Dolphins’ Jones suspended 4 games over PEDs

Reshad Jones signed a four-year, $30 million deal last August. (USATSI)

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The NFL suspended Dolphins safety Reshad Jones four games for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing drugs, the NFL announced Friday.

The fifth-year player out of Georgia will be eligible to return Monday, Sept. 29, following the team's Week 4 game against the Raiders.

"The NFL recently informed me that I tested positive for a substance that is banned under the NFL performance enhancing substances policy," Jones said in a statement. "I worked closely with the union to investigate what happened, and I learned that a supplement I took caused the positive test. I deeply regret not investigating the supplement carefully before I took it, and I will never again take a supplement without having it checked. I am very sorry for the effect of my mistake on my teammates and coaches. I apologize to them, Stephen Ross, the Dolphins organization and fans. During the time away from the team, I will maintain an intense training program so that I can help my team as soon as I return."

Miami coach Joe Philbin added: "I was very disappointed when we found out about Reshad's suspension. When we talked to him, Reshad pledged to learn from this situation. Our secondary as a unit, including Reshad, has performed well this offseason and I have complete confidence in the group as we progress through training camp and into the regular season."

Jones, a starter who signed a four-year, $30 million deal last August and ranked 66th among all safeties last season (via ProFootballFocus.com), now joins 2013 first-round pick Dion Jordan on the bench. In July, Jordan was suspended four games for PEDs violation.

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Playing his first preseason game Friday night with the Atlanta Falcons, rookie Devonta Freeman had third-string duties, running behind Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith. While reports have come out of camp that he's had a slow start in training camp, many expected him to be the starter with injury-prone RB Steven Jackson sitting out. Against the second and third-string defense of the Dolphins, Freeman was able to put up 10 carries for 50 yards and one catch for 57 yards.



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