Ndamukong Suh Wins Appeal, Fined $70K

Update:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Lions DT Ndamukong Suh has won his appeal with the NFL and will be allowed to play in Detroit’s Wildcard game against the Cowboys.

• Dave Birkett reports that Suh will receive a $70,000 fine.
• Pro Football Talk reports that the NFL knew there was a good chance that Suh’s suspension would be overturned, but wanted to send a strong message about unnecessary contact.

Here’s the statement from the league regarding the ruling:

Ted Cottrell, the hearing officer in the appeal of Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions of his one-game
suspension, has reduced the discipline to a $70,000 fine.

Cottrell is jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFL Players Association to hear and
decide appeals for on-field player discipline.

Suh was suspended on Monday for one game without pay by NFL Vice President of Football
Operations Merton Hanks for violating safety-related playing rules prohibiting unnecessary
roughness.

Suh is now eligible to play in Detroit’s Wild Card playoff game on Sunday against the Dallas
Cowboys.

———

Jason La Canfora mentions that the more people around the league he speaks to, the more he gets the sense that Lions DT Ndamukong Suh will receive a “huge fine” instead of his suspension.

• Peter King would not be surprised if hearing officer Ted Cottrell overturned the league’s decision to suspend Suh for their Wildcard matchup.

A decision is expected to be announced at some point today, it may not come until later on in the night.

——–

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (per Adam Schefter) is now reporting that the NFL has, in fact, suspended Lions DT Ndamukong Suh for their Wildcard matchup against the Cowboys.

• Ian Rapoport adds that the league termed it a “non-football act.”

Suh is expected to appeal the league’s decision. According to Mortensen, his appeal will be heard by officer Ted Cottrell.

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks sent a letter to Suh and noted; “You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided.”

Hanks further noted “you unnecessarily stepped on your opponent’s unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself.”

Assuming Suh’s suspension stands, there is a chance that he has already played his last game with the Lions given that he will be an unrestrictred free agent next year and it would be extremely costly for the Detroit to franchise him.

———

Pro Football Talk reports that the NFL will make a decision regarding Lions DT Ndamukong Suh at some point Monday.

According to PFT, it would not be surprising to see the league suspend him one game for stepping on Aaron Rodgers‘ ankle.

———-

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (per Adam Schefter) reports that Lions DT Ndamukong Suh could face a suspension for Detroit’s wildcard matchup against the Dallas Cowboys after he appeared to step on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers‘ ankle.

Reports following Sunday’s game said that the NFL was planning to look into the incident, but if Suh were to receive a suspension, it would likely take into account the prior incidents he was involved in.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy referred to Suh’s actions as “ridiculous” during his post-game press conference.

“I didn’t see it live, I didn’t see it on the Jumbotron, but from what I’m told, I’m told it was ridiculous,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “There’s no place for that. That’s where I’m at with it. I don’t understand it, frankly.”

Lions C Dominic Raiola just served a one-game suspension for stepping on Bears DT Ego Ferguson‘s ankle.

Losing Suh for any amount of time would be a big loss for the Lions and their front-seven, especially when you consider that they will be up against one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

We’ll have more updates as the news is available.