Suh für ein Spiel gesperrt

Der 27-jährige Verteidiger der Detroit Lions trat im letzten Regular Season Spiel am vergangenen Sonntag in Green Bay dem Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers auf sein bereits verletztes Bein.
NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks hat nun eine Sperre von einem Spiel ausgesprochen und ein Statement dazu veröffentlich. Die Liga glaubt nicht, dass Suh das unbeabsichtigt, sondern mit voller Verletzungsabsicht getan hat.
"You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided. You unnecessarily stepped on your opponent’s unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself." so Hanks in einem offenen Brief an Suh.
Suh hat bis vor dem Spiel bereits sieben Strafen für ähnliche Aktionen bekommen. 2011 wurde er für zwei Spiele gesperrt als er den damaligen Packers Liner Evan Dietrich-Smith auf den Arm stieg, ein Jahr danach war es Falcons Quarterback Matt Schaub, den er in die Bauchgegend trat.
Suh wird Einspruch gegen die Sperre einlegen, der Videobeweis und sein einschlägiges Vorstrafenregister geben einem Erfolg des Protests aber sehr schlechte Chancen.

Die Pressemeldung der NFL:
NDAMUKONG SUH SUSPENDED ONE GAME FOR VIOLATION OF PLAYER SAFETY RULES
Defensive tackle NDAMUKONG SUH of the Detroit Lions has been suspended without pay for this Sunday’s Wild Card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys for a violation of safety-related playing rules in last Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
In the fourth quarter with Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS on the ground in a defenseless posture, Suh backed up and stepped on Rodgers’ left leg with his right foot. He then stepped on Rodgers’ left leg again, this time with his left foot, applying pressure and unnecessarily pushing off Rodgers’ unprotected leg with his left foot, violating playing rules prohibiting unnecessary roughness.
The suspension was imposed by NFL Vice President of Football Operations MERTON HANKS.
Hanks ruled that Suh engaged in a non-football act which placed his opponent, Rodgers, at unnecessary risk of injury – specifically the second step and push off, which could have been avoided.
In his letter to Suh, Hanks noted, “You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided.” Hanks further noted “you unnecessarily stepped on your opponent’s unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself.”
Suh will not be permitted to attend team meetings and functions; attend or watch practices; appear at the club’s facilities for any reason; attend press conferences; appear at the team’s January 4 game, or have contact with any club personnel except to arrange off-site medical treatment or rehabilitation.
Suh will be reinstated on Monday, January 5.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension may be appealed within three business days. Appeals are heard and decided by either DERRICK BROOKS or TED COTTRELL, the officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.