The NFL suspended Jets linebacker Calvin Pace for four games without pay yesterday for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Pace will miss New York’s first four games - including a home game against New England in Week 2 - and is eligible to return for the Monday night game at Miami Oct. 12.
In a statement issued by the Jets, Pace said the ban is a result of him taking an over-the-counter dietary supplement that he was unaware violated the NFL’s policy.
Pace signed a six-year, $42 million deal with New York last offseason that included a $20 million signing bonus.
Pace spent his first five NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him with the 18th pick in the 2003 draft out of Wake Forest.
Pace is eligible to participate in preseason practices and games. The suspension begins Sept. 5 and he can return to practice Oct. 5, a day after New York’s fourth game, at New Orleans.
“I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the league’s guidelines,’’ Pace said. “I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization, as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.’’
Pace started all 16 games at outside linebacker in Eric Mangini’s defense last season, and was expected to have a prominent role in new coach Rex Ryan’s aggressive 3-4 system.
Pace finished second on the team last season with a career-high seven sacks, and added 67 tackles, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.
Judge holds crash tape
A judge refused to release surveillance video depicting the moment a car driven by Cleveland wide receiver
Donte’ Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian March 14. Miami-Dade circuit judge
Dennis Murphy said the privacy interests of the family of victim
Mario Reyes outweighed the public’s right to view the video. Several news organizations made public records requests seeking the video’s release. “This is akin to autopsy photographs,’’ Murphy said at a hearing, adding that the video would remain sealed “for the foreseeable future as far as I’m concerned.’’ Tests later showed that Stallworth, who had been drinking, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.126, above Florida’s 0.08 legal limit. Stallworth’s attorneys also have confirmed that tests showed traces of marijuana as well . . . A jury in the Virgin Islands has awarded Miami’s
Jason Taylor and two partners the return of a $1.5 million deposit from the botched sale of a private island. The defensive end, who recently signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract to come back to the Dolphins, will be given his share of the deposit, plus expenses, after a jury determined that the seller breached a 2004 contract for the 158-acre island . . . At least 16 people associated with the New Orleans Saints, including coach
Sean Payton, quarterback
Drew Brees, and team icon
Archie Manning, are among investors who lost $1.9 million in a tax credit investment.
Kevin Houser, cut Monday as the team’s long snapper after eight years, said he and at least 26 others bought what they thought were state film industry tax credits from Louisiana Film Studios. A state official, however, said the studio that offered the credits never applied for them.
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