Spurrier Suspends Five Gators

Five Florida football players, including starting safeties Teako Brown and Rod Graddy, were suspended by Coach Steve Spurrier for violating team rules.

Brown, a senior who started all 11 games at free safety last season, and Graddy, a sophomore expected to start at strong safety, will miss Florida’s Sept. 5 opener against The Citadel.

Anthony Mitchell, a reserve defensive end, also was ruled out of the opener. Reserve running back Eugene McCaslin drew a three-game suspension and cornerback Mike Gipson was suspended indefinitely.

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Assault charges against Maryland linebacker Eric Barton were dropped because of a lack of evidence, his attorney said in Upper Marlboro, Md. Barton was accused of assaulting two men in May.