NFL suspends Falcons' Babineaux one game
The NFL suspended Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux for one game Tuesday after his arrest last year on marijuana charges.
Babineaux will miss the Falcons' Sept. 12 opener at Pittsburgh. He also has been fined one week's pay, $260,000 of his $2.2 million salary.
Babineaux pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession July 19. The charge was reduced in a Gwinnett County court to three misdemeanor counts. He received one year of probation.
Police found 1 1/2 ounces of marijuana in Babineaux's car when he was arrested in December. He and a friend were driving through suburban Atlanta at the time.
The suspension will leave the Falcons without their most productive defensive tackle. Babineaux led the Falcons with six sacks last season. He forced two fumbles.
The Falcons could be left with two young starters at defensive tackle.
The Falcons hope 2009 first-round pick Peria Jerry earns a starting job. Jerry missed most of his rookie season with a knee injury.
Coach Mike Smith said Tuesday that Jerry is moving closer to gaining full medical clearance. He has been limited through the first week of training camp.
Rookie Corey Peters, a third-round pick from Kentucky, could take advantage of Babineaux's suspension to start against the Steelers.
Thomas Johnson, who started 10 games last season, Trey Lewis and Vance Walker are the other top defensive tackles in camp.
''I don't think that it really does anything for us in terms of how we change our preparation,'' Smith said of the suspension.
''We're going to go in prepared no differently than we would in any other year for our season opener.''
Babineaux is eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games. Following the suspension, he can return to the team's active roster Sept. 13.
-
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?
Caleb Williams, Bears shaking up the odds: 'Their ceiling is high if he excels'
NFC South schedule preview: Breaking down the division’s 2024 opponents
-
How Chargers’ WR remake reveals Jim Harbaugh’s organizational shift
Taking Command: How Adam Peters is reshaping football in Washington
Jayden Daniels on what he'll bring to NFL: 'Washington is getting a dog'
-
Travis Kelce lines up another TV job, joins new season of 'American Horror Story'
Lions stay true to their draft strategy as they become NFL's hunted
Why Titans first-round pick JC Latham can be ‘an All-Pro before you know it’
-
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?
Caleb Williams, Bears shaking up the odds: 'Their ceiling is high if he excels'
NFC South schedule preview: Breaking down the division’s 2024 opponents
-
How Chargers’ WR remake reveals Jim Harbaugh’s organizational shift
Taking Command: How Adam Peters is reshaping football in Washington
Jayden Daniels on what he'll bring to NFL: 'Washington is getting a dog'
-
Travis Kelce lines up another TV job, joins new season of 'American Horror Story'
Lions stay true to their draft strategy as they become NFL's hunted
Why Titans first-round pick JC Latham can be ‘an All-Pro before you know it’