Tag: Markus Bailey

Cardinals linebacker makes statement about 6-game PED suspension

Markus Bailey received a six-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. He issued this statement about it.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey, on the team’s practice squad, was suspended for six games under the NFL’s policy for performance-enhancing substances, has responded to the punishment in a statement by his legal representative.

The statement began, “It is with sadness and disappointment that Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey accepts his suspension under NFL rules” and continued with a statement from Bailey:

“Anyone who knows me knows I would never have purposely taken any banned substance and that I’ve always been very intentional about what I put in my body. I’ve been tested countless times over the course of my NFL and college career and I’ve always been clean. I am accepting the suspension now so that I can put this behind me and get back to the locker room with my brothers as soon as possible this season. I have always been and will always be a clean athlete.”

Accepting it also makes sense on another level. Had Bailey appealed, there likely wouldn’t have been a decision until late in the season or even after it ended. In that case, if the suspension was upheld, some of the games or even all would have carried over until 2025, which would affect his pursuit of a contract because he will be a free agent.

If the Cardinals elect to keep him around, the suspension would end after Week 17, with one game remaining in the season.

The statement included comments from Oliver Catlin, anti-doping expert and President of Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG).

Catlin said, “The trace amount of the banned substance in his urine sample – at low picogram per gram levels—does not suggest a performance enhancing effect. This coupled with the fact Mr. Bailey tested clean less than a month earlier suggests the positive drug test likely came from inadvertent ingestion of a contaminated supplement or medication used between the negative and positive tests. We are continuing to do testing to hunt for the source.”

It ended with words from Bailey’s attorney, Rick Collins, Esq. He said, “The NFL has an unforgiving strict liability policy. Each athlete is responsible for whatever banned substance is detected no matter how it got there. Unlike some other sports, the NFL offers no reduced sanction for food or supplement contamination, which is a common concern. There is no threshold for most banned substances below which results are partially or fully excused in cases of inadvertent ingestion. We are investigating the source of the trace contaminant.”

Bailey’s spot on the practice squad was taken by tackle Charlie Heck, who had been placed on waivers Monday and cleared Tuesday.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals lose linebacker to 6-game suspension

One of the Cardinals’ practice squad players has been suspended six games under the league’s PED policy.

The Arizona Cardinals have lost a linebacker for the next six games. First reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, practice squad linebacker Markus Bailey was suspended by the league for six games under the performance-enhancing substance policy.

Bailey had only played in one game, getting elevated to the active roster to play 16 special teams snaps in Week 7 when linebacker Owen Pappoe was hurt.

With seven games left in the regular season, he will be away from the team until after the team plays the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17.

A six-game suspension under the PED policy means he tested positive for a banned anabolic agent.

His suspension opens a spot on the practice squad, which the Cardinals used to bring back tackle Charlie Heck, who was cut on Monday, presumably so that tackle Jonah Williams could return to the roster from injured reserve.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals LB Markus Bailey earns Pat Tillman Scout Team award

Bailey gets to wear the Pat Tillman No. 40 jersey in practice all week in Week 3.

After playing 60 games with four starts in four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, inside linebacker Markus Bailey signed with the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason hoping to earn a roster spot to at least contribute on special teams.

He played 950 special-teams snaps in those four seasons after being a seventh-round pick in 2020, and totaled 18 tackles in 2022 and ’23.

However, the talent ahead of him resulted in being cut in the roster reduction to 53, but a spot on the practice squad beckoned. That’s where Bailey has been so far this season and this week he’s worn a No. 40 jersey in practice this week as the Pat Tillman Scout Team Player of the Week.

“It’s definitely an honor considering everything that he’s known for and the history with his whole situation,” Bailey told Cards Wire Wednesday. “It’s an honor that your efforts are recognized even though you may not be on the active roster. It symbolizes doing your role, maximizing your role. And my role right now is to give our starting offense and special teams the best look that I can give.”

The jersey this week is a bit improved over the red one running Michael Carter wore the week before and Bailey noticed.

He said, “I think the white one is maybe a little bit nicer than the red one. It’s definitely an honor, kind of sweet. So, feels pretty good to get recognized for that. I’m super thrilled and super honored to be recognized for my efforts and continue to do what I can to help the team.”

Bailey, who was seven years old when Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, still had awareness of the Tillman story before coming to Arzona.

“I’ve always known the name and I’ve known a little bit of the story and I knew enough about it,” he said. “I know that he’s someone that served our country and symbolizes someone that puts the work in. A gritty person, football guy through and through. I was always aware of him and then coming to the Cardinals this year, I became more aware and when you walk by that glass outside coming back into practice every day, you see the jersey and how everything’s kind of a testament to him.”

Head coach Jonathan Gannon, who picks the winner each week, emphasizes the importance of those players on the practice squad and whoever is doing the important work each week of providing the look for the first-team offense and defense going against what is expected from the opponent.

Bailey understands how crucial that can be.

He said, “When I’m out there, especially on high (tempo) days, just try to make plays and try to get them real fast looks and be physical for certain schemes that they’re trying to maybe isolate a linebacker and give a really realistic look, and go as hard as I can. So that those guys know what it feels like who they have to block and be able to be successful in their assignments.

“So, (it’s about) just going out there and just controlling what I can control and just giving the best effort that I can when I’m out there.”

It can also be a way for those players to show the coaches they are deserving of an elevation from the practice squad for games or be signed to the active roster at some point.

“It’s an opportunity for me to be able to go against our starting offense and make legitimate plays against them,” Bailey said. “So that I can show maybe the decision-makers that I can make plays against our starters too.”

Pat Tillman Scout Team Player of the Week

Week 1: RB Michael Carter

Week 2: LB Markus Bailey

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Bengals lose core special teams player to Cardinals in free agency

A former Bengals defender has signed elsewhere as a free agent.

When it came to offseason projections, one of the seemingly obvious points was the Cincinnati Bengals finding a way to retain linebacker Markus Bailey.

But in the wake of the 2024 NFL draft, that simply isn’t the case.

Tuesday, Bailey inked a deal with the Arizona Cardinals, meaning the former seventh-round pick out of Purdue will play with a new team for the first time.

Bailey had been key depth for the team in the base defense but had a critical role on special teams. Last year, he logged 309 snaps on special teams — 68 percent of the possible snaps.

Considering special teams turnover has been a problem point for Darrin Simmons’ unit over the last few years, the Bengals will need to move forward quickly with the likes of Joe Bachie.

This also opens the door for undrafted free agents Maema Njongmeta and Aaron Casey — the Bengals gave both guys big signing bonuses.

Bailey posted about his departure on social media:

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Cardinals add former Bengals LB Markus Bailey

Bailey has been a core special teams player for the Bengals.

The Arizona Cardinals entered the week with two vacancies on the offseason roster. They filled one on Tuesday with a veteran, announcing they signed former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Markus Bailey.

He spent the last four years with Cincinnati after being selected by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 202 NFL draft out of Purdue.

In four seasons, he appeared in 60 games and has 73 to tackles, 20 of which have come on special teams.

He has played a total of 387 defensive snaps in his career but 256 of those came in 2021. Last season, he logged only 29 defensive snaps. He logged 309 on special teams in 2023 and has played 950 over his four seasons.

It would appear he is an early candidate to fill the role vacated by Zeke Turner, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason after six seasons with the Cardinals.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Bengals roster move and injury report from Thursday ahead of Week 11

Some minor notes for the Bengals ahead of Week 11 vs. Raiders.

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The Cincinnati Bengals announced the activation of linebacker Markus Bailey from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday.

That means Bailey will be a go for this weekend’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, which is a bigger deal than it seems given some of the team’s injury woes at linebacker. He was a full participant in Thursday’s practice on the team’s injury report.

Elsewhere during Thursday’s practice, wideout Auden Tate was a full participant, which means he’ll likely be good to go after last suiting up in Week 6.

Rookie defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin didn’t go for the second straight day while he deals with a knee injury.

Both Tate and Shelvin play at some of the roster’s deepest spots, so it’s a pretty fortunate injury report for the Bengals so far this week. That’s good news ahead of a clash against the Raiders that has big playoff implications.

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Bengals rookie LB Markus Bailey passes his physical

Cincinnati Bengals LB Markus Bailey is good to go.

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Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Markus Bailey got the all-clear sign ahead of training camp.

Bailey, originally on the NFI, passed his physical, according to Jay Morrison of The Athletic.

The Purdue product, along with fellow rookie Khalid Kareem, was one of two players the Bengals put on the NFI last week. It was a formality of a move though because both had dealt with injuries in college and both had still counted against the roster.

With Bailey in the fold, the Bengals appear mostly healthy along the new-look linebacker unit. He joins fellow rookies Akeem Davis-Gaither and Logan Wilson as some of the new faces.

An extremely productive college player who fell to the seventh round largely due to his injury history, some have already suggested Bailey could end up being a surprise starter for the Bengals in 2020.

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Bengals place rookies Khalid Kareem and Markus Bailey on NFI list

The Cincinnati Bengals placed two rookies on the NFI list.

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The Cincinnati Bengals placed a pair of rookies on the non-football injury list Monday.

Fifth-round defensive end Khalid Kareem and seventh-round linebacker Markus Bailey were the two names moved to the list.

Such a move is a mere formality oftentimes for players who suffered an injury in college. Both Kareem and Bailey still count toward the 80-man roster (which the Bengals still need to cut down to, if they so choose). Both can be activated at any time.

This formality hasn’t stopped either rookie from getting their deals with the Bengals done. As soon as they’re ready to practice, they’ll get activated.

The news comes on the heels of the Bengals being one of the first teams to send a player to the COVID-19 reserve list. They’ve also started pursuing that 80-man limit by cutting one player.

As of now, the only remaining questions about the Bengals rookie class is the contract status of both Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins.

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Bengals sign rookies Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Hakeem Adeniji and Markus Bailey

The Cincinnati Bengals signed some of the rookie class Tuesday.

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The Cincinnati Bengals have locked up their rookie linebackers from the 2020 NFL draft, inking Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey to deals.

The Bengals announced the moves on social media, adding in late-round pick Hakeem Adeniji for good measure.

Rookies inking contracts Tuesday was a predictable outcome after the NFL finished up some of the details surrounding actually getting players to team facilities. Tuesday was the natural report date and for preventative reasons, players arriving will take coronavirus tests and proceed to hit the field later in the week if all goes well.

Of course, we’re still waiting on news about one Joe Burrow, though he figures to put ink to paper as soon as he arrives at Paul Brown Stadium, too.

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Mel Kiper tabs Bengals’ Markus Bailey as one of 2020 draft’s most underrated picks

Mel Kiper had some big praise for Bengals rookies.

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The big praise for the 2020 Cincinnati Bengals draft class continues.

This time it (again) comes from ESPN’s Mel Kiper, who loved a certain late-round pick by Duke Tobin and the front office.

After noting the Bengals essentially had three first-round picks (Jonah Williams’ return, Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins), Kiper isolated one player — seventh-round linebacker Markus Bailey — as one of the draft’s most underrated picks.

Kiper noted the following on the First Draft podcast:

“Every one of these picks was a round earlier…I’ll go Markus Bailey, linebacker out of Purdue. We were both thinking early…within the first two days…when he was on the field, he was flying around the field making plays against the run, in coverage, he’s a kid who plays hard, great attitude, great approach…talent of a second or third-rounder. 

Bailey seemed like a favorite of evaluators were it not for his medical red flags, which includes a pair of knee injuries bookending his collegiate career. But between the knee injuries, he put up 89 or more tackles in three different seasons and for his career totaled 14.5 sacks and six interceptions.

While a great value, the Bailey pick was still a surprise because the Bengals had already addressed linebacker twice in the previous rounds with Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither.

Funnily enough, Bailey probably should’ve been off the board in the same range as those guys, making him an underrated presence for the defense going into his rookie season.

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