Welker Gets 4 Game Suspension – NFL Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — Wes Welker will open the season on the NFL's suspended list.

The Denver Broncos wide receiver has been slapped with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. ESPN reported the violation had to do with amphetamines, and NFL Media reported Welker was notified Tuesday he had lost his appeal, which was heard two weeks ago.

Welker told the Denver Post in an email that he was as shocked as everyone at the news.

Welker caught 73 passes for 778 yards and a career-high 10 TDs despite missing the last 3 1/2 games of last season.

The suspension begins with Sunday night's game against the Colts.

Also in the NFL:

— The NFL has suspended Colts owner Jim Irsay for six games and fined him $500,000 after his guilty plea to driving while intoxicated. The 55-year-old Irsay admitted in court that he was driving under the influence of painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone when he was pulled over in March. He has to undergo drug testing during his one-year probation.

— Former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent is being allowed to return to the NFL, although he will be suspended for the first 10 games of the season for his intoxication manslaughter conviction in the 2012 death of teammate Jerry Brown. The league has outlined a series of conditions Brent must meet to be eligible to play when the Cowboys return from their bye week in November. Brent retired last year and was sentenced to 180 days in jail after a trial earlier this year.

— Star defensive end J.J. Watt has agreed to terms on a contract extension with the Houston Texans. Multiple media reports said the agreement was for six years and $100 million, with $51.8 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus.

— San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has reiterated that the team will not tolerate domestic violence. Harbaugh gave his comments and maintained a firm stance about the topic during his radio segment on KNBR-AM. That came two days after 49ers defensive tackle Ray McDonald was arrested on felony domestic violence charges.