Report: Cowboys RT Collins suspended after attempt to bribe drug-test collector

The NFL had announced weeks ago that Collins was suspended for violating the league’s policy on substance abuse, although details of the exact infraction were unclear.

Now the report says that Collins was suspended because of missing several drug tests, as well as trying to bribe the sample collector.

Collins' suspension: From 5 games to 2 back to 5

ESPN says the NFL was set to suspend Collins for five games, but the NFL Players Association helped him bargain to reduce the ban to only two games.

But then Collins appealed the suspension, and an arbitrator jointly appointed by the NFL and the players’ union not only rejected the appeal, but also reinstated the original five-game sanction.

Collins’ representative will appeal the arbitrator’s ruling, arguing that the player had valid reasons for missing the drug tests, including dealing with the deaths of his uncle and of Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul.

Other NFL stories:

Collins' rep: NFL trampled on player's rights

When the NFL first issued its five-game suspension decision, Collins’ agent Peter Schaffer blasted the league.

”We are extremely disappointed in how the NFL has handled this entire matter, from trampling on Mr. Collins’ rights to prematurely releasing the information knowing a timely appeal was filed to intentionally misleading the court at the hearing,” he said in a statement.

If the six-year pro serves out the suspension, he will be eligible to play on Oct. 18 against the New England Patriots., He would have missed 21 of Dallas’ last 23 games by then, as he was sidelined the whole of last season due to surgery on an injured hip.

Collins started serving his penalty last week during the team’s victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Terence Steele has taken the place of Collins as the Cowboys’ starting right tackle.