Saints’ Willie Snead suspended for first 3 games of NFL season

Saints wide receiver Willie Snead has been suspended by the NFL for the first three games of the season, as first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates.

Ian Rapoport reported shortly after that Snead was suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse, and that it was reduced from four games on appeal. More specifically, Adam Schefter reported it was “a personal conduct violation that stemmed from an off-season DUI.”

“It’s unfortunate, and knowing Willie, a bit surprising,” Saints coach Sean Payton said via ProFootballTalk.

Snead is entering his third NFL season out of Ball State. Last season, he had 72 receptions for 895 yards and four touchdowns.

Snead was expected to take on the No. 2 receiver role in New Orleans after Brandin Cooks was traded to the Patriots this offseason. Though as ESPN’s Mike Triplett reports, Ted Ginn Jr. was putting up a good challenge in training camp and preseason.

Snead had missed this past week of practice, and the reason was unknown. Now, we have a better idea of what that was all about.