Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib and Oakland Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree are both facing a two-game suspension following an on-field fight on Sunday. The suspension is supposed to send a message to the rest of the NFL, reports USA Today.
“I think a two-game suspension is designed to appropriately discipline a player, but also get their attention,” NFL vice president of communications Joe Lockhart said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters, according to USA Today. “I suspect this will get their attention.”
The two players have had confrontations before, but they engaged just three minutes into Sunday’s 21-14 Raiders victory. The NFL announced their suspensions on Monday evening, though both players are appealing the decision.
The fight started when Crabtree blocked Talib out of bounds following the whistle blowing a play dead, writes USA Today. Talib stood up and grabbed Crabtree’s helmet. He then threw it off, which caused several players from both teams to rush over, and the fight spread quickly. Once they were separated, the players engaged each other again and threw a few more punches.
The penalty they now face is stronger than many punishments issued for on-field misconduct. Earlier this season, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green punched Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He was fined but not suspended, according to USA Today.
“One of the reasons is the eye test, just watching,” Lockhart said of the incident between Talib and Crabtree, according to USA Today. “First, this did appear to be premeditated; it happened three minutes into the game. There’s history there. It was prolonged, as you watched it play out from one side of the field to the other side of the field. And importantly, it put other people at risk, sideline personnel, league personnel.”
Lockhart thinks there will be two separate hearings for the appeals, but does not know when.
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