This has not been very good year for the National Football League (NFL). For the 2nd time in less than a year, another player has been suspended. Running back Karlos Williams of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been suspended, again, for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
Only a couple of months ago, Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson was also suspended for the first 10 games of this season because of his violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy. Lane Johnson just recently filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) regarding his suspension.
It's the second substance abuse violation of Karlos Williams this season. The first violation was during the off season while he was still a member of the Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo Bills waived Karlos Williams on Aug. 21. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 NFL season. This time the suspension is for 10 games.
Karlos Williams was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on their practice squad on Oct. 12. Linebacker Vince Williams, his brother, is on his 4th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Karlos Williams has not played a single game this season.
This year has been horrible for Karlos Williams. He first reported to the Buffalo Bills training camp overweight. His weight went up to 216 pounds during the off season. Karlos Williams blamed his weight gain to his pregnant fiancé's food cravings. "The injury of pregnancy I'd say," Karlos Williams said.
The Buffalo Bills held him out of practice and placed him on the team's active/non-football illness list. Then Karlos Williams was suspended for 4 games. After that, the Buffalo Bills released him. Things seemed to go for the better when the Pittsburgh Steelers took a chance and signed him to a contract. But then another substance abuse violation and ultimately a 10 game suspension.
Karlos Williams was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. In eleven games that he played, three as a starter, Karlos Williams gained 517 yards on 93 carries and scored seven rushing touchdowns with two receiving touchdowns.
