Ellis was suspended for one game and fined $100,000 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The punishment rooted from arrest of Ellis in November for possession of marijuana, speeding, driving without insurance, failure to keep right and failure to produce a valid registration card after he was pulled over by police in Hanover, N.J.
Linebacker Pace was suspended for four games without pay for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Ellis was a defensive captain last season and the team’s longest-tenured player. His being suspended made it difficult for coach Rex Ryan to select another defensive starter. At the moment the choice is between Mike DeVito and Ropati Pitoitua.
