NFL Suspends Second Bills Safety Over Spitting Incident

WHO:

ESPN - The suspended Bills defender is Sam Franklin Jr., a defensive back and special teams captain.

Daily Mail Sports - C.J. Gardner Johnson, a Bills teammate, was also suspended.

Heavy NFL - The NFL suspended a second Buffalo Bills safety.

WHAT:

Fox News - Franklin denied the spitting allegation on Instagram and posted video appearing to show Raiders player Delmar Glaze striking him.

ESPN - Bills coach Joe Brady said the team would impose no further punishment beyond the NFL’s ruling. He said spitting at an opponent crosses a line, but players do not all need to behave identically to build the winning culture he wants.

ESPN - Franklin is appealing his one-game suspension, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

ESPN - Franklin posted a slow-motion replay of the extra point on Instagram Stories. The clip’s caption said, “Not a dirty play what so ever! Will always defend myself though. Still won't spit on anyone.” He added “#notthemcnuggets.”

ESPN - The NFL said both suspensions were warranted under Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, covering conduct “contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”

ESPN - If Franklin’s appeal fails, he will miss Buffalo’s Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens; Buffalo has a bye this week. His appeal would be heard by Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera or James Thrash, jointly appointed and paid by the NFL and NFL Players Association.

ESPN - Franklin, a seven-year NFL veteran in his second year with Buffalo, has played more than three quarters of the team’s special-teams snaps this season and recorded six tackles in six games.

Daily Mail Sports - A second player was banned after a spitting incident during a game.

Daily Mail Sports - C.J. Gardner Johnson received a one-game suspension without pay for spitting at Raiders players.

Heavy NFL - Another Bills safety was suspended for spitting at an opponent in a win over the Raiders.

WHERE:

Daily Mail Sports - The spitting incident involving C.J. Gardner Johnson occurred in a game against the Raiders.

Heavy NFL - The incident involving the second Bills safety occurred in a game against the Raiders.

WHEN:

ESPN - The incident occurred with 1:32 remaining in Buffalo’s 33-30 victory, following a successful Raiders extra point.

Daily Mail Sports - C.J. Gardner Johnson’s suspension was reported as occurring two days before the article’s account of the second player’s suspension.

WHY:

ESPN - Franklin’s Instagram post hinted that he may have been checked in the groin during the play.

Daily Mail Sports - The suspensions followed players spitting at opponents during the game.

HOW:

Daily Mail Sports - C.J. Gardner Johnson was caught on camera spitting at Raiders players.

Buffalo Bills defensive back and special-teams captain Sam Franklin Jr. is appealing a one-game suspension for an incident in the team’s win over the Raiders. The NFL said his conduct violated its sportsmanship rules, after he was accused of spitting at an opponent following a successful extra point. Franklin denied spitting on Instagram and posted slow-motion video that appears to show Raiders player Delmar Glaze striking him; his caption said he would defend himself but would not spit on anyone. He also hinted he may have been checked in the groin. If his appeal fails, Franklin will miss Buffalo’s Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens; the Bills have a bye this week. Coach Joe Brady said the team would add no punishment, while calling spitting unacceptable. Bills teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson also received a one-game suspension without pay for spitting at Raiders players.