Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed had his appeal hearing today with former coach Ted Cottrell handling the appeal and multiple sources are now reporting that Cottrell reduced Reed\’s one-game suspension to only a $50,000 fine. Reed had been suspended by the league on Monday for one game without pay for repeated hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.
“I have determined that your actions were egregious and warrant significant discipline. However, I do not believe that your actions were so egregious as to subject you to a one-game suspension without pay,” Cottrell wrote in a letter to Reed. “Player safety is the league\’s primary concern in the formation of playing rules and all players are expected to adhere to those rules or face disciplinary action. I hope in the future you will focus on ensuring that your play conforms to the rules.”
The latest hit by Reed came in the Sunday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter for a hit to the head of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
The previous two hits by Reed involving defenseless receivers came in 2010 and 2012.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison was suspended one game last season following his hit to the head of Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. Harrison appealed his suspension but it was upheld.
It certainly appears that Reed got off with a slap on the hand here and it really doesn\’t make sense, regardless if players like Steelers safety Ryan Clark supports Reed. Clark took to Twitter on Monday in support of the Ravens safety.
“Tough on Ed getting suspended. I can\’t say that I agree w that. It was a penalty but I don\’t believe he was intentionally trying to harm E.”
