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Onterrio Smith Reportedly Dismissed for the Season
Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith, caught recently with a device designed to beat drug tests, has been told by the NFL that he will miss the 2005 season, according to two published reports.
Citing two anonymous team sources, espn.com reported that Smith skipped a drug test, which qualifies as a violation under the league's substance abuse policy. Missing a drug test is equivalent to a positive test, and Smith already has two strikes against him and served a four-game suspension last season.
A third violation brings with it a one-year
suspension.
The Star Tribune, citing an unidentified league source, reported that the NFL has notified Smi
th of its decision.
Earlier Thursday, Vikings coach Mike Tice said Smith would miss the rest of the team's off-season program for undisclosed reasons.
"He's been excused from the rest of the offseason program and he'll be gone indefinitely," Tice said. "I really can't speak about any reasons why or when he'll be back. It's in the league's hands. We'll leave it at that."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said he couldn't comment on Smith's status or elaborate on Tice's comments.
Rob Brzezinski, vice president for football operations, said he could not comment on Smith's status in the drug program.
"He's been excused indefinitely from our program," Brzezinski told The Associated Press. "That's not the league's decision, that's a club decision."
Smith's
agent, Doug Hendrickson, didn't immediately return a phone call. His lawyer, David Cornwell, said anything appropriate to report would come from the NFL office.
Smith missed the team's camp Tuesday for unspecified persona
l reasons. He returned Wednesday and worked out, but didn't speak to reporters.
Both reports said the suspension was unrelated to Smith being stopped April 21 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after his bag set off a screening device. A search found several vials of dried urine and "The Original Whizzinator," which is marketed as a way to beat drug tests.
Smith told police the gear was for his cousin. He wasn't charged by police, and the NFL has said possession of the device alone isn't enough to violate league drug policies.
Smith, a fourth-round pick in 2003, led the team in rushing last season with 544 yards.
"We have to hope for the best, hope he continues to keep his head in the game and physically sta
ys ready," receiver Nate Burleson said. "We'll see him in a year."
Burleson doesn't think things will be any different with Smith gone.
"We'll be the same team," Burleson said. "We have no choice but to do the things we're doing. We still have a slew of good ru
nning backs."
Those include Michael Bennett, Mewelde Moore, Moe Williams and rookie Ciatrick Fason.
"He's a great competitor and I know wherever he's going to go work out, he will be somewhere working out, getting himself ready for the season," Bennett said. "My thoughts are just for him to take some time for himself and just kind of get the things that he needs to get together and go on about his business."
Onterrio Smith Reportedly Dismissed for the Season
Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith, caught recently with a device designed to beat drug tests, has been told by the NFL that he will miss the 2005 season, according to two published reports.
Citing two anonymous team sources, espn.com reported that Smith skipped a drug test, which qualifies as a violation under the league's substance abuse policy. Missing a drug test is equivalent to a positive test, and Smith already has two strikes against him and served a four-game suspension last season.
A third violation brings with it a one-year
suspension.
The Star Tribune, citing an unidentified league source, reported that the NFL has notified Smi
th of its decision.
Earlier Thursday, Vikings coach Mike Tice said Smith would miss the rest of the team's off-season program for undisclosed reasons.
"He's been excused from the rest of the offseason program and he'll be gone indefinitely," Tice said. "I really can't speak about any reasons why or when he'll be back. It's in the league's hands. We'll leave it at that."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said he couldn't comment on Smith's status or elaborate on Tice's comments.
Rob Brzezinski, vice president for football operations, said he could not comment on Smith's status in the drug program.
"He's been excused indefinitely from our program," Brzezinski told The Associated Press. "That's not the league's decision, that's a club decision."
Smith's
agent, Doug Hendrickson, didn't immediately return a phone call. His lawyer, David Cornwell, said anything appropriate to report would come from the NFL office.
Smith missed the team's camp Tuesday for unspecified persona
l reasons. He returned Wednesday and worked out, but didn't speak to reporters.
Both reports said the suspension was unrelated to Smith being stopped April 21 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after his bag set off a screening device. A search found several vials of dried urine and "The Original Whizzinator," which is marketed as a way to beat drug tests.
Smith told police the gear was for his cousin. He wasn't charged by police, and the NFL has said possession of the device alone isn't enough to violate league drug policies.
Smith, a fourth-round pick in 2003, led the team in rushing last season with 544 yards.
"We have to hope for the best, hope he continues to keep his head in the game and physically sta
ys ready," receiver Nate Burleson said. "We'll see him in a year."
Burleson doesn't think things will be any different with Smith gone.
"We'll be the same team," Burleson said. "We have no choice but to do the things we're doing. We still have a slew of good ru
nning backs."
Those include Michael Bennett, Mewelde Moore, Moe Williams and rookie Ciatrick Fason.
"He's a great competitor and I know wherever he's going to go work out, he will be somewhere working out, getting himself ready for the season," Bennett said. "My thoughts are just for him to take some time for himself and just kind of get the things that he needs to get together and go on about his business."