NFL will hear Mack appeal of suspension

Bucs rookie cornerback Elbert Mack is appealing his one-game suspension for his helmet-to-helmet hit of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

A hearing will be scheduled for later this week and a decision rendered before the Bucs play at Chicago Sunday, according to Ray Anderson, the NFL's Vice President of Football Operations.

Mack, an undrafted free agent from Troy, was suspended for Sunday's game at Chicago, without pay, for a flagrant violation of player safety rules, his second this season.

""We take it very seriously,'' coach Jon Gruden said of the NFL's ruling. ""At the same time, we're going to loook into the situation and support Elbert. He's a good kid. They take hits like that seriously, the league does. And we respect certainly the policies the league has. I'll just say this: Elbert Mack is a great kid, there's nothing malicious about him. That's the best way I can put it right now.''

The Bucs can ill-afford to lose Mack this week. Cornerback Aqib Talib has a hamstring strain and is questionable for Sunday's game. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

""Anytime you lose a player that's playing good, it can hurt us,'' Gruden said.

Anderson said Mack unnecessarily launched himself into Ryan during the return of a fumble and made impermissable helmet-to-helmet contact with Ryan.

Mack was recently fined $5,000 for an unnecssary roughness penalty on Houston Texans quarterback Alex Brink.

""He's entitled to a hearing and one will be held this week,''  Anderson said. "And a decision rendered prior to the game.''

Comments

[jason]

geez, if it wasnt against 'the passer' (which the QB
no longer was once possession changed hands) this would be such a non issue.

even if it was an issue, as bad as a facemask penalty is, there are the 5 yd varieties and the 15 yd varieties.

This particular infraction looks more like the 5 yd helmet to helmet variety, if such thing existed.

Certainly doesnt warrant a game suspension. Especially on a play where the off's admitted they made a mistake by giving the ball back to Atlanta.

[jon g]

I personally dont think he set out to hurt him. I expect each defender to block someone if a turnover occurs. Unfortunately, it did look like a helmet to helmet, which is a penalty. It is a fast game and sometimes things happen.I would expect him to do the exact same thing next time but just keep the block legal.Go Bucs!!

[Al Gore]

I will get in contact with Roger G. and let him know I(nobel prize winner) reviewed the film. I noticed that Matt Cryan was attemting to make a play on the ball carrier, Mack put a pretty good block on him, and hit his face mask with his helmet, Cryans helmet came loose, and made him look like a bobblehead as he was falling to the ground, then his helmet fell off. This made it look much worse than what it really was.

So Rick, pass on to Roger, thru Rich McKay if need be, and let him know I want this overturned, and Mack on the field Sunday.

[jason]

wow, you know this al gore thing really never gets old....it really, really doesnt.

[Al Gore]

Did you review the film Jason? Or are you just ovulating about something? Now sit down.

[Al Gore]

I am never going to speak again on this board... you guys all disrespect me.

[Jason]

Oh please Al, Spank me, spank me.

[jason]

Whatever, I think Al is funny...At least he has an informed opinion

[KoKo B. Ware]

geez, if it wasnt against 'the passer' (which the QB
no longer was once possession changed hands) this would be such a non issue.

even if it was an issue, as bad as a facemask penalty is, there are the 5 yd varieties and the 15 yd varieties.

This particular infraction looks more like the 5 yd helmet to helmet variety, if such thing existed.

Certainly doesnt warrant a game suspension. Especially on a play where the off's admitted they made a mistake by giving the ball back to Atlanta.

Posted by: jason

This is the most incoherent rant ever. I am now less intelligent for having read this dribble. There was no face mask, and there isn't any 5 yard variety anymore anyway. Do you know anything about football?

[jason]

Al is not funny, not the real one, not the fake one. And yes I did review the film. At best, facemasks came into contact about the same time Mack was about to push him down with his right arm. Maybe a little over excitement from Mack - sure. Overzealous hit?

...hmm not worthy of a game suspension.

and at least I'm not afraid to hide my true first name/identity, unlike some of the spineless that post here.

"This is the most incoherent rant ever. I am now less intelligent for having read this dribble. There was no face mask, and there isn't any 5 yard variety anymore anyway. Do you know anything about football?"

Koko - I never said Mack was guilty of a facemask penalty. I was trying to point out that in the case of a facemask penalty (which could result in a broken neck, not just a concussion), that there are lesser punishments for unintentional infractions. That is not the case in helmet to helmet contact - the player is guilty - 15 yd penalty (and in this case suspension) and all.

If you cant read, the fine by me, dont read my posts.

[jason]

...and yeah, if they did get rid of 5 yd penalties for face masks in lieu of 15 yd penalties regardless of a player's intention...MY BAD.

I havent watched a real football game since last season, let alone see Clayton reel in a catch.

Koko sees a comparison of apples to oranges and gets confused and wants... bananas?

[Stephen_Holder]

No more 5-yard facemasks as of this season. Not sure what that has to do with this, but just FYI.

[Southern Pirate]

AL GORE 2012

[Southern Pirate]

How many yard penalty for that National Anthem in Dallas Monday Night?

[Al Gore]

Jason, how about just sitting this one out, I don't know what you tried to say in that novel you wrote. And who gives a shat what your first name is, mine is Al. What more do you want to know son?

Bottom line, Ryan looked like a bobblehead, and Mack will sit out this Sunday unless someone gets the word to Roger G. that I said he did not commit a flagrant foul. Maybe a flagrant penalty, but not a flagrant foul.

[Drew]

I loaned Mac my lucky stone, so he should play.

[jason]

OK - I'll try one more time for you folks.

The play that Mack delivered...It does NOT show an *intention* to crush the QB's skull the way that the rule is intended to be enforced. The rule is there to prevent another player from getting a full on free headbutt from an opposing player.

Mack found himself trying to make a play, made 'helmet to helmet' contact, and now the NFL wants to think he's out to kill the guy.

..and yeah, dont let KOKO fool you, I couldnt fool him that easily. dude - helmet2helmet - facemask!?

play some maddon if you need to catch up. I havent played since '91 (hint barry sanders kicks yer booty that year)

[jason]

Al gore - how about sitting the rest of yer life out - you got the yachts and mansion to keep you company

[gregarious]

holy jiminy christmas, what a bunch of itiots we have in this area.

Where have all the fans gone?

waiting till next week to come out?

waiting for new names to step up?

[DR]

There is no doubt that Mack had bad intentions when he singled out the QB. He threw his helmet into the QB's helmet, and just because it didn't result in anything bad, it doesn't mean he didn't have the intent. He made a bone head play and just take the suspension and learn from it.

[Graham]

I don't think the rule is intended to prevent them from TRYING to lay a hit as much as it's designed to encourage them to try avoiding such a hit. Either way, the suspension is more due to the fact that he had a prior incident just a few weeks ago....

As for facemask penalties....for those who don't know....in addition to eliminating the force-out rule on wide receivers, they also eliminated the 5-yard variety of facemask in the off-season. A facemask is a facemask.

Feel a little better gregarious?

[Bill]

Oh shutup DR, your so full of shiout it aint funny, you idiot!!! You saw the same replay we did and theres no way of telling that helmet to helmet nor were you on the sideline with him after the play to know his intent.

[tim jones]

What would these players have done if the played back in the day when facemask was legal. AND REAL MEN PLAYED THE GAME AND NOT THESE HIGH PRICE WOMEN THAT CAN'T TAKE SOME CONTACT. IT IS FOOTBALL MOMMA GOODELL LET THEM PLAY THE SPORT WITH CONTACT. THROW THE FLAG NOT A HANKY......

[mike jones]

WHY IS THERE A unnecssary roughness CALL IN A ROUGH SPORT THAT IS STUPID