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Saban suspends OL Taylor after DUI arrest

A day after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence, Alabama offensive lineman Alphonse Taylor was suspended indefinitely by Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

"We are very disappointed any time a player makes a choice that leads to this kind of behavior," Saban said in a statement announcing the suspension. "We are still in the process of gathering all of the details on the situation, but from a football standpoint, Alphonse Taylor has been indefinitely suspended from the team."

Taylor, a preseason second-team All-SEC selection, also left the scene of the accident, according to the Tuscaloosa Police Department. He was cited for leaving the scene of an accident.

Saban's patience might be wearing thin with Taylor, who started all 15 games last season at right guard. But the 6-foot-6, 345-pounder's lack of conditioning and offseason weigh gain already had him in Saban's doghouse.

Taylor led the team with 57 knockdown blocks last season. In the national title game against the Tigers, he had four knockdown blocks while paving the way for big performances for Alabama quarterback Jake Coker (335 yards passing) and Heisman Trophy-winning back Derrick Henry (158 rushing yards).

After last season, Taylor was asked by Saban to lose weight. He was demoted to second-team right guard during the spring after failing to lose enough weight, with Brandon Kennedy taking first-team reps.

Taylor's teammate, tackle Cam Robinson, also was arrested May 17 on misdemeanor charges of possessing a controlled substance, felony possession of a stolen gun and illegally carrying a weapon in the presence of narcotics. The charges were later dropped and Saban said Robinson wouldn't be suspended.

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