Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette suspended for Sunday’s game
By David Levin
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette has been suspended for Sunday’s game against Indianapolis for the fight he was involved in against Buffalo.
The news could have been worse. The NFL and the Jacksonville Jaguars have announced that running back Leonard Fournette has been suspended for Sunday’s game at home against the Indianapolis. The suspension was handed down for Fournette’s involvement in a fight during Jacksonville’s 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday.
"Fournette also loses one game check for the fight with Shaq Lawson. According to ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco, “The league said Fournette violated its unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules.”"
After missing the majority of the first half of the season with a hamstring injury, Fournette has been the workhorse the team had hoped he would be the last two games. He left Sunday’s loss with 95 yards in 18 carries and had two touchdowns.
The Jaguars running game has been one of the bright spots the past two weeks as the team has moved back to a more bruising style of offense. Fournette and his teammates accounted for 226 yards on the ground in Buffalo and figure to once again become a focal point even if the former first-round pick is not on the field.
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Carlos Hyde and T.J. Yeldon will share the majority of carries on Sunday. Jacksonville lost to the Colts 29-23 just three weeks ago in Indianapolis.
"As DiRocco wrote, “Sportsmanship is the cornerstone of the game and the league will not tolerate game-related misconduct that conveys a lack of respect for the game itself and those involved in it,” NFL vice president Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Fournette, who is expected to appeal.”"
There is no word on whether Lawson received any punishment for being part of the incident. Leoanrd Fournette has three business days to appeal the NFL’s decision.
The news of Fournette’s suspension came on a day where the Jaguars made major changes to their offense. Nathaniel Hackett, the team’s offensive coordinator was fired Monday morning. Later in the afternoon, head coach Doug Marrone announced the team would start backup quarterback Cody Kessler in place of Blake Bortles. Also, Scott Milanovich will now call the plays on offense.
Following the game on Sunday, Fournette issues an apology on social media on his Twitter account.
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"“Just want to apologize to the fans and kids out there was totally out of character was in the heat of the moment in a important game, emotions got the best of me apologize again to you all….,” he said."