Cleveland’s Green Suspended by League

William Green, the Cleveland Browns’ leading rusher, was suspended for four games by the NFL on Thursday for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Carmen Policy, president of the Browns, said Green was already enrolled in the league’s treatment program, and the suspension indicated the second-year back had twice violated his personal program.

Because of confidentiality, Policy does not know whether Green’s involvement in the program stemmed from his being suspended for marijuana use twice while at Boston College.

The Browns said the violation involved the use of alcohol.

Under the NFL’s treatment policy, any player who fails a drug test for the first time is referred to a doctor. A second violation results in an automatic four-game suspension.

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A day after practicing for the first time in two months, Michael Vick regained some lost confidence.

The Atlanta Falcon quarterback said Thursday his objective is to manage his pain while convincing himself he’s still effective enough to help his team reverse the course of a 2-7 season.

Vick, who said his right ankle and Achilles’ tendon won’t heal fully for several more months, worked with the scout team for the second day as the Falcons prepared to for Sunday’s game at New Orleans (4-5).

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Oakland Raider quarterback Rich Gannon had surgery on his injured throwing shoulder in Minnesota.

It was performed by the same doctor who operated on his shoulder after his 1993 season with Washington. Gannon, 37, didn’t play in the 1994 season and then was released by the Redskins.

Last season’s NFL most valuable player was put on injured reserve Wednesday with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

The Raiders hope to have the 16-year veteran back for spring mini-camps.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars’ newly signed receiver Kevin Johnson had his physical Thursday and didn’t participate in practice, making it “unlikely� he will play this weekend, Coach Jack Del Rio said.

Nevertheless, the Jaguars were happy to have him and, based on some of his comments, Johnson was glad to be leaving the Cleveland Browns.

“I’m getting on a plane and never looking back,� he told reporters in Cleveland on Wednesday, the day after he was surprisingly cut by the Browns.

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Philadelphia Eagle left guard John Welbourn will be sidelined two to three weeks after having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Welbourn had the surgery Wednesday in Colorado.

A fourth-round pick, Welbourn is in his fifth season with Philadelphia.

Artis Hicks will get his first start against the New York Giants.

The Eagles also listed Pro Bowl cornerback Bobby Taylor as out for Sunday’s game.

Taylor has missed all but one game since sustaining a foot injury in the season opener.