The Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio - Browns running back William Green was suspended for four games by the NFL Thursday after the league said he violated its substance abuse policy.

The Browns said the violation involved the use of alcohol.

Green, the former Boston College star who led the Browns in rushing as a rookie last season, was arrested Oct. 27 on charges of drunken driving and marijuana possession.

The Browns suspended him for last Sunday's game at Kansas City for the charges, and earlier this week coach Butch Davis said he expected Green to be back for this week's game against Arizona.

The league will count that game as part of its suspension. Green was told of his suspension without pay on Saturday and decided to forgo an appeal, the league said.

To be eligible for a four-game suspension, Green had to have been enrolled in the league's substance abuse program for previous violations.

"We commend him for accepting the responsibilities and consequences of his conduct and immediately moving forward in a positive fashion with the emphasis on resolution rather than avoidance," Browns president Carmen Policy said in a statement. "William could have engaged in a lengthy and technical appeal that would have tested the league's process, but instead he selected a more responsible route."

Green has rushed for 559 yards and one touchdown this season, but he missed Cleveland's Oct. 26 game at New England with a separated right shoulder.

The next day, Green was arrested just a few hours after leaving the team's training facility. Police said they pulled him over for driving erratically in his sports utility vehicle, which had a flat tire.

He failed a field sobriety test and a breath test, which showed he had a blood alcohol level of 0.165 percent - more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent, police said.

Green has pleaded innocent to the charges. His pretrial hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.

FALCONS: A day after practicing for the first time in two months, Michael Vick regained some lost confidence.

The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback said Thursday his objective is to manage his pain while convincing himself he's still effective enough to help his team reverse the course of a disastrous 2-7 season.

"I'm just hoping and praying it's 100 percent mentally and going about in that way," Vick said. "I think if I think about it in that way, then I won't worry about it. I think it will be 100 percent, really."

Vick, who said his right ankle and Achilles' tendon won't heal fully for several more months, worked with the scout team for the second straight day as the Falcons prepared to visit New Orleans (4-5) this weekend.

Kurt Kittner will make his fourth career start Sunday.

EAGLES: Guard John Welbourn will miss two to three weeks after having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

The Eagles also listed Pro Bowl cornerback Bobby Taylor as out for Sunday's game. Taylor has missed all but one game since sustaining a foot injury in the season opener.

JETS: New York signed wide receiver Kevin Lockett to help fill the void left when Wayne Chrebet went on injured reserve with post-concussion syndrome.

RAIDERS: Rich Gannon had surgery on his injured throwing shoulder Thursday and is expected to rejoin the Oakland Raiders in the next few days.

The Raiders hope to have the 16-year veteran back for spring minicamps. Backup QB Marques Tuiasosopo (knee) also is out for the season, leaving third-stringer Rick Mirer as the starter for the final seven games.