New York: Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh won his appeal on Tuesday of a one-game suspension by the National Football League and will compete in Sunday’s first-round play-off game at Dallas.
League appeals officer Ted Cottrell overturned the one-game ban imposed on Monday by NFL Vice-President of Football Operations Merton Hanks, instead imposing a $70,000 (Dh257,460) fine upon the Detroit defender.
Suh was punished after stepping twice on the injured leg of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers during Packers’ victory over the Lions on Sunday at Green Bay.
Suh, whose mother is from Jamaica and whose father is from Cameroon, backed into Rodgers and knocked him to the ground during a pass play in the fourth quarter.
After stepping backwards once onto Rodgers leg, Suh made another step backwards onto the area between Rodgers’ ankle and calf, an area which was injured in the second quarter so badly that Rodgers had to be helped off the field.
“You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground,” Hanks told Suh in a letter explaining the now-overturned ban.
“This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided.”
Suh’s return bolsters a Lions defensive unit that will face the challenge from NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray and star quarterback Tony Romo.
