Marcell Dareus' off-the-field issues are starting to affect his on-field participation.
Following a plea deal last month where Dareus paid two traffic tickets for his role in a street-racing incident in Hamburg, N.Y., prior to the start of last season, the Buffalo Bills defensive tackle will now miss the team's season opener.
The two-time Pro Bowler was arrested in Alabama last May -- before his Fast and Furious ordeal -- on drug charges, and the league issued his one-game suspension Thursday. Dareus will miss Week 1 of the season, when the Bills take on the Indianapolis Colts.
"Last year, I made a mistake involving possession of a banned substance," the 25-year-old said in a prepared statement via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. "The NFL's discipline for this conduct is part of the drug policy, and I apologize to my family, my teammates, the entire Bills organization and Bills fans that I will miss one game as a result of my mistake.
"I will work intensely that week and will be extremely happy to contribute to a win in week two for the Bills."
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