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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 12, 2009

Eagles' Hanson suspended for drug use


Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson was suspended four games by the NFL yesterday for violating the league's drug policy.

Hanson's attorney, David Cornwell, said in a statement that Hanson did not use steroids but tested positive for a diuretic after last year's NFC title game against Arizona.

"Joselio did not use steroids or any other substance that would enhance his performance," Cornwell said.

While not specifying what product Hanson used, Cornwell said the player "felt bloated after eating Chinese food and ingested a pill that turned out to be a diuretic."

Cornwell said the NFL's policy on diuretics is misguided because it assumes they are used to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

He said he had hoped the league would delay making a decision on Hanson until there was a resolution in another case involving four players who have suspensions pending for taking a banned diuretic.

Two Vikings, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams — who are not related — tested positive in 2008 for the diuretic bumetanide, which is banned by the NFL because of its masking capabilities. The players acknowledged taking the over-the-counter weight loss supplement StarCaps, which did not state on the label that it contained bumetanide. Neither player is accused of taking steroids.

The NFL issued four-game suspensions, but both players sued the NFL in state court, arguing the league's testing violated Minnesota laws. The case was moved to federal court, and the NFL players union filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of the Williamses and two New Orleans Saints players also suspended.

CARDINALS

BOLDIN HAS NO REGRETS CRITICIZING COACHING STAFF

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin says he's "moved on" after Sunday's critical comments directed at coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff.

Boldin said he has no regrets about those comments.

"I said what I had to say and I'm done with it," Boldin said yesterday. "For me, it's not even an issue. That was Sunday and I've moved on."

The three-time Pro Bowl receiver was held out of Sunday's 41-21 victory at Chicago because of a sprained right ankle and complained afterward that "no one was man enough" to tell him he was inactive.

He said he felt good enough to play and only found out he wasn't when he returned to his locker after warmups and discovered his gear was gone.

Whisenhunt said after the game that he told Boldin he would not be playing shortly after the inactive list was submitted.

The coach did not want to revisit the incident.

"I have no issues with Anquan," Whisenhunt said. "He's a good football player and I'm just glad to see him back out there practicing today."

49ERS

TE DAVIS' COMMENTS PUTS HIS TEAMMATES ON DEFENSE

San Francisco's Vernon Davis put his teammates in a position usually reserved for politicians. The 49ers' outgoing tight end has his teammates spinning after his recent comments about the Chicago Bears.

"Things are going to be said," 49ers guard Eric Heitmann said yesterday. "You see bulletin board material all the time. It's happened to me in the NFL and in college. You can't get emotional about it."

Davis, who caught 10 passes for 102 yards in the 49ers' 34-27 loss to Tennessee, told reporters Tuesday that "We can destroy their front. The guys up front, I think we can destroy them. I don't see anything spectacular about their front line."

Chicago's defense is ranked 15th in the NFL heading into tonight's game at Candlestick Park, 21st against the run.

"I talked to him and I know what he meant," 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. "It's a little frustrating but you have to translate and read between the lines. He was not being disrespectful of the Bears. What he meant was 'we can do this.' "

ELSEWHERE

Chiefs: Kansas City's beleaguered offense took another hit yesterday when 12-year veteran right guard Mike Goff went on injured reserve. That means the Chiefs will be without their starting right guard and their most accomplished running back, Larry Johnson, who was released Monday, against Oakland on Sunday.

Giants: New York cornerback Aaron Ross practiced yesterday for the first time since pulling his left hamstring in training camp in August. Ross, who started 24 of 30 games in his first two seasons with the Giants, hopes to be ready to play when New York returns from a bye and plays the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 22.

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