Cowboys' Quinn suspended 2 games for violating PED policy
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn was suspended two games for violating the NFL's performing enhancing drug policy, his agent, Sean Kiernan, announced Thursday.
Kiernan said Quinn failed a test due to a masking agent called probenecid and claimed it got into the pass-rusher's system through tainted medication that he was taking for seizures.
Statement re: Robert Quinn pic.twitter.com/EY5D5KJslJ
- Sean Kiernan (@SKiernan78) August 8, 2019
"I've been working with NFL players for 20 years, and I can't think of a situation where I've been personally involved where the league was as tone-deaf as it was here," wrote Kiernan.
The agent alleges the NFL admitted during Quinn's hearing that it didn't believe the veteran was "intentionally doping, but still suspended him."
"The arbitrator gave us a fair hearing, but the strength at which the league argued against Rob was incredibly disappointing," Kiernan continued. "I was especially disgusted by the actions of NFL Attorney Kevin Manara both prior to and during the hearing. I feel bad for Rob and his family because he did nothing wrong, yet they still had to go through this excruciating process where his character and integrity were ridiculed."
Shortly after the announcement, Dallas head coach Jason Garrett said the team supports and trusts Quinn, per Cowboys senior writer Rob Phillips.
Quinn - who was acquired in a trade from the Miami Dolphins in March - is currently recovering from surgery on a broken hand, which likely would've forced him to miss the first game or two of the regular season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Dallas' depth at defensive end has been stretched thin this offseason.
Star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence remains on the physically unable to perform list following shoulder surgery; Tyrone Crawford is also on the PUP list due to a hip injury and could face NFL discipline for a bar fight in March; and Randy Gregory is still considering when to apply to the league for reinstatement following his fourth suspension.
Former first-round pick Taco Charlton will likely receive the first opportunity to replace Quinn for the first two games of the regular season.
Copyright (C) 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.