The NFL handed down a one-game suspension to New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on Monday for his dirty hit on Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White.
Rob Gronkowski has been suspended for 1 game for violation of unnecessary roughness rules pic.twitter.com/ySlimskMdh
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) December 4, 2017
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan stated in his letter to Gronkowski that “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 hit (which you can see here) was as dirty as they come in today’s NFL. White was down on the ground when Gronkowski laid into the back of his head with a forearm shiver. Gronkowski did apologize after the game but also blamed it on frustration with officials.
Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will appeal his one-game suspension, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2017
The tight end will have three business days to appeal this suspension.