NFL, NFLPA hear Steelers' James Harrison's appeal against one-game ban – NFL News
A decision on the appeal by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison against his one-game suspension by the National Football League (NFL) over his hit to Cleveland Brown’s quarterback Colt McCoy is expected by Thursday.
His appeal was heard by NFL office on Wednesday. The player was given a chance for his explanation of the hit and his stand in the appeal through a video conference. It is expected that the league will announce its decision by
Thursday at earliest, only a couple of days before the Steelers next game this Sunday.
The hearing of the appeal was conducted by Ted Cottrell who normally represents NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) in hearing appeals on such cases.
James Harrison was banned by the NFL for one game without pay over his involvement in a helmet-to-face mask hit on Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Colt McCoy.
He however defended himself saying he had not committed any foul and that it was a fair play. He went on to say that the hit was not worth any punishment let alone the suspension.
Following his suspension by the NFL he appealed the decision expressing confidence that his appeal will be accepted.
However, many teams’ officials and analysts said that he had no chance that his appeal would be accepted given the reason that the player has committed the same foul frequently. This was his fifth foul in last three years. He had
been fined $125,000 by the league last year alone.
The incident occurred in the Steelers last game against the Browns which they won 14-3. Colt McCoy suffered concussion as a result of the hit and was unlucky to have been mishandled by his team medical staff.
The rejection of the appeal will confirmed suspension of James Harrison as to be first player to have been handed down the penalty by NFL under its new policy measures on concussions.
The league office along with the players association is separately conducting a review Colt McCoy handling. Browns' president Mike Holmgren meanwhile on Wednesday admitted that McCoy was not checked on the sideline for his concussion
in absence of apparent symptoms.
Browns medical staff let Colt McCoy return to the field without testing his injury, which has led to a controversy and NFL inquiry.
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