ESPN - Chargers take a hit with Cooper suspension

ESPN
- - ESPN.com
  - ESPN360.com
  - Video
  - TV Listings
  - ESPNdeportes.com
  - ESPNRadio.com
  - PodCenter
  - Insider
  - Blogs
  - Page 2
  - E-ticket
  - ESPN Magazine
  - ESPN Books
  - MyESPN
  - Fan Profiles
  - SportsNation
  - Corrections
  - Ombudsman
  - Outside the Lines
  - EXPN.com
  - ESPN Alerts
  - Video Games
  - Arcade
  - Travel
  - Join Our Team
Fantasy
Sports
- - NFL
  - MLB
  - NBA
  - ESPNU
  - College FB
  - Men's BB
  - Women's BB
  - NASCAR
  - Racing
  - NHL
  - Golf
  - Soccer
  - Tennis
  - Boxing
  - Horse Racing
  - AFL
  - Olympic Sports
  - Mixed Martial Arts
  - College Sports
  - WNBA
  - Action Sports
  - Outdoors
  - BASS Fishing
  - Cricket
  - Lacrosse
  - Rugby
  - Poker
  - More Sports...
Home
Contact
NFL +
- Draft
- Scores
- Schedule
- Standings
- Stats
- Teams
- Players
- NFL Insider
- Fantasy
- AFL
More+

Chargers take a hit with Cooper suspension

April 15, 2008 8:14 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

The San Diego Chargers will miss inside linebacker Stephen Cooper in the first month of the season. The Chargers announced that Cooper will serve an NFL suspension in the first four games of 2008 for violating the league's policy on steroids and related substances.

Cooper started all 16 games for San Diego and has 108 tackles for San Diego last year. He is the second San Diego starting linebacker to be suspended for four games in two years. Pro Bowl player Shawne Merriman missed four games in 2006.

Cooper plays well in San Diego's system and he will be missed. Newly signed Derek Smith may have to fill in for Cooper. Smith was signed this offseason after he was released by San Francisco. While Cooper will miss just a quarter of the season, linebacker may be an area San Diego looks at in the upcoming draft. Besides Cooper's pending absence the linebacker position is one of the Chargers' thinnest areas.

Chargers, Stephen Cooper

Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted

Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife.
Matt Mosley
Mosley, an award-winning writer for The Dallas Morning News for seven years, joined ESPN.com in January 2007. Mosley, a Baylor graduate, writes columns, features and blogs for ESPN.com.
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after three seasons covering the Cleveland Browns for the Columbus Dispatch. He also covered the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Cavaliers at the Dispatch.
Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.

Links