The Chargers will now have two linebackers on their roster who will know the heartache and regret of a four-game suspension.

According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, linebacker Stephen Cooper will miss the first four games of the 2008 season, apparently due to a violation of the substance abuse policy.

Citing unnamed sources, Acee reports that Cooper’s suspension arises from a positive test for “illicit” drugs and not performance enhancers.  If that’s the case, then Cooper has had other violations of the substance abuse policy; unlike the policy regarding anabolic steroids and related substances, which mandates a four-game suspension for a first offense, there are multiple levels of violations (including a fine in the amount of four game checks) that apply before a suspension.