NFL Announces Punishment for Broncos Duo Before Cowboys Game
Dre Greenlaw was not the only Denver Broncos player who received discipline from the NFL this week. Teammates Justin Strnad and Riley Moss also got bad news from the league as the Broncos prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys.
All three players’ infractions occurred during the Broncos’ 33-32 win over the New York Giants in Week 7.
However, Moss and Strnad have not been suspended for their actions, as Greenlaw was for his.
Riley Moss Fined for Facemask Penalty in Broncos-Giants
According to the NFL’s football operations portal, Moss received a fine for an unnecessary roughness/facemask penalty he incurred in the third quarter of the Broncos’ win over the Giants in Week 7.
Moss, a former third-round pick in the third year of a four-year, $5.4 million contract, received an $8,253 fine as a result. It is the first fine Moss has received from the NFL in his career.
This was also the least costly of his two penalties in the game, as the Giants eventually punted.
Moss was also penalized for pass interference in the fourth quarter, which, while questionable to draw protest from Broncos head coach Sean Payton, more importantly led to a Giants touchdown on the following play.
“That was silly,” Payton told reporters on October 19. I had just felt like, man, I’m close with a number of people on that crew. But it just so happens in the last three times, the numbers haven’t been good. And I knew the certain penalty was wrong. That’s hard, because it made it first and five that led to their first score [of the second half]. That’s happened one other time. I just wanted them to hear me. You can’t do that.”
NFL EVP Telegraphed Justin Strnad Fine
Like Moss, whose unnecessary roughness penalty was sure to draw a fine, Strnad’s comes as little surprise. In one key way, it is even less surprising.
Strnad had an interaction with referee Brad Allen before Greenlaw confronted the latter.
“There was some contact with, I think it was Justin, No. 40, and each one of those are just isolated,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told Mike Florio on “Pro Football Talk” on October 23. “He’ll be held accountable. So, that will come in fine for him.”
Strnad, on a one-year, $2.8 million contract, received a $15,486 fine. Vincent said that while Strnad would be penalized, Greenlaw’s punishment served as an example.
NFL Made Example Out of Dre Greenlaw
Vincent presented the idea that the league was using Greenlaw as an example, suspending him and not Strnad, for not only their NFL brethren, but also future generations of pros. Greenlaw’s use of “abusive” and “threatening language” was the basis for his suspension.
Greenlaw was not fined for the incident. However, his suspension was without pay.
“There’s just no place no no place in the game for that,” Vincent told Florio. “Also, I think it’s part of the message that the NFL wants to send to all lower levels of sport. We’ve seen incidents postgame at the youth level between coaches and officials. We don’t need that to happen. And I think if you take a strong stand with the Dre Greenlaw, maybe – maybe – it sends a message to the other.”
Greenlaw can return to the field in Week 9, when the Broncos will visit the Houston Texans, who are 2-4 entering Week 8.
Browns Make Feelings Clear on Trade for Former Ohio State Star WR
Garrett Wilson’s name has surfaced amid rampant trade speculation involving the Cleveland Browns this week, but the Jets’ wide receiver isn’t on the team’s radar, even with Cleveland’s clear need at the position.
Wilson, a former Ohio State star, has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. This year, he’s recorded 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns, though the Jets remain the league’s only winless team.
Despite the outside chatter, New York isn’t shopping Wilson, who recently inked a lucrative four-year extension, and the Browns aren’t pursuing him either, per insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Cabot reported that while Cleveland hopes to be “buyers” at the trade deadline rather than sellers, Wilson isn’t part of those plans.
“It won’t be Jets receiver Garrett Wilson, because the Jets undoubtedly won’t part with him after they just signed him to a four-year extension in July worth $130 million, including $90 million guaranteed,” Cabot said. “Despite rumors on social media, the Browns haven’t given it any thought, in part because they know the Jets wouldn’t consider it, even though they’re 0-7.”
Cabot also noted that any move for a top-tier pass-catcher is more likely to come during the offseason.
Browns Veterans David Njoku, Wyatt Teller Likely Staying Put
The Browns sit at 2-5 but still have faint playoff aspirations. Cleveland has an elite defense and the AFC North is still up for grabs, though the margin for error is quickly shrinking. If the Browns can pull off an upset against New England on Sunday, the team’s postseason hopes would get a much-needed jolt of momentum heading into the bye week.
The trade deadline is on Nov. 4, and Cleveland is not planning on moving key veterans like tight end David Njoku or guard Wyatt Teller. However, Cabot noted that trading quarterback Joe Flacco earlier this season wasn’t in the Browns’ plans either.
“As for being sellers in this cycle, they’re not actively trying to trade any of their big-name players in the final years of their contract such as David Njoku or Wyatt Teller, but they also didn’t plan on trading Joe Flacco or Newsome until the Bengals and Jaguars proposed those deals,” Cabot said.
Browns Looking for More From Dillon Gabriel
The Browns want to see more from rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is averaging just 5.1 yards per attempt and playing very conservatively. But he’ll need help from his wide receivers, who have been plagued by drops. Browns pass-catchers have accounted for 16 drops this season — second in the NFL.
“There’s still a lot for me to learn, and I hope I never stop learning,” Gabriel said. “I want to continue to learn and get better, and that’s what I would say. But like I said, it’s day by day. It’s week by week. You’re going to continue to grow, and you want to keep that going in a positive direction.”
Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. However, he’s been unable to put up similar numbers this season. Jeudy has just 22 catches for 257 yards and has yet to find the end zone. But he hasn’t lost faith in Gabriel, who has gone 1-2 as the starter.
“Every game he’s just gaining confidence, understanding the speed of the game, knowing where to go with the ball and recognizing coverages,” Jeudy said. “I feel like he’s just getting better each week, and that’s what we need from him.”
The Browns are a 7.5-point underdog against the Patriots for their Week 8 clash.
