Leonard Fournette Handed One Game Suspension by NFL for Fighting

The NFL handed down a one-game suspension to Jacksonville Jaguars Leonard Fournette without pay after the running back was ejected from Sunday’s game with the Buffalo Bills for fighting with defensive end Shaq Lawson.

The NFL said Fournette had violated its unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules. As a result, he will be ineligible for Sunday’s game with the Indianapolis Colts.

The announcement on Monday did not name Lawson in any disciplinary action. The Bills player was ejected as well from the game following the fight. Fournette can appeal his suspension within the next three business days.

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The NFL said that video of the fight showed that Fournette did not take part in the play but ran from the opposite sideline and became an active participant in the fight and once taking part in the fight struck a member of the opposing team.

On Monday, prior to the league’s announcement, Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone told the media that he had talked with Fournette and other Jaguars players about the incident that took place near the end of the third quarter.

Marrone called those discussions private. He added that the team has 22 personal fouls this season which is the most in the NFL. He explained that this hurts the team’s opportunity to win games. Marrone added that the he addressed that with entire team and individually with some players.

Fournette is an offensive captain for the Jaguars. Now, he and the other two offensive captains will not play Sunday against the Colts. Brandon Linder the team’s starting center is out with an injured knee. As well as that, starting quarterback Blake Bortes has been benched in favor of Cody Kessler.

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Marrone said Fournette would remain a captain as that is voted on by the players and if the players approached him about stripping Fournette of the captaincy then he may consider it but it is not just his decision to make.

Fournette told reporters after the game he regretted getting involved in the incident and apologized to all his fans and especially the kids who look up to him and their parents.