NEW YORK: Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (pictured) won his appeal yesterday of a one-game suspension by the National Football League and will compete in Sunday’s first-round playoff game at Dallas.
League appeals officer Ted Cottrell overturned the one-game ban imposed Monday by NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks, instead imposing a $70,000 fine upon the Detroit defender.
Suh was punished after stepping twice on the injured leg of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a victory by the Packers over the Lions on Sunday at Green Bay.
Suh, whose mother is from Jamaica and whose father is from Cameroon, backed into Rodgers and knocked him to the ground during a pass play in the fourth quarter.
After stepping backwards once onto Rodgers leg, Suh made another step backwards onto the area between Rodgers’ ankle and calf, an area which was injured in the second quarter so badly that Rodgers had to be helped off the field.
“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,” Hanks told Suh in a letter explaining the now-overturned ban.
“This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided.” Suh’s return bolsters a Lions defensive unit that will face the challenge from NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray and star quarterback Tony Romo.
Meanwhile, Jedd Fisch is out as Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator after the offense finished last and next-to-last in the NFL in total yards the past two seasons.
The Jaguars (3-13) averaged 15.6 points and 290 yards per game this season. The 38-year-old Fisch was privately criticised by some players for his play-calling and also for his handling of rookie quarterback Blake Bortles.
According to insiders, fired Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman could be a candidate for the offensive coordinator job. Jaguars coach Gus Bradley and Trestman are close friends.
Also, Ben Tate joined his third team in seven weeks when he signed with the running back-needy Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday.
The Steelers are hurting at the position with Pro Bowl featured back Le’Veon Bell expected to miss Sunday’s wild-card game with a hyperextended knee.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Bell has no structural damage to the knee and went on to say he’s not ruling Bell out this weekend.AGENCIES
