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The NFL has suspended Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf for two games following an in-game altercation between Metcalf and a fan during the team's win over Detroit.
The league ruled that Metcalf's actions violated league policy, which states that “players are not permitted to enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day, and if a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any manner that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or creates crowd control issues and/or risk of injury, he will be held accountable.”
Metcalf will be eligible to return to the Steelers active roster on Monday, Jan. 5, following the team's Week 17 games against the Cleveland Browns and Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, Metcalf can appeal the suspension. The hearing will be conducted by the Commissioner or his designee.
CBS-TV cameras captured Metcalf and Ryan Kennedy, a Lions fan wearing a blue wig and blue-and-black shirt to match Detroit's colors, exchanging words along the boards in the second quarter of Pittsburgh's 29-24 win.
Kennedy leaned over the railing as he spoke and his blue wig fell forward, obscuring his face. The interaction ended with Metcalf reaching towards Kelly's head with his right hand, although he did not appear to make much or any contact.
Metcalf stayed in the game, finishing with four catches for 42 yards. He was unavailable to reporters after that and did not appear at his locker Monday during the club's 45-minute media broadcast. Metcalf performed regularly on Wednesdays during the season.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday that he had “heard” about the trade but had not seen it and did not have a chance to discuss it with Metcalf at the time.
Former NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said during a podcast he co-hosts with Hall of Fame player Shannon Sharpe that Metcalf told him a fan used a racial slur and disparaged Metcalf's mother.
Fan denies using offensive or derogatory statements
A statement released to The Associated Press on behalf of Kennedy by a Michigan law firm on Monday said Kennedy “categorically denies” using slurs or any other derogatory statements during the call.
A statement released by Sean Head and Sean Murphy of the law firm Head Murphy called the allegations “completely false.”
“At no time before, during or after the incident did Mr. Kennedy use racial slurs or any hate speech,” the statement said. “Statements suggesting otherwise are untrue and are not supported by video evidence, eyewitness accounts or any contemporary reports.”
The statement said Kennedy would not comment further as “the matter is now likely to be the subject of formal legal proceedings.”
The statement added that Kennedy, who told The Detroit Free Press he is from Pinckney, Michigan, about an hour west of Ford Field, was subsequently subjected to “harassment, threats and messages advocating violence.”
Kennedy told the newspaper that Metcalf tore his shirt during the incident. Kennedy also told the Free Press that he called Metcalf by his first name, DeKeilin.
The incident is not the first between a professional athlete and a fan during a sporting event.
The conversation between Metcalf and the fan came five months after Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana was suspended and fined by Major League Baseball following a confrontation with a fan during a game between the Pirates and Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, which is a block from Ford Field.
The most infamous incident between players and fans occurred in 2004, when several members of the Indiana Pacers, including guard Ron Artest (now known as Metta World Peace), fought with fans inside the now-demolished Palace in a game between the Pacers and the Detroit Pistons in what became known as “Malice at the Palace.”
