Ravens safety Ed Reed suspended for one game for repeated violations of player safety rules

Ravens safety Ed Reed will not play against the Chargers after the NFL suspended him for violating player safety rules. (Rob Carr/Getty Images) The NFL

Ravens safety Ed Reed will not play against the Chargers after the NFL suspended him for violating player safety rules. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The NFL suspended Baltimore Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed on Monday for one game without pay for violations of a rule prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players, reports NFL.com.

Reed was penalized for unnecessary roughness for a hit to the head and neck area of Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders in the third quarter of the Ravens' 13-10 victory over the Steelers.  The league says it is Reed's third violation in three years of rules protecting defenseless players. Reed will not play in the Ravens' game against the San Diego Chargers next Sunday and will cost him $423,529 in salary.

"We cannot tolerate repeated violations of rules, especially rules related to player safety," said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson. "We will continue to take the strongest possible action to deter these types of violations and protect our players."

Reed is the second player suspended this season for illegal hits. Denver Broncos linebacker Joe Mays was suspended for one game for an illegal hit against Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in September.