After week thirteen, there is roughly 3 weeks left in the regular NFL season. As the playoff picture shapes up, teams are still jockeying for a spot in the post season run for the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, in a rare out-of-character moment, the New England Patriot's star tight end Rob Gronkowski was suspended for one game because of a flagrant late hit in the Patriot's win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Gronkowski was penalized for a gratuitous hit to the head of Buffalo defensive back Tre’Davious White. White was lying face down on the sideline after intercepting a pass Sunday when the 265 lb. Gronkowski body-slammed him, driving his forearm into White’s back and head. Gronkowski was called for unnecessary roughness, but because of retaliation from the Bills there was no penalty assessed. White was later evaluated for concussion, a particular concern given the issues around brain trauma suffered by NFL players
“Your actions were not incidental, could have been avoided and placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury. The Competition Committee has clearly expressed its goal of ‘eliminating flagrant hits that have no place in our game.’ Those hits include the play you were involved in yesterday,” the NFL Vice-President of Football Operations, Jon Runyan, wrote a letter to Gronkowski confirming his suspension. After the game, which New England won 23-3, Patriots coach Bill Belichick appeared to apologize to Bills counterpart Sean McDermott, calling the hit “bull****."
Gronkowski also apologized, saying he let his frustration get the better of him after being called for a number of penalties. “I’m not in the business of that,” he told reporters. “There was a lot of frustration. I just want to apologize to Tre’Davious White. I don’t believe in taking shots like that.” Gronkowski will miss New England’s game against Miami next Monday night. Here are the week’s results:
Thursday Football:
Washington Redskins 14 @ Dallas Cowboys 38
Sunday Games:
Kansas City Chiefs 31 @ New York Jets 38
New England Patriots 23 @ Buffalo Bills 3
Denver Broncos 9 @ Miami Dolphins 35
San Francisco 49ers 15 @ Chicago Bears 14
Detroit Lions 20 @ Baltimore Ravens 44
Minnesota Vikings 14 @ Atlanta Falcons 9
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 @ Green Bay Packers 26
Houston Texans 13 @ Tennessee Titans 24
Indianapolis Colts 10 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 30
Cleveland Browns 10 @ Los Angeles Chargers 19
Los Angeles Rams 32 @ Arizona Cardinals 16
New York Giants 17 @ Oakland Raiders 24
Carolina Panthers 21 @ New Orleans Saints 31
Philadelphia Eagles 10 @ Seattle Seahawks 24
Monday Games:
Pittsburg Steelers 23 @ Cincinnati Bengals 20
