The NFL has suspended center Dominic Raiola

The NFL has suspended center Dominic Raiola for repeated violations of player safety rules.

Dominic Raiola has waited 14 seasons to play in a regular-season game as meaningful as Sunday’s game in Green Bay. The division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs are at stake. It’s the biggest regular-season game in more than two decades for the Lions.

Unfortunately, Raiola won’t be taking part in it. The NFL has suspended him for one game for stomping on Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson in Sunday’s 20-14 win in Chicago.

Raiola has been previously disciplined five times since 2010, including once earlier this season, for safety-related rules violations.
 
The suspension was imposed by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks. Raiola will not be permitted to attend team meetings and functions; attend or watch practices; appear at the club’s facilities for any reason; attend press conferences; appear at the team’s Dec. 28 game, or have contact with any club personnel except to arrange off-site medical treatment or rehabilitation. Raiola will be reinstated on Monday, Dec. 29.
Raiola appeared to purposely step on the back of Ferguson's ankle after a Joique Bell 4-yard run early in the third quarter. Raiola said after the game that stepping on Ferguson was inadvertent.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Dominic Raiola (Photo: Gavin Smith / Detroit Lions)


Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said Monday he believed Raiola’s version of the story, but could see from watching the replay why the NFL was looking into the matter for disciplinary reasons.

“Obviously, I took a good look at it,” Caldwell said Monday before any suspension had been levied by the league. “I looked at both the coaches copy and also the television copy as well. I believe what Dom told me, that it was inadvertent, but I could also see why it’s obviously being reviewed by the league and everybody is taking a real good look at it.

“We’ll deal with the issues after there’s been some determination here.”

The determination by the league is that it was a dirty play, and now Raiola will be unavailable for the Lions on Sunday.

Raiola is expected to appeal the suspension, but that process will certainly be expedited with a decision handed down before Sunday.

If the suspension holds up, the Lions will likely turn to rookie Travis Swanson to fill Raiola's place in the starting lineup. The Lions drafted Swanson in the third round this year to be their center of the future.

“We have options, obviously he’s one of those options,” Caldwell said of Swanson. “He’s the guy that’s played, understands it and has some snaps under his belt.

“It’s one of those things where, you know, obviously you can’t replace experience. But nevertheless, youth and vitality, we hope will be able to offset some of that. You certainly can’t offset all of that.”

Swanson started four games at guard earlier this year, but has never made an NFL start at center, though it's his more natural position.