Pubdate: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 1999 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/ Author: Steve Popper FERGUSON SUSPENDED FOR STEROIDS HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Just when the Jets' defense appeared to be getting healthy, the team lost nose tackle Jason Ferguson for four games Wednesday when he was suspended by the National Football League for testing positive for steroids. Ferguson is the first Jet to be suspended for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He tested positive for marijuana at the 1997 combine, which dropped him to the seventh round. Ferguson was contrite at the time, saying he was sorry that he had embarrassed his mother. The Jets made no statement Wednesday, and Ferguson's agent, Jimmy Sexton, did not return calls. Ferguson sprained a knee in the season opener and he missed the next three games. The Jets lost two of those games; since his return, the team is 3-3, surrendering more than 20 points just once. His backups are the rookie Jason Wiltz and the eight-year veteran Ernie Logan. Logan started the three games Ferguson missed, but Wiltz has appeared in all 10 games and will be the likely replacement Sunday at Indianapolis. [snip] - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D