Earl Thomas Reportedly Unlikely to Be Suspended After Knocking Out Steelers QB Mason Rudolph
By Mark Powell
Despite knocking Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph into a local Allegheny County hospital, Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas is expected to escape the clutches of the NFL league office without much punishment.
Thomas and the Ravens don't expect the star safety to be suspended for his helmet-to-helmet knock on Rudolph, although a fine could very well still be lobbed his way.
#Ravens S Earl Thomas isn’t expected to be suspended for the hit that knocked out #Steelers QB Mason Rudolph yesterday, I’m told. The play will be reviewed for a possible fine. Not a surprise given the play was reviewed and Thomas was flagged, but not ejected.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2019
Due to the severity of Rudolph's injury--in which he fell to the turf and was motionless for upwards of a minute--some sort of punishment is justified here. A suspension was always unlikely given Thomas doesn't have a history of such incidents, and isn't known around the league as a dirty player. Were this Vontaze Burfict, he'd be out of the NFL altogether.
Still, Thomas receiving a fine, even if a substantial one, will send the wrong message as Roger Goodell and Co. aim to clean up a game predicated on violence. Despite Thomas' previous good behavior, sending an opposing quarterback (a position the NFL protects to no end) to the emergency room with a concussion ought to be at the top of the list of punishable offenses.
This hit was crazy yoo @King55Tez he wasn't even ejected #MasonRudolph #NFLSunday pic.twitter.com/bWDNStZv4R
— Welcome To HypeCity! (@HypeCityShow) October 7, 2019
A slap on the wrist won't do that justice, but the NFL's hands may be tied.