NFL slaps one-game ban to Baltimore Ravens’ safety Ed Reed with pay – NFL News
The National Football League (NFL) has come rather harsh on Baltimore Ravens’ safety Ed Reed for violation of safety rules and slapped him with a game ban, which will also cost him just below half a million dollars in pay cheque.
While announcing the verdict, the league office said that Reed has committed the same violation third time, which it cannot tolerate.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said:
"We cannot tolerate repeated violations of rules, especially rules related to player safety. We will continue to take the strongest possible action to deter these types of violations and protect our players."
The office has cited the video evidence that Reed is found hitting Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders on the head and neck area.
Reed said that he will appeal the suspension, expectedly to be heard by two arbitrators and if they uphold the NFL’s original verdict the player will sit out next game against the San Diego Chargers.
Baltimore Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh has defended Reed saying all those incidents cited by the regulator were without intent to injure any player.
He said:
"They were all inadvertent. None of those were with the intent to injure or to harm in any way. I think when you look at the hits it's pretty obvious. When you look at Ed, he respects the game, he respects the players."
It is pertinent to mention here that Reed has become only second player to be suspended over violation of safety rules under the league’s enhanced safety measures. Last season it was Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison to become the first player to be banned
for a game over his hit to Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Colt McCoy who had suffered concussion.
Reed’s ban is rather expensive because he will lose exactly $423,529 in pay cheque if his appeal is rejected by the arbitrators, who are paid by the league office and players’ union.
The league has also punished quite a few more players over their alleged fouls but those penalties are fines and not suspensions.
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