Pats DE Jermaine Cunningham suspended 4 games for violating policy on performance enhancers
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New England Patriots defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has been suspended by the NFL for four games without pay for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The league's announcement Monday did not specify the substance. The Patriots had no immediate reaction.
Cunningham, a 2010 second-round draft pick from Florida, can return to the active roster on Dec. 24, one day after the Patriots play at Jacksonville. He had a season-high six tackles in his only start in last Thursday's 49-19 win at the New York Jets
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He started in place of rookie Chandler Jones, out with an ankle injury.
New England visits Miami on Sunday. Patriots rookie running back Brandon Bolden's four-game suspension for violating the same NFL policy ends after that game.
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