Onterrio Smith Suspended for 2005 season

[Rick]

WCCO TV (CBS) in Minneapolis / St. Paul is reporting that Vikings running back Onterrio Smith has been suspended by the NFL and will miss the 2005 season.

Clipped from the WCCO.com article:

The National Football league has suspended Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith for a year.

The reason for Smith's suspension was not immediately released. He will miss all of the 2005 football season.

Smith, 24, rushed for 579 yards as a rookie and led the Vikings last season with 544 yards.

Smith spent part of the 2004 season on the bench, serving a four game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. In the summer of 2004, Smith tested positive for marijuana.

At the time, Smith was in the league's substance-abuse program for at least one other previous positive test.

In April 2005, Smith was detained at the Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport with a device called "The Original Whizzinator." Smith reportedly told police the device is used "for making a clean urine test."

[buzzsaw]

Onterrio has issues!!!!!

tailback Onterrio Smith has been apprised by the NFL that he faces a suspension for the entire 2005 season for a repeat violation of the league's substance abuse program, two sources with knowledge of his situation told ESPN.com.

2004 SEASON STATISTICS

Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD

124 544 2 36 394 2

The suspension, which would be the second sanction against the third-year veteran, is subject to appeal. Smith missed four games in 2004 after the former University of Oregon star tested positive for marijuana. A player has five days to appeal a suspension.

Citing the league's confidentiality guidelines on such matters, an NFL spokesman on Thursday declined comment.

It is not yet known what triggered Smith's latest violation but sources were adamant that it had nothing to do with an April 21 incident in which the Vikings back was stopped at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in possession of a device, "The Original Whizzinator," which is marketed as a way to beat drug tests.

Two team sources said Smith told them he had missed a league-administered drug test, which, according to the NFL guidelines, is tantamount to a positive screening.

Smith, 24, was present for the start of the Vikings' offseason program on Monday, was absent on Tuesday, then returned Wednesday. On Thursday, though, coach Mike Tice said that Smith would miss the rest of the team's offseason activities.

"He has been excused from the rest of the offseason program, and he will be gone indefinitely," Tice said. "I really can't speak about any reasons why, or when he will be back. It is in the league's hands. We'll leave it at that."

The decision to have Smith not attend the workouts, however, would have to be made, at this time, by Vikings officials. Since the suspension has not yet been enforced because of Smith's appeal rights, he is not precluded from attending club-related activities.

A fourth-round choice in 2003, Smith had a history of off-field problems in college, and they contributed to his depressed draft stock. When the Vikings ended his plummet in the fourth round, Smith referred to himself as the "SOD," explaining later that he considered himself the "steal of the draft."

In two seasons, Smith has appeared in 26 games and started nine of them. He has logged 231 carries for 1,123 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith also has 51 receptions for 523 yards and two touchdowns, and has returned 36 kickoffs for 743 yards.

The potential loss of Smith for the entire season is a blow to a Minnesota offense that Tice has insisted will refocus on the power running game the Vikings seemed to abandon at times in 2004. That said, the Vikings can still claim a deep tailback depth chart, with veterans Michael Bennett, Moe Williams and Mewelde Moore on hand, along with rookie Ciatrick Fason, of Florida, a fourth-round pick in last month's draft.

[Eric Wettschreck]

It doesn't bother me in the least bit to have Smith ride pine for the season.

Moore, bennet, and the awesomely studly Moe Williams will be just fine.

[mnwild]

What is Culpepper going to do now. Just last week he said "We need Smith to win a championship".. Bennett will be injured by season's start, better hope the draft pick pans out.

[lawdog]

We need to cut our losses with this stoner and cut him right now. He is worthless and costs us millions. Pick up a free agent or someone who is cut for additional backup and be done with this moron!

[GullGuide]

I know!!...Let's trade for RICKY WILLIAMS!!!

[so haaad]

I hope that you are kidding about trading for Ricky "I'm also a stoner" Williams. I'll be surprised if Bennett isn't the "feature" back.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I just hope they get Moe into the game more. I love his head down and get yards style.

[GullGuide]

sarcasim my friend, sarcasim.

[otto_man]

good to see nothing's going on in viking land!!!!

[Ely Lake Expert]

I wonder if smith is friends with Ricky williams?

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[fishpepin]

I don't think we will miss Smith that much. I believe Fason will be the starting Tailback before midseason and would have been with Smith there too. I also look for good things from Mewelde Moore and I would not write Bennett off completely.

[Pig_sticka]

Moore is said to be a complete head case, who will probably be a 3rd running back. Bennett WILL be injured at some point sooner than later. Moe is getting older and can't be an every down back, but I really do like in 3rd down situations and goal line. Fason if he molds good in camp and learns enough will be the starting back if the Vikes are planning for the future and present, once Bennett gets the injury bug.

[sheephead24]

I think that Smith was the best back on our team, Bennett will be hurt first quarter of the first preseason game, So I see Mewelde Moore running all over everyone this year. Hes too good to sit on the bench. 5 yerds a caqrry last year and what do they do, bench him when bennett gets healthy.

[Fat Rap guy]

Whoever said Mewelde Moore was a head case?

He was an honors student at a fancy private high school, graduated college with a double major in finance and accounting, spent his summer breaks from college playing pro baseball for the padres, and makes up for his lack of size and speed with smarts. He seems like the last guy on the team we'd have a problem with.

[Ole #1]

Not only that but Moore broke some Viking records last year. He produced more yards and I think more td's than any rb in the 3 game stretch he played. He was the talk of the leauge until the fumble, then Tice benched him and that was it.

[Down to Earth]

I kind agree with fishpepin here. I would not be surprised if Fason is starting by the end of the season. This of course is assuming Bennett gets injured. If some how he stays healty the whole year, Bennett won't move out of the starting spot. My bet is Bennett stays healthy as it is a contract year for him.

[Ole #1]

I think you're right about Bennett, unless someone else proves to be better in camp. I just hope they pick one guy and give him the ball 20 times a game, and I hope he stays healthy.

[Pig_sticka]

I dont know exactly who was saying Moore was a head case but that is what I heard from a few sources. Hopefully I am wrong because Moore did great in the few games he played last year.

I always get pumped for the Vikes because nothing is better on a football sunday than sitting around with a take out pizza and a cold beverage.

[Fat Rap guy]

Check out the Onterrio Smith cartoon here .

[Rip_Some_Lip]

Too funny!