Townsend Appeals for Lighter Sentence

Greg Townsend, Raider defensive end suspended for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle for his part in last week’s melee at Kansas City, appealed for a lighter sentence Friday during a hearing at the Airport Marriott Hotel.

Rozelle did not attend. The meeting was conducted by Jay Moyer, NFL executive vice president.

“We had just a little film to show,” Townsend said. “But it shows me getting hit by Brad Budde after I stumbled over him.”

Rozelle had specified three acts of “flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct” by Townsend:

--That he pursued Budde far from the ballcarrier and speared him, starting the fight.

--That he “stomped” on the fallen Dave Lutz.

--That he tore the helmet off Mark Adickes.

Townsend said he stumbled over Budde. He admitted kicking Lutz, but called it “a foot slap.” He admitted tearing Adickes’ helmet off but said Adickes grabbed him first.

Moyer talked by phone with Rozelle after the hearing, then was to fly back to New York and meet with Rozelle this morning. Rozelle is expected to rule on the appeal today.

If Rozelle is convinced that Townsend didn’t start the fight or was provoked, he could lighten the penalty to a fine. Only three players have been suspended in this decade.

“I think I could go with a fine,” Townsend said. As it is, he’s losing one game’s pay--$7,800.

Moyer also acknowledged that there was some new evidence.

“There was a little (film) there on one aspect of the overall situation we haven’t seen before,” Moyer said. “ . . . I would say Greg and Dick Bertelsen (an NFL Players Assn. lawyer) and Mr. (Al) LoCasale (of the Raiders) made an effective presentation.”