The Sports Xchange

In addition to announcing the reduction of the suspension for Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy this past Friday, the NFL also suspended four free agents not currently with teams, The Sports Xchange has learned.

The most notable is cornerback Jarrett Bush, who played 15 games for the Green Bay Packers last season. Bush became an unrestricted free agent in March, but the 31-year-old has not found a new team.

Bush was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the 2015 season. He was arrested, but not charged, following an incident outside a Vacaville, Calif., restaurant/bar in early March.

Police were called when a fight broke out, and Bush initially failed to cooperate with officers. The arrest was for public intoxication.

Safety Jakar Hamilton was suspended by the league for the first 10 weeks of the 2015 season, most likely for violating the substance abuse policy. While with the Cowboys, Hamilton was suspended for the first four games of the 2014 season for violating that policy.

Hamilton was reinstated on Sept. 29 and played one game during the 2014 season. He was inactive for nine games and active for one other game in which he didn’t play. Hamilton was waived by the Cowboys on Jan. 10.

Cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy was also suspended by the NFL for the first 10 weeks of the 2015 season, most likely for violating the substance abuse policy.

Purifoy began the 2014 season with the Indianapolis Colts and played in 11 games. After he was waived by the Colts on Nov. 27, head coach Chuck Pagano said it was “an in-house deal.” Purifoy had signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent last year after a college career at Florida marked by legal issues and off-field concerns.

The Seattle Seahawks claimed him on waivers from the Colts on Nov. 28, the day after their Thanksgiving Day game against the San Francisco 49ers. However, he was waived three days later with the designation failed physical.

Finally, running back Quentin Hines was suspended by the NFL for the first week of the 2015 season.

Hines was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2013, but spent the season on reserve/injured after suffering a torn labrum during rookie minicamp. He was waived by the Patriots on March 10, 2014, with the designation failed physical, and hasn’t signed with another team since.

All of the suspended played remain eligible to sign with a team and participate in the preseason. Their suspensions take effect as of the league roster reduction to 53 players.