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The next time you take a Mexican vacation, remember to save all of your receipts, because they could one day help you get an NFL suspension overturned.

Just ask Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown about that.

Back in November, the NFL sent a letter to Brown letting him know that he was in violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. According to the NFL, Brown had tested positive for clenbuterol.

The positive test meant that Brown was facing a 10-game suspension because it was the second offense of his career. The Texans offensive lineman was suspended four games in 2010 for violating the league's PED policy.

For Brown, the only way out of the 10-game suspension was to file an appeal and win, which almost never happens, but it did in this case thanks to the fact that Brown kept a few receipts from his Mexican vacation.

According to ESPN.com, Brown went on a red meat rampage during a trip to Mexico that he took while the Texans were on a bye week back in November. Receipts from his trip show that he ate about 10 hamburgers and two steaks.

The problem with eating that much red meat in Mexico is that the beef is apparently tainted. An NFLPA lawyer did some research and found out that a lot of the meat in Mexico is contaminated with clenbuterol.

Using that research, the NFLPA "proved to the NFL that the burgers and steaks Brown ate in Mexico caused the positive test," according to ESPN. An independent arbitrator had final say in the case and ended up siding with Brown, a decision that overturned the 10-game suspension.

If Brown hadn't saved his receipts, he would've had no way of proving that he ate that much beef while on vacation. Brown had the receipts though, and his suspension was overturned.

Brown's agent, Kennard McGuire, was understandably excited for his client after the arbitrator's ruling.

"It's a huge burden that has been removed from him," McGuire told the Houston Chronicle. "This is landmark for the NFLPA. We applaud them for their effort and support. This sets precedence but also creates awareness. While I understand the desire for real information, I am concerned about the narrative of personal information being disclosed."

Although Brown got the benefit of the doubt in this case, that benefit likely won't be extended to anyone else if they fail a test for eating bad beef.

The NFL sent out a memo on Tuesday that warned players to not eat beef if they're in China or Mexico.

The Texans and Raiders will probably want to send another reminder in a few months because those two teams play in Mexico in November.

The NFL might want to market that game as the "Vegetarian Bowl," because it doesn't sound like anyone will be eating meat that week.

As for Brown, he underwent offseason surgery to repair a torn quad tendon, an injury that he suffered in Houston's regular season finale against Jacksonville. The offensive lineman is hoping to be ready for the start of the 2016 season.

Duane Brown will probably never eat another hamburger in Mexico. (USATSI)
Duane Brown will probably never eat another hamburger in Mexico. (USATSI)