ALAMEDA –- Raiders fullback Marcel Reece has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing drugs, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
The veteran has also been banned from participating in this year’s Pro Bowl. He was voted into the league’s All-Star game for the fourth-straight year.
Reece’s suspension begins with Sunday’s game against Kansas City. He is eligible to return after the third game of the 2016 season. Reece can participate in all offseason activities and practices. He can compete in preseason games as well.
Reece has a limited role in coordinator Bill Musgrave’s scheme, playing roughly a quarter of the team’s offensive snaps. The versatile chess piece has just 10 carries for 36 yards, and has 30 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns.
At times he has taken a backseat to the use of Jamize Olawale, a physical fullback more involved in the run game this year. Olawale was given a three-year, $6-million contract extension a few weeks ago.
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Reece has one more year left on a three-year contract extension signed in 2014. He is scheduled to make $3.53 million in 2016 –- a total that will decrease after missing the first three games –- and could be cut with $880,838 in dead money.
He will also likely have to forfeit his $100,000 bonus for making the Pro Bowl.
With the suspension being announced, Reece’s appeals process has run its course.
Edge rusher Aldon Smith was suspended earlier this year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Reece is the last Raider since fullback Luke Lawton in 2009 to violated the league’s PED policy.
Reece was added to the active roster after Lawton’s suspension and made his NFL debut the following game.
Receiver Andre Holmes was also suspended for violating the league’s PED policy in 2013, but his positive test came before he signed with the Raiders.
