National Football League
Colts' Art Jones accepts blame for taking banned substance
National Football League

Colts' Art Jones accepts blame for taking banned substance

Published Jul. 26, 2016 4:24 p.m. ET

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Arthur Jones made one thing clear Tuesday: He blames himself for a failed test that resulted in a four-game suspension.

Three days after the league announced Jones violated its performance-enhancing substance policy, Jones arrived at training camp and explained he mistakenly took a banned ingredient in a supplement.

''Obviously it's not how I wanted to start my camp,'' he said. ''You know, not going into too many details - it's the situation I'm in.''

Jones is eligible to practice with the Colts and play in preseason games until final cuts are made Sept. 3. The 30-year-old Syracuse product avoiding going on the physically unable to perform list and could be on the field for Indy's first workout Wednesday. Jones won't be eligible to play in his first regular season game until the first week of return to the team until Oct. 3.

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But Jones was eager to tell his story. And though he acknowledged making the mistake, he was unhappy with the NFL's policy.

''I mean, with the NFL you can take too much cough syrup and it says PED,'' Jones said.

New defensive coordinator Ted Monachino said the team will support Jones and needs him on the field.

After signing a five-year, $33 million contract with Indy in 2014, Jones has missed 22 games. He sat out seven games in 2014 with a right ankle injury and missed all of last season with an injured left ankle that required surgery.

Jones' brother, Jon, is a UFC fighter who was recently removed from a bout because he failed a test for a banned substance. Jon ''Bones'' Jones had failed a drug test previously and admitted to Fox Sports in November that he had a drug problem. In the same interview, the UFC fighter said he was sober.

Arthur Jones also has a brother, Chandler, who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots and now plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

NOTES: Indianapolis will not have starting defensive end Henry Anderson on Wednesday as he continues recovering from a torn ACL. ... Tight end Darion Griswold also will start camp on the PUP list. ... The Colts placed safety Clayton Geathers and tight end Mike Miller on the non-football injury list.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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