Some Broncos react to Merriman's steroid suspension.

Byline: Frank Schwab

DENVER _ After San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances, he said he took a tainted supplement.

"You would hope that a guy like Merriman is being sincere," Broncos safety John Lynch said. "All you heard is the guy is a freak of nature, but he's a freak of nature if it's natural. If he's not natural then shoot, I'm ticked off and the St. Louis Rams should be (expletive) off because he got three sacks against them.

"I despise, as a player who has played 14 years and played clean, I despise the fact that you even have a notion there's guys out there cheating."

The Chargers will play at Denver on Sunday without Merriman, a rising star in the NFL who dropped his suspension appeal. Merriman's suspension once again raised the subject of steroid testing in the NFL. Unlike baseball, which started testing for steroids in 2004, the NFL started testing in 1987, started suspending first-time violators in 1989 and instituted year-round random testing in 1990.

Players like Lynch and Broncos receiver Rod Smith said they thought the system was fair and keeps the sport clean. Players are suspended four games for their first violation, eight for the second and at least a year for the third.

Washington Redskins tackle Jon Jansen said earlier this year on HBO's "Costas Now" that 15 to 20 percent of NFL players use illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Jansen later backed off that statement, saying it's a small percentage, and Lynch said he doubted that figure.