NFL suspends Bengals safety Iloka, Steelers receiver Smith-Schuster,
League punishes Patriots tight end after ‘flagrant’ hit.
The NFL suspended New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski one game for a late, gratuitous hit to the head of Bills defensive back Tre’Davious White.
White was lying face down on the sideline after intercepting a pass in Buffalo on Sunday when Gronkowski bodyslammed him, driving his forearm into White’s back and head. Gronkowski was called for unnecessary roughness but not kicked out of the game.
“Your actions were not incidental, could have been avoided and placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury,” NFL vice president Jon Runyan said in a letter Monday to Gronkowski. “The competition committee has clearly expressed its goal of ‘eliminating flagrant hits that have no place in our game.’ Those hits include the play you were involved in yesterday.”
Gronkowski will appeal the punishment, his agent said. White entered the concussion protocol, Bills coach Sean McDermott said.
After the game, Patriots coach Bill Belichick appeared to apologize to his Buffalo counterpart. Gronkowski also apologized, saying he let his frustration get the better of him.
“I’m not in the business of that,” he told reporters after the game, which New England won 23-3. “There was a lot of frustration. I just want to apologize to Tre’Davious White. I don’t believe in taking shots like that.”
Barring a successful appeal, Gronkowski will miss New England’s game against Miami next Monday night.
Gronkowski has been one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL despite an injury history that has allowed him to play all 16 games just twice in his first seven seasons. This year, he has 55 catches for 849 yards and seven touchdowns.
Gronkowski caught nine passes for 147 yards against Buffalo on Sunday. On the play that resulted in the interception, he felt he was pushed and held.
“I just don’t understand why there wasn’t a flag,” he said.
Ravens: The team will play the final quarter of the regular season without cornerback Jimmy Smith, who will be on injured reserve while serving a suspension for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
Smith tore his left Achilles tendon in Sunday’s victory over Detroit.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed Smith will go on IR, and said the team knew of the pending suspension before Sunday’s game.
NFL rules allow a player to serve a suspension on injured reserve, but Smith will not be paid. Smith is the third Ravens player this season to be suspended for using PEDs, along with running back Kenneth Dixon and tight end Darren Waller.
Bills: Coach Sean McDermott is sticking with Tyrod Taylor as the starter so long as the quarterback’s bruised left knee holds up. Tests revealed Taylor sustained a bruised patellar tendon. McDermott listed Taylor as day to day but said he’ll have a better idea on Taylor’s status once players return to practice today.
Titans: Defensive lineman DaQuan Jones has a torn bicep muscle and will have season-ending surgery. Coach Mike Mularkey said Jones will be placed on injured reserve. Cornerback Logan Ryan is in the concussion protocol, and Mularkey said wide receiver Rishard Matthews (hamstring) and tight end Delanie Walker (right ankle) are day to day.
Lions: Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s banged-up hand is one of several problems with Detroit (6-6) losing two straight, but coach Jim Caldwell said, “The season’s not over yet. … We got a lot of work to do.” X-rays on Stafford were negative, and he had bandages wrapped around his pinkie, ring and middle finger on his right hand Monday.
Texans: Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, receiver Braxton Miller and running back Alfred Blue all sustained concussions Sunday.