Seahawks lose Browner for a year

The league has suspended Seahawks CB Brandon Browner 1 year for violating the league's substance abuse policy.  Browner was already likely out for the rest of this regular season because of injury but will now miss half of next year as well.  This also comes a day after fill-in CB Walter Thurmond drew a 4-game suspension for a non-PED drug violation.  NFL Network's Michael Silver reports that Seattle plans to re-sign CB Antoine Winfield.  We don't yet know how big Winfield's role will be, and he has yet to see the field this season after getting dumped by both the Vikings and Seahawks in the summer.  If he can crack the starting lineup, though, the veteran CB has proved to be a high-upside fantasy defender.

Former Seahawks CB Brandon Browner has reached a 3-year deal worth $17 million with New England.  He'll miss the 1st 4 games of the coming season for a league drug suspension, but then Browner will combine with Darrelle Revis to give the Patriots arguably the league's best corner tandem.  The coverage ability of those 2 can only enhance the defense's blitz freedom and increase the pressure on opposing QBs.  New England could sport a top 5 D in both fantasy football and real terms in 2014.  Like Revis, Browner doesn't generally make enough tackles to be an attractive target in the 2014 IDP rankings.

The NFL has reinstated Seahawks CB Brandon Browner following his December suspension for violating the substance abuse policy.  That allows Browner to hit the free-agent market and take part in all offseason activities.  He still must sit out the 1st 4 games of the 2014 season, however.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports that the league has suspended Seahawks CB Brandon Browner indefinitely for violating the drug policy.  Reports of a 1-year ban spread back in early November, but Browner reportedly appealed at the time.  That appeal has been rejected.  He reportedly turned down an offer of an 8-game ban in hopes of getting the whole punishment thrown out.  Browner will now miss nearly all of next season before he can apply for reinstatement.  He'll become a free agent in March.

NFL.com reports that Seahawks CB Brandon Browner has rejected a settlement offer from the league that would reduce his 1-year drug suspension by nearly 3 months.  Browner will instead continue to pursue his appeal of the ban.  He's currently out with a groin injury suffered Nov. 10 at Atlanta.

The Seahawks expect to miss CB Brandon Browner for 4-6 weeks because of a groin injury he suffered Sunday against the Vikings.  At 9-1 and in control of the NFC's top playoff seed, Seattle can afford to be cautious with Browner.  Fortunately for fantasy owners, the Seahawks D has plenty of other talent to keep in among the top starting units the rest of the way.