2-game ban for Crabtree in brawl
The NFL late Monday announced two-game suspensions for Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree and Denver cornerback Aqib Talib for their roles in Sunday’s brawl between the two teams.
Crabtree and Talib were suspended without pay “for violations of unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules,” according to a league release.
Crabtree would miss Oakland’s home game against the Giants on Sunday and a game at Kansas City. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Crabtree is appealing his suspension, as is Talib.
Both players were ejected early in the first quarter of the Raiders’ 21-14 win. In a letter to Crabtree released by the league, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote the receiver was disciplined for a “series of flagrant violations.”
“First, you punched a Broncos opponent Chris Harris in the midsection, resulting in him being removed from the game,” Runyan wrote. “Then, on the subsequent play, you blocked a different Broncos opponent (Aqib Talib) into the sidelines beyond the yellow media border, well after the play was over.
“Your actions triggered a melee and endangered various sideline and League personnel, including one of our Game Officials who was injured trying to maintain control of the situation. Finally, during the ensuing altercation, you grabbed and twisted (Talib’s) facemask and threw a punch at him. … Such actions have no place in this game, engender ill will between teams, and lead to further confrontations.”
Sunday’s fight carried over from the teams’ regular-season finale Jan. 1, in which Talib snapped a gold chain necklace Crabtree was wearing. Talib again appeared to break Crabtree’s necklace Sunday as Crabtree pushed him out of bounds by the Denver sideline while blocking on a running play.
Multiple players jumped into the ensuing fight, and Crabtree had his helmet yanked off. While a separate skirmish took place on the sideline, Crabtree and Talib continued to circle and swing at each other near the end zone before teammates separated them.
After both players were ejected — along with Raiders guard Gabe Jackson, who knocked over an official — Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch escorted Talib toward the Coliseum tunnel past the Oakland bench, where Crabtree was sitting.
Runyan cited the necklacegrabbing in his letter to Talib:
“First, while competing on the field of play, you deliberately ripped your opponent’s chain from his neck just as you did last year when you played against him. Then, when the two of you went to the ground after a subsequent play, you aggressively removed his helmet and threw it in his direction, endangering him and various sideline personnel in the near vicinity.”
If Crabtree’s appeal is denied, the Raiders will lose one of their top receivers for two weeks at a critical point in the season. Crabtree is tied for the team lead with 42 catches, second with 502 receiving yards and first with six receiving touchdowns. Even with a 5-6 record, the Raiders are one game behind the divisionleading Chiefs in the AFC West.
Receiver Amari Cooper, meanwhile, is in concussion protocol and has an injured ankle resulting from a hit that knocked him out of Sunday’s game in the first half, head coach Jack Del Rio said.
If Crabtree and Cooper are unavailable, Oakland would have three receivers on its active roster: Seth Roberts, Cordarrelle Patterson and Johnny Holton. Those three combined for seven catches and 151 yards against the Broncos. The Raiders have two receivers on their practice squad, Keon Hatcher and Isaac Whitney. Both are rookies who have not played in an NFL game.
Del Rio had said Monday afternoon that he hoped the league would not suspend Crabtree. “Based on what I saw, I wouldn’t think there’d be that type of reaction,” Del Rio said.
After the suspensions were announced, Del Rio responded on Twitter, referencing a Week 9 incident in which Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green and Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey were ejected for fighting. The NFL did not suspend either player, and only Green was fined.
Del Rio wrote: “Hard to understand the reasoning for this judgement based on most recent ruling w/ altercation see WR Cin and DB Jax = 0 game suspended,” and included a puzzled emoji. Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkawahara@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara