NFL suspends C.J. Gardner-Johnson for one game for spitting - ESPN

The NFL has suspended Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson for one game without pay after cameras captured him spitting toward Las Vegas Raiders players on Sunday.

The league said in a statement that Gardner-Johnson violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to «any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.»

Barring an appeal, Gardner-Johnson will miss the Bills' Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Buffalo is on a bye this week. Any appeal would be heard by Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera or James Thrash, who are jointly appointed and paid by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

Bills coach Joe Brady said Monday there'll be no further punishment for Gardner-Johnson beyond the league's suspension. Brady remained committed to Gardner-Johnson as a starter when he's eligible to return from suspension in Week 9.

«C.J. knows that it's hard enough to win in this league with 48 guys, much less 47. He knows that that can't happen. It's inexcusable. That's not the standard that we're going to have and play with. He's addressed it. It's been addressed. The league came down with the suspension.… We want to toe the line with everything we do but we can't cross the line.»

Brady preferred to keep the conversations between he, Gardner-Johnson and the team private. Even given Gardner-Johnson's reputation for toeing and crossing the line, Brady said he has no problem with Gardner-Johnson's personality or character fit within the organization, saying he doesn't need all of his players to behave in one prescribed way.

«We brought him here for a reason,» Brady added. «He knows he has to play better, and he knows he has to be better for this team. Just like everybody else