Brandon Meriweather has a well-earned reputation as a head-hunter in the Washington Redskins' secondary. His unwillingness (or inability) to change his playing style has taken him off the field.
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The NFL announced Monday that Meriweather has been suspended without pay for two games for repeat violations this season of NFL safety rules prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Meriweather appealed the suspension, according to a league source. The hearing will be held Wednesday, Rapoport added, per a league source.
If the ban is upheld, Meriweather may not practice during the suspension and would be unavailable for games against the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. Meriweather would be reinstated Nov. 4.
Meriweather was flagged twice for illegal hits in Sunday's 45-41 win over the Bears. After the game, Chicago receiver Brandon Marshall -- the recipient of one of those hits -- railed against Meriweather's playing style, saying the safety should be suspended or kicked out of the game entirely.
"Guys like that really don't understand that there is life after football," Marshall said, via the Chicago Tribune.
The two-game suspension would cost Meriweather $141,176 in game checks. The NFL fined Meriweather $42,000 last month for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
"I feel like every hit that I took was a legit hit," he said, via the Washington Post. "I wasn't trying to be dirty. I wasn't trying to hurt nobody. I didn't launch with my head. I used my shoulder like they told me to do. Everything I did was a pointer from them (league officials). ... You've just got to play. There ain't nothing I can do about it. I just go out there and play."
The NFL has sent its loudest message yet to Meriweather. We'll see if this one gets through.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" recapped every Week 7 game.
