Saints cornerback Dale Carter has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL after a low amount of alcohol was found in his system twice this spring. The league said in a statement on Friday that the suspension was indefinite but would last at least for the 2002 season. According to a source, Carter stumbled during rehabilitation following his bankruptcy proceeding. The level of alcohol found in his system was significantly less than the legal limit, but there is a no-tolerance policy for alcohol for past violators. Beer was said to be the substance found in his system this spring. Under the terms of the NFL's substance abuse program, players who violate the league's policy following a one-year suspension are suspended indefinitely. The reinstatement of an indefinitely suspended player is determined by commissioner Paul Tagliabue in consultation with the program's medical experts. Carter signed a seven-year, $28 million contract with the Saints during the offseason. To help him on his new team, the Saints also signed his brother, wide receiver Jake Reed. Saints coach Jim Haslett told The Associated Press he hoped Carter would be able to return sometime this year. "Dale is a very talented football player and he will be missed, but we need to focus on the team that will be in camp next week,'' Haslett said. "Our team has faced adversity before and we plan to handle this setback as well.'' Throughout the offseason, Carter has been a solid performer in the team's offseason program. The 32-year-old Carter has played 126 games during his nine-year NFL career and, despite missing a year and a half, is considered one of the most talented cornerbacks in the league. He played seven seasons with the Chiefs before the Broncos made him the highest paid cornerback in the league. He's been to four Pro Bowls. The move to the Broncos turned into a disaster when he was suspended. Denver released him last November, and he finished out the season playing for the Vikings. Michael Hawthorne moves into a starting role, along with Fred Thomas, for the Saints. John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. I do not know exactly what he was punished for prior to this, but I dont see how the NFL can suspend him for having a legal substance in his system. I`m not saying what the guy did was right, especially since he just signed a new contract but suspended for beer in his system?????
i agree... how can one be suspended for consuming a legal substance? anyways, he DOES know the rules that he works within and he could drink all the liquor he wants to AFTER he retires, so why take the chance and lose millions of dollars for a couple of beers? no self control... sad.
He's had substance abuse problems in the past & has gone through the NFL's treatment program. One of the stipulations is that - just like most, if not all, other treatment programs - you are not allowed to consume alcohol for a certain amount of time and are drug tested regularly. It's no different than being on probation for a drug/alcohol related criminal offense, you're not allowed to drink during your probationary period & can have your probation revoked if alcohol is found in your system.
