Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner, who was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in December, has been reinstated according to a message he posted on Twitter. Browner’s agent did not immediately return a phone call from the Herald.
“I received wonderful news today,” Browner wrote. “The NFL has reinstated me, and I now have the opportunity to prove to the fans and my teammates how important this sport is to me. I realize now more than ever that being part of the NFL is not a right, but a privilege. I am grateful that Commissioner Goodell and my agent were able to resolve this issue in a positive, productive manner so I can continue my career, provide for my family, and help my team win a Super Bowl. Thank you to all who have gone out of their way to show their support. I will live up to your expectations of me.”
The surprising news comes less than a week after Browner’s agent, Peter Schaffer, made it known that his client would sue the NFL if he were not reinstated. Browner was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy — the failed test was for marijuana according to Schaffer — but Browner’s camp contended that the indefinite ban was too extreme because he was only that far into the league’s drug program because he missed tests he was unaware of while playing in the Canadian Football League.
The timing of this news is big for Browner, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 11. Browner, who turns 30 this summer, may not be headed for a big payday given his age and past suspensions, so it is possible the Seahawks could consider bringing him back, though the play of Byron Maxwell late last season makes it unlikely the Seahawks would be willing to pay much to keep Browner.
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