Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed won’t miss any game time for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on Sunday night.
Reed was suspended one game on Monday as a repeat violator of the rule, but had the punishment reduced to a $50,000 fine upon appeal. The appeal was heard over the phone on Tuesday by Ted Cottrell, who is joined appointed and compensated by the NFL and the NFL Players Association to hear and decide on appeals for on-field player discipline.
In a letter to Reed, Cottrell said, “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. 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.”
Reed had been slated to sit out Sunday’s game at the San Diego Chargers.
“The league has an appeal process to review situations like this, and Ed had his opportunity to answer questions about his play,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “Ted Cottrell, a long-time NFL defensive coach, reviewed Ed’s play. Ted is the arbitrator approved by both the NFL and the NFL Players Association, and he made the decision.
“I think John (Harbaugh) and his coaches do an excellent job of teaching the right, safe and legal way to play football, and we believe Ed clearly tries to play within the rules on every down.”
This is Reed’s third violation in the past three seasons. The league rule on fines states that: “Players who were fined for violations in 2010 or 2011, and whose fines were either partially or fully upheld, will be considered second and/or repeat offenders under this policy.”
“We cannot tolerate repeated violations of rules, especially rules related to player safety,” executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said in announcing the original one-game suspension Monday. “We will continue to take the strongest possible action to deter these types of violations and protect our players.”
Reed’s other infractions include: a $21,000 fine and an unnecessary roughness penalty for striking a defenseless player, New England Patriots wide Receiver Deion Branch, on Sept. 23; and a $10,000 fine and a roughing-the-passer penalty for striking the head and neck area of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Dec. 19, 2010.
Denver Broncos linebacker Joe Mays was suspended for one game earlier this year for violating rules designed to protect the safety of players. He was disciplined for an illegal hit against Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, a defenseless player, in their Sept. 23 game.