Oakland Raiders Running Back Rhodes Suspended

Fox 31: Oakland Raiders Running Back Dominic Rhodes Tuesday was suspended 4 games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

It is the NFL’s policy not to disclose the exact reason for a substance abuse suspension. However, a highly placed NFL source confirmed with Fox 31’s Josina Anderson Thursday that Rhodes’s suspension was due to alcohol.

According to the source, “Rhodes is required to abstain from alcohol as apart of his treatment in the league’s program.” Furthermore, the source confirmed that Rhodes’s violation stems from an incident in February when Rhodes was pulled over by an Indiana State Trooper for driving 81 miles-an-hour in a 55 mph zone.

Initially, Rhodes was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit. In March, Rhodes pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of reckless driving.

The source says the original charge was an “indication that [Rhodes] had consumed alcohol.” The source told Anderson that the levying of Rhodes’s suspension was delayed as a result of his appeal, and because “during the off-season things don’t happen as quickly,” with games not imminently effected.

Rhodes recently signed a 2-year contract with the Raiders after spending the past 6 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.