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Marcell Dareus' ban strikes at heart of Rex Ryan's defensive rebuild

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- When it rains around the Buffalo Bills, it pours.

Announced Tuesday, Marcell Dareus' four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy is the latest example of bad news coming in bunches for a team that is still reeling from the loss of its top two draft picks -- outside linebacker Shaq Lawson and Reggie Ragland -- to injuries. Now it must deal with the loss of perhaps its best player for a quarter of the upcoming season.

Welcome to Buffalo, a corner of the NFL world that has been smitten during its ongoing 16-year playoff drought with honest bad luck, poor decision-making and every anger-inducing development in between.