ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Broncos linebacker Joe Mays received a one-game suspension and a $50,000 fine from the NFL for the hit that dislodged Texans quarterback Matt Schaub's helmet and took off a piece of his ear.
According to NFL rules, any appeal would be heard and decided before Sunday's game against Oakland.
Mays drew a roughing-the-passer penalty for the third-quarter hit on Schaub, who left the field with blood flowing from his ear and missed one play before returning. Schaub threw for four touchdowns in Houston's 31-25 win last Sunday.
When asked after the game if he expected to be fined, Mays said: "Oh yeah. I'm expecting that. But it was not my intention to do that."
Coach John Fox said Mays was not trying to intentionally hurt Schaub.
"That's not Joe Mays, that's not what we teach," Fox said. "It's accidental, playing football. You see it around the league every week."
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