National Football League

Shanahan: Buchanon suspended 4 games

Published Aug. 2, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Washington Redskins cornerback Phillip Buchanon will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season, coach Mike Shanahan said Tuesday.

Shanahan said the suspension was issued ''a while back'' from the NFL office. The coach did not say why Buchanon was suspended or give any other details.

Shanahan revealed the news the day after Buchanon announced on Twitter that he was re-signing with the Redskins.

''I'm excited to return to the Washington Redskins and continue to be part of this great organization,'' Buchanon said in a statement released Tuesday by his publicist. ''I look forward to putting the suspension behind me, returning to the field and helping my team.''

Buchanon, 30, was mostly a nickel back last year. He started five games, mostly while Carlos Rogers was injured, and had two interceptions.

He has also played with Oakland, Houston, Tampa Bay and Detroit over nine NFL seasons.