Gay fined for hit on Campbell, Browns pleased with decision
Browns Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas favors an instant-replay system in which hits to the helmet are reviewed by officials.
In last week’s loss to Pittsburgh, Browns quarterback Jason Campbell sustained a concussion in the third quarter after he was knocked down by Pittsburgh cornerback William Gay, who struck the QB with a glancing blow to the face mask. Campbell crumpled to the turf and banged his head on the hard ground.
Not only was Gay not penalized, he caused a fumble that was returned 49 yards, setting up a touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 20-3 lead.
The NFL fined Gay $15,750 on Friday for unnecessary roughness on the play. A league spokesman said Gay “unnecessarily delivered a forcible blow to his opponent’s head and neck area.”
Thomas said replay officials in the press box should be able to review those plays and give them “the same kind of scrutiny that a scoring play or a turnover play has.”
Campbell is following the NFL’s protocol on head injuries and not playing Sunday.
Ellington injured: Arizona coach Bruce Arians says the availability of running back Andre Ellington on Sunday at Philadelphia will be “a game-time decision.”
Ellington injured his left knee late in practice on Thursday and sat out Friday’s workout.
The loss of the dynamic rookie from Clemson would be a significant blow to the Arizona offense, because he provides speed the team’s other backs don’t possess.
Although he didn’t carry the ball at all in the season opener, Ellington leads the Cardinals in rushing with 441 yards on only 73 carries, an average of 6 yards per carry. He also has 28 receptions for 247 yards.
Ellington said an MRI “showed some stuff,” but he wouldn’t say what.
“We’ll see how it goes,” he said on Friday. “We’ve got two days before the game. That’s a lot of rest, two days. I’m going to continue to rehab and go out there on Sunday and run around a little bit.”
Chiefs injury woes: The Kansas City Chiefs will have one half of their fearsome pass-rushing duo available when they face Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Tamba Hali pronounced himself close to 100 percent after spraining his right ankle in last week’s loss to San Diego. Meanwhile, fellow linebacker Justin Houston is considered “week to week” after dislocating his right elbow against the Chargers.