Cooper to be suspended

for 4 games according to the Observer:

NFL suspends Cooper 4 games
Action stems from September arrest of Panthers DB
PAT YASINSKAS
Staff Writer

Carolina Panthers defensive back Jarrod Cooper will be suspended for four games by the NFL, according to several sources close to the situation. The suspension could be announced as early as today.

As long as the suspension is not appealed, Cooper would be eligible to return for the final two games, starting with the Dec. 21 game with Detroit.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league does not discuss possible suspensions.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said the team had not been notified of a suspension by the league.

Cooper could not be reached for comment. His agent, Ben Dogra, declined comment.

But the sources said the suspension stems from Cooper's Sept. 16 arrest for driving while impaired. Cooper also was charged with driving while impaired in February 2002 and was on probation at the time of his second arrest. In September, Cooper also was charged with speeding, driving without a license and possession of two controlled substances.

The NFL's conduct policy allows the league to suspend players charged with crimes and the policy is harsher for second offenses.

Players also can be placed in the league's substance abuse program when they are charged with crimes that involve drugs or alcohol and that program allows for suspensions at the league's discretion.

Cooper already was fined six game checks (totaling $137,294) by the league after the September incident. Cooper has said he was appealing the fine.

A third-year player, Cooper is a backup safety and a regular on special teams. The Panthers have been bracing for a possible suspension since September. They signed safety Travares Tillman soon after Cooper's arrest and have kept him on the roster.

The suspension also could create a roster spot for wide receiver Kevin Dyson, who is on the physically unable to perform list. Dyson tore an Achilles tendon in June, but has been practicing for the last two weeks.

The team has until Monday to put Dyson on the active roster or place him on injured reserve.

This is not the first time the Panthers have been hit by league- mandated suspensions.

Defensive end Julius Peppers and defensive tackle Brentson Buckner were each suspended four games last season for violating the league's banned substance policy. Peppers and Buckner both said they tested positive for dietary substances.

 

A little late to the party is the NFL....

 

Yeah, why couldn't they have done that when he actually got the DUI?

 

There's our roster spot for Dyson :xyzthumbs

 

Yet another example of the magic of 2003...I'm starting to believe..

 

That'll work. We've got 4 weeks to find out if Dyson can meet expectations; if Dyson works out, we cut Tillman for the last two games. If he doesn't, we put Dyson on IR for the last two games and wait 'till next year.

 

Hate it for Coop but the timing is perfect. Now if he steps up and accepts responsibility and doesn't appeal all is good. He admitted he was wrong take your medicine and grow up. Would go along way towards the Panthers resigning him I bet

 

Our ST's shouldn't miss a beat without him. I have a hard time bringing Coop back at all.

 

I think he is accepting responsibility. Also, based what he said to us on Sunday, it doesn't look like he intends to appeal the suspension.

As for appealing the $137,000 fine - wouldn't anybody? At his salary, that's a lot of scratch. IMO that ongoing appeal doesn't reflect badly on him at all.

Of course I hope the Panthers resign him or offer a reasonable RFA tender. Hopefully Coop will be "flexible" too; the team has really stood by him through this and I think he understands that. When he said "I'm gone, you know I'm gone" you gotta believe he meant it. Bet nobody was more surprised than Coop himself when he still had a job.

 

Do you watch the same games we watch?