Larry Grant PED suspension: 49ers linebacker claims he did not knowingly use PEDs

Last month, reports came out that former 49ers linebacker Larry Grant was issued a four-game suspension for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. We did not hear any specifics on what popped positive, but we do now have a Larry Grant statement, courtesy of his Twitter account:

"I've waited far too long to say my apologies to my children, my family, and friends, the 49ers organization, the buckeye nation, and my fans. Failing a drug test is far out of my character and although I never knowingly took a performance enhancing drug I take full responsibility for what goes in my body and more importantly for the embarrassment of a failed drug test.

"It's my goal by issuing this statement to clear my name and more importantly to be judged by what happens to me in the future. I hope that my family, my football family, all my fans, and Niner Empire can forgive me for this situation and I look forward to a successful 2013 season."

Hopefully things work out for Grant, but I always find the "I didn't know" defense a little weak. That being said, he did acknowledge the embarrassment of the failed drug test, so I suppose that's saying something. While we all should try and stay in shape, the body is a professional athlete's money-maker. Any athlete that doesn't know exactly what is going in their body deserves the embarrassment that comes with a positive drug test. And if Grant is just playing a game of CYA, well, so be it.

Grant has not landed with anybody since entering free agency, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him sign somewhere right before or early in training camp. He's a solid special teams player, and getting him in camp, even with the four-game suspension looming, can provide some value for when he does return. The 49ers lack depth behind Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, but they could very well decide Nick Moody and Dan Skuta are two guys who could provide enough value as the primary backup at inside linebacker.