Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather will appeal the two-game suspension for his latest helmet-to-helmet blow, a hit his coach called a ''legitimate football play'' while teammates stood up for him with much stronger words. Coach Jay Gruden said Tuesday he hopes the team can get the NFL to revoke or reduce the sanction for the hit on Torrey Smith in Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. It is the sixth time Meriweather has been cited for a violation of player safety rules. I thought it was a legitimate football play, but the NFL didn't see it that way.'' Meriweather was suspended for two games last year for a pair of helmet-first hits in game against the Chicago Bears, but the penalty was reduced to one game after an appeal.
More...