League Suspends Russell

Darrell Russell, an Oakland Raider defensive tackle and a former USC standout, was suspended Tuesday by the NFL for the first four regular-season games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Russell can be reinstated Oct. 1, after the Raiders’ Sept. 30 game against Seattle. His suspension already was appealed unsuccessfully to the NFL.

Russell said the violation was procedural and that he did not fail a substance-abuse test. An official visited his home in Oakland more than a year ago when he was not home, Russell said.

“Basically, what I have to say is that I did not test positive. Someone showed up at my house and I wasn’t there,” he said.

Russell’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, called the violation an “administrative transgression.”

“Look, the only abuse that’s occurred here is an abuse of power,” Steinberg said.

Russell, 6 feet 5 and 325 pounds, was the second pick in the 1997 draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in his second season and last season had three sacks and 31 tackles.

The NFL does not disclose details of substance-abuse violations. Its policy covers a wide range of issues, including the illegal use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs.

Russell acknowledged he was under heightened scrutiny because of a previous test involving “second-hand smoke.” He would not elaborate.

Steinberg said Russell had passed about 200 substance-abuse tests.

Russell will lose his salary, nearly $112,000 a game, while suspended.

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