Dante Wesley Suspended One Game

Carolina Panthers backup defensive back (and special teams gunner) Dante Wesley has been suspended without pay for one game by NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson for a flagrant violation of player safety rules. Specifically, on a punt coverage play yesterday, Dante left his feet, launched himself like a missile and made shoulder and forearm contact with the neck and head area of Tampa Bay Bucs punt returner Clifton Smith, who had not caught or touched the ball and was in a defenseless posture.

The suspension will sideline Dante for the Panthers game vs. Buffalo this Sunday.

In a letter to Dante today, Mr. Anderson wrote:

“The playing rules (Rule 10, Section 1, Article 1) specifically provide that a member of the kicking team is prohibited from interfering with a receiver attempting to catch an airborne kick. 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.”

Dante will lose about $36,000 (his weekly game check) because of the suspension. He would later say he was “just trying to make a play.” But he’s clearly in denial. Dante lost his mind for a moment and the mistake will cost him a week’s pay. Luckily, Clifton Smith emerged uninjured after the collision.

Source: NFL Media