The NFL announced that Browns rookie wide receiver Jordan Payton has been suspended four games for violating the league’s PED policy. Given that Cleveland won’t be appearing in the postseason, Payton’s first NFL campaign is now officially over.
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Payton, 23, was selected in the fifth round of out UCLA this spring as one of the Browns’ league-leading 14 draft picks. Cleveland selected four wide receivers in this year’s draft (five including Seth Devalve, a collegiate WR who has since been converted to tight end), and Payton has been the least effective thus far. While Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, and Rashard Higgins have all contributed something, Payton had managed just three yards and one reception in four games.
As a mid-round rookie, Payton is earning minimum salaries for the duration of his contract, but he’ll still forfeit about $105K in base salary and roughly $15K in prorated bonus money as a result of the four-game ban.
The # of idiotic suspensions from the Browns and the Cowboys is insane.