Ted Cottrell, the hearing officer in the appeal of Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens of his one-game suspension, has reduced the discipline to a $50,000 fine.
Cottrell held a hearing by telephone this morning and issued his decision this afternoon. In the hearing, the NFL Players Association represented Reed, who also participated.
In a letter to Reed, Cottrell said, “I have determined that your actions were egregious and warrant significant discipline. However, I do not believe that your actions were so egregious as to subject you to a one-game suspension without pay. Player safety is the league’s primary concern in the formation of playing rules and all players are expected to adhere to those rules or face disciplinary action. I hope in the future you will focus on ensuring that your play conforms to the rules.”
