Sources told ESPN that La'el Collins, a Dallas Cowboys right tackle, was suspended by NFL for trying to bribe the league's drug test collector.
According to sources, players cannot be suspended for positive marijuana testing under the NFL's new collective agreement. However, Collins was accused of multiple missed tests and trying to bribe test collectors.
Initially, the NFL was going to suspend Collins for five games. However, the NFL Players Association, aware of Collins's intention to suspend him for five games and helped to negotiate a two-game reduction.
Collins appealed against the suspension and was heard by the arbitrator jointly appointed by the NFLPA and the league. Collins appeal was rejected by the arbitrator, who ruled that the evidence supported Collins' request to increase the suspension back to five games.
Collins' lawyer is currently appealing the decision of the arbitrator. However, league sources say that the suspension, announced Sept. 10, won't be reduced.
ESPN reached out to both the NFLPA and NFLPA for comment.
Collins was suspended for the first time in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He will miss Monday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Collins believed that he had valid reasons for missing seven drug screenings. One of these was set for the day Cowboys strength-and conditioning coach Markus Paul died last November. Collins failed another drug test on the day of his uncle’s funeral.
Collins isn't the first NFL player who tried to bypass the league's drug testing policy. After Von Miller was caught trying to cheat the drug-test program using a urine collector, the NFL suspended Von Miller from the Denver Broncos in 2013.
Collins can be reinstated to the Cowboys roster on Oct. 18 if his suspension is not overturned or reduced.
Collins will be suspended for approximately $2 million. According to the CBA, the injury guarantee of $6.48million in Collins' 2022 salary is null.
Collins has been a left guard or right tackle in 62 of the Cowboys' 63 games since 2015. Collins missed 13 games in 2016, due to a toe injury, and all of last year because of hip surgery.
