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Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather suspended two games for illegal hit
Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather has been suspended the first two games of the regular season for his sixth player safety violation, the NFL announced Monday.
The news comes days after the two-time Pro Bowl defender put an illegal hit on Baltimore Ravens receiver Torrey Smith in Saturday's exhibition game, a 23-17 loss to Baltimore.
Meriweather, who can appeal the two-game ban, was suspended two games last season for two illegal hits. The ban this season would keep him out for Washington's season-opener on the road against the Texans on Sept. 7 and a week later at home against the Jaguars.
Jets indefinitely suspend cornerback Dimitri Patterson; denies being AWOL
GALLERY: SI'S 60 GREATEST NFL PHOTOS
60 Greatest NFL Photos
1954
Bobby Layne led the Detroit Lions to NFL titles in 1952 and '53, but had to settle for a conference crown in '54.
1958
Colts back Alan Ameche scored the winning touchdown against the Giants in the NFL Championship, labeled ''The Greatest Game Ever Played.''
1960
Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik knocked Giants back Frank Gifford out of the game ... and the following season.
1960
Jim Taylor could grind out yardage for Green Bay even when the tundra wasn't frozen.
1962
The Colts' Jimmy Orr beat tight coverage for a touchdown catch against the 49ers.
1962
The Packers' grasp exceeded their reach as they tried to knock down a chip shot by 49ers kicker Tommy Davis.
1964
Browns back Jim Brown tries for a touchdown against the Colts during the 1964 NFL Championship at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.
1966
Packers linebacker Ray Nitschke recovers a Jim Brown fumble during the NFL Championship at Lambeau Field.
1968
Jerry Kramer (64) and Forrest Gregg carry Vince Lombardi off the field after Green Bays' second straight Super Bowl triumph and Lombardi's final game as the Packers' coach.
1968
Pete Beathard (11) called the Oilers' play as this shot was snapped from a catwalk inside the Astrodome.
1968
John Mackey (88) and Johnny Unitas (19) huddle with their fellow Colts during practice at Memorial Stadium, shot with a fisheye lense.
1968
Dick Butkus made eight straight Pro Bowls and led the Monsters of the Midway in intimidation for nine years.
1969
Broadway Joe offered reporters, including Brent Musburger (left), a guarantee: the underdog Jets would shock 18-point favorite Baltimore in Super Bowl III.
1969
Vikings back Dave Osborn took a lick from the Rams' Deacon Jones (75) but still scored.
1970
Eight months after Super Bowl IV, Dave Osborn and the Vikings avenged their loss to Willie Lanier (63) and the Chiefs.
1971
The Colts' margin of victory over the Cowboys in Super Bowl V was provided by Jim O'Brien on this field goal.
1971
Mean Joe Greene, the first pick in the '69 draft, became the cornerstone of a Steelers team that dominated with defense and won four Super Bowls.
1972
Packers tackle Mike McCoy had mayhem in mind but couldn't reach 49ers quarterback Steve Spurrier before he let it fly.
1973
The Dolphins' Manny Fernandez (75) pursues Redskins quarterback Billy Kilmer in Super Bowl VII.
1973
Don Shula celebrates with his Dolphins, who capped off their undefeated season -- still unmatched in NFL history -- with a win in Super Bowl VII.
1973
The Mayhem of football took a toll on the hands of Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood.
1973
O.J. Simpson broke Jim Brown's single-season rushing record with this carry, and ended the season with 2,003 yards.
1974
Mercury Morris helped the Dolphins dominate Jim Marshall (70) and the Vikings in Super Bowl VIII.
1974
Jets quarterback Joe Namath listens on the sidelines during a messy game against the Bills at Shea Stadium.
1976
Steelers wideout Lynn Swann laid out the Cowboys in Super Bowl X in Miami, and was the game's MVP.
1979
Tight end Jackie Smith flops in the end zone after dropping a potential game-tying touchdown. Dallas had to settle for a field goal en route to losing Super Bowl XIII 35-31.
1982
Dwight Clark's last-minute catch beat the Cowboys and put the 49ers in the Super Bowl.
1982
49ers fullback Earl Cooper celebrates after scoring a 10-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter of Super Bowl XVI.
1983
The Chargers' Mike Williams got up high to cover Dolphins tight end Bruce Hardy, who went even higher for this catch.
1984
Walter Payton went around, through and sometimes over the defense to pick up precious yards.
1986
The Bears' Reggie Phillips returned this interception for a TD in Chicago's rout of the Patriots in Super Bowl XX.
1988
Referee Jack Vaughn tries to follow an Eagles' field goal attempt during the Fog Bowl, an NFC divisional playoff game against the Bears.
1989
With only 3:10 left in the game, Joe Montana marched the 49ers 92 yards down the field to beat the Bengals 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII.
1991
Raiders quarterback Jay Schroeder was an unlucky 13 when Bills defenders put a new twist on the old gang tackle.
1994
The Cowboys' Emmitt Smith ran into heavy traffic while the Giants' Lawrence Taylor tried to run into Smith.
1994
Hats off to Raiders linebacker Mike Jones for not flagging the ref for holding on this play.
1994
Dan Marino had to contend with the Patriots' rush and a ravaged field in Miami.
1994
Barry Sanders ran circles around NFL defenses with an electrifying style unlike anything the league had seen.
1994
The Bears' Chris Zorich felt the chill of 15-degree weather in December, in Green Bay.
1995
Chiefs back Marcus Allen scored the 100th of his 123 career rushing TDs, in Denver.
1996
Chiefs cornerback Dale Carter was stretched to the limit when he broke up this pass to Packers wideout Don Beebe.
1999
Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell went up and over two Browns to reach the end zone in Cleveland.
1999
Steve McNair paid a high price to reach paydirt against the Steelers.
2001
All hands were on deck--and on Aaron Brooks (2)--as the Giants' defense scuttled the Saints' quarterback.
2001
Vikings wideout Randy Moss took matters into his own hand to make this reception against the Steelers.
2002
Dolphins tight end Randy McMichael soars over Saints defenders to score during a preseason game.
2003
Steelers wideout Antwaan Randle El provided a turning point of sorts when he was face-masked by the Browns' Chris Akins.
2003
Titans receiver Justin McCareins had a meeting of the minds with Panthers linebacker Mike Caldwell (59) and safety Jarrod Cooper.
2003
The pylon left no doubt that Bengals running back Jeremi Johnson had scored against the Chiefs in Cincinnati.
2004
Tom Brady and the Patriots rush the field after defeating the Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
2006
Chargers back LaDainian Tomlinson stiff arms Rams saftey O.J. Atogwe as he takes off on a 38-yard touchdown run.
2008
Giants wideout David Tyree secures a catch with his helmet against Patriots safety Rodney Harrison in Super Bowl XLII.
2009
Wideout Santonio Holmes's leaping touchdown grab with 42 seconds remaining gave the Steelers a 27-23 win over the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
2009
Ravens wideout Derrick Mason rolls over in end zone after making a touchdown catch as Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather watches.
2009
Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes got upended during a field goal attempt by the Packers.
2010
Packers cornerback Charles Woodson returns an interception 48 yards for a touchdown against the Lions at Lambeau Field.
2010
Browns wideout Mohamed Massaquoi sustained a concussion on this hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
2011
Jets linebacker David Harris rips the helmet off Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez as he makes the tackle.
2012
Giants back Ahmad Bradshaw scores with 57 seconds left in Super Bowl XLVI as he tried to stop himself from falling into the end zone to kill the clock.
2012
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III stepped out of bounds before making a dive towards the end zone against the Bengals.
- Marc Weinreich
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