GRONK’S APPEAL OF SUSPENSION GETS DENIED
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s one-game suspension for a late hit in Sunday’s game against the Bills has been upheld after an appeal, the NFL announced Tuesday.
The appeal was heard by Derrick Brooks, the appeals officer assigned to the hearing jointly by the NFL and NFL Players Association.
Gronkowski will miss Monday night’s game against the Dolphins.
Gronkowski was penalized on the play. It is the first NFL suspension for Gronkowski since he entered the league as a second-round draft choice with the Patriots in 2010.
In remarks to reporters after the game, Gronkowski had apologized to Tre’Davious White for the hit, which came after an interception thrown in his direction. White was on the ground after the play, face-down, when Gronkowski leapt on top of him and put his elbow/ forearm into the back of White’s head/neck area.
Texans TE out for season.
The Texans put tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz and receiver Bruce Ellington on injured reserve.
Fiedorowicz left Sunday’s loss to the Titans with a concussion, which is his third since training camp. The tight end spent eight games on injured reserve this season after suffering a concussion in the Texans’ season opener. In five games this season, Fiedorowicz had 14 catches for 127 yards.
The Texans signed Fiedorowicz to a three-year, $21.5 million contract in August that included $10 million guaranteed.
• J.J. Watt is confident he’ll return to the field for the Texans next season, feeling good as he recovers from a broken leg.
Warner gets two games.
YORK» Kurt Warner NEW will replace Cris Collinsworth for two late-season NFL game telecasts.
The Hall of Fame quarterback will be the analyst with play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico for the Dec. 16 Chicago-Detroit game on NFL Network, and for the Christmas game of Pittsburgh at Houston on NBC and NFLN.
Footnotes.
The Bears placed right guard Kyle Long on injured reserve for the second straight season. The three-time Pro Bowler has been trying to play through a left shoulder injury he suffered in 2016. … The Bills placed receiver Jordan Matthews and defensive end Shaq Lawson on injured reserve, ending their seasons. … Falcons guard Andy Levitre will miss Thursday’s game, because of a triceps injury, for the first time in his NFL career.