With Marcell Dareus suspended four games for substance abuse, Bills denounce behavior

The Buffalo Bills’ patience with Marcell Dareus grew thin on Tuesday, when the team announced the NFL suspended the star defensive tackle for violating the league’s substance abuse policy for the second time in two years.

This time the discipline is more severe for Buffalo’s highest-paid player.

After sitting out the season opener last year, Dareus was suspended without pay for the first four games of this season.

“From ownership down, we have made it clear his behavior is unacceptable,” the Bills said in a statement. “We are very disappointed Marcell chose to put himself first, before his teammates, coaches, the rest of the organization and fans through his recent actions.”

Dareus posted a lengthy note on his Instagram account apologizing to the Bills, his fans, family and the league.

“I will not #makeexcuses for the events in question,” Dareus wrote. Calling the suspension “a temporary setback,” he asked fans to continue believing in him.

Dareus is a five-year starter since being selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft. Last year, the Bills signed him to the most expensive contract in team history, a seven-year deal potentially worth $104 million.

Arians is hospitalized

Arizona Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians was hospitalized in San Diego after complaining of stomach pain.

Cardinals spokesman Mark Dalton said that, after arriving for the team’s joint practice with the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on Tuesday night, Arians told his medical staff he was not feeling well and had stomach pain.

Eagles trade for receiver

Desperate for receivers, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired Dorial Green-Beckham from Tennessee. The Eagles traded versatile offensive lineman Dennis Kelly to the Titans to get Green-Beckham, a talented player who has struggled with consistency and been sidetracked by off-field issues.

Green-Beckham was a second-round pick last year after he was dismissed from the team at Missouri and transferred to Oklahoma, where he didn’t play a down. He caught 32 passes for 549 yards with four touchdowns and immediately becomes one of Philadelphia’s most accomplished receivers.

Etc.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles , who tore a ligament in his right knee in Week 5 last season, made his training camp debut. ... The Arizona Cardinals activated All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu (knee), cornerback Justin Bethel (foot) and defensive lineman Frostee Rucker (ankle) from the physically-unable-to-perform list. All three are coming off surgeries. ... New York Jets running back Matt Forte said he would “definitely” be ready to play in the regular-season opener against Cincinnati despite a hamstring injury that has prevented him from fully practicing during training camp. ...

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue were selected as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 by the hall’s contributor committee. ... The New York Jets placed running back Bernard Pierce on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and signed veteran running back Antone Smith. ... With Colin Kaepernick dealing with tightness in his throwing shoulder and Thaddeus Lewis out for the season with a knee injury, the San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent quarterback Christian Ponder, who hasn’’t appeared in an NFL game since October 2014 with the Minnesota Vikings.