The Associated Press

The NFL suspended Carolina Panthers rookie defensive end Julius Peppers for four games Thursday for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, his agent said.

Agent Marvin Demoff said the league office told him Peppers had tested positive for a banned substance in a dietary supplement. A source close to Peppers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Peppers didn't test positive for steroids.

Demoff said Peppers would appeal the suspension, meaning he can play in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In a statement released together with one from his agent, Peppers said he couldn't discuss the suspension until there's a ruling on his appeal.

"While I would like to provide the fans with more information, due to the legal ramifications I cannot comment on the situation and I will not be able to until the appeal process is complete," he said.

Peppers, 22, was an All-American at the University of North Carolina and the No.2 overall pick in this year's draft. He has 10 sacks and one interception for the Panthers this season.

Peppers can keep playing while his appeal is heard.

"My understanding is, he will be our starting left defensive end this Sunday," said coach John Fox. "And all of my focus - and his, too - is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."

If the suspension is not overturned, Peppers would begin serving it immediately. Normally, appeals are heard on a Tuesdays, the regular day off for NFL players.

Panthers linebacker Mark Fields said the situation did not create a distraction for the team Thursday.

"It's not that serious, so we're not looking at it like it's that serious," Fields said. "We're playing Tampa Bay Sunday, and he's playing."

If Peppers is suspended for all four games, he would lose $235,000 in salary. He signed a seven-year, $62 million contract in July, the richest deal in team history.

the league suspends him for four games, it would cost him about $235,000 from the seven-year, $62 million contract he signed in July. Peppers is the highest-paid player in Panthers history.

Another Panthers defensive lineman, Brentson Buckner, was hit with a four-game league suspension on Nov. 4 for violating the league's anti-drug policy. George Mavrikes, Buckner's agent, said his client took a dietary substance in training camp to help him lose weight. It contained one of the substances now banned by the league.

BRONCOS: Safety Izell Reese tested his pulled groin with some light running but isn't sure if he'll be ready to play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

"The groin is still sore and we'll evaluate him tomorrow," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said.

COWBOYS: Emmitt Smith is offering memorabilia in an auction to raise funds for The Open Doors Foundation, a nonprofit organization Smith created to provide academic help for youths.

Among the items are a jersey and helmet Smith wore Oct. 27, when he broke Walter Payton's career rushing record, and the footballs he used to score his first and 100th touchdowns.

"There is a lot of good stuff going in there," Smith said. "There are a lot of folks who might want to hold on to something of that nature because of the scarcity of it. Someone else might have more enjoyment out of it instead of me trying to retain all of it."

The memorabilia will be part of an online sports auction conducted by Chicago-based MastroNet from Nov. 25 to Dec. 13.

RAMS: Marshall Faulk might practice today, raising hopes that St. Louis' halfback will play in Monday's game against the Chicago Bears. Faulk sprained his right ankle and strained a tendon in his left foot Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

REDSKINS: Stephen Davis, the only Washington player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, is expected to return for Sunday's game against the New York Giants. He is recovering from a sprained right knee and wore a brace during drills.

"Hopefully by Sunday, I'll be running full speed," said Davis, who had 528 yards on 123 carries before injuring the knee Oct. 27 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Redskins coach Steve Spurrier said he might split playing time between Davis and Kenny Watson because Davis isn't 100 percent.

TITANS: Defensive end Jevon Kearse has been taking it easy on his left foot but hopes to practice today and possibly play Sunday for the first time since Tennessee's season opener. Kearse thought he might practice last week, but the foot he broke in the first game hurt after back-to-back days of running outside.

"I feel a lot more certain that I'm very close to playing," Kearse said. "I feel like if my foot stays the way it is, as far as it doesn't get real irritated, I'll play on Sunday," Kearse said.

Titans quarterback Steve McNair took about half the practice work on offense despite a sore right big toe that has placed him in a walking boot most of the past two weeks.

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