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Detroit Lions’ Ndamukong Suh wins appeal of one-game suspension

Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, top, tackles Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy during the Packers' win Sunday.
(Tannen Maury / EPA)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh’s one-game suspension for stepping on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been overturned on appeal.

Instead of the suspension, appeals hearing officer Ted Cottrell ruled Tuesday that Suh will be fined $70,000 by the league.

Suh initially was suspended for stepping on Rodgers’ leg during the Packers’ 30-20 victory on Sunday. Cameras caught Suh stepping on Rodgers’ leg twice during the game. The NFL said Suh’s actions violated the league’s unnecessary roughness rules.

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Rodgers said he believed Suh intentionally stepped on his leg.

The successful appeal will allow Suh to play in the Lions’ NFC wild-card game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The overturned suspension comes a week after the league suspended Lions center Dominic Raiola for the regular-season finale after he stomped on the leg of a Chicago Bears defensive lineman in a Week 16 game.

Suh has a history of on-field transgressions.

In 2011, Suh was suspended for two games after stomping on a Green Bay lineman in a Thanksgiving Day game. Suh was fined $30,000 in 2012 for kicking Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin.

Since 2010, Suh has been fined eight times for player-safety violations.

Times staff writer Sam Farmer contributed to this report.

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