National Football League

Giants safety Hill facing another suspension

Published Apr. 22, 2014 9:13 a.m. ET

Mike Garafolo

Giants safety Will Hill is facing another suspension from the NFL for a violation of the league's drug policy that could cost him a chunk of this upcoming season, if not all of it, sources have told FOX Sports.

One source said team was notified of the violation on Monday, when the players reported for the start of offseason workouts and that Hill will appeal the decision.

A Giants spokesman and Hill's agent, Adisa Bakari, both declined comment.

Hill started 10 games last season for the Giants, who have been pleased with his progress in their secondary. However, Hill's issues have been away from the field. He's been suspended twice - once in 2012 for a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs (he and the team said he tested positive for Adderall) and again last season for violating the policy on substances of abuse (Hill claimed he tested positive for marijuana). Both of those suspensions were four games in length.

Another suspension under the performance-enhancing policy could cost Hill eight games. One more violation of the substance-abuse policy could carry a ban of six games to a full season.

The 24-year-old Hill was considered a second-round talent by many when he entered the draft in 2011. But he went undrafted because of glaring character concerns. Hill did not play in the NFL that year. The Giants signed him the following spring after an impressive showing as a tryout at their rookie minicamp.

If Hill is unavailable for part or all of this upcoming season, the Giants will likely turn to either Stevie Brown or Quintin Demps to start alongside Antrel Rolle. The team re-signed Brown this spring in hope he'll recover from a torn ACL suffered last preseason.

"It could be a big deal, because he's a big part of this defense," defensive end Jean Pierre-Paul said after organized team activities on Tuesday. "But we have other guys who can fill in for him."

Rolle said he treats Hill "like a little brother."

"It's always tough when you hear news like this," Rolle said. "Will Hill is a great guy and a great teammate. He's a phenomenal talent. My concern is for him as a person, not as a football player. I am going to support him, keep his spirits up and hope that all of this is nothing. We don't know what's going to happen. We'll see."

The Associated Press contributed to this report