Dante Wesley Gets One Game Without Pay Penalty For Clifton Smith Hit

The Carolina Panthers’ Dante Wesley has been suspended for one game without pay for his hit on Tampa Bay’s Clifton Smith Sunday.

Smith was knocked out cold by the hit off the ball and sustained a serious concussion and Wesley was ejected from the game on the spot. Wesley claimed in his defense that Smith had not called for the ball and that he mistimed hitting him.

NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson wasn’t buying the excuse though, saying in a letter to Wesley that “The prohibited contact in this case went well beyond simply interfering with the receiver. Instead, by striking your defenseless opponent in the head and neck area, you committed an unnecessary and unnecessarily dangerous act that is specifically prohibited by the rules.”

“Your actions are of particular concern in light of the emphasis that our office has placed on developing and enforcing rules designed to protect players from injury, including head and neck injuries. The safety of our players is paramount to all of us in the NFL.”

In case you missed it: Dante Wesley Hit Video.