Lane Johnson's agent says no suspension, thus far
Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson denied Tuesday that he is about to be suspended 10 games for a second positive PED test. But after Johnson texted Daily News and Inquirer reporters denying knowledge of the matter, FOX's Jay Glazer, who worked as a trainer with Johnson in 2015, gave a different account that he said came from the player.
Glazer said that Johnson "says he took an amino acid that was approved but tested positive for peptide. Fighting it as well as company. You're responsible for what goes in your body but he insists it was approved. Waiting on B sample."
This would seem to mean that Johnson and the company that produced the amino acid supplement are fighting the result, and that Johnson's B urine sample has not yet been tested. Peptides are substances that bind amino acids; some of them are banned.
Johnson's agent, Ken Sarnoff, released the following statement:
"1. We are aware that a member of the media has started a rumor that Lane will be suspended for a PED violation.
2. Lane has not been suspended and any report to the contrary is false.
3. Nonetheless, we will not comment on my client's protected health information."
The allegation was initally reported by local radio personality Darren DeGaetano, then repeated by 94WIP's Howard Eskin and the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rapoport added that Johnson is appealing, but given that officially, there is no suspension, that wording would seem incorrect. Johnson was suspended four games at the start of the 2014 season for a failed drug test.
The Eagles did not respond to requests for comment. Team personnel who generally are aware of such things said they had heard nothing.
An NFL spokesman said the league had no comment.
Before the Glazer report, Johnson didn't reply immediately, then texted that he had been asleep. Asked about the allegation, he said "nothing is going on" and asked who had reported the alleged suspension.
Texts to Johnson seeking further information and clarification have not been answered.
Johnson, the fourth player taken in the 2013 draft, signed a $56 million contract extension with the Eagles this offseason. His loss for 10 games would be devastating to an offensive line looking to regroup under new coach Doug Pederson. Dennis Kelly is the backup right tackle.
ESPN's Field Yates reported that Johnson's guarantees would be voided if he had indeed tested positive again. This could amount to about $25 million. A lot of Eagles fans no doubt will ponder why someone who has already lost four games' worth of paychecks to a banned substance suspension would ever again take anything that wasn't explicitly cleared by his team's training staff and the league.