BREAKING: NFL Under Fire for Controversial Bills Decision
The Buffalo Bills will have to wait until October to see two key free-agent signings in action, as the NFL’s decision to suspend them has sparked controversy.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane revealed on Friday that defensive linemen Michael Hoecht, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams, and Larry Ogunjobi, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, have each received six-game suspensions for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
While Hoecht had warned the team about his pending suspension, Ogunjobi’s punishment came as an unexpected development. The lack of prior notice from the NFL has drawn criticism, as it left the Bills in a difficult position during free agency.
Bills Face Difficult Position
Both Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi will be allowed to participate in training camp with the Buffalo Bills but must remain away from the team for the first six weeks of the regular season, returning at the start of Week 7. This delay gives the Bills time until October to decide whether to release them or add them to the 53-man roster, but it also puts the team in a difficult position.
Both players were expected to be part of the Bills’ defensive line rotation, meaning the team may now have to explore additional options in free agency or the upcoming NFL Draft to address the gaps.
As ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg reported, Ogunjobi’s positive test created complications since the Bills had agreed to terms with him but had not yet finalized his contract.
“Ogunjobi’s test he only found out about this week, and the Bills did not know about before agreeing to terms,” Getzenberg posted on X. “Caused a delay in his contract, which still hasn’t been signed but will be. Hoecht’s PED test the Bills already knew about before agreeing to terms.”
The NFL has drawn criticism for its lack of transparency regarding pending suspensions. According to WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio, the league has no requirement to disclose a player’s PED suspension to teams, general managers, or the rest of the league. Instead, only the player and their current team are informed. If the player becomes a free agent, it is up to them to disclose the information.
This lack of disclosure has frustrated many fans, with one Bills supporter questioning on X: “How does the @NFL not tell every GM before the start of free agency the list of players who will be handed down suspensions? That seems so backwards.”
Bills Could Have Another Option Looming
The Bills may be facing depth issues on the defensive line due to the suspensions, but general manager Brandon Beane pointed out that another option remains on the table. The team released veteran edge rusher Von Miller before free agency began, but Beane said they would consider bringing him back if the contract terms were favorable.
“We just decided where the salary was to take a step back,” Beane told reporters on March 14. “We never closed the door, whether it’s now or later in the spring or in-season.”