Breaking News: A starting player for the New York Giants faces a five-match suspension for drug use and a $100,000 fine.

The National Football League yesterday placed a 30-day suspension on Giants

star linebacker Lawrence Taylor for breaking its drug-abuse policy

Taylor will miss the Giants’ opening game on Monday night against the defending

Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins in addition to their games against

the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys.

 

However, it was reported last night that Carl Banks, another star linebacker for

the Giants, who had skipped training camp due to a contract dispute, had agreed

to a four-year deal.

An NFL spokesman Joe Browne stated that Taylor was unable to pass a standard

drug test given by the league “between mid-July and mid-August.”

The N.F.L. did not identify the substance, as is customary in these situations.

Reporters were reportedly unable to reach Taylor at home.

 

Taylor admitted last year in his autobiography, “LT: Living on the Edge,” that

he had developed a cocaine addiction during the 1985 season and that he had

passed the Giants’ drug tests by using a friend’s unidentified urine sample.

Taylor checked himself into a Houston drug rehab facility in February 1986.

After the Giants won the Super Bowl in 1986, Taylor was named the most valuable

player in the National Football League. Taylor had received treatment at the

Houston center prior to that campaign. Taylor claimed in his autobiography

that he played golf the majority of the time while he was receiving treatment.

“Golf was my therapy,” he remarked. Taylor’s positive test resulted in a second

infraction of the NFL’s drug-substance policy, the team announced yesterday.

On August 12, Tony Collins of the Indianapolis Colts was given a permanent

suspension for a third infraction. Collins has a year to apply for reinstatement

following his suspension.

Drug infractions don’t carry a fine from the league, but the Giants can suspend

Taylor without pay while he’s away. During a press conference held at Giants

Stadium, head coach Bill Parcells declined to answer questions regarding the

team’s plan of action.

Taylor would forfeit $42,500 per game, or one-fourth of his yearly salary, if he

was suspended without pay.