The Seattle cornerback will be out for the last four games of the season, but would be eligible for the playoffs.

 

Seahawks starting cornerback Brandon Browner has dropped the appeal of his four game suspension for violating the NFL's  policy on the use of performance enhancing substances.

Seattle's other starting corner, Richard Sherman, also reportedly tested positive for the use of banned substance. His appeal hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14.

Danny O'Neil wrote in Wednesday's Seattle Times:

The suspension was announced early Wednesday afternoon. He will miss Seattle's final four regular-season games, but will be eligible to return for the postseason. If the Seahawks do not make the playoffs, he will begin next season eligible to play.

Browner had reportedly appealed a positive test for banned substances, but is believed to have dropped his appeal and will begin his suspension with this week's game against Arizona.

 

Browner's apparent decision to drop his appeal reflects the difficulty in fighting a positive test for a banned substance. A player is considered responsible for anything in his body, which means the only way to fight a positive test is to argue that the test results themselves were flawed or that the substance was not actually banned (i.e. the player was permitted to use it).

 

The end result of Browner beginning his suspension this week is that any discipline against Seattle's two starting cornerbacks is staggered. Seattle will not be missing both its starting cornerbacks for the same four games.

 

The Seahawks take on the Arizona Cardinals Sunday morning, with the broadcast starting at 11 a.m. on Newstalk KIT.

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