NFL lifts Baltimore Ravens’ Ed Reed ban, slaps $50K fine – NFL News
Baltimore Ravens’ safety Ed Reed has successfully avoided becoming only second player in the league to be suspended for a hit under enhanced safety instrument by the National Football League (NFL), as the league office has accepted an appeal of the player
seeking overturn of its one-game imposed on him.
Yet the office has not let the player walk out completely free, as he still will have to pay a fine of $50,000 from his pocket over the hit on the neck and shoulder of Pittsburgh Steelers’ receiver Emmanuel Sanders in their last game.
This is the heftiest fine the office has slapped on a player for making mistakes on the field which could have resulted in a serious injury to the player. He was hit when being defenceless.
Following overturning of the ban, Ravens’ general manager Ozzie Newsome issued a rare statement thanking coaches over what he called propagating the policy of playing safe.
"I think John (Harbaugh) and his coaches do an excellent job of teaching the right, safe and legal way to play football, and we believe Ed clearly tries to play within the rules on every down."
Earlier, Reed receive letter of confirmation from NFL Players Association (NFLPA) that his ban has been lifted and he will be paying the fine, instead.
The letter read:
"I have determined that your actions were egregious and warrant significant discipline. However, I do not believe that your actions were so egregious as to subject you to a one-game suspension without pay. Player safety is the league's primary concern in
the formation of playing rules and all players are expected to adhere to those rules or face disciplinary action.”
Originally, the safety was given a game ban with salary, which could have cost him just below half a million from his pay cheque. Also, he was to miss next game. He could have become second player in the league history to serve the suspension. Last year,
Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison was suspended for a game over a hit on Cleveland Browns’ Colt McCoy.
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