The Ravens fear that the NFL will try again to suspend safety Ed Reed, after his fourth illegal hit on a defenseless receiver in three seasons.
Ian Rapaport of NFL Network reports that’s unlikely to happen.
According to Rapaport, a fine is probable for Reed’s fourth-quarter hit on Giants receiver Victor Cruz. However, the situation is still under review.
If the NFL doesn’t try to suspend Reed for yet another illegal hit after he was fined $50,000 for his third one in three seasons, it suggests that the league believes based on the decision by Ted Cottrell to overturn the last suspension that a suspension wouldn’t stick this time, either. The fact that the suspension was quickly overturned made the NFL look wishy-washy, even though the appeal is handled via an independent process.
There’s a perception that the Commissioner has full power over player discipline, and that perception becomes unfortunate in the rare situations when he doesn’t, and when his position fails via the appeal process. Especially when the appeal is expedited and the decision to throw out the suspension comes only one day after the suspension was imposed.
