Marshawn Lynch's appeal to his three-game suspension was denied today.

Buffalo's starting running back will miss the team's first three games against New England, Tampa Bay and New Orleans. Fred Jackson was named the starter.

"We are disappointed, obviously," Bills head coach Dick Jauron said. "We'll lose a real good football player for three games. But, hopefully, Marshawn has learned a good deal from it."

Lynch was suspended after police found a 9mm semiautomatic handgun in the trunk of his car Feb. 11. Police also found four marijuana cigarettes, but no charges were issued for that.

The incident was Lynch's second run-in with the law in two years. In May 2008, he was involved in a hit-and-run case on a bar strip in Buffalo. He pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and was not punished by the league.

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