Titans’ Lewan plans to appeal
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan plans to appeal his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing substances, despite knowing he’ll most likely lose.
The Titans reported for training camp Thursday, and Lewan spent time answering every question from reporters, defending himself, apologizing for his impending absence at the start of a crucial season and explaining what happened.
“I don’t want the legacy or whatever I’ve done in the last five years to be tarnished by something like this, which was a complete accident,” the threetime Pro Bowl selection said.
Lewan said he met with doctors and nutritionists during the offseason as he looked for a way to keep himself healthier for life after football, thinking of his 2-year-old daughter after a concussion he had in the 2018 season opener. He also had his doctor and nutritionist look into what he was taking.
He said he passed a drug test in April, then failed a test on May 28. Lewan said that likely was due to a bad batch of a supplement found to contain the banned substance ostarine. Lewan said the NFL notified him by July 1 that he would be suspended for the first four games of the regular season due to the failed test. The NFL had no comment Thursday.
Players are held responsible for anything they take under the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the
players’ union. Lewan repeatedly noted supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and he mentioned that players have access to an app that allows them to scan bar codes for either a green, yellow or red reaction on what to use or avoid.
“It, for lack of a better word, just sucks,” Lewan said. “Really horrible situation to feel like this and walk into the locker room and tell those guys you’re not going to be with them for four games. It breaks my heart, and it’s tough, man.”
Lewan announced his suspension with a video posted to social media on Wednesday, a day earlier than he planned, to avoid news of the suspension coming from someone else. He previously told general manager Jon Robinson and coach Mike Vrabel personally about his looming suspension, and Lewan said Thursday he wouldn’t have discussed his suspension publicly if the secondary “B” sample hadn’t already been tested.
Robinson said the NFL has not notified the Titans yet of the suspension and couldn’t comment. The GM said Lewan showed him the documentation on his research about the substance and believes the left tackle didn’t knowingly take ostarine. He also said Lewan has the Titans’ support.
“I told Taylor half the people are going to think you’re a cheater, half the people are going to think you got screwed,” Vrabel said. “That’s where we’re at as a league. It’s the same as when I was a player.”
Byard’s new deal
Not all the news was bad for the Titans ahead of training camp.
Hours after Lewan announced his suspension, the team said it had agreed with Kevin Byard on a contract extension making him the NFL’s highest-paid safety.
Multiple reports said the five-year deal is worth $70.5 million with $31 million guaranteed. His contract was due to expire after this season.
Byard was an All-Pro in the 2017 season, when he had eight interceptions. A third-round draft pick in 2016 out of Middle Tennessee State, he has not missed a game since becoming a starter and has 12 interceptions over the past two seasons. He has 246 tackles and 10 quarterback pressures through three pro seasons.
On Thursday, Byard said he had heard from many people, including Earl Thomas, a sixtime Pro Bowl safety who is in his first year with the Baltimore Ravens after starring for the Seattle Seahawks.
What message has stood out most to Byard?
“You have to go earn it now,” he said.
Ridley seems OK
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley left practice with tightness in his right hamstring Thursday morning, but the injury is not considered serious.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn does not expect Ridley to miss much time at training camp.
“He looked good,” Quinn said, “and we just didn’t want, at this space when guys are really pushing it, to make anything where (an injury) could go longer. I expect him to be back on the next turn through.”
Ridley stood up after running a route, reached back to touch his hamstring and walked to the side to stretch with a trainer. He stood on the field for the rest of the session with no need for immediate treatment, then took photos with fans and signed autographs after practice ended.
Ridley, a first-round draft pick out of the University of Alabama in 2018, led NFL rookies with 821 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches last season.
The Falcons will open the NFL preseason schedule by taking on the Denver Broncos in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game next Thursday in Canton, Ohio. Atlanta’s regular-season opener is Sept. 8 at Minnesota.