Buffalo Bills Face Early Season Challenges with Key Suspensions

Buffalo Bills Face Early Season Challenges with Key Suspensions

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are gearing up for the upcoming NFL season, but not without some early hurdles to overcome. On Friday, the team’s general manager, Brandon Beane, announced that two of their recent free agent acquisitions, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and defensive end Michael Hoecht, will be sidelined for the first six games. The reason? Both players tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, a violation of the NFL’s strict policy against PEDs.

Beane shared this update during a news conference, expressing the team’s disappointment but also their understanding of the situation. “It’s not ideal to have two guys with that, but both guys have never had any issues off the field,” Beane stated. “It’s a tough lesson of where do you get your supplements or whatever happened.”

Despite the suspensions, both Ogunjobi and Hoecht will remain with the team through the offseason program and training camp. They will be allowed to return to the team facilities after four weeks and will be eligible to play after serving their six-game suspensions. Beane likened the situation to dealing with players who might start the season on injured reserve, emphasizing the team’s preparedness to adapt.

Ogunjobi, who was most recently with the Pittsburgh Steelers, learned about his positive test just as he was finalizing his one-year deal with the Bills. The team was unaware of this development before the agreement. “I understand the league, we have an obligation to understand what we put in our body, and I take full responsibility for that,” Ogunjobi said. “I take full accountability. It was a mistake. It was an accident. And I accept my punishment.”

Beane made it clear that had they known about Ogunjobi’s positive test beforehand, they might have reconsidered the signing. However, by the time they found out, many other defensive tackles had already signed with other teams. Beane praised Ogunjobi for his honesty and transparency, noting that the player came to his office to discuss the matter before the news became public.

“I give [Ogunjobi] credit cause it’s early in the process,” Beane said. “The league doesn’t even know about [the positive test], the way that it’s done by an independent group. But he was very forthright. Larry, he was Pittsburgh’s [Walter Payton] Man of the Year. He’s a good man. He’s played eight years in the league and never had a blip.”

As for Hoecht, the team was aware of his suspension before agreeing to terms with him. Hoecht, who signed a three-year deal, discovered his positive test three weeks into the offseason. He was proactive in informing interested teams about his situation. Hoecht, who spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, admitted to becoming complacent with his supplement checks, trusting a trainer he had worked with for years.

• Both players will miss the first six games of the season.
• Ogunjobi was unaware of his positive test until finalizing his deal.
• Hoecht informed teams of his situation during free agency.
• Both players take full responsibility for their actions.

“It was a mistake,” Hoecht said. “It was careless. It’s fully my responsibility. And it’s something I’m gonna have to own, something I’m gonna come up on the better side of and use it as motivation and as fuel.”

As the Bills navigate these early challenges, the team remains focused on the bigger picture. With the support of the organization and a commitment to learning from these experiences, both Ogunjobi and Hoecht are determined to return stronger and more vigilant. The Bills, meanwhile, will continue to strategize and adapt, ensuring they remain competitive as the season unfolds.