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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Wednesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
The suspension is the second in two seasons for Browner. He was suspended four games last season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He's the second Seahawks player to be suspended for violating the substance abuse policy this season. Fellow cornerback Walter Thurmond is serving the final week of a four-game suspension.
Browner, whose suspension is effective immediately and without pay, sent out a lengthy statement vowing that he would continue to fight his suspension and sounding resigned that his career with the Seahawks was over.
"Although I disagree with the circumstances surrounding my suspension, I accept responsibility for all of my actions and I apologize for any that causes any unflattering reflections of my family and the Seahawks," Browner wrote. "I believe in my innocence and will continue to fight with all legal resources available to me to."
Browner, who was injured in Week 10 against Atlanta and hasn't played since, filed an appeal of the suspension while injured and the Seahawks were waiting for an answer from the league.
Browner is in his third season with the Seahawks. He started all 26 games he has played for the Seahawks and has 19 tackles, one interception and 10 passes defensed this season. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2011 when he had 23 passes defensed and six interceptions, but has not matched those numbers since.
Browner was to become a free agent after the season and could file for reinstatement after one year.
Around the league
Washington • Linebacker London Fletcher, who has never missed a game in 16 seasons, announced that he plans to retire at the end of the year. Fletcher left a tiny opening that he could return, saying, "I'm 99 percent that this will be my last season."
Ravens • Quarterback Joe Flacco will wear a brace on his left knee Sunday against the New England Patriots, a precautionary move in the wake of the injury he sustained Monday night in Detroit.
Bears • Chicago remains optimistic Lance Briggs will play at Philadelphia. The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker practiced on a limited basis as he tries to work his way back from a small fracture in his left shoulder. —
Week 16 schedule
Sunday
Tampa Bay at St. Louis, 11 a.m.
Indianapolis at Kansas City, 11 a.m.
Denver at Houston, 11 a.m., Ch. 2
Miami at Buffalo, 11 a.m.
New Orleans at Carolina, 11 a.m.
Dallas at Washington, 11 a.m.
Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, 11 a.m.
Minnesota at Cincinnati, 11 a.m.
Tennessee at Jacksonville, 11 a.m.
Arizona at Seattle, 2:05 p.m., Ch. 13
N.Y. Giants at Detroit, 2:05 p.m.
Oakland at San Diego, 4225 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Green Bay, 2:25 p.m.
New England at Baltimore, 2:25 p.m., Ch. 2
Chicago at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m., Ch. 5
Monday
Atlanta at San Francisco, 6:40 p.m., ESPN