Lions center Dominic Raiola suspended for stomping Bears player

The NFL suspended Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola for the season finale against the Green Bay Packers for stomping on the right ankle of Chicago Bears
Lions center Dominic Raiola suspended for stomping Bears player
Lions center Dominic Raiola suspended for stomping Bears player /

The NFL suspended Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola for the season finale against the Green Bay Packers for stomping on the right ankle of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson, the league announced Monday.

Raiola was not penalized on the play and said he apologized after the game. He said the act was "unintentional."

"He shouldn't be allowed in the NFL. He should be banned from the NFL," Bears receiver Brandon Marshall said of Raiola, according to Rich Campbellof the Chicago Tribune. "This guy is a dirty player and he's a worse human being."

Sunday’s game is for the NFC North division title, with the winner getting a chance to host a playoff game and the loser dropping the Wild Card. Detroit could receive the No. 1 seed with a win or could drop all the way to sixth seed by losing.

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During the third quarter of the Lions’ 20-14 victory over the Bears on Sunday, Raiola was seen on replays stepping on Ferguson’s right ankle. Raiola said that he did not see Ferguson on the ground after a four-yard gain by Lions running back Joique Bell.

Ferguson said that’s not the way the play happened.

"We all saw the play," Ferguson said. "You can't take back what happened with that play, you know what I mean? We all saw the play, so that's the end of that."

- Scooby Axson


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