Golden Tate
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate has been suspended for four games for using a drug prescribed for fertility planning.
The 10-year veteran, who signed with the Giants in March as a free agent, announced the suspension in a Twitter post Saturday. He said he plans to appeal the violation of the NFL's policy on performance enhancers and that he would have no further comment.
The NFL has not announced the suspension and it had no comment, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email Saturday to The Associated Press.
Giants coach Pat Shurmur declined comment, saying the team will see what happens.
Tate practiced Saturday and he can practice throughout training camp. He will not be able to play in the first four regular-season games unless his suspension is overturned. That rarely happens.
Tate, who signed a four-year, $37.5 million contract, including $23 million guaranteed, and general manager Dave Gettleman spoke to the media on Friday. Neither mentioned the suspension.
The Giants' receiving corps has been swamped by injuries in the first three days of training camp.
The Notre Dame product had 44 catches for 517 yards and three touchdowns last season before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles from the Detroit Lions.
The 30-year-old Tate averaged 93 catches, 1,056 yards receiving and five TDs the previous four seasons in Detroit. He went to the Pro Bowl after the 2014 season. Tate spent his first four seasons with Seattle.