For the second time in a week, a St. Louis Rams player has been suspended for violating league drug policy.
Wide receiver Stedman Bailey, the Rams’ No. 3 wide receiver for much of this season, has been suspended for four games without pay for violating NFL policy on substance abuse.
“Very, very disappointed in his choices,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “He let himself down in addition to letting his teammates and this organization down. We have a strict policy as it relates to substance abuse, and he violated the policy.
“A setback for us from an offensive standpoint. A setback from a special teams standpoint. I’ve had numerous conversations with ‘Sted’ — he understands that this is his last go-around. If he wants to flourish in this league and have a career in this league, he’s gonna have to change his lifestyle.”
Bailey, who turns 25 Wednesday, won’t be eligible to play again until the Rams’ Dec. 13 home game vs. Detroit. He can return to the active roster on Dec. 7.
The Rams moved immediately to replace Bailey, agreeing to terms with veteran wide receiver Wes Welker, who was among three wide receivers who worked out with the team and took physicals.
“He’s in outstanding shape, we saw that early this morning (in the workout),” Fisher said of Welker. “He’s anxious and eager to play. He’s moved the chains for two potential Hall of Fame quarterbacks.”
Welker has a history of concussions but Fisher said the Rams were satisfied that Welker could play after running him through physicals and medical evaluations Monday.
“Everything was good,” Fisher said.
Last season, Bailey was suspended for four games for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. Under a new league policy that came out last September, that suspension was rescinded after two games.
Bailey, a third-round draft pick out of West Virginia in 2013, has 12 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown this season. He drew national attention, and a fine from the league, when he fell to the ground in the end zone to celebrate an 18-yard touchdown reception against Arizona.
Bailey used the football as a pillow as if taking a nap, then got up after a few seconds. Using the ball as a prop in TD celebrations is against NFL rules, thus the fine. Bailey said after that game that the “nap” was a signal that opposing defenses shouldn’t go to sleep on him.
Now, opposing defenses from Chicago, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Arizona — the Rams’ next four opponents — don’t have to worry about him. Bailey had two catches for 13 yards in Sunday’s 21-18 overtime loss to Minnesota.
After trading Chris Givens to Baltimore last week, the Rams were left with only five wideouts on the roster — one of them being undrafted rookie Bradley Marquez. Minus Bailey for the next month, the Rams need help.
The team also worked out Hakeem Nicks and Vincent Brown on Monday.
Last week, running back Trey Watts was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy and will not play for at least the rest of the 2015 season.
“We’re going to take an aggressive approach to make sure these things don’t happen in the future,” Fisher said.
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