Pennel sues NFL, players union
Case involves 2nd apparent suspension
Green Bay — Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Mike Pennel has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Ohio against the NFL and NFL Players Association after an apparent second suspension for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.
The third-year player stated in court documents the arbitrator presiding over his disciplinary process with the league was “improperly assigned” and asked for proceedings to be delayed until a third-party arbitrator joins the case.
Pennel alleges the league and general council “failed to abide by the arbitrator selection and assignment provisions and procedure set forth in the attached arbitration agreement” after learning about his suspension Nov. 8. An appeal hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported the lawsuit Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, NFL Network reported Pennel would be suspended a second time for violating the NFL’s substanceabuse policy.
Pennel missed the first four games of 2016. A second violation carries a suspension of at least six games and as many as 10, according to the league’s bylaws.
Pennel is the second player to file suit against the league after being informed of a substanceabuse violation. Philadelphia offensive tackle Lane Johnson filed suit with the National Labor Relations Board regarding his 10-game suspension.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he was first made aware of the lawsuit Tuesday.
“That’s a league legal issue,” McCarthy said, “and I really don’t have a comment on it.”
Pennel was expected to be a starter but never has recovered after missing the season’s first month. He has four tackles in seven games, a quarter of his total from last season.
‘Bazooka’ time: It was a startling sight Monday in Philadelphia when Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took off with the football, with receiver Randall Cobb serving as a pitchman to his right.
The Packers are among the NFL’s fortunate few to have an elite, franchise quarterback. The last thing McCarthy wants is to expose Rodgers to unnecessary hits. So it was surprising when Rodgers ran a triple option in the first quarter of the Packers’ 27-13 victory over the Eagles.
The play, McCarthy said, is called “Bazooka” in the Packers’ playbook.
“It’s a situational call,” McCarthy said, “and obviously you have options, and the lowest possible option is for the quarterback to keep it.”
That’s precisely what Rodgers did.
On third and 1, receiver Ty Montgomery faked an inside dive. Rodgers then carried the football around the right end, keeping it for 4 yards and a first down and sliding to avoid contact.
“Aaron can be spiteful some- times as we know,” McCarthy said, “so it was a great read by him. We’re looking to get the pitch there. But the end of the day, it’s about getting the first down and him being smart with it. I thought it was well-executed.”
New folk hero? Aaron Ripkowski isn’t a household name. And his name certainly doesn’t ring the same way as John Kuhn, his predecessor and a Packers folk hero.
But the second-year fullback is providing familiar reliability, delivering the familiar hard hits as a ballcarrier and after Monday night starting to show a familiar nose for the end zone.
Ripkowski scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard rumble in the fourth quarter, splitting blocks from left tackle David Bakhtiari and left guard Lane Taylor.
“Just saw a small gap there,” Ripkowski said. “The guys got some push — some really good push — and I ran behind those offensive linemen. They blocked it up perfectly.”
Perfect was the celebration that followed.
In the end zone, Ripkowski didn’t mess around. With Cobb, tight end Richard Rodgers and right tackle Bryan Bulaga in his ear, the fullback unleashed a vicious, tomahawk spike that would have made New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski proud.
“They actually told me to do that,” Ripkowski said. “It wasn’t my idea . ... Somebody was saying, ‘Spike it! Spike it!’ So why not get them excited?”
Two of the Packers’ three best offensive showings this season have coincided with RipEagles kowski’s two highest snap counts. He played 25 snaps (35%) Monday, highlighted by two catches for 15 yards. He had 32 snaps (52%) Oct. 30 when the Packers scored 33 points at Atlanta.
“I think he’s talented,” Aaron Rodgers said. “He deserves to be out on the field. He’s made a number of plays for us. He does a good job on checkdowns, he does a good job running the ball, he’s a tough dude.”
Randall’s return: The Packers were pleased with how the cornerback Damarious Randall returned from groin surgery for his first game in five weeks.
Randall had an uneven game Monday. He showed rust with multiple missed tackles, including a whiff against Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz on third down, allowing a field goal before the end of the first half.
But Randall also provided a boost to the Packers depleted secondary. He had a third-down pass breakup in the fourth quarter.
The Packers defense played its best game in more than a month, holding the Eagles to 13 points on their home field. They were no doubt aided playing an Eagles roster devoid of playmakers, but Wentz provides a challenge.
The rookie quarterback finished 24 for 36 passing for 254 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
“Coming back from his injury, definitely it was taxing for him,” McCarthy said. “I thought he played a really good, solid game, and definitely his presence and having him back out there made a big difference.”