Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch for the first three games of the 2009 season for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

The NFL announced the suspension on Thursday. Lynch is expected to appeal the suspension.

Lynch will lose approximately $112,000 of his $635,000 base salary for 2009 during the suspension.

Lynch was arrested near Los Angeles on Feb. 11 and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. In searching a parked car carrying Lynch, Culver City police found a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun inside a backpack in the trunk.

Prosecutors said the backpack contained other items belonging to Lynch. Police said they also found four marijuana cigarettes in the car, but no drug charges were filed.

After pleading guilty to having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, Lynch was sentenced last month to 80 hours of community service and three years' probation. The Bills' 2007 first-round draft pick also issued an apology.

"I am embarrassed by my recent arrest and conviction," Lynch said. "I deeply regret that I placed myself in this situation."

Lynch met with Goodell at his office in New York on March 17.