Quarterback Johnny Manziel has been suspended four games, the NFL announced Thursday.The NFL did not specify the reason for the suspension, but a source confirmed to ESPN that it was for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy.TMZ Sports first reported news on Manziels suspension.Manziel, 23, is a free agent after being released by the Cleveland Browns earlier this year. His four-game suspension becomes effective immediately. If he signs with a team, Manziel would be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season and conceivably could play in Week 5.The NFL stated that Manziel was eligible to sign and participate in all preseason activities, including games.Manziel could face additional discipline under the personal conduct policy for other transgressions, including being charged with assaulting his girlfriend, sources told ESPN.Manziel is sincere with his plans to get sober?this summer,?a source close to the quarterback said Wednesday.I do believe hes serious, the source told ESPN. Hes talked for a while about knuckling down, getting ready and working out. Its more about health and having options and feeling good. If that works out for this season, great. But if not, thats OK too.When asked whether that turn to sobriety would require treatment, the source wasnt sure.Though the source said Manziel seems to be partying too much, he sounds mostly OK when the two talk.Last week, Manziels father, Paul, raised the level of concern for his son by telling ESPNs Josina Anderson that Manziel is a druggie and that a stint in jail might save his life.Paul Manziel added that he checked his son into a rehab clinic earlier this year, but Manziel escaped.Manziel faces misdemeanor assault charges for allegedly rupturing the eardrum of former girlfriend Colleen Crowley during a January dispute in Texas.Manziel is pleading not guilty. On Monday, attorney Bob Hinton withdrew his name from Manziels case after accidentally texting The Associated Press about his client, expressing concern Manziel would have difficulty passing a drug test. Jim Darnell remains Manziels lead attorney.Manziel also faces a lawsuit for his part in the trashing of a Los Angeles rental home.ESPNs Adam Caplan and Jeremy Fowler contributed to this report. Rams Jerseys China . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Custom Rams Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.customramsjersey.com/custom-taylor-rapp-jersey-large-78h.html . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Rams Jerseys China .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Cheap Rams Jerseys . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying.ST. LOUIS -- For the first time in a while, the St. Louis Cardinals had good reason to use their closer. After such a long wait between pressure situations, Edward Mujica did not let anybody down. Mujica converted his first save chance in 18 games, working the last two innings in an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs that ended a four-game losing streak and avoided a sweep on Sunday. "All the time its about consistency," Mujica said. "Sometimes days off are pretty good for pitchers. For my arm. Everybody knows were going to be out of this rough time." Pete Kozma singled home the tiebreaking run in the sixth. Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig each had three hits and drove in a run. Jon Jay and David Freese both drove in two runs, though they only had one hit between them. "That was a great at-bat by Pete, and couldnt have come at a better time," manager Mike Matheny said. "I thought the guys did a real good job of situational hitting, getting the runs in when they had money on the table." Mujica earned his 31st save in 33 chances and first since July 25 against the Phillies, overcoming Starlin Castros leadoff double in the eighth with just a one-run cushion. Then he retired the final five in a row in an outing that matched his longest of the year. The right-hander had been anticipating that after setup man Trevor Rosenthal threw 33 pitches and gave up the tying and go-ahead runs in two-thirds of an inning in a 6-5 loss. "We had that in mind, didnt necessarily commit to that," Matheny said. "We knew that would be an option to go for Chief for two." Randy Choate (2-1) faced one batter, getting leadoff man David DeJesus to pop out with two men on to end the sixth after the Cubs had tied it at 4 on RBI singles by Castro and Darwin Barney off Seth Maness. Barney, like Kozma an eighth-place hitter, had two RBI singles. Hes batting .215 overall but has a .317 average against St. Louis with two homers and 10 RBIs. "He battles up there and its hard to strike him out and hes going to give you an at-bat all the time," Cubs managger Dale Sveum said.dddddddddddd "Hes a little battler." Tony Cruz doubled with two outs in the sixth off Blake Parker (1-2) and scored easily on Kozmas single. Parker was the winner Saturday with an inning of relief. Jay added a sacrifice fly in the seventh off Hector Rondon and the Cardinals got RBIs from Carpenter and Craig in the eighth off Michael Bowden. The Cardinals combined two singles, a walk, a steal and a sacrifice fly off Edwin Jackson in a three-run first. Matt Holliday had one of the RBIs plus a steal off Jacksons slow move to the plate, before Jackson finally retaliated by picking off Jay. Holliday handed the Cubs an unearned run in the third when he camped under Junior Lakes two-out high fly to medium left but then whiffed on the catch and DeJesus scored from first. The Cubs settled for their first series win in St. Louis since a three-game sweep Sept. 13-15, 2010. Theyd been 0-6-1 the previous seven series, and were trying for a three-game sweep. "You can take two out of three here its definitely a good thing," Barney said. "Its tough to win a series here. They play so well at home and Allen Craig is unbelievable with runners in scoring position." NOTES: Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran fouled a ball off his right foot in the fifth, got medical attention on the field and then struck out before leaving with a bruise. X-rays were negative and the Cardinals are hopeful he can return Tuesday against NL Central-leading Pittsburgh. "Its sore, no doubt its sore," Beltran said. "Hopefully Tuesday I can be back." ... Holliday grounded into his major league-leading 26th double play in the fifth. ... The Cubs Darnell McDonald walked pinch-hitting in the seventh in his first at-bat of the year. Hes the 50th player used by the Cubs, most in the majors. ... St. Louis last two wins have come in starts by Joe Kelly, who allowed three earned runs in 5 1-3 innings and Jackson gave up four runs in five innings. ... Castro has five hits the last two games and is batting .536 (15-for-28) the last seven games against St. Louis. ' ' '