First, Michael Crabtree had his chain snatched.
Now, it’s his paycheck. Two of them to be precise.
On Monday evening, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that both Crabtree and Broncos’ cornerback Aqib Talib would be suspended two games for their actions in a Sunday brawl during the Raiders-Broncos game in Oakland.
Michael Crabtree and Aqib Talib are being suspended two games each for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2017
Raiders’ WR Michael Crabtree also is appealing his two-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2017
On the first series of the game, Crabtree punched Broncos’ cornerback Chris Harris, Jr. and then wrestled Talib to the ground, which led to a fight that spilled over onto the field. During the fight, Crabtree had his chain yanked off of his neck by Talib, who also snatched Crabtree’s chain away during the Raiders and Broncos’ regular season finale last year.
On Monday afternoon, Schefter reported that Crabtree had taped his chain to his body before the game as a precaution, because he anticipated Talib would go after it.
NFL VP of operations Jon Runyan called the fight a ‘melee’ and said that part of the rationale behind Crabtree’s suspension was the fact that he put league personnel in danger on the sideline.
Here's what NFL VP of Football Operations Jon Runyan wrote to Crabtree: pic.twitter.com/HrGf3AU6Bh
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 28, 2017
Crabtree will appeal his suspension, and the NFL is expected to rule on the appeal before the Raiders host the Giants this Sunday.
The Raiders are now short on wide receiver depth, as Amari Cooper is recovering from a concussion and an ankle sprain that he suffered during the second half of Sunday’s game.