Lions center suspended

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola has been suspended one game by the NFL for stomping on Bears tackle Ego Ferguson's ankle in their game Sunday at Soldier Field. 

Raiola stepped on Ferguson's right ankle at the end of a tackle in the third quarter of that game and will miss the Lions' regular season finale with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday in a game that will decide the winner of the NFC North.

Game officials did not see the incident and no penalty was called.

"I did not try to stomp on his ankle," Raiola said after the game. "I'm not going to try to take somebody out of the game."

Raiola was stumbling on the tail end of a pile near the end of a rush. He appeared to have a chance to avoid Ferguson's outstretched leg, but stopped his progress intentionally to step on it.

"It was totally unintentional," he said. "I remember I was stumbling out. I didn't see the end of it. I apologized at the end of the game, told him it was unintentional and we shook hands and that was it."

That was not it, according to Ferguson, who was injured on the play but returned to the field soon after.

"None of that matters," he said. "We all saw the play. You can't take back what happened with that play. That's the end of it.

"I haven't seen the replay," he added, "but I am pretty sure I know what happened. I told the man to keep it between the lines. He said a couple words during the game and a couple words at the end of the game but at the end of the day, it's on the film. The film don't lie."

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he accepted his center's version of the story though also understood why the league was looking into the incident.

Bears receiver disagreed with Caldwell's assessment.

"He should be banned from the NFL," Marshall said of Raiola to the Chicago Tribune. "This guy is a dirty player and he's a worse human being."

Raiola has the right to appeal the suspension per the collective bargaining agreement, though should he lose, rookie Travis Swanson will likely start in his place.