NFL notebook: Pats WR Edelman has PED appeal denied

Edelman's appeal -- contesting his violation of the league's
performance-enhancing drugs policy -- was heard June 25 and reportedly focused
on two points: the identity of the substance for which he is being suspended,
and alleged mishandling of his drug sample during the testing process. Various
reports have said that Edelman's positive test was for a substance that was
not immediately recognizable.

The suspension will keep him out of games at home against the Houston Texans,
on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions and at home
against the Miami Dolphins. He will forfeit approximately $471,000 of his $2
million base salary this year.

Entering his 10th season, Edelman missed all of last season after tearing the
anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a preseason contest. In
nine NFL seasons, including last year's campaign that was wiped out by injury,
Edelman has 425 receptions for 4,540 yards and 24 touchdowns. He made 98 grabs
for 1,106 yards and three scores in 2016.

--Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones was suspended for the first two
games of the 2018 season without pay for violating the league's
substance-abuse policy, the NFL announced.

The suspension is presumably tied to Jones' October arrest for marijuana
possession during a traffic stop. He later pleaded no contest and was required
to pay $1,047 in court costs while having his driver's license suspended for
six months.

Jones will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 17, one day
after a game against the Minnesota Vikings. Jones, 23, rushed for 448 yards
and four touchdowns as a rookie last season. He sported an impressive 5.5
average per carry and recorded six runs of 20 or more yards.

--Los Angeles Rams right guard Jamon Brown has been suspended without pay for
the first two games of the 2018 season after violating the NFL's
substance-abuse policy, the team announced.

Brown, who is entering his fourth season NFL season, started all 16 games for
the Rams last season, allowing 2.5 sacks and committing five penalties.

He will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 17, one day after
a game against the Arizona Cardinals.

--Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler left the door slightly cracked
to return for a 13th NFL season, but he said he is "probably" done playing
football.

On the most recent episode of "Very Cavallari" -- a reality show featuring
Cutler's wife, Kristin Cavallari -- Cutler was asked by his wife if he thinks
he's "100 percent done with football." "Well I mean I can't say, 100," he
replied. "Probably." Asked when he'll know for sure, Cutler said "September,"
referring to the start of the NFL season.

Cutler, playing in place of injured Ryan Tannehill, started 14 games for Miami
last season, throwing for 2,666 yards (career-low 6.2 yards per attempt), 19
touchdowns and 14 interceptions while going 6-8 as a starter. The 12-year
veteran has started 153 career games for the Denver Broncos, Bears and
Dolphins, going 74-79 while throwing for 35,133 yards, 227 touchdowns and 160
interceptions.

--San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was fined an undisclosed amount
and suspended two games by the NFL for violating the league's personal-conduct
policy.

According to the 49ers' official website, the punishments stem from a
misdemeanor weapons charge -- to which Foster pleaded no contest in June --
and a misdemeanor drug offense, after Foster was arrested in January on a
misdemeanor marijuana charge that was later dropped.

That would indicate that Foster, who will forfeit $103,024 in salary for the
two missed games, on top of the undisclosed fine, was not punished further for
the pair of felony domestic violence charges he faced, stemming from a
February incident. Those charges were dismissed in May after Foster's
ex-girlfriend, Elissa Ennis, testified that she initially lied to police about
Foster hitting her and did so in an attempt to ruin Foster's career and "end
him."

--Terrell Owens announced in a statement that he'll hold his own Hall of Fame
induction celebration at the place where he played his college ball, the
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Owens had previously said he would
skip the official festivities in Canton, Ohio, when he is inducted into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 4. His celebration will be that day also.

Owens was selected for induction on his third year on the ballot. He expressed
dissatisfaction when passed over in his first two years of eligibility. This
year's other inductees are general manager Bobby Beathard and players Robert
Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian
Urlacher.

Owens ranks second in NFL history with 15,934 yards, third with 153 touchdown
catches and eighth with 1,078 yards. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection.
Owens, an outspoken figure throughout this career, topped 1,000 yards nine
times and caught a career-best 100 passes for the 49ers in 2002.

--Federal authorities revealed that they intercepted a shipment of 108 phony
replica Super Bowl rings from many teams, including the recently crowned
Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia Customs and Border Protection officials found the rings in an
express consignment parcel that arrived June 18 from Hong Kong. Officials said
the parcel was marked as "alloy rings."

Trade enforcement officers detected poor craftsmanship and decided to detain
the rings and took steps to see if the rings were authentic. But the NFL, the
trademark holder, informed customs officials that the rings were phony.
Officials said an authorized replica of a Super Bowl ring can cost
approximately $10,000, but counterfeit ones sell for about $25 on the
Internet.

--Field Level Media