NFL suspends Aqib Talib, Michael Crabtree after brawl on Sunday

Aqib Talib, Michael Crabtree suspended two games following fight

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Michael Crabtree No. 15 of the Oakland Raiders has his helmet pulled off during a fight with Aqib Talib No. 21 of the Denver Broncos in their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. Both players were ejected from the game. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree have received suspensions from the NFL following their brawl on Sunday. The NFL handed down two-game suspensions to the Denver Broncos cornerback and Oakland Raiders wide receiver.

Sunday’s brawl between Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree caught attention around the NFL and caused a stir. It wasn’t the first time that the Broncos corner and Raiders receiver have had an altercation before. Talib infamously yanked Crabtree’s chain off his neck last year, and that scrap set the stage for Sunday’s feisty encounter. Unfortunately for both parties, the blowup will now cost them game checks. The NFL suspended both men for the next two games without pay.

NFL: Michael Crabtree of the Oakland Raiders and Aqib Talib of the Denver Broncos have been suspended without pay for two games each for violations of unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules in Sunday’s game between the Raiders and Broncos.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2017

There’s no word yet on whether Crabtree or Talib will appeal the suspensions. It should be a safe bet that they would, just out of protocol. But obviously, because this isn’t their first brawl, it would be hard to win that appeal.

Given that the Broncos are out of the playoff picture, Talib’s suspension won’t really have a substantial impact. Denver is 3-8 and sitting in the cellar of the AFC West. Although the Kansas City Chiefs are pitfalling, they are three games out of the division and would need a significant turnaround to occur. The Raiders, meanwhile, might find it a bit hard. Oakland is 5-6 right now, and Kansas City’s aforementioned slide makes things interesting in the West for them. They’re just one game out of the AFC West now. Winning the division isn’t as crazy a thought as it was last month. But, without Crabtree, Derek Carr and the Silver and Black’s offense may find themselves struggling a bit for the next two games.

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All of this probably could’ve been avoided had Michael Crabtree superglued his chain to his chest. Instead of, well, using tape, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.