Dolphins sign suspended safety T.J. McDonald

McDonald suspended first half of season for violating NFL substance-abuse policy

DAVIE, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins have signed safety T.J. McDonald, who is suspended for the first half of the 2017 season.

McDonald signed with the team Friday as an unrestricted free agent. He has spent the last four seasons with the Rams, who moved to Los Angeles from St. Louis in 2016.

The former third-round draft pick has started all 53 games in which he has played. He has 281 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions in his NFL career.

McDonald ended last season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He was suspended by the NFL for the first eight games of the 2017 season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

The discipline stems from a May 2016 arrest on a charge of driving under the influence.

"I've known about the suspension," McDonald told reporters. "It was just announced publicly (recently). I've known about it. I wasn't trying to get over on the Dolphins, and I think they know that as well. It was just something that I'm definitely paying the price for the mistakes that I've made, that I'm definitely going to own up to."

McDonald said he gave the team assurances that what happened in Los Angeles won't happen again.

"My back is up against the wall," he said. "I'm just happy to be able to move forward with this and be able to just get back to playing ball."


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.