Orange suspend 3 players for violating team rules

Nov 4, 2009 - 1:58 AM SYRACUSE, N.Y.(AP) -- The Syracuse Orange have taken another hit with the suspension of three players.

A day after coach Doug Marrone announced that star wideout Mike Williams had quit the team, the first-year coach said Tuesday that he suspended tailback Antwon Bailey, defensive end Torrey Ball and offensive guard Andrew Tiller for violating team rules.

State police said later Tuesday that a car driven by Tiller was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer truck on the New York State Thruway early Sunday.

Trooper Jack Keller said police do not suspect alcohol was involved in the accident, which occurred at 5:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the highway, about 20 miles east of Syracuse. Williams, Bailey and Ball also were in the car, Keller said.

Tiller, the team's starting right guard, was taken to a hospital for neck and back pain but does not face any charges, Keller said. The other three players did not suffer any injuries and do not face any charges, Keller said.

The driver of the rig, Nathan Primrose, of Clyde, N.Y., was not charged at the scene but may face charges later, Keller said.

Marrone also announced that junior defensive end Jared Kimmel will have season-ending knee surgery to repair his left knee, which was previously injured and surgically reconstructed in 2007.

The Orange (3-5) will have senior center Jim McKenzie back in the lineup for Saturday's game at No. 14 Pitt (7-1). McKenzie missed the last three games with a hand injury.