has voted unanimously to recommend Shahid Khan's bid to buy the Jacksonville Jaguars to the full ownership committee for a vote next week.
The Illinois businessman met at league headquarters with the 10-member committee, which includes current owner Wayne Weaver.
Asked if the team will stay in Jacksonville, Khan says he can't comment until the sale becomes official, but fans "will not be disappointed."
Weaver says he's optimistic the deal will be approved.
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