League: Hit on Mayfield was illegal
Face of Players’ Coalition defends work with NFL
CLEVELAND — The NFL flagged itself for blowing the call on the nasty helmetto-helmet hit put on Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The league said Friday that Tampa Bay safety Jordan Whitehead should have penalized for striking Mayfield in the side of the helmet in last Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win. Mayfield was sliding at the end of a 35-yard scramble when he got blasted by Whitehead, who was initially penalized before the officials conferred and decided to pick up the flag — and one against Mayfield for taunting.
First-year referee Shawn Hochuli made the situation worse by incorrectly announcing that Mayfield “was still a runner and therefore is allowed to be hit in the head.”
Senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron pointed out several mistakes in a video released by the league.
“I’ll tell you ahead of time that we had a flag on this play and we incorrectly picked it up after we had a conference by the officials,” Riveron said before showing Mayfield get blasted by Whitehead. “We’re watching the defender as he lowers his head to initiate contact, and he does make contact, so that right there is a foul within itself. No. 2, as we can see the quarterback starts to slide, and even though he slides late, he is still afforded protection from forcible contact to the neck and head area.”
Whitehead is expected to be fined, a person familiar with the league discipline told the AP earlier this week. Fines are announced today.
EAGLES: Safety Malcolm Jenkins does not believe the heated exchange he had with the Carolina Panthers’ Eric Reid diminishes the impact of his fight for racial and social justice.
Jenkins, the face of the Players’ Coalition, and Reid, a former member, shouted at each other during and after the Eagles’ 21-17 home loss on Sunday.
Reid branded Jenkins a “sellout” after the game and said he “co-opted the movement” started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick because the group of players has chosen to work with the NFL to further its cause.
“There’s been work all across the country in so many different areas and by so many players that an incident like that, it might grab headlines and it might grab the attention of what people want to report,” Jenkins said Friday after the Eagles completed their final practice prior to a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday, but the work that we do has never been contingent upon what we do.
“Right now, the big focus is on voting and getting people out to the polls this November and we continue to do that. We’ve got people doing PSAs, writing op-eds, getting involved with the issues in their local markets, and so no, I don’t think it’s a distraction at all.”
Reid, who joined Carolina last month, broke away from the coalition a year ago in part because of its support from the league. The NFL plans to commit $90 million over the next seven years to further social causes.
Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, a member of the coalition, responded on Thursday to Reid’s comments, saying he does not recognize that the group is “making true changes” with its advocacy.
TEXANS: Receiver Will Fuller has a torn knee ligament and will miss the rest of the season, a big blow to a team that has won five in a row and is coming off a high-scoring victory.
He was injured during the fourth quarter Thursday night against Miami when he became entangled with a defender and tumbled to the ground.
Coach Bill O’Brien said Friday he doesn’t know when Fuller will have surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
“I’m very disappointed for Will because Will’s a great guy,” O’Brien said. “He’s really been playing at a high level.”
Fuller had a season-high 124 yards receiving with a 73-yard touchdown on Thursday before the injury.
SEAHAWKS: Coach Pete Carroll said Friday he’s been in contact with the NFL regarding a review of the indefinite suspension given to linebacker Mychal Kendricks and is hopeful some sort of decision will come early next week.
Kendricks met with league officials earlier this week, according to Carroll.
Kendricks was placed on indefinite suspension by the league earlier this month after he pleaded guilty to federal insider trading charges. The suspension — which fell under the personal-conduct policy — had been anticipated following his plea in early September. Kendricks is not scheduled to be sentenced in his legal case until January.
VIKINGS: Four injured starters have been ruled out for this week — linebacker Anthony Barr (hamstring), left guard Tom Compton (knee), running back Dalvin Cook (hamstring) and strong safety Andrew Sendejo (groin).