Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner tweeted Tuesday night that he has been reinstated by the NFL after serving over 2½ months of a one-year suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy over marijuana use.
I received wonderful news today. The NFL has reinstated me, and I now have the opportunity to (cont) http://t.co/AG0Zbpxpgo
- Brandon Browner (@bbrowner27) March 5, 2014
Browner, a Pro Bowl selection in 2011, is an unrestricted free agent, so the news comes just days before teams can make offers to players. Teams can enter into negotiations with players and their agents on Saturday, and new contracts can be signed as early as March 11.
Seahawks officials would not comment on Browner's reinstatement because, officially, he no longer is a member of the team.
But it appears the NFL agreed to end Browner's suspension over threats from his attorney last week that they would sue the league in federal court over the length of the suspension.
The NFL first informed Browner of his suspension in late November. He played in only eight games last season and was out with a groin injury when he learned of the suspension, which he appealed.
But he lost the appeal on Dec. 18. Browner did not play the second half of the season, missing his opportunity to play in a Super Bowl.
The NFL listed Browner as Stage 3 offender, which brought the one-year suspension, because he did not submit urine tests during while playing in the Canadian Football League from 2007-10 after first failing a test for marijuana use while he was with the Denver Broncos in 2006.