Lions running back Leshoure expected, understands suspension

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Mikel Leshoure knew he'd be hearing from the league. Yet, expecting a suspension doesn't lighten the blow of actually receiving the ruling from the NFL.

“I’m definitely not happy about it," Leshoure said.

"I understand the consequences you have to face when you do wrong."

Leshoure, caught with marijuana twice this offseason, was suspended two games and fined two proceeding paychecks for violating the league's substance abuse program. The NFL announced the ruling Wednesday.

“I would love to be out there with my team," Leshoure said of the two games he'll miss. He is eligible to participate in the team's offseason program and preseason games.

"I know one thing for sure and one thing for certain: I definitely learned from my mistakes."

He said he hopes to put his off-field issues behind him, and said he may appeal the suspension. The second-year back said he hadn't yet started the process.

Limited to just individual position drills throughout the team's offseason program, Leshoure took hand-offs during minicamp. His participation gave the team a visible boost of energy.

"They're all rooting for him. Players recognize when guys have worked hard and I think you saw a reflection of that," Jim Schwartz said.

Nate Burleson said he looks at Leshoure's situation with "the glass half full." He expects Leshoure to be ready for his Week 3 return.

"He's gonna be hungrier than a starving pitbull. When you give a starving pitbull a steak, he's gonna take it down to the gristle," Burleson said.

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