Tamba Hali Suspended 1 Game by NFL for Violating Substance Abuse Policy

Tamba Hali, linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, has been suspended for the first game of the 2012 NFL season.

According to a press release sent out by the Kansas City Chiefs' public relations staff, Hali is suspended, without pay, for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Hali will be forced to give up a second game check for the infraction, but he will be able to practice with the team and participate in the remaining two preseason contests.

K.C. opens the 2012-13 campaign at home against the Atlanta Falcons, and it will sorely miss the 3-4 outside linebacker’s pass-rushing skills. Hali would have been instrumental in getting to QB Matt Ryan and thereby preventing Roddy White and Julio Jones from picking apart the Chiefs secondary.

Instead, the 28-year-old will be on the sidelines, ineligible to return until Week 2, when the Chiefs travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills.

During Hali’s six-year NFL career, he’s racked up 352 tackles, 53.5 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. The former Penn State Nittany Lion and two-time Pro Bowler is primed to have a monster season, but he now has to delay his debut a week.

The Liberian native has overcome adversity before, miraculously escaping his home country at the age of 10 and thriving as a football player.

Hali should have no problem moving past this substance abuse issue, getting back on the field and putting together another All-Pro season.

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