The Dolphins already knew they’d soon need to find an eventual replacement for nose tackle Jason Ferguson. Now, they’ll have a little more pressure to do it.

Ferguson, who has yet to decide whether he’ll play for the Dolphins in 2010 or retire, will have a major roadblock to factor into the verdict: He has been suspended by the league for the first eight games of the 2010 season, the NFL confirmed Sunday morning.

The suspension is the result of a violation of the league’s performance enhancing drug program, league spokesman Greg Aiello said. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat first reported the news on its website late Saturday night.

The Dolphins have been notified.

Ferguson has been suspended one other time during his career. On Aug. 1, 1999, while playing for the Jets, Ferguson tested positive for a banned substance called Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid.

Read More >>