MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis and left tackle Trent Williams face disciplinary action from the NFL after violating the league’s substance abuse policy by testing positive for recreational drugs, according to an ESPN report.
Ten NFL players face fines and another player faces a fine and a suspension for testing positive shortly after the lockout ended in July, Yahoo! Sports reported Sunday, citing two unnamed player representatives to the NFL Players Association and another anonymous source. ESPN reported that Davis and Williams are among that group of 11.
“Until the situation comes out all the way, I’ll talk about it later,” Davis said after Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Coach Mike Shanahan declined comment.
“I can’t go into that area right now,” he said. “I’m not allowed to.”
According to the Yahoo! report, some players are upset with NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith because Smith assured them there would be a grace period for drug testing after the lockout.
There was no collective bargaining agreement or drug policy in effect during the lockout, which lasted from mid-March until the end of July.
One player rep told Yahoo! that he was under the impression players would have a 30-day grace period for testing after the lockout ending. However, the league began testing on the second day of training camp.
Riley makes most of start
Not to be outdone by the Redskins’ struggling offense, a defensive veteran was replaced in the starting lineup Sunday by a young prospect.
Second-year inside linebacker Perry Riley took Rocky McIntosh’s spot and finished with nine tackles (seven solo), including four for a loss.
Riley snuffed out a pair of screen passes and shot in behind blockers in space to make the tackle.
On the downside, he appeared to play a run fit inside instead of containing the edge on Reggie Bush’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. It’s uncertain, however, exactly what Riley’s responsibility was on the play.
“I felt like I did some good things out there, but I made some mistakes as well,” he said. “Those are the things I’m really worried about getting cleaned up. I’m not worried about the things I did good.”
Gano off-target in wind
So much for kicker Graham Gano’s stellar first half of the season. He missed two out of five field goal attempts Sunday. Through eight games, he made 12 of 13 tries that traveled full distance (three other attempts were blocked).
Gano missed wide left from 50 and 49 yards into a stiff wind in the west end zone at Sun Life Stadium. Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter also missed from 49 yards in the same direction.
“That wind out there, you can’t judge it,” Gano said. “That’s what he said after the game, too, Carpenter. That 50-yarder, that’s about as much wind as I’ve ever kicked in.”
Gano said the snap and hold were good on both misses.
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
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