After being initially levied a two-game suspension for fighting with Aqib Talib, Michael Crabtree saw his suspension by the NFL reduced to only one game.
The Oakland Raiders were preparing to be without starting wide receiver Michael Crabtree for two games for getting into a fight with Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib on Sunday afternoon in Oakland. Crabtree and Talib were ejected from the Week 12 contest minutes into it. The NFL saw the fight to be an embarrassment and handed the two bitter rivals a pair of two-game suspensions.
Crabtree and Talib both appealed the two-game suspension, but there was almost no way that they weren’t going to be punished. This was the second time these two foes have gotten into in the last two years. However, their appeal was heard and something positive came from it.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL has agreed to cut both players’ two-game suspensions in half, meaning they will only have to sit out Week 13’s game for their roles in the on-field mêlée at The Coliseum last week.
Michael Crabtree suspension reduced to one game, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2017
NFL also reduced Aqib Talib’s two-game suspension to one game, per source. So both players will serve one game.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2017
So, in latest chain of events:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2017
*Raiders WR Michael Crabtree will be suspended one game.
*Broncos CB Aqib Talib suspended one game.
The initial reaction to Crabtree and Talib getting suspended two games was seen as rather harsh. There are only 16 games in an NFL regular season. They would be missing an eighth of a season and almost three-sixteenths of one if you count the 56 minutes and change they didn’t play on Sunday after getting ejected.
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By treating the early first-quarter ejection as the first part of the season, the league gets what it wants and the two fighters get to play in Week 14. The NFL tried to make an example of these two enemies, but having them suspended for almost three games was a tad ridiculous. Nobody seems to have an issue with the amended punishment and we can all move on.
Do Crabtree and Talib need to sit out Week 13 for their on-field incident? Absolutely, it’s a bad look for the NFL if Crabtree and Talib get of scot-free. Especially since these two fought last year, yes, they have to serve a one-game suspension. You don’t want football to promote non-controlled violence.
Crabtree will miss the Week 13 home game versus the New York Giants. Oakland may be without its two best receivers in Crabtree and an injured Amari Cooper, but the Giants are intentionally playing left-handed in this game.
Next: Raiders: 5 players to watch vs. Giants
Giants head coach Ben McAdoo benched long-time starter Eli Manning after playing largely terrible football this season. Manning’s league-best 210 consecutive starts streak at the quarterback position will come to an end on Sunday. Starting in place of Manning for New York will be Geno Smith, a former West Virginia standout who failed as a starting quarterback for the New York Jets.