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Marshawn Lynch will miss the first three games of the regular season after being suspended without pay by the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
The NFL announced the suspension Thursday, a month after Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in Los Angeles. It was the player's second run-in with the law, following a hit-and-run accident in Buffalo in May.
The suspension means the Bills will be without the 2007 first-round draft pick for their prime-time season-opener at New England on Sept. 14. The rest of the Bills schedule has not been released.
Lynch will lose approximately $112,000 of his $635,000 base salary for 2009 during the suspension.
Lynch apologized for his actions, and anticipated he'd be suspended after meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last month.
Under league rules, the suspension takes effect after the Bills final preseason game, and Lynch will be allowed to take part in the team's offseason programs, including training camp.
Lynch has the option to appeal the ruling and ESPN.com's Michael Smith, who first reported the suspension Wednesday night, also reported Lynch is expected to appeal the suspension.
It's worth noting that Lynch characterized the meeting with Goodell as a wake-up call, and said the commissioner's message had sunk in.
"Something that he stressed throughout the meeting was that he will not tolerate any more screw-ups by me," Lynch said. "I never had the intention of getting into trouble or anything like that. But along the way my road got rocky, and now you know it's time to set my pavement straight."
According to Associated Press sports writer John Wawrow, Lynch already has become more active in the Buffalo community. Earlier this week, Lynch and Bills cornerback Terrence McGee provided financial assistance to help sponsor the 18th annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament, which will be held in Buffalo in late June.
Will that improve his chances of winning an appeal -- or at least of cutting down on the length of the suspension?
As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio pointed out Wednesday night, Goodell hasn't been bashful about reducing penalties on appeal. Last year, for example, the commissioner cut receiver Brandon Marshall's suspension via the appeal process. ...
Meanwhile, as ESPN.com's Tim Graham reminded readers, Lynch's almost-exclusive backup, Fred Jackson, doesn't have a contract and isn't close in negotiations for a new one. The Bills talked to free agents Fred Taylor, Kevin Jones and DeShaun Foster but have failed to sign any veteran help.
The only other halfbacks on Buffalo's depth chart are sophomores Xavier Omon (six carries for 5 yards last year) and Bruce Hall (practice squad).
Graham went on to note the hard-charging Lynch will be hard to replace. He made the Pro Bowl last year, running for 1,036 yards and eight touchdowns and catching 47 passes for 300 yards and one touchdown.
I'll continue to follow this story closely and bring you more if and when Lynch announces his intention to appeal -- and certainly when and if the commissioner rules on it. ...
Also of interest. ... Terrell Owens showed up at team headquarters on Tuesday. Owens was at the Bills' Fieldhouse working out with teammates on Wednesday and will be working out with them as well today.
The Bills began their voluntary offseason conditioning program for players on March 23, and more than 40 players have been in attendance.
Owens was signed by the Bills on March 7, days after he was released by the Cowboys. The 35-year-old receiver typically did not participate in voluntary workouts while with the Cowboys.
Owens said a couple of weeks ago that he was not planning on attending the Bills' voluntary workouts. The fact he's showing some flexibility on the issue has to be viewed as a positive.