BOBBY
HART SUSPENDED ONE GAME
Bobby Hart of the Buffalo Bills has been suspended
without pay for one game for violations of unsportsmanlike conduct rules following
Monday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan
issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 which
prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct and applies to “any act which is contrary to
the generally understood principles of sportsmanship including throwing a punch at an opponent.”
In
a letter to Hart, Runyan wrote: “As both teams were heading to the tunnel,
you walked directly across the field to seek out your opponent. You approached
him near the end zone and a coach had to hold you back as others shook hands.
Once you and your opponent were in the end zone near the tunnel, you confronted
him and immediately swung at him with a closed fist, striking the head of a
Tennessee coach. Your aggressive conduct could have caused serious injury and
clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a
professional.”
Hart
will be eligible to return to the Bills’ active roster on Monday, September 26,
following the team’s September 25 game against Miami.
Under
the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Hart may appeal the suspension. Any appeal
will be heard and decided by either Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, the hearing
officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide
appeals of on-field player discipline.
# # #