New England Patriots defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
His suspension begins immediately and he will be eligible to return to the active roster on Dec. 24.
Cunningham is the second Patriots player this month to be disciplined in such a manner. Running back Brandon Bolden received a 4-game suspension on Nov. 9 for testing positive for a banned substance.
A third-year player out of Florida, Cunningham has appeared in all 11 games this season, starting three, and recorded 23 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.