NFL announces eliminates suspension, adds fines for Oday Aboushi, Randy Gregory
Things got heated on Christmas Day, with Denver Broncos edge rusher Randy Gregory and Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi trading punches after the game. A one-game suspension was handed out to both parties by the NFL before going to appeal.
Both Aboushi and Gregory have won their appeal and will not miss any game time. Instead, the two will be fined, with Gregory getting the heftier end of the bargain. After all, he was the first one to initiate the altercation.
“NFL announced that appeals officers Derrick Brooks and James Thrash – jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA – have reduced the discipline assessed to Randy Gregory and Oday Aboushi from one-game suspensions to fines of $50,000 for Gregory and $12,000 for Aboushi,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said via Twitter.
Neither Denver nor Los Angeles is deep in a playoff battle at the moment, with the Broncos sitting with a 4-11 record and the Rams just one game better at 5-10. Had both of them missed a game, there would have been no serious damage done to the season’s outcome.
Either way, they are thankfully going to be able to finish out the final two games with their teams. Denver has an AFC West showdown against Kansas City in Week 17, while Los Angeles plays their stadium pals, the Chargers.
Randy Gregory issues apology after incident
Monday, the NFL announced single-game suspensions to Denver Broncos EDGE Randy Gregory and Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi. Gregory has now released a statement on the matter following the post-game scuffle.
“Dear Broncos Country, I would like to thank my amazing teammates, staff and fans who have supported me throughout this frustrating season,” Gregory’s statement read. “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for my actions yesterday. The game was full of emotion and disappointment. My goal is to finish out this season strong, play with pride and be part of the solution and not the problem going forward. Thank you.”
During the post-game handshakes at midfield, Gregory and Aboushi had some words for each other, which led to Gregory hitting Aboushi in the helmet, and Aboushi retaliated back with a shot to Gregory’s shoulder pads.
Emotions were showing on the Broncos sideline all afternoon long, and Gregory’s strike was the culmination of that frustration. Denver ended up losing 51-14 and fired former head coach Nathaniel Hackett less than a day later.