Mack appeal denied by NFL

Elbert Mack's appeal of his one-game suspension was denied by the NFL, meaning he will miss Sunday's game at Chicago.

The Bucs rookie defensive back was suspended for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan Sunday following a fumble recovery.

Mack appealed the suspension, hoping he would be allowed to play against the Bears. But the were informed that the suspension was upheld. To replace Mack, the Bucs signed Marcus Hamilton from the practice squad.

"It doesn't look good I guess,'' coach Jon Gruden said. "We've got to get another man up and ready to play. If you remember, Marcus had a good training camp and he'll play if needed.''

    

Comments

[Todd]

Question: Doesn't Ryan become come a defense player on that play. I didn't see the hit. I understand helmet to helmet aren't supose to happen, but I know that I have seen it on running plays many times. Maybe someone could explain this too me a little better. Was it that noticable.

[Vince]

Just like in the movie "Goodfella's", Mack gets his first "pinch". Welcome to the unrelenting, rapacious, awe striking Bucs defense Mack! Gruden go easy on him!

[BucBall]

Yeah, it was a pretty bad shot. His helmet flew off.

[Bucsfan]

Ryan was a defensive player at the time but according to the NFL, there was malicious intent. Pretty soon NFL QB's will wear pink jerseys.

[Todd]

Pretty soon it's going to be 2 hand touch on the QB's.

[john]

Its to bad his head wasnt still in his helment when it flew off!It was a horrible call it shoudnt have resulted penalty or suspension.If the qb is going to run down field at all expect to get hit!

[DR]

This was reported yesterday afternoon.

[Valrico Rick]

... and all of you guys would jump on the other side of the fence if it had been a hit on a Bucs player that wasn't called. As an example of why I quit going to games john above hopes for a head in a missing helmet. Animals please, this is supposed to be a civilized society where we respect life and participate in friendly competition!

[Stephen_Holder]

DR: are you sure about that? Where? I'm serious. Just want to know if I missed something. It appears to me they just got word recently, perhaps today.

[migget]

jon gruden sucks!great playbook 3rd and 7,4 yard pass punt!"genius" mack who?

[migget]

so when we lose sunday will gruden say,it was tough out there with out mack?we realy missed him

[Vince]

Okay, wasn't it Al Davis that once said "The Quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard." That's all I'm saying... from the mouth of one of the architects of the National Football League.

[Matt]

Quoting Al Davis as a voice of sanity, wisdom, and how to live life? Ouch, not the best call.

I don't know if he deserves a suspension as I don't know what the line is there, but it was a horrible play by Mack. He didn't need to lower the head and hit Ryan there. I agree with the penalty and a fine, but don't know about suspensions. Are there really that many given out for these types of hits?

[BUC-N-A]

migget you're really a funny guy. This article and all the posts are about Mack being suspended and the rules that may pertain to it. But you have to post not once but twice about Gruden sucking or whatever. Why? Can't you find something better to do? Is your life that boring? I bet when you're not posting moronic comments on here you're sittin at home, or really your moms home cause you havent moved out yet, playing Halo trying to get to the next level. You've got the headset on talking to your geek (i mean really cool) friends about how you were a Dungeon Master in dungeon and dragons. Then you tell them to look at this forum to see what you posted. Do they think you're cool now?

Footballl is a violent sport where only the elite make it to the pro level, they worked all thier lived to get there, but even the elite can be in a vulnerable position in a split second when things change in a football game. Players need to protected from that split one split second when a simple play turns into a career ending accident. Mack was doing what he was trained to do, but was the hit illegal? i guess the one person who can answer that did,and that was the comissioner. I am all for letting players play thier game, but no one wants to see a player taken of the field in a stretcher.

[DR]

Stephen, I read this article on espn.com on the 18th. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3595437
I guess it wasn't an official ruling on the appeal but it was quite apparent to me to be pretty obvious the suspension was going to be upheld.

[SC]

The reason for the suspension is because this was his second time doing the same thing. He got nailed for $5,000 fine for popping a Texans QB (Brink) in preseason. So, the next infraction was a suspension. It will be longer if there's a next time.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The -Stacy -Cole -Show Come listen Monday -Friday 9:00 -10:30 PM www.stacycoleshow.com www.myspace.com/stacycoleshow

[Stephen_Holder]

DR
"quite apparent to me to be pretty obvious" is redundant. You could say, "it was pretty obvious to me..." or "it was quite apparent to me...". But saying both is bad grammar. Just trying to help you do your job.

[DR]

Stephen,
whoops, thanks for the advice. I started to write one sentence and had the other on my mind and ended up writing both. I need to work on my mind-to-finger communication skills.

[olehippy13]

I think Mack should be suspended, and I"m glad he was. If it occurs again, I'd say ban him from Pro Football .
OH and speaking of Banning someone...I was recently banned from the TB Buc's message board. I had made a comment about the Mack Ryan incident...and was told my tag line was not right ...????
30 days in the hole...whats a tag line???
oh and ah...
keep smilin,
olehippy13
former vietnam medic
lifelong falcon fan

[jason]

Man Al Gore is a goon.

The REAL Al Gore that is.

The FAKE AL Gore...not worth the time.

We'll see you soon when you're Brit'ney Spears YO.

[jason]

Man Al Gore is a goon.

The REAL Al Gore that is.

The FAKE AL Gore...not worth the time...too easy of a target.

We'll see you soon when you're Brit'ney Spears YO.

[jason]

Sorry about the double post.

But as I was trying to say the first time the Mack article/situation came up - it DID NOT SEEM that Mack was out for any type of overzealousness/bloodlust. It seemed more like incidental contact, and yes those things do happen and refs do call 15 yd penalties on that sort of contact- which they already did on that play.

This particular infraction happened when the ref's admitted they made a mistake (by giving possession back to ATL), Mack's hit was NOT of the type where he was holding vengeance against the player he hit.

In other words - worthy of the penalty the Bucs got..yes. Saying the guy is a QB killing criminal on the field..I do not agree with.

[STIXX]

Thanks Jason, finally its properly said.

[Hammer]

too bad on the penalty, nice run by Clayton