Colt Linebacker Pope Is Suspended for a Year

Indianapolis linebacker Kendyll Pope was suspended for the season by the NFL on Wednesday for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

“We’ll do as much as we can to help Kendyll get through this, but it’s a situation where he has to satisfy the league,” Coach Tony Dungy said. “It’s not a situation I’ve dealt with many times.”

Neither the Colts, who announced the suspension, nor the NFL said what substance Pope had tested positive for.

The Colts put Pope on the reserve-suspended list Tuesday, but the punishment wasn’t announced until Wednesday.

The suspension begins immediately, and Pope can’t practice or play with the Colts until next August. The length of the suspension indicates Pope has tested positive for a banned substance at least three times.

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Kellen Winslow Jr.’s rehabilitation from a motorcycle accident has been slowed because of an infection in his right leg, although the Cleveland tight end expects to make a full recovery.

Winslow tore ligaments in his right knee and broke his femur in the accident on May 1, which ended his season before it had begun. He had surgery in June and was hospitalized again for a few days because of the infection, he said.

“I did learn from this,” Winslow said. “You think you’re invincible -- nothing’s going to happen to you. Unfortunately, it happened. “

Winslow said he hopes to play next season, but his right knee remains swollen.

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The NFL has canceled next month’s owners meeting in Atlanta because of a lack of progress in labor talks with the players’ association.

The current labor contract runs through the 2008 season, though teams would lose the salary cap that limits payrolls if a new agreement isn’t reached by the 2007 season.

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Seattle signed former Cincinnati receiver Peter Warrick to a one-year, $1.4-million contract, agent Drew Rosenhaus said.

Warrick passed a physical and signed a deal that included a $900,000 base salary, a $500,000 signing bonus and the opportunity to earn $880,000 in incentives, Rosenhaus said.

Warrick was cut Tuesday by Cincinnati.

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Running back Ahman Green traveled to Nashville with his Green Bay teammates for their final exhibition game against Tennessee after agreeing to undergo counseling and perform community service to avoid a trial on a domestic violence charge.

Green faced a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct stemming from an April 25 argument with his wife, Heather, at their Green Bay, Wis., home. Green was arrested that night, jailed and released after posting $150 bail. He filed for divorce three days later.

Had he been convicted, Green faced up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

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Arizona claimed returner J.J. Moses off waivers to replace J.R. Redmond, who was put on injured reserve. Moses was Houston’s main return man the last two seasons. The Texans released him in May, and he signed with the Chicago Bears on Aug. 18 but was released again Monday.... Aaron Elling will sit out Friday’s exhibition game at Seattle because of a strained right hip, all but ending his chance to be Minnesota’s kicker. Coach Mike Tice stopped short of declaring Paul Edinger the winner, but Edinger won’t have any competition for the second week in a row. Teams are required by Saturday to reduce their rosters to 53 players for the regular season.